The Roger Federer era isn't over

By my count, this is the fourth passing of the torch by Roger Federer.

The first was in 2008 when he lost that epic Wimbledon final to Rafael Nadal. The next was seven months later after another loss in the final of a major to his Spanish rival (remember the tears?). His loss to Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the U.S. Open in 2009 was yet another sign that the tennis landscape was shifting. And now, with his straight-set thumping at the hands of Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Australian Open, the Roger Federer era has ended once again.

Or has it?

Once you get past the fact that Federer isn't the same player he was in 2006, it's easy to accept the fact that losing a Slam semifinal to the No. 3 player in the world doesn't mean the end is near. People like to act like Federer is still in his prime and should be winning every match he plays. They were spoiled by his success, ignoring the fact that it was completely unprecedented in the annals of the sport, and expect it to continue.

The truth is, the Roger Federer era that we romanticize ended long ago. The era of him competing in Grand Slams is very much alive. He's not going to win three in a calendar year or be in the finals of every one, like back in the old days, but the world No. 2 is a threat every time he steps on the court. It's not like he's going out and losing first-week matches at majors or getting upset by journeymen; he's losing late in Slams to top-ranked players. 

Yes, the loss will produce changes to the tennis hierarchy. It leaves Federer without a Grand Slam to defend for the first time since July 5, 2003. And, yes, he lost in uncharacteristic fashion: frustrated with Djokovic's antics, angry at the loudness of the people in Nole's box and squandering every opportunity to get back into the match. And, most importantly, Sunday will produce a major champion not named Federer or Rafael Nadal for only the third time in the past six years.

This was a long time coming, though. The Roger Federer era is very much alive. Waning, but alive. As he himself said after the match when asked whether it was over, "let's talk [about it] again in six months." 

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Will Marc Trestman answer the NFL's call?

Unsurprisingly, the offseason of Marc Trestman speculation continues. Rumours of head coaching jobs with the NCAA's Minnesota Golden Gophers and Miami Hurricanes didn't pan out, and Trestman (pictured above getting a Gatorade bath during the East Final this season) may not be strongly considered as an NFL head coach this year, but that doesn't mean he'll necessarily be on the Alouettes' sidelines when training camp opens this June. ESPN's John Clayton is reporting that Trestman's receiving strong consideration for NFL offensive coordinator jobs with both the San Francisco 49ers and the Carolina Panthers. The 49ers have already apparently talked with him, and the Panthers' connection seems perhaps even more likely according to another ESPN report by Pat Yasinkas.

The Panthers' position would make a lot of sense for Trestman. They were by far the worst team in the NFL this year with a 2-14 record, and much of that was thanks to a putrid offence that scored a league-low 196 points. The key problem came in the passing game, where they averaged only 143.6 yards per game, again the lowest number in the league. The next-closest team, the also-awful Arizona Cardinals, threw for 182.6 yards per game. Carolina needs a drastic offensive makeover, and they need someone to either develop one of the three quarterbacks they have (Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike) or one they bring in through the draft (a QB addition through free agency doesn't seem too likely, but it could happen). Their new head coach, Ron Rivera, is a former defensive coordinator, so he's going to need a strong presence as OC. In addition to his offences tearing up the CFL, Trestman's had great success as an NFL OC before and played a key role in developing quarterbacks like Rich Gannon and Bernie Kosar. Moreover, he lives in North Carolina during the CFL offseason, making a local coaching job perhaps even more attractive.

The 49ers' job could work, but it seems a little more farfetched. Despite a generally better team than the Panthers, they have many of the same quarterbacking issues; however, new head coach Jim Harbaugh comes from the college ranks, having just led Stanford to a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory. It seems more likely he'd want to bring in someone from that level, perhaps including former Stanford colleagues Greg Roman or David Shaw. Still, Trestman served as the 49ers' OC and quarterbacks coach in 1995-96, so he has ties to the organization, and Clayton's report that the 49ers have contacted him suggests there's at least some interest from them.

Trestman has also been linked to the Oakland Raiders, and he might wind up there either as a head coach or an offensive coordinator. Current offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is generally believed to have the best crack at the job, but the Raiders can never be accused of being conventional. Moreover, Trestman's greatest NFL success came with the 2002 Raiders, who led the league in passing yards and went to the Super Bowl. You can believe that Al Davis hasn't forgotten that, as that was the last season where the Raiders were even .500 until this season.

Would Trestman be interested in any of the above jobs if the teams wanted him? The head coaching gig with Oakland is probably the most attractive despite the Raiders' questionable organization, and NFL coaching jobs aren't available to frequently. For the others, an OC role isn't a head coaching job, and Trestman hasn't taken any of the head jobs he's been linked to thus far (the Raiders and the Bills in the NFL ranks last offseason, Minnesota and Miami in the NCAA ranks this year). There's no indication whether that's thanks to him turning the teams down or them opting to go in a different direction. If it's him deciding not to jump, it's hard to see him changing his mind for a less prominent job that might not even give him much of a pay raise (NFL offensive coordinator salaries are rumoured to be in the range of $300,000 to $1 million, while Trestman's current job as the Alouettes' head coach is generally thought to pay him in the range of $300,000 to $400,000).

If it's the teams opting to go in another direction, though, that would make it very easy to see Trestman leave for an NFL OC job. Trestman's had phenomenal success in the CFL, but that only carries a certain amount of weight south of the border, and the surest path to an NFL head job is tearing up the league as a coordinator. It's far from a certainty that he'll be offered any of these jobs, and it's not a sure thing that he'd take any of them if they were offered, but they certainly can't be casually ruled out either. Lockout fears are looming for the coming season, but even that might not be enough to stave off the lure of the NFL.

It looks like it's going to be an uneasy offseason for Alouettes' fans; they've made some nice personnel moves so far, including today's trade to get Mike Labinjo from Calgary and the extension for John Bowman, but they still have plenty of uncertainty around free agents including quarterback Anthony Calvillo. They could also lose star receiver Ben Cahoon. The rumours around Trestman might be some of the most worrying, though. In three years, he's led the Alouettes to three Grey Cup games and come away with two rings. That kind of coaching production is awfully difficult to replace.

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Khan confident in 'Pac-Man' but knows a threat is looming

Gareth A. Davies sits down the future star of the 140 and 147 pound divisions, Amir Khan. Khan works under trainer Freddie Roach, just like Manny Pacquiao does. He's also served as a sparring partner for "Pac-Man" and knows his talents.

During his talk with The Telegraph reporter, Khan sounds a little worried about Antonio Margarito's size.

Pacquiao will struggle to reach his maximum weight of 148. He's facing a big dude in the "Tijuana Tornado," who walks around at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds.

Khan is fighting next month in Las Vegas in a 140-pound clash against knockout artist Marcos Maidana. 

