It all started when the organizers for the French Open thought that it was unsavory for online betting companies to offer bets pertaining to the Grand Slam tournaments. Then they issued a legal challenge to three major betting entities, namely bwin, Ladbrokes and Betfair to stop them from earning profits from bets taken based on the renowned tennis tournaments. Furthermore, if scandals pertaining to match fixings were to occur, it could spoil the name and value of the tournament. Bigwigs from the French Open also added that it was unethical to take bets and gain money from Roland Garros tennis matches. But earlier this week, a Liege court refuted their claim and said that these online betting firms did no wrong in offering bets and in fact did not violate rights of the French tennis association.

No updates about the pending actions that stems from the French Open organizers’ anger. The European Gaming & Betting Association sided with the online betting firms and said that they are professionals who operate ethically without committing fraudulent acts.

Maria Sharapova’s dream of clinching her second successive clay court title received a severe jolt when she was defeated by arch rival Serena Williams in the quarter finals of the Family Circle Cup on Friday. Serena improved her career record against the Russian blonde to 5-2 beat her in three sets with a score line of 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. Serena was able to really break free from the Sharapova shackles only in the third set and is well on course to claim her their successive tournament after winning at Bangalore as well as Miami.

Serena has showed some tremendous tennis skills this season and she has also received good reviews from current as well a ex-players for the same. Serena, who is currently number nine in the world, knows pretty well that her road to claiming the Family Circler Cup is now easy after the defeat of defending champion Jelena Jankovic by Russian Zvonareva.   

Serena Williams proved that she was the better woman on the court when she bested Vera Zvonareva with the scores 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to bring home the Family Circle Cup title last Sunday. This win is deemed her first clay court title since triumphing at the 2002 French Open tournament. And that’s not all, this is also Serena’s third overall victory for the year 2008 and this move is expected to propel her to the No.6 spot in terms of world ranking. This win is also her 31^st overall victory in her entire career as a professional tennis player.

The affable young lady commented that she was lucky to have excellent momentum and this has helped her win the title, thus being proud owner of the ornate crystal cup and $197,000 prize money. Fifth seeded Serena beat the ninth seeded Russian but even so, Zvonareva managed to rise to the No.14 rankings in no time.

The world number one men’s tennis player, Roger Federer, is not having a good 2008 season and looks to be a slightly worried man. The Swiss tennis sensation has recently admitted that he has asked Spanish coach Jose Higueras to help him for the clay court tournament in Estoril. The Roland Garros clay court of France is the only Grand Slam tournament that Federer has not won so far in his career and he is determined to set things right this time and is hiring the experience of the former clay court specialist in a bid to adapt to clay court conditions.

Federer has said that he wanted to see if his teaming up with new coach Higueras, who has received rare reviews for his coaching, can prove to be fruitful and is hiring a coach since he split with Tony Roche, the Australian coach, in May last season. Higueras has been instrumental in making Michael Chang and Jim Courier champions at Roland Garros while he was coaching them.

The title of third youngest player to win the ATP since the year 1990 recently went to fifteen year old Ryan Harrison. The young American gained the title after defeating Uruguayan Pablo Cueyas with the unprecedented score of 6-4 and 6-3. This took place at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship located in Houston, Texas.

Cuevas didn’t stand a chance against the young Harrison even after three excellent serves. Harrison scored 3-1 in the second set and thus ended the game and started his reign as the third youngest victor in an ATP tournament in just under 57 minutes.

Harrison is just about a month shy of his sixteenth birthday and is considered the tenth player in the Open Era to notch up a win before his sixteenth year. The Texas youth began his astronomical career after ranking no.7 in the world junior category.

Fans of Andy Murray are dismayed to find him pulling out of the Valencia Open after contracting a minor virus.

The British World Number One has previously placed high expectations and is set to rely on his performance in the Valencia Open and help him up his world ranking after slipping to number 22 but alas, it was not to be.

He has no choice but to skip this tournament but is expected to make a quick recovery and return to action at the Masters series tournament held in Monte Carlo on 21 April 2008.

To date, the 20 year old Murray has won two ATP Championships at Qater and Marseille but with after losing to Tommy Haas from Germany in Indian Wells, he dropped out of the world top  20 miserably since August 2006. Any Murray is now recuperating and is eager to best his opponent in the coming Masters series tennis tournament.

Come to Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, on Saturday, August 23, 2008 to kick off the season’s US open tournament. You would be able to see your favorite tennis payers along with some of the best artists in the music circuit. This year’s lineup is yet to be announced. Some of the past participants of the event have been Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova and Roger Federer. There have been many musical sensations as well including Sean Kingston, The Cheetah Girls, The Jonas Brothers, Lil’ Mama, and Ne-yo.

 There would also be a host of interactive games, tennis clinics and a range of fun activities for the whole family. Some of the past activities of the event that has received good reviews were: The Hess Express Obstacle Course, Olympus Capture It All, Valspar Paint Performance Challenge, Barilla Challenge of Champions, NikeGO Tennis, Beat the Pro, IBM Speed Zone, Nickelodeon’s Let’s Just Play, Adaptive Tennis, CBS 2’s Eye on the Prize, Go Healthy Challenge, Hair Braiding, Face Painting, Juggling Workshop and USDA Eat Smart, Autograph Sessions with ATP Tour players, and Play Hard.  

There is a lot of pride and money at stake for top tennis players in Grand Slam events, but that does not mean that these players do not have the lust for an Olympic gold. The pride to play for one’s country is a major thing that is bringing in many top players to the tennis event at the forthcoming Beijing Olympics. Andy Roddick of the U.S had earlier announced that he would skip the Beijing Olympics in a bid for the US Open title.

Many top men and women players see the Olympics event as important event in their 2008 tennis calendar. Maria Sharapova, the Australian Open champion, is very eager to compete in the Olympics event. Sharapova said that it was her dream to play in an Olympics tournament right from her childhood. Roger Federer, the world number one men’s tennis player and one who has received good reviews from most of the former players, is keen to contest in the 2008 Olympics event and is hoping to add an Olympic gold medal to his elaborate resume.