NORCROSS, Georgia - It was an All-American final today in Atlanta, and for the second consecutive year, Mardy Fish had too much in the third set for 6'9" John Isner to handle.

Fish scored an impressive 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-2 comeback win over Isner, but only after he faced two match points in the second set tiebreak. Fish fell behind 5-1 in the tiebreak before evening it at 5-5.

"I was lucky to come back in the tiebreaker," said the No. 9 ranked Fish after grabbing his first title of 2011. "When John is in that position he'll close out the match nine out of ten times."

Isner seemed in disbelief that he let this match get away from him. "I was up a set and a break. I had a match point on my own serve. You can't ask for much more than that."

Fish will now head to Los Angeles where he is the #1 seed in the Farmers Classic. Isner will take next week off before playing in Washington D.C.

In Sunday's earlier match, Matthew Ebden of Australia won his second consecutive doubles title, teaming this week with American, Alex Bogomolov Jr., in a 3-6, 7-5, 10-8 match-tiebreaker victory over Matthias Bachinger and Frank Moser of Germany.

Seen around the grounds on Sunday: Chair Umpire Steve Ulrich threatening to throw a fan out of the stadium in the doubles final after the fan was cheering misses from Bogomolov Jr. and Ebden...90-year old former University of Georgia tennis coach, Dan Magill cheering on former Bulldog, Isner...Former Atlanta Tennis Championships tournament director Bill Oakes, who now is TD at the Winston-Salem Open this August. He says he'll have a strong field and has received some inquiries from some top-30 players possibly looking to take a wild card.

NORCROSS, Georgia - Who says it’s just the players feeling the heat? Not the brave tennis fans in Atlanta.

4,000 fans, scores of volunteers, tournament officials and ball kids are sometimes spending triple the time that the players are spending in the oven-like conditions this week in Atlanta.

While the hot and humid conditions snuck up on the event last year when it was played at the Atlanta Athletic Club, this year more precautions were put in place to make sure fans and tournament workers had a place to go to escape the heat.

Racquet Club of the South, this year's venue for the tournament, provides an air conditioned indoor space for a food court and a mini shopping mall, giving fans a temporary oasis in what feels like a desert.  Not only is it cooler, the oasis has places to eat, shop and relax for fans when they aren’t watching tennis.

Other shaded areas that included "misting stations" were set up around the grounds. One family camped out at one of the misting areas and decided to watch the action on one of the big screen televisions outside the stadium court.

Medical staff is on hand to assist any spectators who might be struggling with the heat. "We have golf carts and first aid kits in every corner of the stadium to help fans," said one Gwinnett County Medical official. As of Saturday night no heat related illnesses were reported.

Most fans agree that the tennis in Atlanta has been hot this week, but the scorching temperatures won’t keep them away. Hand-held fans are being given away at the entrance each day and fans appear to be keeping hydrated and finding shade when necessary.

NORCROSS, Georgia - If an hour of practice, followed by a two-hour match, and then smiling for 45 minutes while you glad-hand tournament sponsors and their families isn’t for you, then you don’t belong on the ATP Tour.

While most of what gets reported on is what happens on the court, players often have off the court duties to attend to once their practice session or match is over.

Take for instance an early week afternoon at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, an ATP 250 event being held this week at Racquet Club of the South outside of Atlanta.  American pro Donald Young was helping kids at a junior clinic, upstart Ryan Harrison was signing autographs and posing for pictures at the USTA tent, while former top-five player James Blake was due to make an appearance at a Fidelity cocktail party.

The players know it’s the sponsors and fans that make it possible to earn a living playing tennis all over the world.  Most players are to take a few minutes out of their busy schedules to show appreciation. 

American, Alex Bolgomolov Jr. was the featured attraction at the USTA luncheon on Wednesday, and the gaggle of USTA members was happy to have him.  “It’s the least I can do,” stated Bolgmolov when asked about making appearances for sponsors.  "They do a lot for us."

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NORCROSS, Georgia - Just about everything Gilles Muller does on the tennis court is quiet.

From his long, looping groundstrokes that hit the sweet spot of his Wilson frame, to the way he moves his 6'4" body around the court with barely a screech coming off his sneakers.  Add to that Muller's quiet demeanor, rarely muttering a peep to anyone, and it's an even starker contrast to the grunts and groans one usually hears in the ranks of professional tennis.

Muller did show some quiet emotion, though, in the form of a fist pump as he defeated No. 2 seed Kevin Anderson 7-6(3), 7-6(3) Friday, surviving the hot, sticky conditions at the Atlanta Tennis Championships.  Muller seemed to handle the conditions better than Anderson and served the best he has all week.

The lefty from Leudelange, Luxembourg has quietly hovered in the top 100 of the ATP men's rankings for about six years now, largely unnoticed by the masses. After this showing in Atlanta, his current world ranking will approach its career high of No. 59.

How is Muller doing it? With good old fashioned hard work. "I've been injured on and off for years, so I spent 2010 getting my ranking back and working hard physically," expressed Muller. "Now it is paying off."

This will be Muller's best result of 2011 no matter what happens beyond this point. He reached the third round at Wimbledon and the quarters in Johannesburg, but he felt he has played better than his results. "I've been playing well all year, actually," Muller chuckled.

"I'm getting used to the Atlanta heat now, because I struggled in my first match," Muller added.  

Muller will be playing in hot conditions again on Saturday, with his semifinal slated for 1 p.m.

It's not uncommon to see professional tennis players, or USTA 4.0 hacks bounce overheads over fence or onto adjacent court. It is rare to see a player bounce a serve over the fence, but that is exactly what ATP player Kevin Anderson was doing in the warm up before his match with Michael Russell. I tend to think Anderson was working on this by design as he stands about a foot taller than Russell. Along with the heat and recently layed surface covering the courts, the courts they are using at the Racquet Club of the South for the Atlanta Tennis Championships are giving off extremely high bounces.  Advantage taller players.

It doesn't hurt that Anderson is 6'8" and is built like an NBA power forward. Anderson is part of the new breed of tennis players that look like they belong on a basketball court or playing tight end in the NFL. With John Isner being 6'9", Marinko Matesevic checking in at about 6'6", and Rajeev Ram and Gilles Muller both 6'4", there should be a slam dunk contest held to entertain the fans in between matches. All that is missing is 6'10" Ivo Karlovic who isn't playing this week.

Former world #1 Lleyton Hewitt noticed the high bounces off the court in his first round match and as he commented in his press conference, he made adjustments because of his smaller frame.