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Hamilton stadium plans switched to different track

It's been an interesting few months for CFL stadium situations. Winnipeg's proposed new stadium appeared in dire straits for a while thanks to funding issues, but a deal to move forward was finally reached last week. Meanwhile, things have been going the other way in Hamilton; after plenty of early struggles, a late move to the Canadian Pacific Railway yards (pictured above) appeared to have plenty of potential. Now, it appears that plan is dead.

The issue is that purchasing the rail yard land is estimated to cost $70 to $90 million, which appears completely out of question considering that the project is reported to be still facing a $20 to $50 million funding gap even without land costs. Hamilton city council is going to be holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the issue, and it's looking like their plan is going to be moving to yet another site. Mayor Bob Bratina, a legendary former Tiger-Cats broadcaster who may have swept into office partially thanks to the stadium mess that engulfed predecessor Fred Eisenberger, now is under the gun to produce a workable solution.

However, that may not be as tough as it sounds. As Mark Masters writes, Bratina thinks the Confederation Park site discussed and shot down earlier might work for both the city and the Tiger-Cats:

Confederation Park, located on the shore of Lake Ontario, has emerged as a potential site for the stadium. Bratina supported the Confederation Park location earlier in the process, but council opted not to pursue the option because they wanted to preserve lakefront green space.

Bratina still believes Confederation Park can work.

"The site is owned by the city, so there is no cost involved," he said. "From the Tiger-Cat perspective, it is next to a major highway, the Queen Elizabeth Way. It is also adjacent to the Canadian National Railway line and we are hoping extended Go service will be added in the area within the next couple of years."

Bratina suggests the private sector, which failed to jump on board with the CP stadium location, will embrace Confederation Park.

"Some businesses have looked at that site and have given it their stamp of approval. The city's original decision was to not evaluate the site, but others did and others feel it has excellent viability."

It's positive that there's a remaining site that could work for both the Tiger-Cats and the city without substantial land acquisition costs, but it's surprising that it took this long to look at it. The official focus has been on the rail yards for the past three months, so it seems highly unlikely that this is the first time cost was discussed, as Drew Edwards writes:

It is simply impossible to believe that this is a shock to anyone: the city and the Ticats must have known what the CP demands were before today - at least a ballpark figure. This feels like a huge game of chicken with Confederation Park.

There are also significant time constraints here. The Pan Am Games organizing committee issued a statement earlier this week that other cities are ready to go ahead with the Pan Am soccer stadium if the Hamilton plan falls apart. The statement reiterates that Hamilton has to provide the committee with a location and construction plan by February 1, which isn't a lot of time. The Confederation Park site could work, but looking at it this late in the process puts a lot of pressure on everyone involved. We'll see how they handle that pressure.

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NY Cosmos doing more to build interest than actual MLS teams

The New York Cosmos continued to put actual MLS teams with actual players to shame in the hype department on Wednesday, not only by bringing on Eric Cantona as Director of Soccer, but paying for this massive display in Times Square to proclaim their return. While saying "we're back" might be more than a couple years premature considering that lack of a stadium or, you know, a team, they're already more real in the minds of many people around the world than existing MLS teams with their players and their games and such.

The Cantona announcement alone seems to have very easily had more articles published about it from outlets around the U.S. and abroad than the MLS Cup final, the league's three drafts this offseason and anything else not involving David Beckham or Thierry Henry.

Now, should MLS turn into a full-blown circus and implode in a blaze of glory? Of course not. But a little showmanship and a little madness never hurt anybody. Just as long as they don't take Cantona's advice and pull all of the league's money out of the bank. 

Photo via the official Facebook page of MLS. A league the Cosmos aren't even a part of. 

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Goading Pacquiao with t-shirt, Marquez has a one-track mind

Juan Manuel Marquez arrived at last night's postfight press conference with one goal in mind - securing a third fight with the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. There's a long line of fighters who want in on the Manny Pacquiao gravy train. Marquez, who is 0-1-1 against the Filipino, says he should be at the front of the line. 

The 37-year-old Mexican legend prodded Pacquiao with a t-shirt that said, "Marquez beat Pacquiao twice!!"

"I think I'm a broken record here .. Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao, Pacquiao," said Marquez after answering a half-dozen questions about his future.

He made a strong case by brutalizing Michael Katisidis over nine rounds to retain his WBC and WBO lightweight titles. Marquez is 8-2 since 2006 with his only losses coming against Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.  

"I know there's other good fighters out there that are deserving of fighting me," Marquez said through his translator Eric Gomez. "But I feel like, without a doubt, I made my claim. I deserve a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. He keeps coming up with excuses. Why not fight me?"

Upon his return to the Philippines, after an easy win over Antonio Margarito, "Pac-Man" said he'd gladly fight Marquez, but fans don't want to see the match and the promotion would lose money. Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach sounds more open to a third fight but insists that it's fought at welterweight. 

"Let's be real here. He's fought at 147, but he's never made 147," Marquez said. "When he fought Margarito he fought at 144. We can do a catch-weight, 142 or even 140. I'm sure he can make the weight, unless he's scared."

Marquez (52-5-1, 38 KOs) doesn't know if the fight will happen if Team Pac-Man sticks with its welterweight demands. 

"It's just an excuse. It's just gonna be an excuse to get away from the fight," Marquez said. "It would be too much weight to accept it at 147. Let's make a catch-weight."

Marquez said a welterweight fight is silly.

"No, I think it's very bad. I think that they're just trying to come up with another excuse to not make the fight," Marquez said. "The fans deserve it. All the Mexicans deserve it. All the Filipinos deserve it."

Two of Pacquiao's last three fights have come at catch-weights. But in those cases, against Margarito and Miguel Cotto, he was moving up to fight bigger opponents. 

Golden Promotion CEO Richard Schaefer said he'll spring into action tomorrow.

"I'll be reaching out to (Top Rank president) Todd (duBoef) on Monday and see if we can get together and get the fight done. Cause if I don't make the call, I guess we'll be waiting forever," Schaefer said sarcastically. 

Pacquiao and Marquez fought to a draw in 2004 and Pac-Man took the 2008 rematch via split decision. That night, an unhappy Schaefer asked Bob Arum for a third fight.

"I remember I was upset about the results," Schaefer said. "Arum was there and I was asking for the rematch and he said, 'it will happen, but these things need time to mature.'"

"Well, I think it’s matured and the time is now to get this fight done. I realize everyone wants to see Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. But if that fight is not going to happen now, then first things first. I think Juan Manuel Marquez should get the fight."

Marquez really has no backup plan at 135 pounds. He mentioned Erik Morales as an option several times. The next best move for major fights would come at 140 pounds where elite fighters like Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, Marcos Maidana and Amir Khan are making a name for themselves. Maidana and Khan square off in Las Vegas on Dec. 11.

