Rafael Nadal was a pallbearer at the funeral of Juan Antonio Samaranch.

Elite tennis players have used a variety of stroke mechanics and tactics to succeed. Therefore, different physiques have been seen frequenting the winner’s circle in tennis. Boris Becker, Gustavo Kuerten, Jimmy Connors and Andre Agassi did not have similar body types, but each won a lot of big matches.

Avoid this item. It can help a person get into better shape so as a workout device it is fine, but it is detrimental to one’s tennis swing and timing on the court.

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.

What a crazy day at the Beijing Olympic Tennis event Thursday.

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.

Ginepri opens against world No. 3 Novak Djokovic, while Querrey has two winnable matches before a potential third-round meeting against world No. 2 Rafael Nadal. Blake, the No. 8 seed, opens against big-serving Aussie Chris Guccione, and hopes to make a quarterfinal meeting against world No. 1 Roger Federer.

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.