Matesevic commented to a reporter following his upset win over Igor Kunitsyn, "the balls are flying off the court." The high kicking serves are noticable to most fans and they are marveling at the play.

John Inser, a former basketball player in his youth chose tennis over hoops at the age of 15. With his soft hands and spot on hand-eye coordination, Isner could've emulated his basketball idol, Tom Gugliotta into a  college basketball scholarship if he wished. In fact Isner played some hoops in a press conference earlier in the week with the former NBA player Gugliotta and he held his own.

Isner mentioned in his win over James Balke that he was glad he had 30 aces and many service winners.  Blake, like many other players saw serves jumping up over his head. 

The players and athletes in most sports have gotten bigger and stronger over the years, but many tennis fans never expected tennis players to become giants. Gone are the days of scappy under 6' players like McEnroe and Connors dominating the sport. It seem bigger is better now in professional tennis.

Seen on the grounds: Donald Young sticking around to watch Isner and Blake Wednesday night after he was eliminated from the tournament. Alex Bogomolov Jr. enjoying his time doing a meet and greet with USTA members at a lunchtime reception, and ATP chair umpire Mohammed Leyani posing for pictures and signing autographs for fans. Geez, I thought the fans came out to see the players.

NORCROSS, Georgia - Take a little path, walk around some Georgia pines, and about 50 yards from the beautiful stadium court at the Racquet Club of the South stands picturesque court 1.  On Tuesday of the Atlanta Tennis Championships, two of the most promising players on the ATP Tour were showing their wares on these two courts at the same time, but on this day, with different results.

Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and American Ryan Harrison have arrived on the professional tennis scene and the sky is the limit for these two right-handed tennis machines that seem ready to make a move, possibly as early as this summer.

Harrison took to the stadium court in the late afternoon with a huge crowd wanting to see why many are calling him the “Future of American Tennis.”  He didn’t disappoint as he dispatched Japanese upstart, Yuichi Sugita 6-1, 7-6.  

Harrison admits his ranking isn't where it needs to be, but don’t expect it to remain there for long.  He was more than happy to entertain the predominately female crowd with big forehands and hustling from sideline to sideline before hitting a winner.  Next up for Harrison, a date with a tricky Belgian, Xavier Malisse.  

Dimitrov, the higher ranked of the two was up next against qualifier Rajeev Ram on court 1.  The 20-year old from Haskovo, Bulgaria showed flashes of why he has shot up the rankings so fast, but he needs to learn how to win matches against veteran players who "think" on the court.  Such was the case with Ram.  Dimitrov has talent flowing out of his sweat glands, but Ram played the big points better and won 6-4, 6-4.  

Dimitrov doesn’t appear to be the kind of athlete bothered by the occasional bad loss, and he will win a lot of matches this summer and the rest of 2011.  

Dimitrov is currently ranked in the 60’s and Harrison is sitting in the 120’s.  Don’t be surprised if both of these gifted players are knocking on the top-30 by next year’s Australian Open.

NORCROSS, Georgia - In the match that opened the 2011 Atlanta Tennis Championships and kicked off the Olympus U.S. Open Series, Houston resident Michael Russell did a 73-minute Texas Two-Step around fellow American Donald Young.

Russell never veered from his game plan, peppering the Young backhand and keeping enough balls in play to frustrate his younger opponent.  The 33-year-old Russell appeared fresh and ready to rally all day if necessary.  Young, a wild card recipient playing in his hometown, seemed sluggish and bothered the entire match.

Trailing 6-0, 1-0, Young called an injury timeout. Following the timeout, Young converted his only break point of the match to even the score. The momentum was short-lived, as Russell broke back in the next game and retook control of the match winning 6-0, 6-3.

Young’s first serve percentage was only 53%, with no aces and two double faults. Russell’s first serve percentage was 73%, and he converted five of seven break point opportunities.

The USTA now faces a dilemma whether to extend additional wild cards to Young as he struggles with his game heading into the U.S. Open.

Other winners on the first day of the Atlanta Tennis Championships included James Blake, Tatsuma Ito, Gilles Muller, and Somdev Devvarman.

JOHN'S CREEK, GA - #1 seed Lauren Davis of Ohio took on #2 seed Alexis King of Florida on a picture perfect Sunday morning in John's Creek, GA to crown the champion of the 2011 Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament. This is a USTA 10K Women's Pro Circuit event where mainly young players are trying to win rounds in order to improve their WTA ranking.

According to USTA tournament official Missy Malool, having a #1 and #2 seed meet in the finals of an event like this, "doesn't happen very often."

18-year old Davis withstood a first set barrage of power by King to win the title 1-6, 6-2, 6-2, giving her a second circuit title in three weeks.

A great crowd turned out at The Falls at Autrey Mill Tennis Center to see Davis find the range on her groundstrokes and take down a talented King.

With this victory, Davis should see her ranking climb about 25 spots to around #360 in the world.

NORCROSS, Georgia - Even a Georgia Tech student like Kevin King will tell you that sometimes statistics don't tell the whole story.

Such was the case in the first round qualifying match between former top-10 player and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Nicolas Massu and a young college player from Peachtree City, GA. Currently a college player at Georgia Tech, Kevin King started out like the title of a famous Meat Loaf song. The venue was the stadium court at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, and ATP 250 event and the first event of the 2011 Olympus U.S. Open Series, so King felt at home.

While Massu had enough to pull the match out 6-4 in the third set, King so dominated the match in statistics that it is hard to believe he didn't take the upset victory.

King frustrated the Chilean Davis Cup vet for a set and a half until Massu destroyed a racquet frame and found his range. Following the match, Massu didn't talk to reporters, instead he stated, "muchas problemas."

King notched more aces, fewer double faults, better serve return and second serve point won stats than the 31-year old Massu.

While King has probably played more tennis in recent months than Massu, college tennis isn't life on the ATP Tour. Massu showed what experience means in the men's game and he took the big aggressive game of King down to size winning the second set in a dramatic tiebreak.

Massu appeared to thrive on the momentum and jumped out to a quick break in the third. He mixed in drop shots and found the range on several passing shots making King question his net rushing game plan.

King was impressive hitting deep approach shots and accurate volleys, but he shortened up the swing on his backhand as the match went on and eagle-eyed Massu saw an opportunity.

Massu may have grabbed the victory this time, the Yellow Jacket gained possibly more experience in one match than he might get in an entire college season. He went head to head with a player who was one of the world's best and you hate to say it, but the youngster should've won.