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Strasburg tries to quit chewing tobacco after Gwynn's diagnosis

The news of Tony Gwynn's parotid cancer diagnosis last September shocked a lot of people. But at least one famous player is trying to turn that shock into a positive lifestyle change for himself.

Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg played for Gwynn at San Diego State and he shares the same unhealthy addiction — chewing tobacco — that Gwynn believes caused his condition.

Strasburg began "dipping" smokeless tobacco during his days at West Hill High School in San Diego. Now, after hearing of Gwynn's battle, he says he's motivated to kick the habit that could potentially threaten his long-term health.

From the Washington Post: 

"I'm still in the process of quitting," Strasburg said. "I've made a lot of strides, stopped being so compulsive with it. I'm hoping I'm going to be clean for spring training. It's going to be hard, because it's something that's embedded in the game."

One has to commend Strasburg for taking those difficult first steps towards putting this addiction behind him, and we wish him well as he continues the fight to preserve his health.

As he said, it won't be easy.

The Washington Post article by Adam Kilgore documents Major League Baseball's attempt to educate players on the effects of chewing tobacco, the league's battle to outright ban its use on their fields, as well the side effects that make quitting the dangerous habit so challenging.

As with all addiction battles, it's an uphill both ways on so many levels. That's something Strasburg seems to understand, and may be why he's not prepared to begin lecturing his peers.

"I'm not going to sit here and be the spokesperson for quitting dipping," Strasburg said. "I'm doing it for myself. I'm not saying anything about anybody else — it's their personal choice. For me, it's the best decision."

It definitely is the best decision for anyone.

And hey, if Strasburg's decision inspires one of his colleagues to reevaluate his smokeless tobacco usage, or sheds enough light on the issue that parents and young aspiring ball players become better educated, he's done more than anyone could have asked for.

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DTotD: Tim Weise scissor kicks Thomas Muller

Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Weise likes to attack Bayern Munich players. In 2008, he kicked Ivica Olic in the face like some kind of flying monkey. Perhaps encouraged by the fact that he only received a yellow card for that, he decided to try a WWE finishing move on Thomas Muller during Saturday's match. This time, however, Weise was sent off for kicking Muller both in his chest and his back with one move and he seemed pretty OK with that.

In related news, this was not a fun match for Thomas Muller. Between being the target of Weise's flying kicks and getting strangled by Arjen Robben, he might need some therapy after this.

Video of Weise's attack on Olic and another look at the Muller kicks all set to the obligatory Drowning Pool soundtrack right this way...

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HBO video: Alexander fighting for jailed brother and deceased father

Boxing heats up big time at the end of the month in Detroit as Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander square off at the Silverdome. Alexander's career is off to a great start at 21-0, but his story away the ring is even better.

The 23-year-old survived a tough upbringing, his father dying and his older brother Vaughn going to jail, to put himself on the verge of superstardom.

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Video: Odom spins madly on the Kings, hits Pau with no-look dime

Here is a statement: Lamar Odom has, by and large, played sensational offensive basketball for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.

Here are statistics to support that statement: He's averaging 16.5 points per 36 minutes, a full four-point increase over last season and his highest mark in a decade. He's made a career-best 56.8 percent of his field goal attempts, including 37.2 percent of his 3-point tries, which matches his 2005-06 long-range peak. He's posted a Player Efficiency Rating higher than 20 for the first time in his 12-year NBA career.

Here is a nonsense portmanteau that synergizes the two things that came before it: Mathketball.

Odom's wonderful play probably won't be recognized with an All-Star berth, which is understandable due to the insane collection of frontline talent out west. But it's also a shame, because he's exactly the type of player that can make freewheeling contests like the All-Star Game more fun.

When he's got it going, as Kelly wrote earlier this week, Odom "might be the most aesthetically pleasing basketball player" in the league to watch. And like a liquid that takes the shape of whatever container you pour it in, he can slide seamlessly into just about any role the game would call for — including, as he showed during Friday night's surprising 100-95 home loss to the Sacramento Kings, a crowd-pleasing playmaker capable of delivering pinpoint, whirling dervish, no-look feeds over his shoulder to streaking teammates like Pau Gasol.

Getting to see Odom display his remarkable fluidity and fantastic collection of talents by playing off of and setting up the likes of Kevin Durant or Blake Griffin would be a hoop purist's dream. More likely, though, Lamar will once again wind up just outside the spotlight, his prodigious talents falling just shy of bursting into full view.

International readers ("Int'l read'rs"): If the clip above isn't rocking for you, please feel free to peruse Lamar twirling, twirling, twirling toward freedom courtesy of thehoopscene.

Headline inspiration courtesy of The Weepies.

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David Ragan: The most expensive babysitter in the garage?

If you were wondering if the Sprint Cup Series' baby boom was over, the media tour stop at Roush Fenway proved that it certainly wasn't.

Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Matt Kenseth confirmed that their wives were expecting during the 2011 season, leaving David Ragan as the only childless Roush Cup driver.

Ragan better start getting his excuses ready. Given that the 25-year-old is young and likeable, don't think for a second that the three haven't thought of turning Ragan's motorcoach into a daycare. (No, that glass in the picture is not there for a reason)

Hey, maybe that could be the sequel to the Kyle (and Samantha) Busch reality show.

Cameras could follow Ragan around as he watches the five children of the other Roush drivers. Plus, Jack Roush could guest star during story time and read everyone a bedtime story. And then the kids could fall asleep to the soothing sounds of Red Sox baseball.

Don't lie, you'd watch.

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Cookie Gilchrist's complicated legacy

There's some sad news today, as legendary former CFL and AFL player Cookie Gilchrist (pictured with the Buffalo Bills in a 1964 file photo they provided to The Associated Press) has reportedly died from cancer at the age of 75. Gilchrist had a spectacular playing career on both sides of the border, but his legacy goes beyond that; he battled racism and intolerance throughout his life, led a boycott of New Orleans as the site of the AFL all-star game and reportedly turned down induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame to protest actions of CFL management (although he told The Ottawa Sun's Earl McRae that wasn't true.) He led a complicated life, and his story is a reminder of how much things have changed both on and off the gridiron since then.

Gilchrist was born in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, but his first professional gridiron action came in Canada. He was a star high school player and was offered an NFL contract after graduation by legendary Cleveland coach Paul Brown in a move that went against NFL rules. While at training camp, Gilchrist apparently learned that Brown wasn't going to stick to his promise of a roster spot and decided to head to Canada instead. He initially joined the Ontario Rugby Football Union, playing for the Sarnia Imperials in 1954 and the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen in 1955. With the formation of the Canadian Football Council (the national predecessor to the CFL), he moved over to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and was a key part of their 1957 Grey Cup-winning team.

