Two recent injury announcements have me worried for the long-term prospects of two great tennis players:
Via DinaraSafina.com:
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to play in Indian Wells this year because of the back injury that’s been bothering me since the end of last season.
“Thanks to all my fans for their support during this difficult period. [...]

Photo by Manuel Gonzalez via DavisCup.com
Contrary to popular (American) belief and to the scheduling priorities of some top stars, it appears that Davis Cup is still very important to players and nations worldwide.
Despite suffering one of the largest earthquakes on record this weekend, Chile is moving forward with its plans to host Israel for this [...]

After winning matches and fans in Melbourne a few weeks ago, it seems like Andy Murray is suffering from an extended Australian Open let down, in more ways than one.
Murray pulled out of last week’s Marseille Open, claiming he needed more recovery time after his run to the Australian Open finals. His withdrawal upset the [...]

Tan Roger Federer at 2009 players party. Photo by REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh via Daylife.
After Roger Federer shocked everyone by withdrawing from this week’s Dubai tournament with a lung infection, his fans will be relieved to hear that he’s at least healthy enough to. . .party?
“For me this is a home tournament, so I am disappointed [...]

Hell hath no fury like a French tournament director scorned.
Andy Murray withdrew from this week’s ATP 250 level Open 13 tournament in Marseille, where he was top seed, stating on his website on February 12 that he needed “an extra week off to recuperate and recover for the long season ahead” after “playing in Australia [...]

Last year, many people were upset when the United Arab Emirates denied Israeli Shahar Peer a visa to play in the WTA’s Premier Level tournament in Dubai. The government cited safety reasons, with politics obviously at the core of its decision. This year, it was an upset of a different kind when Shahar Peer took [...]

Juan Martin del Potro is reportedly joining Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal (likely, but not confirmed) on the Davis Cup sidelines this March. He tweaked the wrist injury that’s been hampering him since October during a practice session on Thursday, and will now miss at least four weeks on tour, the BBC reports. [...]

Pete Sampras took to the court at the SAP Open in San Jose last night to play an exhibition match vs. Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco beat Pete 6-3, 7-6 (2), and the 38-year-old admitted afterwards that he felt “a little old” compared to the strapping 26-year-old Spaniard. (Via Guardian) Perhaps next time Nando should play in [...]

Another season, another WTA comeback rumor! This one’s recycled: Martina Hingis is hinting she wants to return to tour. . .or is she?

“I cannot imagine a life without tennis,” Martina Hingis told the Berlin Kurier newspaper on Sunday before beating Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 6-4, in an exhibition match outside Berlin. “It’s still so much fun [...]

Australian Open reporters take note! You probably don’t want to ask Serena Williams about the US Open “incident.” Unless you want to be grilled on your own professional conduct. Check out this exchange from Saturday’s press conference:
Q. Last time we saw you in a Grand Slam, there was that little incident in New York. [...]

Serena Williams lost 6-3, 6-2 to Elena “on a rampage” Dementieva in the finals of Sydney’s Medibank International tournament on Saturday. Williams was reportedly hampered by a leg injury – “limping and shuffling” during the match.
She looked pretty good during this point:

Serena, who was tested hard in her semi vs. Aravane Rezai, says she’s not [...]

Thanks to Judy for passing this story along to me!
Sports Illustrated reports that Pete Sampras is not happy with the “shots” that Andre Agassi took at him in his newish autobiography, Open. Sampras told reporters via a recent conference call that he’d like to meet “man to man” with his rival and hash things out. [...]