Should've, could've, would've; they are all terms tennis players hate. A term tennis players love is "confidence", I'm sure even in defeat, King is beaming with confidence. Hopefully he shows some of that confidence, continues to dominate the statistics, and gets a win as he is in the main draw of doubles this week in Atlanta.

NORCROSS, GA - Even though this is the second year of the Atlanta Tennis Championships there is a lot of "new" to talk about in 2011.

A new venue, a new tournament director, and a generation of new players that will kick off the 2011 Olympus U.S. Open Series this weekend in Atlanta.

Starting with the venue, the tournament this year comes to the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, GA. The previous site, the Atlanta Athletic Club is hosting the PGA Championship this August so it wasn't possible to play there again. The Racquet Club of the South offers more space, more shade, and a true stadium court for the feature matches.

The new tournament director is Bob Bryant. Bryant replaces Bill Oakes who moved to the new Winston-Salem Open ATP event. Bryant is excited about this year's new venue, especially the already in place stadium court. "Beacuse of that sunken court and (the fact) the existing seats that were there are so steep, you’re really surrounding the court. And one of the things we’re changing this year is, instead of the champagne tables on one end, we’re really surrounding it with seats. So, ... with the court six feet down and the seats coming right up to it, it really creates this bowl," explained Bryant.

If you like watching players moving up the rankings that might be Grand Slam champs a year or so down the road, this is the tournament for you. The likes of Ryan Harrison and Grigor Dimitrov should be in the main draw come Monday, along with other familiar names like Ryan Sweeting and Donald Young. Denis Kudla is in the qualifying and he's coming off a good showing at Newport.

It's always good balance out all the "newness" with some familiarity, and this year's Atlanta Tennis Championships does just that.

Let's start with the fans and volunteers. Atlanta is tennis crazy and when men's professional tennis went away in the 2000's there was a void that needed to be filled. Many of the fans attending and the volunteers working this year have been with the tournament since is was played at the Omni back in 1986. Ask any ATP tournament director and he will say that volunteers are the lifeblood of the event, and it wouldn't be possible without them. Atlanta's vounteers work harder than anyone in extremely hot conditions, they are troopers.

Looking at the players, a bunch of grizzled veterans (I won't call them old) are looking to stave off the youth movement and claim another title for the old guard. Included in this group are defending champ Mardy Fish and three former top five players in Lleyton Hewitt, Tommy Haas and James Blake. Hewitt is a former Wimbledon champ and #1 player in the world.

While not top heavy, the draw is deep. The contrast of new stars vs. former top 5 players makes this a very interesting event. ESPN2 and Tennis Channel will be on hand starting Friday to cover the action.

JOHN'S CREEK, GA - If your name was "Lauren", and you were playing a quarter-final match at The Falls at Autrey Mill on Friday, the good news is, you won!

Just north of Atlanta, top-seeded Lauren Davis of Ohio and Lauren Embree, a player at the University of Florida both posted impressive wins at the Norman Wilkerson Memorial Pro Circuit event under an overcast sky.

Davis outfought a determined Chinese player who trains in Florida, Di Zhao and Embree made quick work of a former NCAA champ in Amanda McDowell with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

The two "Laurens" will play the second feature match following an interesting semi between 15-year old Taylor Townsend and a veteran of the USTA Pro Circuit, second-seeded Alexis King.

Townsend has taken the more difficult path to the semi's as she outlasted Russian Angelina Gabueva 7-6 in the third set. King finished just as some light rain started to fall, defeating another promising young American in Hayley Carter. King is a former player at the University of Florida and she is looking forward to her Saturday semi. "It will be fun," she said following her win.

Davis started 2011 by playing in the Australian Open, but she is rebounding from missing time this spring with a concussion. Davis says she is gaining confidence and she's building off a win two weeks ago at a similar sized Pro Circuit event in Buffalo. "That was a tough tournament (in Buffalo), I'm fighting with all I have," Davis said following her win. On the practice courts, Davis has been putting in extra time working on her serve, an aspect of her game that Sam Stosur took advantage of during their first round match in Australia.

The doubles final will have an SEC vs. ACC feel to it. The team of Natalie Pluskota, a Tennessee Volunteer, and Alexandra Cercone, another University of Florida player will take on two former ACC stars. That would be former Wake Forest player Alexandra Hirsch and McDowell who played at Georgia Tech.

Players will get a break on Saturday with temps only in the 80's and a layer of cloud cover.

JOHN'S CREEK, GA - The most intense heat of the Atlanta summer hit The Falls at Autrey Mill Tennis Center this week, where play is being contested in the Norman Wilkerson Memorial USTA Pro Circuit Tournament.  This is a tournament where young players on women's tour are attempting to earn their stripes and move up to larger tournaments all over the world.

The USTA representative running the Pro Circuit event, Missy Malool has been making sure players, linespeople and volunteers are prepared for the extreme heat.  Malool is a veteran when it comes to running events like this as she's been doing it for 15 years.  It's the players that make it all worthwhile for Malool. "They are all good kids," Malool commented as she went over her preparations for the day.  

Round of 16 action began at 9 a.m. sharp to avoid the heat of the day for singles matches.

The feature match of the morning showcased a former NCAA champion in Amanda McDowell playing a hard hitting Chinese player in Xin Win.  Win contrasted McDowell's steady game with big serves and more aggressive play, but McDowell appeared to be more accustomed to the Georgia heat and that was enough to win in straights.

On outside courts, fans were able to catch a glimpse of a 15 and a 16-year old who may be the next big names in American women's tennis, Taylor Townsend and Hannah King.  The two girls both hail from the state of Georgia, so home court advantage was in play for both.

15-year old Townsend was showing the form that earned her a semi-final birth in a 50K event earlier this year in Carson, CA.  Townsend pounded away from the baseline to beat a talented Italian player in Federica Grazioso.

Out on Court 3, King, a blonde lefty who plays remarkably like Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova was a sight to see.  After a slow start, King showed why her all-court game will take her up the WTA rankings sooner rather than later. Playing a competent Russian in Angelina Gabueva, King pulled out all the stops.  This match was a battle of wills and the Russian had a little too much experience in the end to take a three-set victory.  

Also advancing to the quarters to be played on  Friday were top seeded Lauren Davis, another improving junior player in Hayley Carter of Hilton Head Island, SC, American player Alexis King, and a scrappy Chinese player in Di Zhao.

