If the Williams sisters were to retire with Davenport as of this writing, the U.S. would have no women in the Top 40, and three players in the Top 100 (including the 30+ Jill Craybas, and Ashley Harkleroad who is pregnant). In other words, by the time the Williams retire, U.S. women’s tennis will virtually retire with them.

There’s an age-old saying in the financial markets that the “trend is your friend.”

Indeed, Rafael Nadal fans, go ahead and pop that champagne, can things get any better?

It may not have come in his preferred event, but in his third try Roger Federer finally has his Olympic gold medal.

We are getting down to nitty-gritty across the way at the Beijing Olympics. Later today the quarterfinals get underway with a line-up loaded with star power.

Okay. So it was the wrong Rafael. It wasn’t Rafael Nadal that Roger Federer beat 6-2, 6-4 earlier today at the Beijing Olympics second round. It was Rafael Arevalo.

I have to admit, I’m pretty lukewarm when it comes to pro tennis being part of the Olympics and the Beijing games which open tomorrow.

First congratulations to Rafael Nadal and his legion of supporters. The Spaniard has waited a long, very long time to get the top of tennis and he’s finally done it.

I gave Roger Federer a pass for his performance at the start of year, buying into his mono as a reasonable explanation for his poor play.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick continue to have their struggles while Rafael Nadal looks better than ever in Cincinnati.