Battle For World No. 2 Set To Intensify............

Novak Djokovic will be looking to continue his sizzling start to the 2011 ATP World Tour season at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells this week.
The Serbian could replace his rival, Roger Federer, at No. 2 in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings, by virtue of his performance at the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament of the year.
Djokovic, who reached a career-high No. 2 on 1 February 2010, could rank behind World No. 1 Rafael Nadal on 21 March through three different scenarios.
Djokovic will become World No. 2 if:

- He wins the Indian Wells tournament;
- He reaches the final and Federer loses before the title-match; or,
- He advances to the semi-finals and Federer loses before the quarter-finals.

SPANISH ARMADA HAS ARRIVED..............

Spain’s Davis Cup captain Albert Costa has named a full strength team for next month’s World Group first round clash with Belgium in Charleroi, including world No. 1 Rafael Nadal.

Nadal is making his first appearance since lifting the trophy in 2009 and is joined in the Spanish side by fellow Top 10 players David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco, as well as the experienced Feliciano Lopez.

"Nadal is an injection of optimism and improves the team spirit, offering more security to the rest of the members,” said Costa. "Having the No. 1 player in the world is important for all of us and makes us feel more confident as a team. We are very grateful for that.”

The inclusion of Nadal reaffirms Spain’s position as favourite for the tie against Belgium and, if he is available for the rest of the year, makes the four-time champions the team to beat in this year’s competition.

Nadal, a nine-time Grand Slam winner, was sorely missed by Spain in 2010, particularly in the World Group quarterfinals when Costa’s men crashed out 5-0 against neighbours France. It was a first whitewash defeat for the Spaniards in over 50 years.

The official player nominations are due on 22 February, when Belgian captain Reginald Willems will also be hoping to name his strongest line-up, including Xavier Malisse and Olivier Rochus.

FEDERER SPANKED BY NOLE.........

World No. 3 Novak Djokovic won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships for the third year in a row on Saturday as he defeated top seed Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 in the final of the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tennis tournament. He became the sixth active player to win 20 tour-level titles (20-13 finals record).

Amazing diving shot gives Roddick 30th career title

          Top seed Andy Roddick ended Milos Raonic’s courageous run at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, prevailing 7-6(7), 6-7(11), 7-5 on Sunday to claim his 30th tour-level title and third in Memphis.
           World No. 8 Roddick became the third active player on the ATP World Tour to win 30 or more career singles titles, joining Roger Federer (67) and Rafael Nadal (43). He also became the eighth American-born player to accomplish the feat.

 

Andy Roddick's scraped elbow is visible as he holds his winner's trophy for the championship match of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships tennis tournament.

Justine Henin regrets "THE HAND" incident.

               In an interview with Belgian TV, the now-retired Justine Henin discusses her controversial win over Serena Williams in the semifinals of the 2003 French Open, when at 4-2, 30-0 on Williams' serve in the third set, Henin raised her hand to indicate she was not ready to receive and Williams then put her serve into the net.
Williams thought she would be allowed to replay her first serve, but the chair umpire didn’t see Henin raise her hand and the Belgian didn’t say anything. Williams lost the next four points to lose the service game and, eventually, the match 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Later, a tearful and angry Serena accused her of  "lying and fabricating."
              Henin now seems to regret the incident.

              Take a look at the video above, starting at approximately minute 8:44.  Serena was serving to go up 5-2 in the French Open semi-finals, and Justine put her hand up in the air, signalling that she wasn't ready to receive.  Serena saw Justine's hand while serving and then served the ball into the net.  Technically Serena should have had a first serve again, but the serve was called a fault because the chair umpire didn't see Justine raise her hand.  Justine stayed silent as Serena unsuccessfully challenged the call.  Serena then double faulted, was broken in that game, and eventually lost the match. 

Players Vote Shanghai, Dubai & Bastad Tournaments Of The Year

LONDON — The ATP announced the 2010 ATP World Tour Tournament Award winners on Tuesday, with the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and the SkiStar Swedish Open all triumphing in their respective tournament categories.

             The tournament awards, voted annually by ATP players, recognise leading standards set within the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (Shanghai), ATP World Tour 500 (Dubai), and ATP World Tour 250 (Bastad) tournament categories last season. Shanghai, Dubai and Bastad continue to lead by example, each having won the awards on previous occasions.

             The Shanghai Rolex Masters has captured the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 award in each of its first two years as a Masters 1000 event (2009-10). The tournament, held at the Qi Zhong Tennis Centre, saw Andy Murray defeat Roger Federer in last year’s final to capture his 6th career ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.

              The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, taking place this week, won the ATP World Tour 500 award for an impressive seventh time in eight years (2003-06, 2008-10). Novak Djokovic captured the 2010 title, adding his name to an illustrious list of former champions that includes the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick.

              The SkiStar Swedish Open, the popular clay court event in July, continues to excel in the ATP World Tour 250 category, triumphing for a remarkable ninth consecutive year (2002-10). In 2010, Spaniard Nicolas Almagro capped off an impressive week by denying home favourite and defending champion Robin Soderling in the final.

Bhupathi-Paes overcomes the Djokovics' Dubai Campaign

            Top seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes advanced to the quarter-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Tuesday with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Novak Djokovic and his younger brother, Marko Djokovic, who had taken a wild card into the ATP World Tour 500 hard-court tennis tournament.
             The Indian pairing, who won the Dubai title in 1998, converted six of eight break points to clinch victory in 57 minutes. They reunited at the start of the season to great success, winning the Aircel Chennai Open title (d. Haase-Martin) and reaching the final of the Australian Open (l. to Bryans).