Friday's top two matches will bring together McDowell and current college player from the University of Florida, Lauren Embree.  Embree, who was granted a wildcard into the event has been very impressive.  She makes very few unforced errors and anticipates very well.  This contest is too close to call.

In the second feature match, Davis, one of America's top young players will face an unknown (a least to her) in Zhao.

Notes: Temperatures may actually cool off a few degrees heading into the weekend so heat indices will be 100 degrees instead of 108.

Among the faces seen on the grounds Friday morning were former ATP Tour player and current Georgia Tech women's coach Bryan Shelton, former WTA top-10 player Stephanie Rehe who is serving as a trainer this week, and Ken Thomas from RadioTennis.com.

If there was ever a reality show featuring tennis players it would surely include the Ellison Sisters, Roxanne and Sierra of Orange County, CA.

The Daily Forehand caught up with these two sisters who were competing this week in the Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament, a USTA Women's Pro Circuit event held outside of Atlanta.

While most people mistake these two six-foot blondes for twins, Roxanne is actually one year older, but they both have one more year left to play college tennis at San Diego State.

As juniors they were the #1 ranked doubles team in the country and now as collegians they are two-time Mountain West All-Conference selections. We talked about the sport they love, playing doubles as sisters and a certain reality show that is filmed in the community where they live.

As good as they are on the court, they are even nicer and more accommodating off the court. A pro tennis career is in their near future, but as the years go on, the sky is the limit for these two in whatever they decide to do.

The Daily Forehand:  How were you both introduced to the game of tennis, and did you immediately like it?

Roxanne: We were introduced to tennis when we were two and three. Our parents wanted to get us involved in sports at a young age.

Sierra: I enjoyed tennis when I was really young but I was also such a free spirited kid, I wanted to try everything. My parents were the ones to really helped me stay focused and committed to playing. I didn’t really learn to love the sport until I was in college. Now I can’t live without it.

The Daily Forehand:  You have had a lot of success playing doubles, do you think that might be your avenue to a pro career as there are players who are so-called doubles specialists earning a living on the tour?

Sierra: After graduating from college we intend to make a serious go of it on the pro tour. We enjoy singles but doubles is what some people say we were made for.

Roxanne: Sierra’s a lefty and I’m a righty which helps to create a strong force on the doubles court combined with our attacking serve and volley style of game and over all presence.

Sierra: We like to put on a show for the crowd.

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JOHN'S CREEK, GA -  No courtesy cars, no complimentary hotel rooms and very little prize money. Such is life on the summer USTA Women's Pro Circuit, where players from all over the world are trying to win valuable WTA ranking points and enough money to stay afloat. Picture rookie league baseball.

There is no glitz and glamour for these players, especially for the 96 entrants trying to secure one of eight main draw spots in the $10K Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament held outside of Atlanta each July. The tournament is one of ten events this size held in the U.S. each year.

This is the first year this event is being held at the upscale Falls at Autrey Mill Tennis Center in John's Creek, GA. The irony of multi-million dollar homes surrounding tennis courts where players might not even make a penny for the week isn't lost on anyone including the players.

While two players were looking at some Kia SUV's parked at the entrance to the tennis complex, showcased because Kia is a presenting sponsor, one player asked the other, "I wonder if the winner of singles and doubles get a vehicle?" The second player just walked away.

Post-It notes on the tournament table have names of players looking for roommates for the week to share on expenses. Could you see a yellow scrap of paper saying Roger Federer needs a roommate for the week at the Western & Southern Open? Not going to happen.

While the temperatures and humidity greeting the players each day are downright brutal, the tournamant is very well run by USTA officials and local volunteers. Local businesses run the concessions and proceeds go to a local charity.  USTA umpires roam the eight courts that are used during qualifying play. 

Because it's a popular stop, this Atlanta events usually gets a fairly strong draw. Former Georgia Tech standout, Irina Falconi who is now hovering around #100 in the world won this event last year.

This year, 17-year-old Lauren Davis, who is the top-ranked player to enter the event. Davis won the USTA Pro Circuit event in Buffalo, N.Y., in June, and finished 2010 by winning six events in the last three months of the year, including three junior championships, two USTA Pro Circuit titles and a USTA playoff to earn a wild card into the main draw of the 2011 Australian Open.

Amanda McDowell, who won the 2008 NCAA singles title as a sophomore at Georgia Tech en route to Player of the Year honors is also in the draw along with 15-year-old Taylor Townsend, a native of Stockbridge, Ga., who trains full time at the USTA Training Center-Headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., and who reached the semifinals of a USTA Pro Circuit $50,000 event in Carson, Calif., as a qualifier in May.

17-year-old Lauren Herring, who won her first professional title in 2010 at the USTA Pro Circuit $10,000 event in Amelia Island, Fla., and who will play collegiately for the University of Georgia this fall; 16-year-old Jan Abaza, who won the 2010 US Open National Playoffs Florida Sectional Qualifying Tournament, and who reached the quarterfinals earlier this year at the $10,000 USTA Pro Circuit event in Hilton Head Island.

Other entrants this week include two American juniors who are both lefties and happen to be from the Atlanta area. 18-year old Caroline Price is the daughter of former NBA All-Star Mark Price will be heading to North Carolina after playing summer tournaments and Hannah King, a 16-year old who plays a lot like Wimbledon champ, Petra Kvitova.

Should be high drama in the scorching temperatures this week. Whoever wins will will not only have to beat the heat, but also a bunch of talented young tennis players looking to be the next big thing in professional tennis.

Other than the Bryan Brothers and a few doubles players with names known to only hardcore tennis fans, Mardy Fish is the lone American left at Wimbledon.

Fish earned a place in the final eight by beating last year's runner-up Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-4 6-4. Fish dominated the match and kept the Czech off balance right to the finish.

Fish is playing smart tennis and using his serve effectively on the grass. "That was one of the best serving days of my life," Fish said in a post match interview.

The American right-hander has only dropped one service game in reaching the quarterfinals and should be feeling good knowing he hasn't had to play a long five-set match.

The same can't be said for his opponent, Rafael Nadal who now is nursing an injury that will require a Tuesday MRI.

In a late-day match, Nadal overcame Juam Martin Del Potro 7-6(6), 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 in just under four hours. Nadal hurt his foot in the first set. "I asked for the trainer at that moment when the game was done. I seriously didn't know at that moment if I will have the chance to continue playing.

"I don’t know what the problem is, it seems to be a problem with the bone in the foot.

"I thought I would have to retire at the end of the first set because there was a lot of pain. But the tape changed the situation. Now I will have to check with the doctors and the physios. Something is there.

