Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash takes to the court for a lesson in mixed doubles.
Angelique Kerber became the first German since the great Steffi Graf to win the WTA Paris Open as she beat home hope Marion Bartoli in Sunday's final.
It's only been done once in tennis history, but world number one Novak Djokovic believes he can win the "golden slam" -- all four major tournaments plus Olympic gold -- in 2012.
I know not much is to be expected since the more newsworthy of the Williams sisters (Serena) isn't competing in the Australian Open this year. The decision to overlook Venus is also bolstered by the almost unanimous prediction of Venus' demise prior to the start of the tournament as well as her "slide" in quality over the past few years. Regardless of this, don't you think her heroic effort [on Wednesday] deserves some mention besides a tweet about the ridiculousness of her dress and a vague psoas references? Thanks. --C.D Allen, Toronto, Ontario
Most of the mail this week both rebutted and supported my suggestion that Serena Williams is the GOAT of women's tennis. As usual, lop off 10 percent of the responses from both extremes, and we have a civil, engaging discussion. Some recurring themes:
Did you really says Serena is the GOAT in this week's Sports Illustrated? --Jeff H., New York
Two things came to mind last week when colleague Jon Wertheim deemed Serena Williams the greatest female player of all time. First, that I hadn't heard it mentioned before, at least among the sport's most respected observers, and certainly not with such conviction. Secondly -- and not surprisingly -- Jon's claim made a great deal of sense.
WIMBLEDON, England -- Three thoughts after the women's semifinals at the All England Club on Thursday:
What does it feel like to lift a grand slam title ? Who are the best players you have shared a court with ? Do you miss the thrill of competition and would you ever be tempted into a comeback ? What could be done to improve modern tennis ?
As the "Hit for Haiti" exhibition descended into farce at Indian Wells the other night, I couldn't help but wonder what Steffi Graf was thinking. The sight of a lithe, spirited Graf had been a highlight of the women's event -- and then her husband and Pete Sampras decided the whole thing was about them. It's very hard to screw up an event of such class and integrity, but these two guys pulled it off.
1. Nole Contendere: Novak Djokovic's ranking in the court of public opinion tends to waver like no other player's. He's a threat to win majors. No wait, he's out of shape and deprived of fortitude. He's a colorful performer. No wait, he's a self-absorbed clown. Whatever, Djokovic's image got an nice uptick last weekend. Playing in Belgrade -- where he's always beloved -- the only player in the top five to compete in Davis Cup led Serbia to a victory over a game American team with pair of well-played wins. Good for him. Good for them. For all the results, check DavisCup.com.
Books men wantupdated: Fri Dec 18 2009 14:51:00
For the men in your life, here are some heroic biographies that make great gifts.
Andre Agassi has exclusively told CNN that the revelations in his book about drug use are to help atone for the mistakes he has made and are not motivated by money.
CNN's Pedro Pinto talks to the former tennis world number one Andre Agassi about his life and court career.
The tennis star describes his frightening experience with drugs in a new memoir excerpted in PEOPLE
American tennis legend Andre Agassi has admitted using crystal methamphetamine a year before he won the French Open in 1998, and that he lied to the sport's governing bodies in the same period about a positive drugs test to avoid a ban.
While wondering whether Serena Williams' new, shiny No. 1 ranking will have any subconscious bearing on the pending ITF decision ...
Programming note: I'll be on vacation next week. Our oxymoronic "guest host" will be Sam Querrey, who will be taking questions from the Farmers Insurance L.A. Tennis event.
Serena Williams is looking to forge her place in tennis history after winning her 11th grand slam title at Wimbedon on Saturday.
CNN's Alex Thomas interviews Wimbledon champion Serena Williams.
Twice defending champion Venus Williams powered into the Wimbledon semifinals with another impressive display and then said it would be "fantastic" to face sister Serena in Saturday's climax.
Twice defending champion Venus Williams moved closer to a Wimbledon title hat-trick on Monday when fourth-round rival Ana Ivanovic left in tears after quitting their Court One match through injury.
The tennis champ describes his nuptials to Brooklyn Decker as "beyond amazing"
The tennis champ and the swimsuit model marry in a twilight ceremony in Texas
Former No. 1 player Kim Clijsters announces she's coming out of retirement
Former world No. 1 Kim Clijsters looks set to announce her return to the women's tennis circuit two years after retiring from the sport to have a baby.
Tennis superstar Roger Federer and longtime partner Mirka Vavrinec are expecting their first baby this summer, the Swiss ace revealed on his personal Web site on Thursday.
As someone who covers a variety of other sports, how do think tennis players stack up as far as athletes? -- John, Hong Kong
What is going on with Ana Ivanovic? She seemed in good spirits in her press conference -- which shocked me. I realize she's been dealing with a thumb injury that the doctors still aren't sure how to fix, and that has meant little match play. Any buzz you can let us in on? I have a theory -- look at Sampras, Serena, Sharapova, Andy, even Djokovic as examples: generally it takes some time for someone when they win their first major to get their games back together and start fighting consistently. In both Andy's and Ana's case, the first major was soon followed (if not immediately) with the No. 1 ranking. Maybe it's just part of the process. And obviously, as to any rule or theory, their are exceptions: Steffi Graf, Venus, Roger. -- Dart, Atlanta, Ga.
