MEMPHIS MOVING?: The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports that a deal to sell the combined ATP/WTA event to keep it in the city fell through, and now the event could be sold to outside interests who could move the event (see: Middle East, Asia, the usual suspects — goodbye to another U.S. event).

Disaster Series it sure has been. The last three singles matches in Rome have all ended abruptly in retirement.

Probably the two most important guys there (the wire writers) barely look up from their desks, let alone go out to watch tennis. I asked one of them when the last time he had seen a match. He thought he might have seen a few minutes of one in Miami but not one since. When asked “why do you need to even attend the events if you don’t watch any of the tennis?” Answer: “For the quotes.”

BURN SOME CALORIES, THEN HAVE A FEW BEERS: According to Consumer Reports magazine, tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. While playing just a half hour of singles tennis, a 140-lb. person will burn 254 calories and a 200-lb. person will burn 364 calories.

So, I keep thinking I am forgetting something. Oh yeah, Rafael Nadal played today as well. That was where I was going with the opening heat comment and I fear I have gotten off track. Big news of the day, Nadal won. Considering he has won 101 of his last 102 matches on clay, I supposed that shouldn’t be too much of a shocker. Here is my big prediction for tomorrow: Nadal has a 99% chance of a victory. I’ll even go out on a limb to say the same is true for Sunday. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first one to stuff my high-heeled foot back in my mouth.

The universe must be back in alignment as the warmth returned today and the king of the clay retained his throne. Rafael Nadal, who made his 2008 Barcelona debut in front of a packed house, reminded us all why he is the master.

The sun was back today but not so the soft warmness of springtime in Spain. Chilling winds and intermittent clouds gave way for some brief periods of warmth both in temperature and in the fans hearts.

Whoever coined the phrase “Sunny Spain” must have been drinking a bit too much vino tinto. The weather today was a cloudy and damp 61 degrees.

The ATP has reverse its rule instituted in 2004 that banned ads from alcohol companies on players’ clothes.

Starting in 2009, ATP players will receive ranking points for competing in Davis Cup, a dicey proposition since generally only two singles players from each country get the opportunity to compete for singles points during each tie, leaving lower-ranked players and practice partners out of the points mix.