The defending Wimbledon champion said his upcoming opponent Mardy Fish was a dangerous player, admitting he'd need to be at his most competitive on Wednesday to beat the man who toppled 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych in straight sets.  Nadal seems concerned.

"I need be at my hundred per cent. If not, gonna be impossible against him. So I have to recover."

Fish has never beaten Nadal, but with Nadal's tender foot and he match being played on grass, Fish might still be carrying the flag for American tennis come the semifinals.

Now I know that there are at least 102 reasons to love Wimbledon after reading this book by noted author David Green.

While Green lists his 101 reasons, the 102nd needs to be this book itself.

From the founding of the All England Croquet Club in 1868, to the Borg/McEnroe rivalry of the 70's, the dominance of the Williams' Sisters and the current excellence of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, this book covers it all without beating you over the head with it. It even closes with a recap of last year's marathon match with John Isner and Nicolas Mahut.

While it may not be a James Patterson novel, it is well written and contains enough facts and figures to appeal to the tennis fan that thinks he knows it all.

And those pictures. What really makes this book are the images. Anyone who has been to The Championships Wimbledon knows that pictures hardly do this place justice, but the images scattered around the pages of this book bring back memories from my trip to SW19 which was a decade ago.

When you get to the end of this book, you'll know why the club has an "all white dress code", who was known as "the Dior of Centre Court" and what kind of grass would need you need to plant to have a lawn reminiscent of the courts at the All England Club.

It's all in the book and more. It's great summer reading and a great read leading up to Wimbledon 2011. It's available at finer bookstores and at Amazon.

With a WTA ranking of #12 and preparing to play a Grand Slam tournament in her own country, Marion Bartoli should feel pressure coming at her from every angle.

At a recent sit down interview, she showed none of what you would expect from a young lady who is entering her tennis prime. What I found in Marion was a well spoken, intelligent athlete who knows her game, knows what it takes to win, and enjoys every moment of the life she leads.

While her results on clay this spring have been average at best, her impressive run in Strasbourg this week will hopeully give her the confidence she needs to move through the draw in Paris, after second-round losses in Charleston, Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.

Being the daughter of a doctor, and with reports coming out earlier in the year that she possesses an IQ of 175, it was interesting to hear if Marion thought she was a genius and if there was a Nobel Prize in her future. Marion immediately put these braniac rumors to rest. "The IQ test was a long time ago; I was 12 years old and it's a test all kids in France have to take," Marion added. Marion doesn't think the result would duplicate itself today, as she prefers to pass tests on the tennis court these days.

Bartoli feels she needs to keep getting stonger heading into Roland Garros. "I felt good about my play on hardcourts this spring," she said. Clay is a different story as the points are longer and the speed of the courts change with the conditions.  With an improved serve and one of the best returns in women's tennis, Marion feels she has a chance each time she steps out on the court. 

To get he mind off of tennis, Marion loves to paint and listen to music during her down time. "Painting is just something I do, it's different than tennis, but also similar," she added. Her musical taste is mostly American pop. When asked what she listens to, she said she enjoys Jennifer Lopez and Flo Rida, a rapper from Florida. It's only fitting that one of Flo Rida's hits is "Turn Around", because with her play this week, it looks like Marion has turned around her fotunes on clay as we head into the tournament that is most important to her. If she should win, she'll join Yannick Noah as the only other French-born player to win the French Open in the modern tennis era.

It's tennis' answer to a three ring circus, although this one is conducted on six courts.

I'm talking about NCAA Team Championship play, and it's excitement you don't find anywhere else in the tennis world. 

Thirty-two teams, sixteen men's and sixteen women's teams from across the country will head to Stanford University this weekend to crown champions in NCAA play.

I was lucky enough to attend the Atlanta regionals this past weekend at Georgia Tech.  While Georgia Tech advanced in both men's and women's play, the matches were close, entertaining, and high quality tennis. 

Saturday's women's match between Arizona St. and Ole Miss lasted nearly 5 hours with singles players Jacqueline Cako of ASU and Connor Vogel of Ole Miss playing for over three hours.  Cako is a freshman and also plays professional events, she currently holds a world ranking of #499.  Vogel has also played professional events, but doesn't currently hold a WTA ranking.

If you haven't seen college tennis is a while, the matches begin with three doubles matches and whoever wins two of the doubles matchups gets one point.  The six singles matches follow the doubles and are played until one school earns four points.

On the men's side, Virginia and USC have to be considered the favorites, and Stanford, Florida and Duke are the leading candidates to take the women's title. 

Based on the results at the regionals, it should be an exciting few days of action in Palo Alto.

This is a story I've been following for about two months now.  A few weeks back there was rumor of a revolt by ATP 250 level tournament directors in response to the announcement that ATP players Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer would be playing an exhibition event in Asia the same week that the ATP would be conducting 250 level events. 

It took a couple weeks, but I finally got an answer from Austin Nunn and Kate Gordon, the Executive VP of the ATP Tour's Marketing and Communications division.

The ATP Special Events Rule has been consistent since the governing body’s inception in 1990.  Players are allowed to play in non-ATP events during the week of an ATP World Tour 250 tournament if it is located more than 100 miles (160km) away and not considered the same market area of the city where the ATP World Tour tournament is located.

Over the years, the ATP Board of Directors has considered various proposals to modify the Special Events Rule. However, the Tour believes that the current rule provides an appropriate balance between promoting the ATP World Tour and the investment by our tournament members, and allowing our player members -- who are independent contractors and not ATP employees -- some flexibility to play in non-ATP events throughout the year, while fulfilling their commitments to the Tour.

This is bad news for ATP 250 tournaments that sometimes struggle to attract a  top-10 or top-20 player in their field.  I'm not sure men's professional tennis becomes "the wild west" again, but it could spell the end for some 250 events around the world.  I'm told the PGA Tour struggles with this issue as well.  In an age where it is harder and harder to gain corporate sponsorship for weekly sporting events, players should try and play as many events as they can on the regular tour.  Exhibitions should be played only in the off-season, especially since players have pushed for a longer off-season.

I can't believe it's been 30 years since the greatest rivalry in the sport of tennis peaked with the culmination of the 1981 U.S. Open in New York.

That generation saw tennis reach it's zenith of popularity and caught a glimpse of Borg vs. McEnroe through a narrow lens. Steve Tignor's new book, High Strung, one of a couple books to be released this year, features a look back at Borg, McEnroe, and a tennis world without an internet or Twitter.