When the CFL officially replaced the CFC in 1958, Gilchrist went to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a season before being traded back east to the Toronto Argonauts. He spent three years with the Boatmen before heading south of the border in 1962. Over his six years in the CFC and CFL, Gilchrist played running back, linebacker, lineman and kicker. He was selected as a divisional all-star (there were no league all-star teams at this time) at running back every year from 1956 to 1960, and was also named an all-star at linebacker in 1960. At 251 pounds, he was one of the largest running backs around and was described by Tiger-Cats' legend Angelo Mosca as "like a truck."

Gilchrist left for the Buffalo Bills of the upstart American Football League in 1962, but he wasn't their first option at running back. The team had chosen Syracuse star Ernie Davis in the 1962 draft and was hoping he'd lead them to glory. Davis opted for the NFL's Browns over the AFL, though, and sadly died of leukemia before the season.

Gilchrist may not have been the team's first choice, but he turned into a franchise legend and is widely remembered as "one of the greatest Bills players ever." He played fullback and kicked for them, although he insisted he could still play both ways. In 1962, he set a pro football record with 243 rushing yards against the New York Titans (soon to become the Jets). That year, he was named the MVP of the AFL by both The Associated Press and UPI. He only played with the Bills for three seasons, but recorded 3,056 rushing yards and 31 rushing touchdowns in that time; he also led them to the 1964 AFL championship with a 122-yard rushing performance in the title game. That championship remains the second-most recent league title they've won to this day.

After leaving Buffalo, Gilchrist went to the AFL's Denver Broncos in 1965. He had a solid year there, followed it up with another strong performance in Miami the next season and capped off his playing career in Denver in 1967. He was named an AFL all-star every year from 1962 to 1965 and was chosen as the league's all-time fullback in 1970 after the merger with the NFL. Yet, it might be one of his off-field moments that was the most memorable.

The AFL scheduled its 1965 all-star game for New Orleans, which proved to be a poor decision. This was during the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement, and there was still a lot of segregation in the South. Many of the black players selected to the game were refused service by hotels and restaurants in New Orleans, and that inspired Gilchrist to lead a movement to refuse to play in the city. Other players, both black and white, joined in, and the game was moved to Houston, marking the first successful boycott of a city by a professional league. As described in the Full-Color Football series, the boycott was a key moment for sports in general, and Gilchrist played a crucial role in it.

Gilchrist's legacy is a complicated one. He's fondly remembered by many, including teammates and organizational personnel with the Tiger-Cats and Argonauts. Despite his size, he was one of the most versatile players out there, and he also shone on both sides of the border at a time before that became exceptionally rare. He did well everywhere he went and succeeded despite adversity, but appears to have been treated poorly in both Canada and the U.S. I'm not sure we'll ever learn the full story as to why he's not in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, but McRae's piece suggests it's a complicated one. However, Gilchrist apparently retained some fondness for the Tiger-Cats; Drew Edwards writes that he came to speak to the team about the importance of donning the black and gold after a 2008 practice.

The CFL will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup in 2012, and there are plenty of positive things to reflect upon. On many fronts, Canadian football has been more fair and more equitable to a wide variety of people than either American football or broader Canadian society of the time. There are many positive stories of players who were given a chance by the CFL when other leagues snubbed them, such as Norman Kwong, Warren Moon and Damon Allen. However, Gilchrist's comments to McRae demonstrate that not all players came away from their time in the league with completely positive impressions. That's tougher to handle than the good-news stories, but it deserves to be remembered as well.

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Clijsters apologizes after handing Safina historic loss

One year ago, Dinara Safina was the No. 2 seed at the Australian Open. The year before that, she made it all the way to the finals before losing to Serena Williams. On Tuesday, Safina suffered the worst loss ever by a former No. 1 player, a 6-0, 6-0 "double bagel" drubbing at the hands of Kim Clijsters. It's the first time a woman who was once the top-ranked player in the world had ever lost by that score.

[Photos: Kim Clijsters on the court]

After the match, the ever-congenial Clijsters felt the need to apologize for beating Safina so badly (via Reuters):

"I do feel bad, I even caught myself at 5-0 in the second set, she hit a couple of backhands down the line, I was like 'Yeah, that's it!'

"When she doesn't play against me, I'm rooting for her because I want her to get back into it and build confidence. But I wouldn't give her a (sympathy) game."

Before the match, some television analysts were playing up the fact that it could be a tough match for Clijsters and that Safina was a dangerous first-round opponent for the woman many (including myself) picked to win the entire tournament. But all those expectations are simply a reflex to seeing the name "Safina" on the draw sheet. There had been no recent signs she'd be making a return to form. The 24-year-old came into Melbourne on a five-match losing streak. She lost 6-0, 6-1 to Marion Bartoli in Hobart in her previous tournament. She hasn't won a Grand Slam match since last year's Australian. She's lost.

[Photos: Venus' latest dress may be shortest yet]

Safina seems to realize this better than anyone. "I didn't know how to win a point," Safina told reporters while biting her lip. "There was nothing I could do to hurt her. I'm scratching my head thinking what the hell I am doing."

There's a chance Safina could drop out of the top 100 in the rankings after the tournament. From No. 2 to No. 100 in one year. It's been a long, quick fall for Dinara Safina.

[Related: NBA star's impressive moves draw retaliation]

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New stadium twist sees Tiger-Cats return to Ivor Wynne

Considering that the Tiger-Cats' stadium situation has gone from a soap opera to a ticking-clock drama and been wrapped up in everything from railyards to elections to parks and relocation, it's appropriate that it's been resolved with a classic cinematic twist ending. Until today, the Tiger-Cats were reasonably adamant that they were leaving Hamilton for at least the suburb of Burlington, if not further. This morning, Hamilton mayor Bob Bratina—a former Tiger-Cats' broadcaster who's a member of the media wing of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame—and Tiger-Cats' owner Bob Young caught everyone by surprise with an e-mail and a press conference saying the Tiger-Cats would stay in Hamilton at a renovated Ivor Wynne Stadium (pictured above covered in snow today), an option that hadn't been publicly discussed since the very beginning of this drama.

Despite this plan coming out of the blue at the eleventh hour, there does appear to be a fair bit of sense to it. For one thing, renovating Ivor Wynne removes the costs and issues associated with purchasing land. Renovating an existing facility also requires far less process and consultation at the municipal government level than building a new one, as the neighbourhood is already used to it. There will obviously be discussion around the specific design of the stadium, Hamilton's contribution to it and what can be done to improve the issues of transit access and parking, but there are significant advantages to working with an existing facility instead of trying to create a new one. That's particularly true in a city where every proposed alternative stadium location has seen its share of detractors. Ivor Wynne may not be an ideal location itself, but it's one Tiger-Cats' fans and the general public are used to. That's an important point in its favour.

