Another week of hectic activity in the Grand Slam Tennis Tours offices + Much Ado about nothing in the tennis world = a simple link post today.  Next week, I promise, I’ll have a full Davis Cup Preview for you.  In addition, I’ll post live from Birmingham as I am lucky enough to attend.  “But until that day comes…keep your ear to the grindstone”

Bonnie Ford of ESPN gives a nice summary of the Dubai mess.

I’ll preview the Israel/Sweden Davis Cup Tie, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to review it.

Andre Agassi is going to grace the Team Tennis World a couple of times this summer.

The Evans Report.  Courtsey of Tennis Week.

Tennis Week interview with the biggest personality in tennis (small dose of sarcasm).

Latest Wertheim mailbag. And Ad In/Ad Out Feature.

James Martin doesn’t think much of the WTA Tour ‘Roadmap‘ rules.

Here in the U.S., not much good news when it comes to tennis…Blake and Fish both lost early in Memphis (to Hewitt and Christophe Rochus, respectively) after making good runs in San Jose last week.  Perhaps more upsetting, was this announcement made earlier in the week.  So, I’m going to do my best to provide mostly positive links this week.

Nadal is planning on playing against Serbia in a huge first round Davis Cup Tie.

Fresh on the heels of being harshly criticized by the tennis world, United Arab Emirates is trying to make up for a horrific mistake.

Some information on the inaugural Billie Jean Cup.

An old high school buddy interviews Johnny Mac.

Tennis Week interview with Azarenka.

Most recent Wertheim mailbag. And his Ad In/Ad Out.

Apparently the ATP did not like the way Stanford Financial was approaching investments.

Between the Australian Open and First round of Davis Cup in early March, there is usually a bit of a lull.  This might have something to do with the bass-ackwards tennis schedule (holding the first Grand Slam two weeks into the season, because that definitely makes sense).  So I’ve lacked in information to discuss, in the meantime here are some links to keep you happy:

Obligatory Maria Sharapova update.

Serena speaks her mind on new Anti- Arod (um, I mean doping) policy.

Tennis Week Interview with Johnny Mac.

Ivanovic (who is all the way down to number 8) hires a new coach.

More for the male viewers.

Jankovic and Federer probably won’t be going out for drinks anytime soon.

Latest Wertheim mailbag.  And of course, his Ad In/Ad Out feature.

So Sunday was a relatively decent sports day.  I woke up and watched my DVR’d copy of the Nadal/Federer final.  Then watched the Bruins destroy the Canadiens, and capped it all off with what turned out to be one of the more exciting Super Bowls I’ve seen (and only had to endure one reference to David Tyree and last year’s Giants)! The Super Bowl was interesting because the two halves were like the two Australian Finals.  The first half was similar to the Womens, in which Serena destroyed a completely overwhelmed Dinara Safina; the second half was more reminiscent of yet another classic Federer vs. Nadal Grand Slam Final.

The five set win for Nada, who has now won 6 major titles (defeating Federer in 5 finals) was not quite as epic as the 2008 Wimbledon final, but it still served as a reminder that despite the success of Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, the Mens tennis game is really only about The Swiss and The Spaniard.  Before I get to links, it should be noted that while Nadal still has less than half the major titles that Federer has, he has now won on all three surfaces, something which Federer (like Sampras before him) was not able to accomplish.

Probably the best article on tennis I’ve read in awhile, courtesy of a new ESPN Page 2 writer.

More Nadal/Federer.

Bonnie Ford’s Australian Open Review.

Nadal chimes in on the most absurd ‘controversy‘ in sports.

Tennis Week offers some advice to Roger Federer.

Serena unstoppable down under.