Your latest mailbag really does scale unprecedented heights of xenophobia . Quite on top of your gloating about the downgrading of Hamburg (only the biggest tournament in a country that has given tennis Boris Becker and Steffi Graf) in favor of umpteen cookie-cutter events in the U.S., you then jump into the realms of total hysteria with your comments about the Olympics and the "U.S. Open Series." I am sure you are the only person on the planet who thinks the Olympic Games should defer to the Series, after all it really can't compare with the Series on prestige and longevity, can it? -- John Thompson, United Kingdom
The champ defeats younger sister Serena in their seventh Grand Slam final meeting
Hi everyone, check back in a few days for a Wimbledon seed report.
PARIS -- Ana Ivanovic will be the new No. 1 player on the Sony Ericcson WTA Tour on Monday, and it'll only be a matter of time until she's a household name in the United States. Ivanovic has the rare combination of beauty and skill that translates on and off the court. She has the work ethic and credibility to ward off the inevitable comparisons that will be made with other over-marketed female stars and the legitimate appeal to attract everyone from fans to sponsors alike.
Over the 110 years history of the French Open, several names have dominated the tournament.
It's Spring Break here in these parts, so a small Mailbag....
Serena Williams retained the Sony Ericsson Open title in Florida by beating fourth seed Jelena Jankovic, but made hard work of the victory after cruising through the first set in 28 minutes.
Let's start with an ode to Monica Seles, who was the subject of much mail. Seles, of course, officially retired on Valentine's Day. From tennis that is.
Last Sunday, Justine Henin captured the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid with a three-plus-hour win over Maria Sharapova, and it was fitting. It was the longest match ever played in the finals of this event, an epic way for the Belgian to cap a remarkable year.
Martina Hingis dominated women's tennis in the period before the power game epitomized by the Williams sisters Venus and Serena took over.
This was last September, just after Justine Henin had enraged yet another opponent. She was sitting in the player's lounge at the 2006 U.S. Open, speaking of the time when she had a chance to meet her childhood idol, Steffi Graf. The two women had happened to be on the same flight to somewhere.
Programming note: Check in later this week for our 2007 French Open Seed Reports.
1. Steffi Graf needed three stitches Sunday after husband Andre Agassi accidentally hit her in the face with his racket at a fundraiser. Agassi's first move was to comfort his wife. His second was to call the housekeeper so she could open up the sofa bed.
SI.com: Playing with clayupdated: Thu Apr 05 2007 13:45:00
Before we get started, a huge congratulations to my Florida Gators for winning their second straight NCAA men's basketball title. Luckily for me, the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's clay-court season kicked off this week down the road from my alma mater in Amelia Island, Fla.
Over a 13-year pro career, Lisa Raymond has won 61 doubles titles, including a career Grand Slam. She and her current partner, Australian Samantha Stosur, are currently ranked No. 1 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Lisa writes for SI.com on alternate Fridays about her career, life on the tour and other tennis news and notes.
One thing that modern-day sports stars are very good at -- apart from the obvious -- is making money. Unfortunately, too many prove less adept at keeping hold of it.
1. The Colts touched down in Miami on Monday night. They weren't talking about the health of Peyton Manning's swollen thumb, but it might not have been a good sign that it barely fit in the overhead compartment.
Three-times Grand Slam tournament winner Lindsay Davenport, who is expecting her first child next year, has "no plans to play again", she told ESPN.com.
Justine Henin-Hardenne won her third French Open title when she defeated Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-4 on Saturday.
Do you have a question about tennis for World Sport Anchor Candy Reid? E-mail candy@cnn.com.
French Open champion Justine Henin-Hardenne humbled world number one Amelie Mauresmo at the German Open, winning 6-1 6-2 to set up a final with in-form Russian Nadia Petrova.
Holder Justine Henin-Hardenne advanced to the German Open semifinals with a 6-4 7-6 win over Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Amelie Mauresmo of France won her third consecutive Advanta Championship by beating Russian Elena Dementieva 7-5 2-6 7-5 in the final in Philadelphia.
The most successful male players in the history of Wimbledon are Pete Sampras and William Renshaw who took the title seven times. The most successful female player is Martina Navratilova who clinched victory at Church Road nine times between 1978 and 1990.
Former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez resisted a determined comeback by qualifier Martina Mueller to reach the second round of the German Open claycourt tournament in Berlin, winning 6-0 7-6.
German television viewers have voted seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher the country's sportsman of the 20th century.
Kim Clijsters' romance with Australian Lleyton Hewitt is over and they will not be getting married in February as planned, the Belgian has said.
A Spanish government minister has urged organizers of the Madrid Masters tennis tournament to stop using fashion models instead of traditional ball boys.
Former Olympic tennis champion Jennifer Capriati said she agonised for days before finally pulling out of the Athens Games with a hamstring injury.
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is to return to competitive singles action at the age of 47.
Former world No. 1's Steffi Graf and Stefan Edberg, who between them won 28 Grand Slam titles, have been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
In the morning on his way to work, J.P. Morgan is said to have visited an astrologer named Evangeline Adams, a descendant of John Adams. "Is it true that millionaires consult astrologers?" someone ...
Like so many couples who are juggling two careers while trying to raise a family, Marc Walker, 38, and his wife Melanie, 35, of Ithaca, N.Y. always feel as if their spare time is disappearing into ...
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