Can a renovated Ivor Wynne work for the Tiger-Cats? Well, much of that depends on the specific way it's renovated. The plan, as outlined by Emma Reilly of The Hamilton Spectator, involves demolishing and rebuilding the south side-stands and dramatically improving the north-side ones. The stadium capacity would drop from 30,000 to 25,000, which probably suggests that there would be more premium and corporate seating. That makes plenty of sense from a financial perspective, as that's where a lot of the money comes from these days (and the Tiger-Cats weren't drawing 30,000 regularly anyway; the only home game this year that was close to capacity was the Labour Day battle with Toronto).

It also doesn't sound like the Tiger-Cats will have to contribute too much to the stadium, although that's still being worked out; the team's release mentions $70 million in federal and provincial funding through the PanAm Games process and the originally-planned $45 million from the city, plus contributions from sponsors including Tim Hortons, Primus, and Molson-Coors. CP's piece pegs the total cost as only $115 million, but that seems low considering the numbers that have been discussed for other sites; a 120 to $125 million total is probably more like it, and then there are costs and lost revenue from finding temporary places to play during construction. Still, that's a lot less than Winnipeg had to contribute to their stadium, and Young said in a National Post chat that the deal will help make the team financially stable.

Speaking of those temporary places to play, that's going to be an interesting angle of this to follow. TSN initially reported that the team would play at the Rogers Centre in Toronto during construction, but Tiger-Cats' president Scott Mitchell shot that down. That option would make some sense, as the distance to Hamilton isn't that great and the Rogers Centre is equipped to handle CFL games, but it looks like the team favours other options. Drew Edwards outlines the ones they discussed at the press conference, which include playing road games all year (highly undesirable from both competitive and revenue standpoints), phased construction that would see the work done in such a way that the stadium could still be used (which would probably lengthen the construction process), temporary stands (expensive) or a temporary stadium like the one the Lions have used at Empire Field. Young also mentioned Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium (home of the Bills), which seems rather ludicrous, but it's possible that was used just to reinforce his distaste for the Rogers Centre option.

It's important to emphasize that this deal is not set in stone yet. First, Hamilton city council needs to approve it at a meeting tomorrow. Given the rapidly onrushing deadline of Feb. 1 for PanAm funding, this would seem to be their only option if they do still want to try and keep the team in Hamilton, but that doesn't come close to making it a lock. Remember that it looked like the Confederation Park plan was the last chance to keep the team, and that was shot down handily by council. There was more discussion and consultation in advance of that proposal than there was with this one, too; even if councillors were perfectly fine with the plan as outlined (and there probably will be some concerns there, including the neighbouring heritage site, parking and transit), my experience covering municipal politics would suggest they'd still be annoyed at having this presented as a fait accompli one day before a meeting without any prior notice. There seems to be some council support for this idea, and there aren't exactly a ton of solid alternatives left, but this is not a lock to be approved.

Furthermore, Hamilton council's approval is meaningless unless the PanAm Games committee signs off on it, and they've indicated before that they need comprehensive plans rather than vague outlines. If the city and Tiger-Cats can come up with a detailed plan that meets the committee's guidelines by Feb. 1, it's hard to see them rejecting it, as using funds to renovate a 25,000 seat stadium seems to make far more sense from a legacy standpoint than building a small 5,000-6,000 seat one in a different municipality. Detailed planning takes time, though, and time's a scarce resource on this project.

Even if everything goes smoothly, questions need to be asked about why it took so long to bring this idea forward. Young said the key change that allowed them to consider a renovated Ivor Wynne was the PanAm committee opting for soccer in Hamilton rather than track and field, but that happened back in July. Since then, the team shot down discussions of the West Harbour site, brought forward a Innovation Park/railyards plan that didn't go anywhere thanks to the cost, and threatened to leave town for Moncton, Quebec City and Burlington. If this really is a last-minute compromise, somebody should have thought of it sooner. If it's been considered for months, a lot of valuable time and money has been wasted exploring other sites. If everything goes according to plan, this looks like a potentially positive resolution for both the Tiger-Cats and the city, but the way they got here still isn't terribly impressive.

Marisa Coughlan Shanna Moakler Portia de Rossi Jolene Blalock Nichole Robinson

DTotD: A kick to the face in the Rome Derby

Though Lazio lost their fourth straight Rome Derby in the Coppa Italia round of 16 on Wednesday, defender Stefan Radu did kick Nicolas Burdisso in the face. Radu was shown a yellow card -- one of seven in the match -- for nearly scraping Burdisso's face off his head while it was still 0-0 in the 20th minute. 

If this football thing doesn't work out, Radu already has plans to become a teacher's assistant at the Chuck Norris School of Face Kicking. 

Freida Pinto Eva Longoria Susan Ward Emmy Rossum Kim Yoon jin

Clijsters comes back against Li Na, captures first Australian Open

You can finally call her "Aussie Kim."

Much loved in Australia but never successful in the country's Grand Slam tournament, Kim Clijsters finally broke through to win her first Australian Open Saturday night in Melbourne, winning a back-and-forth final with China's Li Na, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. It was the Belgian's fourth major and firmly establishes her as the top player in tennis, healthy Serena Williams or not.

Clijsters was able to weather Li Na's first set victory by changing her pace, mixing in looping shots with attacking groundstrokes, which kept the Chinese player off balance and unable to adjust. Playing in her first Slam final and with the hopes of 100 million Chinese watching back home on television, Li Na appeared to crumble under the pressure. She complained about noisy fans and flashbulbs and looked resigned to the loss after getting broken for a second time in the third set.

After the match, she showed why she's become a fan favorite over the fortnight, affectionately poking fun at her husband and brushing off the loss with a smile and refreshing practicality ("she played better than me"). Though nearly 29, Li Na figures to be a contender in majors for the foreseeable future. With the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova in decline, Justine Henin retired and Caroline Wozniacki still a Grand Slam outsider, there will be more opportunities to become the first ever Asian winner of a major.

For Clijsters, the win continues one of the best comebacks the sport has ever seen. At the time of her first retirement, Clijsters was defined by her near misses. She was 1-4 in Grand Slam finals and 5-7 in major semifinals. Since returning to the tour in 2009, the Belgian has won three of the five majors she's entered and sports a 27-2 record. 

When this tournament began, most of the talk centered around who wasn't there. Without defending champion Serena Williams in the field, would there be an asterisk for the winner? That seems like a long time ago. Since then Caroline Wozniacki established a new identity and is on her way to becoming a crossover star, Li Na emerged as a breakout player with a country of 1 billion firmly in her corner and Kim Clijsters finally captured a Grand Slam off of American soil. 

Turns out the best tennis player in the world was in Melbourne after all.

Jessica Paré Leelee Sobieski Teri Hatcher Lauren Bush Natalie Zea

Andy Gray, Richard Keys saying sexist things about lineswoman

During Liverpool's 3-0 win over Wolves on Saturday, Sky Sports pundits Andy Gray and Richard Keys had a sexist little conversation about women in football and the match's female assistant referee, Sian Massey. To their ignorant misfortune, their microphones were on the whole time.  

