While the argument remains whether golf is a sport, Ochoa became the fifth straight golfer to capture the women’s award, and had 71 votes to the runner-up Henin’s 17.

There’s a strong implication recreational players can gain from the 2007. The main focus is on the world’s two best players, and as I see it, it can be grasped not just by recreational adults but also by juniors, parents, and coaches.

In a surprise run of events this week in Madrid, Maria Sharapova is playing perhaps her best tennis of the season, Serena Williams pulled out with injury, Anna Chakvetadze is through to the semis and Justine Henin double bagelled Marion Bartoli.

In 2006, Justine Henin, Amelie Mauresmo and Maria Sharapova were all considered favorites to win the year-end Sony Ericsson WTA Championships. Kim Clijsters was in the mix too.

The Top 5 happenings in pro tennis heading into the week of Nov. 5, 2007.

Doesn’t it all look so familiar. A big Masters Series tournament in Cincinnati where all the top players compete, but where half of them suffer from playing the week before, and a top tier WTA event without most of the tour’s stars. Federer wins the men’s event, while Henin prevails as the top lady. Is [...]

5 Questions:
1) What happened to the Williams sisters, American’s lone hope at the French Open?
Venus Williams blamed her loss on fatigue due to over-training, which jibes with people from her camp who say it is an effort to get her off the practice court. As she gets older she is going to need to train [...]

When Venus Williams was confirmed for the U.S. April Fed Cup match against Belgium, after she had yet to make a tour appearance this year because of injury, one thought “good luck with that, keep you fingers crossed.”
When earlier this week it was announced that the oft-injured Serena would join Venus on the team, it [...]

Russia leads Chile 2-0
MARAT SAFIN (RUS) d. NICOLAS MASSU (CHI) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
IGOR ANDREEV (RUS) d. FERNANDO GONZALEZ (CHI) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2
The Chileans, heavily favored, look less-than-fearsome on their home clay as the Russians put themselves within a win of advancing on Friday. The less-than-fresh Gonzo, coming off the Australian Open final and Vina [...]

2007 Aussie Open Preview
The list of players injured before the Aussie Open even starts is long, and the list of possible withdrawals from Melbourne, even longer (Rafael Nadal? David Nalbandian? Nikolay Davydenko? Nadia Petrova?), but it’s summer in Australia and the Aussie Open starts Monday (event if Roger Federer says it should be pushed back [...]