While most of the stories Tignor tells have been rehashed and repeated many times over the years, he does go into great detail during the actual matches analyzing the points and what the players were thinking while constructing them.

I particularly enjoyed chapter where he focused on a young lefty from New York named John McEnroe and the influence one Harry Hopman had on him. Tignor also chronicles how young McEnroe looked up to, and admired a budding superstar from his own club, Vitas Gerulaitis. Even though McEnroe a few years later was beating him in Grand Slam tournaments, Tignor details how Gerulaitis seemed to actually enjoy the tennis lifestyle and era more than the players he was losing to.

There might be a lesson here for the USTA Player Development team led by Patrick McEnroe and Mary Joe Fernandez. A player like John McEnroe who played other sports into his teens and who sliced, dinked, and rattled opponents might not ever caught of the eye of the United States tennis establishment. If he did, they might have switched him to a Western grip and changed his service motion to what the "prototype" tennis player's game should look like.  The lesson here, great players are not only developed, some are born with greatness and shouldn't be overcoached.

Great behind the scenes information on Borg and his entourage, the high stakes world of tennis exhibitions, and how the U.S. Open actually became "The U.S. Open."   With some side information on Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl thrown in, the book is a quick and informative read aimed mostly at the avid tennis fan.

Tignor did a great job of gathering information for this book and it's confirmed by looking at the acknowledgements who were his "goto" sources for confirming information and stories. I've also read Jimmy Connors Saved My Life by Joel Drucker, and this is kind of a continuation of Drucker's effort without all the personal stories thrown in. Add this book to your summer reading list if you like tennis and the personalities that played the sport in the 70's and 80's. Get the hard cover or Kindle edition on Amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/High-Strung-McEnroe-Tenniss-Fiercest/dp/0062009842/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304895472&sr=1-1

If you hadn't heard, there is a new ATP event this summer leading up to the U.S. Open.  Well, it's a new location for the men's portion of the former New Haven, CT event that was one of the most popular stops on the ATP Tour for many years.

The Winston-Salem Open will be held  Aug. 20-27, it will be part of the Olympus US Open Series and it's the last ATP event before the US Open starts in Flushing Meadows.  Mardy Fish and North Carolina native John Isner have committed and more top players, especially international players looking to get more match play on Deco-Turf II are expected to make Winston-Salem their home for a week this summer.

Bill Oakes, the popular tournament director of many professional tennis events in Atlanta, including last year's Atlanta Tennis Championships has been tabbed as the new tournament director of the Winston-Salem Open.  He is also supervising the construction of the new venue for the event, a 13-court tennis center ofthe campus of Wake Forest University.

The center is under construction as I write this, but everything is expected to be ready for the August ATP 250 event with the exception of the permanent seating on the stadium court.  Plenty of temporary seating will be brought in for year one.

Here's one image of the ongoing construction, with others posted at: http://ricklimpert.squarespace.com/journal/2011/5/3/photos-of-the-new-winston-salem-open-tennis-complex.html

Looks like a lot of work to do before August, but if you remember the first year the U.S. Open was played at Flushing Meadows, the courts were finished only three days before play began and there were still signs of unfinished construction on the grounds of The National Tennis Center throughout the event.

She's won 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles, and mixed; played in the possibly the most important tennis match in history against Bobby Riggs in 1973, and is one of the most recognized people in and outside the world of sports.

I am of course talking about Billie Jean King. Even though her accomplishments on the tennis court are amazing, it's what she does off the court and after her playing days ended that will cement her legacy. She's been named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, Life magazine counts her among their "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century" and she has won both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

While the home of the U.S. Open will be forever known as the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Billie Jean wants to keep looking forward at ways to promote tennis and women's sports for years to come.

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Billie Jean on a conference call with other journalists when she announced that her World Team Tennis will hold their finals weekend at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center this July in Charleston, SC.

Billie Jean explained why she still gets excited for World Team Tennis. "Each match is one set and no-ad scoring," she stated. The action really is fast and furious and it includes her favorite event, mixed doubles. "Mixed could've been the event if it was marketed properly," she added. "Some of my best memories are playing mixed and it would be great to have more events offer mixed doubles."

Having the WTT finals in Charleston brings back Family Circle Cup memories for King. She lost to Rosie Casals back in 1973 when the women's tennis tour got its start. "Rosie won $30,000 and that is like a million dollars today," she stated. King also called Charleston a "wonderful destination" and feels this is the "beginning of something fantastic."

The talk then turned to current world #1 Caroline Wozniacki and the crop of youngsters that re coming up. King admitted she hasn't watched enough of the Dane to comment on how she would fare agains the greats of the game.

As far as the state of American tennis King said since tennis is now world-wide game, we have to identify players at a young age and encourage them to play tennis. "15-years old is too late to identify our players," proclaimed King. King said the new generation of tennis players doesn't like the word "lesson". "Kids today don't want to play tennis against a friend, they want to play with a friend," she added. King says American tennis has reached a critical point, "We have to get kids to compete; McEnroe, Connors, the Williams' Sisters, they all competed."

King also thinks that the Tennis Channel and social media are both great for tennis. Through all the years, you can still see that Billie Jean loved sports and did all she could to make sports a part of our everyday lives. She still "gets it" in a time when many others don't.

I don't know who is getting the blame for the U.S. Fed Cup train wreck but I really don't care.

Getting swept by a pedestrian German team and being sent to relegation play for the first time in the history of Fed Cup play is an embarassment for U.S. women's tennis, but this is where they deserve to be right now.

While the loss to Belgium earlier in 2011 was expected, the way this tie went down in Germany is troubling.

I think U.S. Fed Cup Captain and USTA apologist Mary Joe Fernandez saw this coming as far back as last year and while reviewing the tape of an interview I did with her back in December at the USTA Australian Open Wildcard Playoffs, she saw it coming.

I asked Mary Joe what is lacking from the group of American women that are looking to break through and become top players? Here is her answer and some other interesting excerpts from the interview I did with her.

Mary Joe Fernandez: I think these girls lack confidence and a belief they need to have to make it to the top. That comes from hard work and beating the competition.

The Daily Forehand: Have American players been too coddled and have they had it too easy in recent years.

Mary Joe Fernandez: I think that's been an issue. I've always said, attitude, how hard you work and how fit you get are under your control. I think we've just started instilling that in our players.

The Daily Forehand: What's been the problem the last five years with the USTA developing players?