The paper that revels in punishing public figures for saying the wrong thing, the Daily Mail, was the first to publish the pair's remarks (NSFW audio clip here) and, as you can imagine, they're really, really dumb. 

Commenting on Ms Massey, Mr Keys said: ‘Somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.’

Mr Gray, a former Scottish international footballer, replied: ‘Can you believe that? A female linesman. Women don’t know the offside rule.’

Mr Keys replied: ‘Course they don’t. I can guarantee you there will be a big one today. Kenny (Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish) will go potty. This isn’t the first time, is it? Didn’t we have one before?’

Later in the exchange, Mr Keys said: ‘The game’s gone mad. Did you hear charming [vice-chairwoman of West Ham] Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Do me a favour, love.’

Contrary to Keys' guarantee, Massey -- in her second Premier League appointment -- correctly ruled Raul Meireles onside for the match's first goal and by all accounts had a very good game.  

So what did Keys have to say about this?

When The Mail on Sunday put the transcript to Mr Keys, he said: ‘I have no recollection of that. I have no idea what you are talking about.

'My recollection is that I wished the young lady all the best.’

When told a recording existed of the conversation, he said: ‘If you have a tape then you don’t need me to talk to you.’

Burned.

This is far from the first time either of these guys have said stupid things in the presence of microphones. Andy Gray recently said that Barcelona would struggle against Stoke and Blackburn. Keys, meanwhile, has a growing list of instances where he's been caught by a live mic. Following a Euro 2008 qualifying match between the Faroe Islands and Scotland, Keys didn't realize he was on the air when he made sweary and dismissive remarks about the game (video here). And he called Theo Walcott a "stupid little boy ... in daft pink boots" during a Champions League match between Arsenal and Barcelona. He also asked, "Who's farted."

Since their wrongheaded opinions probably won't change, their best bet at this point is to just not say anything at all when in the general vicinity of microphones. Or, better yet, Sky should just take their microphones away entirely. Then everybody wins!

UPDATE: Sky Sports confirmed that Keys and Gray will not work Monday night's match between Chelsea and Bolton. 

UPDATE II: Keys has apologized to Massey. She accepted it and says she wants to move on. Andy Gray, meanwhile, has been caught saying essentially the same things he did to Keys earlier in the day while preparing to tape an interview with Sky Sports reporter Andy Burton (1:00 into the clip below).  

Monica Bellucci

Breakfast Buffet: BYU cashes in on Jimmer Fredette mania

1. Jimmer Fredette's 43-point outburst Wednesday night against San Diego State did more than just raise his profile and solidify BYU's place in the top 10. According to CNBC, it also helped BYU sell more basketball merchandise in that one night than any of the past 15 single seasons. 

2. The day after burying his mother in Washington D.C., Kansas forward Thomas Robinson published a letter on kuathletics.com thanking fans for their support of him and his nine-year-old sister. "Knowing that people care so much for me and my family is helping us get through these tough times," Robinson wrote.

3. One of the offseason's most compelling storylines will be seeing whether the potential NBA lockout deters early entry candidates from turning pro this spring. The Fayetteville Observer's Dan Wiederer examined the issue by seeking the opinion of a handful of top ACC underclassmen.

4. When Arizona hosts USC on Saturday, Pac-10 player of the year candidate Derrick Williams will meet the team he originally expected to join. Williams and fellow Arizona teammates Solomon Hill and MoMo Jones were originally slated to be Trojans before heading to Tucson instead in the wake of the O.J. Mayo scandal.   

5. My former colleague Matt Norlander's move to CBSSports.com left College Hoops Journal dormant for the past couple months, but he's found a way to solve that problem. Norlander has brought aboard four new writers and a copy editor, who will keep the site afloat in his absence. 

Duke forward Kyle Singler isn't the only college basketball player who can make an entertaining trick shot video. Check out UConn women's guard Caroline Doty's effort, which includes a brief cameo appearance from men's national player of the year candidate Kemba Walker.

"It looks just like a prep school. It's in the middle of nowhere. It's snowing. It's cold. I don't understand why people want to go there." -- Washington guard Isaiah Thomas on rival Washington State, whom the Huskies face on Sunday. (Seattle Times)

• Xavier at Richmond, 12 p.m. EST

• No. 10 Syracuse at Marquette, 3 p.m. EST

• No. 9 BYU at New Mexico, 4 p.m. EST

• Kansas State at Kansas, 7 p.m. EST

• No. 13 Missouri at No. 8 Texas, 9 p.m. EST 

Lake Bell Amerie Rachel Bilson Karen Carreno Bijou Phillips

Argos bring back Copeland, Crawford

One of the off-the-radar teams in free agency discussions thus far has been the Toronto Argonauts. They don't have as many potential free agents as the likes of the Alouettes and Stampeders, with only nine guys on the official list, but there are some key players there. Soon after officially taking on general manager duties as well as his head coaching responsibilities after the season, Jim Barker told The Toronto Sun's Terry Koshan that the team was hoping to bring back all of their potential free agents (he listed 10, including the nine on the CFL's list and defensive lineman Eric Taylor). So far, he's making good progress on that front; the team agreed to a new contract with special teams ace Bryan Crawford last week, and Sportsnet's Arash Madani reported today they've signed receiver Jermaine Copeland (pictured above leaping into the end zone Oct. 9 against Saskatchewan) to a new deal as well.

According to Madani and Sportsnet's Perry Lefko, Copeland's deal is worth over $100,000 per season. As Madani pointed out in a later tweet, that's a significant raise over last year but a significant pay cut from the estimated $200,000 Copeland was believed to be making in Calgary. It's tough to check that, given that CFL teams are often unnecessarily secretive around salaries and contract lengths, but it sounds about right.

Is this a good deal for the Argos? Well, it could be. Copeland's 33, so he's at an age where he can still contribute, but perhaps not exactly in his prime. His stats were down considerably this year; he had 81 catches for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Stampeders in 2009, and those numbers dropped to 48 catches for 639 yards and three touchdowns in 2010. However, he also went from a pass-focused offence with Henry Burris under centre to a run-focused offence with Cleo Lemon at quarterback. That's going to affect anyone's stats.

Calgary also had a deep receiving corps that presented defences with a variety of matchup problems, while the Argonauts didn't have a lot of receivers who drew attention. Copeland's 639 receiving yards were a team high, with hybrid RB/WR Andre Durie finishing second with 632, mostly from screen passes. Chad Owens and Brandon Rideau both showed promise in the passing game, but Copeland led the way. He's a proven CFL receiver and one of the best currently on Toronto's roster. If he plays the way he did this year and if the Argonauts find a more consistent pivot (either via Lemon improving or starting a new signal caller), Copeland could have some great seasons left. After all, this is a guy who made this play just last year:

The effects of age are difficult to forecast in football, though, particularly at wide receiver. Some players are still great in their later years; Jerry Rice was still putting up 1,000-yard seasons after he hit 40, Milt Stegall was terrific in his late 30s and Ben Cahoon's still getting it done at 38. Other older receivers can fall off a cliff, and that descent can often happen quite unexpectedly; Randy Moss is also 33, and he went from three straight 1,000-yard-plus years to a horrible season that's seen him traded, cut and benched. Not all of that can be definitively ascribed to physical effects, but Moss hasn't shown the same kind of speed or effectiveness he used to.

Copeland could be like Rice and Stegall and have many more productive years yet to come, or he might be set for more of a decline. What does bode well for the Argonauts is that Copeland is a solid team guy by all accounts, though; if his speed does start to go, he can probably still be a valuable mentor for younger receivers and alter his game accordingly.

The Crawford signing has less question marks around it. Crawford has proven to be one of the best special teams aces in the league over the years, and he led all players with 26 special teams tackles this season. He can also contribute as a fullback and a tailback, and he's particularly effective on fake punts and field goals; he picked up 121 yards on just six carries this season. He's 28, so he should still have plenty of good seasons left in him, and he's been a valuable community ambassador for the Argonauts' franchise over his six years with the team. Bringing him back looks like a very smart move.

With Copeland and Crawford locked up, the focus turns to the Argonauts' other free agents. A key area to watch could be the defensive line, which features four players who could test the free agency waters; Taylor, defensive end Ronald Flemons and defensive tackles Adriano Belli and Kevin Huntley.

Of those four, Huntley might be the biggest loss; he turned in a great performance at tackle this season, recording nine sacks and 41 tackles. Flemons would also be tough to replace; despite being more known for his goal-line gaffe, he was a strong presence at defensive end this season, putting up eight sacks and 53 tackles. Belli was hurt for most of the year, but delivered a strong playoff performance and is a key community ambassador for the club. Taylor didn't make as much of a statistical impact as the others, but still recorded three sacks and 17 tackles. If the Argonauts lose all of them, they'll have big holes to fill on the line. Jim Barker may be off to a good start in his new personnel rule, but he's still got plenty of work to do this offseason.

China Chow Alecia Elliott Kat Von D Ana Paula Lemes Vanessa Simmons

Ottawa expansion draft details released, and they're promising

There are still many hurdles to be cleared before a CFL team begins playing in Ottawa again, but one particular question mark was addressed today with the league's official release of their detailed plans for an expansion draft (most of which were accidentally leaked early). As I wrote back in September, getting the expansion draft right is crucial; one of the most important factors in the financial success or failure of new professional sports teams is their on-field record, and a lot of that depends on the players they're able to get. A limited expansion draft might protect existing franchises' talent, but an overly-weak new franchise hurts the league as a whole.

Fortunately, the process set up for this draft seems to strike a nice balance between helping Ottawa get off the ground while not damaging existing teams too severely. It took a while to get here, but Jeff Hunt (pictured above with CFL commissioner Mark Cohon at a 2008 press conference), the key member of the prospective Ottawa ownership group, appears reasonably happy with the proposed solution:

The plan is superior to the ones provided to Ottawa's last entry in the league, and that bodes well for the team's future, said Jeff Hunt, a member of the prospective ownership group in Ottawa.

"The expansion draft is just one part of our plan to build a team our fans can be proud of, but it will provide the foundation on which we build," Hunt said.

Looking at the draft regulations, it's easy to understand that optimism. On the surface, the total of 24 players is lower than the 32 Ottawa was allowed to grab in the last expansion draft, but the lesser numbers of protected players should help the new franchise pick up more talent than the Renegades started with, particularly in terms of quarterbacks and Canadian players . Moreover, the draft appears well-designed to spread the relative impact across the league's other franchises; it shouldn't cripple any one team, but it should also give Ottawa a good starting position in terms of both non-Canadian and Canadian players. Here are the key details:

— It will be a three-round draft, with one round of selecting import players and two rounds of picking non-import players.

— In total, the new team will select eight import players and 16 non-import players through the expansion draft.

— All positions are treated as equal except for quarterbacks, kickers and punters. Ottawa is allowed to choose two quarterbacks and one kicker or punter (they can't take a kicker and a punter, but presumably could choose one player capable of filling both roles). They can't take more than one quarterback from any given club, and they can't take both a quarterback and a kicker or punter from any given club.

— In the first (import) round, teams can protect one of their quarterbacks and 10 other import players (including kickers and punters). Ottawa will then choose one import player from each team. If they choose a quarterback from a team, that team then gets to protect two extra players in the first round of the non-import draft. If they take a kicker or punter from a team, that team gets to protect one extra player in the first round of the non-import draft.

— In the second (non-import) round, teams can protect six non-import players (or more if they've lost an import quarterback, kicker or punter, as described above). Ottawa then gets to choose one non-import player from each team. This can include non-import quarterbacks, kickers or punters, but only pursuant to the regulations described above.
— In the third (non-import) round, teams get to protect an additional eight non-import players (plus two more if they lost a non-import punter or kicker in the second round; non-import quarterbacks aren't specifically discussed, but it would seem logical that they would carry the same status in the rare event one was chosen in the second round). Ottawa then picks one non-import player from each team.

For a hypothetical example of how that might play out for a particular team, let's imagine the draft was conducted right now under these regulations. We'll take a look at how it might affect the Winnipeg roster, as the Blue Bombers would seem to be the most logical team to pick a quarterback from at the moment.

—Round One: Import The Bombers protect quarterback Steven Jyles and 10 other players. Ottawa selects quarterback Buck Pierce.

—Round Two: Non-Import: Because Ottawa picked Pierce, Winnipeg gets to protect eight non-import players here instead of six. We'll say they protect safeties Ian Logan and Brady Browne, offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Ibrahim Khan, receivers Cory Watson and Aaron Hargreaves, linebacker Chris Smith and defensive lineman Doug Brown. Ottawa then takes offensive lineman Luke Fritz.

—Round Three: Non-Import The Bombers now get to protect six extra players. We'll say they go with defensive linemen Don Oramasionwu, Deji Oduwole and Fernand Kashama, offensive linemen Steve Morley and Chris Kowalczuk and fullback Andre Sadeghian. Ottawa then takes receiver Josh Bishop.

This theoretical draft doesn't look too bad for either side. Ottawa gets a capable, proven quarterback (and has more options at that position than in 2002, when each team could protect two quarterbacks instead of one), but their non-import options from Winnipeg are significantly limited. Obviously, I don't know who the Bombers would definitely protect, but I tried to project that based on current accomplishments, draft pick status and organizational investment. Fritz and Bishop aren't bad acquisitions, but neither's a real star at this point; Fritz is a veteran tackle, while Bishop's an unproven receiver with solid potential. Ottawa would be able to get more established Canadian talent from other teams, as they wouldn't be able to protect as many players thanks to not losing a quarterback.