Mary Joe Fernandez: Well, the sport has become very global, when I started playing 60% of the top-100 were Americans. We played mostly in America, and there are more opportunities for girls here in the States now. I have a daughter and she loves soccer, and other sports do a good job at being there for kids. We've always had a champion on the men's and women's side and we got spoiled.

The Daily Forehand: Do you think the USTA sat on its hand for years waiting for the next great champion instead of being proactive and helping develop one or more than one?

Mary Joe Fernandez: I'm not sure, it's a combination of things.

The Daily Forehand: What about the Williams' Sisters?

Mary Joe Fernandez: We'll they're still here, but everyone has been running around and asking, who's next?

The Daily Forehand: What's the answer?

Mary Joe Fernandez: We don't have the answer yet, but Melanie Oudin had a good 2009 and beat some top players, but it was a lot for her and she was under a lot of pressure. I think she handled it real well and is going to have a great 2011.

The Daily Forehand: How many more players are on the way?

Mary Joe Fernandez: They aren't here yet, but we should have 10 more Americans in the top-100 by the end of 2011. We need players who are consistent throughout the year.

The Daily Forehand: Melanie is 5'5"; doesn't have a huge game, who coming up has the most upside?

Mary Joe Fernandez: Look at the top players, they don't have huge games. There aren't that many big hitters, Wozniacki is solid but not a big hitter, Zvonareva is solid and consistent, Clijsters does have power. Serena and Venus do have power and big serves, but we need solid players who are consistent.

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World #1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, beat Elena Vesnina, 6-2, 6-3, in the final of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C. It was her third title of the season and biggest clay court title of her career, Wozniacki lost only one set in her five matches although she was pushed in the quarters and semis.

The tennis world's attention now turns to Europe and lead up events to the French Open in May.  Wozniacki likes where her game is right now, "I feel confident, and I know I can win a (Grand) Slam" tournament, Wozniacki said.

Wozniacki showed the variety in her game on Sunday as she baffled the Russian with spins, angles, and some play at the net. 

In doubles, Vesnina and her partner Sania Mirza won their second WTA title in as many months on Sunday, holding off Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-4 6-4.

DANIEL ISLAND, South Carolina - Three tough matches down and one to go for the world #1 as she is now poised to win her first Family Circle Cup, and the biggest clay court title of her career.

Caroline Wozniacki will now face Russia's Elena Vesnina in Sunday's final at the WTA Tour event held each year in Charleston.  After a slow start, Wozniacki held on to edge third-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4.

In a match that featured numerous service breaks and long rallies, it was Wozniacki who held her composure and proved stronger on the big points. 

"I had to be aggressive and hit it deep because she is such a good fighter," Wozniacki said.  Jankovic returned the compliment, "She can run all day long and she can play those points. You feel like she can go for days. You don't expect her to get tired or winded because she's not fit. She's maybe the fittest player on the tour, right now. So I wasn't surprised that she was feeling pretty good today."

Jankovic started the match quickly, but after a coaching visit from her father Piotr,, Wozniacki found her groove.  "Definitely, it was important," Wozniacki said. "Otherwise, I would have lost the set. It was important, and I just kept my focus."

It will be Wozniacki's second final in Charleston as she dropped a 6-2, 6-4 decision to German player Sabine Lisicki in 2009.  "I don't remember too much, to be honest, from the match," Wozniacki said." I remember I lost it, and tomorrow I will try to win it. We will see if that will be possible. I'm just happy to be in the finals again, and it's been another great week for me."

There have been a lot of "great weeks" for the world #1, Wozniacki hopes this carries over to a great two weeks in Paris later this spring.

Sponsorships and marketing deals are nothing new to the world of sports.  Tobacco companies were major sponsors of baseball back as far as the early 1900’s, and who can forget all the Miller Lite ads in the 1980’s and 90’s that featured ex-jocks promoting sports and beer.

But sometime in the 1990’s sponsors started being called partners as they wanted more say how their marketing dollars were utilized.  Companies wanted more than a name on a scoreboard or sign, they wanted to be identified with the event and venue.  For years sponsorship spending rose by more than 10% a year, says IEG, a Chicago trade publication that follows the sponsorship and naming rights industry.  That all came to a screeching halt in 2009 when spending on sports sponsors hips shrank by $100 million.  Some may blame a weak economy and some attribute it to the changing landscape of sports and all the scandals that started making the front page of newspapers and not just the sports pages.

The Family Circle Cup and it’s rich history is known throughout the world.  This event is lucky to have a stable title sponsor in Family Circle Magazine that has been with the event for almost 40 years.  That is almost unheard of in any era.

But events like the Family Circle Cup need more than a title sponsor to be successful, and they have them.  From Dove, and the City of Charleston to SunTrust, Mohawk and Island House; national and local sponsors are needed for a major tennis event like this.

Who appreciates the sponsors?  Players, fans and tournament officials all have the sponsors to thank, but it's a unique situation for all involved.

At the Family Circle Cup, sponsors roll out the red carpet for both the players and fans, literally.  Fans entering the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center pass over a plush red carpet with the name Mohawk emblazoned across it.  Genius.  

The red carpets are also visible on center court as the players chairs are placed on top of the Mohawk red carpets and as the players enter the stadium court they walk over a strategically placed red carpet. Great idea!

Speaking of the chairs where the players sit on changeovers, they aren’t chairs at all.  They are plush wicker sofas, something like you will find in your sunroom.  All provided by Island House.  Great exposure and very visible to the fans in the stadium and those watching on ESPN 2.  

Speaking of ESPN 2, the television coverage featuring Cliff Drysdale and Pam Shriver is basically a 2-hour commerical for Charleston and Daniel Island as they wax poetic about the great restaurants, endless shopping possibilities,  and all the historic sites you can tour.  All while looking at a beautiful stadium court and watching high quality tennis.

I’m not event mentioning the presenting sponsor, Dove who is handing out free samples of their products onsite and Dell, who has a huge tent showcasing their computers, tablets, and new technology that is coming in 2011.  

As a nice touch for the local sponsors, the tournament invites them to toss the coin and pose with players before Stadium Court matches and in between matches a local chiropractor led the crowd in exercises to stay fit and pain-free while watching tennis in the South Carolina sun.

Call them what you want, but sponsorships still rule the world of sports.  The Family Circle Cup, being the fan-friendly and special event it is handles sponsorships, err partnerships better than most.  They are unique and blend in with the flavor of the tournament, they don’t stick out like a sore thumb; you remember them and you want to use their products.  A win-win situation for all involved.