The other player acquisition options outlined in the release would also definitely help. According to that document, Ottawa would receive four picks in the CFL's regular non-import draft the year before they return (2012, if the projected return date of 2013 comes true). They would choose at the end of the first, second, third and fourth rounds, and would only be able to select NCAA redshirt juniors (as those players would stay in school for the next year). That should give them four players who would have a chance at making the team in 2013. Ottawa would also pick first in each round in the non-import draft of the year they're set to begin play (perhaps 2013), giving them the first, 10th, 19th, 28th, 37th and 45th overall picks, which could be used on CIS or NCAA players. They would also receive two extra picks at the end of the draft (55th and 56th overall), and they would be able to develop a 25-man negotiation list.

Between the expansion draft, the two non-import drafts and the negotiation list, if capably managed, Ottawa should come into the league with both a decent initial lineup and solid future prospects. Ottawa's appearance also shouldn't prove particularly damaging to any of the existing franchises, as they should all be hurt reasonably equally. That bodes well for the success of both the new team and the rest of the league.

Kristin Cavallari Brittany Murphy Britney Spears Amanda Swisten Scarlett Chorvat

Patrick Mouratoglou previews the upcoming 2011 WTA season

The new season is upon us and allows us an opportunity to look back on what happened during the past year in order to get a grasp on what may happen in 2011.

Caroline Wozniacki will continue to improve

For her, 2010 was mostly about reaching No. 1 in the rankings. Even if the young Dane didn't reach any Grand Slam finals in '10, she was able, because of her steadiness and frequency of play, to oust Serena Williams from the top-spot. The ranking system was much discussed, mostly because of the comparison of the points given in Grand Slams and in other events. The WTA is now choosing to favor players who play all year long at the expense of the players who pick and choose tournaments. Grand Slams continue to be the main events though -- they're the tournaments everyone want to win and the only record that really remains after a career. Until now, Caroline hasn't won one but let's not forget that she's only 20 years old and is constantly improving.

The half-season of past champions

Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters are three players able to master this world tour when healthy, but they can now only be considered partially involved in their sport. Serena has won so many titles that she has lost all motivation when it comes to play another event than a Slam. As far as her injury is concerned, she has already stated she won't come back before spring due to the foot injury which occurred after her triumph in Wimbledon. I personally doubt she'll be able to play the clay season, so that would mean we'd see her again in England. If it happens, it'd mean she'd have been out for a whole year.

Justine retired only to realize only two years later that she loved and missed the game. In 2010 she was like a roller coaster with more dips than heights. We were expecting a lot more from her comeback. She started very strong with finals in Brisbane and the Australian Open and also won in Stuttgart and s'Hertogenbosch. While playing Wimbledon she injured her elbow in a fall and ended her season. She may get a late start in 2011, which could allow her to be in full shape only for the second part of the season. Henin claims she can't train like usual because of pain from the Wimbledon injury.

Kim Clijsters in the other hand, even if she played way fewer than other, younger players (11 events in 2010) was thrilling. She was much more realistic about her health and stamina than Henin and it paid off. She loves life and being on the court and it shows. At the end, it led her to five titles in 2010, one Grand Slam in New York, two Premier events in Miami and Cincinnati and the year-end Masters. The next year should look the same. She'll keep a light schedule so she still be able to juglehood motherhood and maintaining her standing as a top player.

Vera Zvonareva: title contender?

The Russian reached the No. 2 ranking in 2010 and she's continuing the steady improvement that got her there. She's an interesting player because she's vastly different from the other girls in the way that she's independent-minded and able to manage herself on a daily basis. We often see her spending hours in the fitness room to do specific bodybuilding or stretching work. She's doing it every single day. She's a very determined player and her high ranking rewards all the years of hard work she went through. In my opinion, she'll join Clijster as one of the main threats to Wozniacki's No. 1 ranking.

Dementieva's retirement

Elena Dementieva left the Tour, wanting to start a new life and become a mother. The Russian was one of the most serious and motivated players of the WTA during all those years. She was entirely devoted to her sport. Dementieva won't have any regret, even if she was close to win a Grand Slam but never able to achieve it, because she gave herself all the chances to use her full potential.

How serious should we take the improvements of Sam Stosur and Francesca Schiavone?

Those two players improved a lot in 2010. A lot. Getting to the French Open final, they played a different kind of tennis that we are used to. It's closer from what we see on the men's tour: strong serve, inside-out forehand, huge athletic strength for the Australian, and over-the-top topspin, taking the ball early and a strong volleying game for the Italian. They possess the weapons to keep that momentum in 2011.

The disappointments of 2010

I was personally disappointed by Justine Henin's comeback. She was off to an impressive start with those two finals in Brisbane and Melbourne, but then she only did some one-shot wins like in s'Hertogenbosh or Stuttgart. She was unable to keep that level for a whole season and crashed early in the main events.

Victoria Azarenka, 20 years old in 2010 and top 10 member, fell in the ranking and that was a letdown. She was among those players we were waiting for to win a Grand Slam, but nothing happened. After improving her game and her ranking on a steady basis since several years, she didn't take the new step up and went through a lot of injuries in 2010. It has to be noticed that she has entirely rebuilt her staff by changing her coach and fitness trainer at the end of 2009. She may have needed all this time to adjust to a new way of working.

Maria Sharapova was also disappointing. Those who thought she'd be back to the top once her shoulder issues would be resolved were forced to accept a sad reality. The Russian lacks motivation even if she keeps a high level of play when she's giving herself a real chance. Her great modeling career ended when she traded Fashion Week dreams for more Grand Slam ones. She ended the year at a disappointing 18th spot.

We were also expecting way better from Dominika Cibulkova, semifinalist at the French Open in 2009 at 20 years old. She reached No. 13, but parting ways with her coach Vladimir Platenik didn't allow her to go on in improving. She now works with the dup that led Dinara Safina to the No. 1 ranking: coach Zejko Krajan and a fitness trainer. Until now, the results are still in the waiting room and she ended the season ranked 32.

Yanina Wickmayer wasn't able to duplicate the success she showed at the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. She started great by winning Auckland and reaching the 4th round at the Australian Open after going through the qualifiers. She then delivered an amazing match against Justine Henin. The rest of her season was disappointing after an elbow surgery done before the French Open. She ended ranked No. 23.

------

Finally, I'd like to congratulate Daria Gavrilova, member of my Academy, for her title of Junior World Champion 2010. The young Russian of 16 years old won this year the Junior Olympic Games and the US Open juniors. A huge bravo to her coach Sylvain Mathias and to her fitness trainer Frédéric Lefebvre. Before Daria, Gilles Muller (2001) and Marcos Baghdatis (2003) were the other members of my Academy to have won that prestigious trophy.

Melissa Joan Hart Bianca Kajlich Giulianna Ramirez Ashley Greene April Scott