DANIEL ISLAND, SC - Tournament organizers, fans, and the media will be getting the match they were pointing to all week long in Charleston.  While upsets were plentiful on the bottom half of the draw, the top half has held to form and we will have a Wozniacki vs. Jankovic semi Saturday afternoon.

ESPN's Cliff Drysdale almost seemed giddy about the possibility of this match at the Family Circle Cup. 

With a new coach in former men's player Andrei Pavel, Jankovic has breezed through her three matches including a rout of American teenager Christina McHale in the quarters. 

"I've just been to two tournaments so far with Andrei and things are going real well so far," says a confident Jankovic.  "He believes in me and that means a lot."  So far you can't argue with the results on the court.

World #1, Caroline Wozniacki has taken a different path to the semi-finals.  She won close three-setters against Barbara Zahlavova-Strycova and Yanina Wickmayer to reach this point.  Wozniacki credited the crowd and her fans with getting her through, "I mean, it's unbelievable. Everyone is cheering for me and it's such a great feeling," she said. "I feel like a local, really."

Jankovic is 4-1 lifetime against Wozniacki, but Wozniacki won the last meeting earlier this year in Dubai.  The pair has never met on clay.  Many have noticed that Jankovic has spent a great deal of time on the practice courts this week.  Pavel has been working on her being more aggressive with the forehand and it appears to be paying off.

"I’m feeling good," Jankovic said. "My game is getting better and better."  She also feels she'll have to raise her game even more against her rival, Wozniacki.  "She's a great athlete," Jankovic said of the world #1. "She really runs a lot of balls down and doesn't give you anything."

Since Jankovic has spent as much time as anyone else on the practice courts this week, she feels almost entitled.  "If I win, I will have earned it," she aded before grabbing her rackets and heading to a practice court.

One of the perks of covering women's tennis is getting to know who the players are off the court. Tennis is their job, but they only spend a fraction of their day on the court. Yes, they train, eat, and sleep; but what do they do when they aren't playing or thinking about tennis?

Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium is currently ranked #23, but she has spent plenty of time in the top-20. For a 21-year old, she is very mature and business-like in her approach to tennis and life. She's fun to watch on the court and a pleasure to talk with one-on-one.

So far in 2011, she has reached the finals in Auckland and the semi-finals at Indian Wells. Thursday she has a big showdown with world #1 Caroline Wozniacki at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston.

Yanina has pressure on her that most other players don't. She follows two great Belgian players in Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, and she is expected to pick up where they left off.  This would too much to handle for most 21-year olds, but with all Yanina has been through, she takes it all in stride.

I asked Yanina about that pressure and how she handles it. I also asked who who she looked up to and patterned her game after.

Wickmayer: I do fell some pressure, but it's only the pressure I put on myself. As for my game, obviously it's more like Kim's than Justine's. I look up to both players, but I'm not Kim and I'm not Justine.

The Daily Forehand: You travel a lot and play a very full schedule. Who are you close to, and who do you call when you need someone to talk to?

Wickmayer: It's hard to travel as much as we do, but I do have my father, and I have a very close friend in Belgium that I call all the time.

The Daily Forehand: What piece of technology or gadgets do you bring with you on tour?

Wickmayer: I actually have a new computer and all the normal iPods that everyone else has.  Also, my phone.

The Daily Forehand: What might we find you listening to on your iPod?

Wickmayer: Many different things, but right I really like Usher and Rihanna.

The Daily Forehand: Kim recently said she won't be going to Asia this year because of all the problems resulting from the devastating earthquake. Where do you stand on that?

Wickmayer: I just want to say it's terrible what has happened in Japan. I have donated for the Japan relief fund and I look forward to going there and playing for those nice people.

The Daily Forehand: Do you give of yourself to other charities as well?

Wickmayer: When I'm back in Belgium, I try and visit children at hospitals. I lost my mother when I was young and bringing a smile to a kid's face is great.

The Daily Forehand: I remember Donnay from the 1970's and 80's, and being the racket Bjorn Borg used. You are now using a Donnay racket?

Wickmayer: I am, and I love it. I started using it earlier this year, and I signed a deal with them. They are a Belgian company, so i think that's important.

The Daily Forehand: You are a very fit and athletic player, did you play other sports when you were younger as well?

Wickmayer: I was actually a good skier. I had to chosse between tennis and skiing. I think I made the right choice, but I would still like to ski. I think I'll start skiing again when I retire.

The Daily Forehand: Now with Justine retired, you will be counted on for the Belgian Fed Cup Team. Where do you put Fed Cup on your list?

Wickmayer: i love playing for my country and have filled in and played whenever they needed me. I enjoy playing Fed Cup.

The Daily Forehand wished Yanina good luck for the rest of the week in Charleston and throughout the rest of 2011. I have a feeling she will be a fixture in the top-20 for many years to come, and some big titles will be coming her way.

DANIEL ISLAND, South Carolina --- Australian Sam Stosur made quick work of Patricia Mayr-Achleitner of Austria with a dominating 6-1, 6-2 win Wednesday at the Family Circle Cup. With Stosur using a high kicking serve and a inside out forehand, Mayr-Achleitner had no answer for Stosur's all-court assault on the green clay courts.

Stosur was ready to go from the first point, and it's no wonder as she has spent more time on the practice courts the last few days than anyone else. Stosur spent time telling the fans that she feels comfortable here and her game is coming around.

Last year, Stosur defeated Russian Vera Zvonareva for the championship at the Daniel Island tennis center.

Next up for Stosur will be another Russian, Elena Vesnina.

The strong, gusty wins on Daniel Island blew American Melanie Oudin right out of the Family Circle Cup on Tuesday as she was defeated by Austria's Tamira Paszek 6-1, 7-5.

"Losing is always disappointing," said Oudin, who last year reached the quarter-finals in Charleston. "Tamira is a tough competitor. The first set I thought she came out really strong and I definitely could have played better. The second set I thought was a good set from both of us."

Oudin currently sits at #75 in the WTA rankings.  With this loss, her ranking is expected to slip into the 90's. 

A bit of good news did reach Oudin on Tuesday.  The 19-year old was named to the U.S. Fed Cup team and she seemed excited about going to Germany.

"Hopefully the U.S. can win because we'd really like to stay in the top world group," Oudin said. "We've been there for a really long time now and I think we've got a good team going. Hopefully we can play some really good tennis there and beat the Germans."

Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Liezel Huber, and Christina McHale were the other players named to the team by coach Mary Joe Fernandez.  Venus Williams may travel with the team to Germany.