Notes: One of the toughest 28-draw fields of the year with seven Top 10 players among the seeds, and more dangerous floaters than seeds…Challenging starts for (1) Serena after a bye vs. the Kleybanova-Makarova winner, (5) Jankovic after a bye vs. the Stephens-Safarova winner…

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut won a wild and wooly Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport on Sunday, surviving his semifinal and final in the same day after rain on Saturday.

“She played the conditions much better than I did,” said Hampton, who is projected to rise to No. 25 in the rankings. “Honestly, I was surprised how she was even hitting the ball in the court [in the wind], and on top of that she was playing some very good tennis. She was very deserving of the title today…I have given myself like a two-hour time limit to sulk, basically the journey up to Wimbledon — I can sulk during that and maybe have a little chocolate, and then move on and get on with Wimbledon.”

James Blake earned his first win of the season putting away 20-year-old Ryan Harrison last night in Atlanta.

The Andys, former champions Murray and Roddick, were both upset today in the first round at the Queen’s Club in London.

Andy Roddick suffered a tough loss in what might have been his last clay court match.

John Isner on playing Nicolas Mahut again: “It’s going to be pretty nuts. I couldn’t believe it. I joked with him earlier in the week, last week, and said, ‘Watch us play each other.’ And he said, ‘No, there’s no way. That’s not even funny.’”

Nicolas Mahut in a dress?

Several tennis players picked up ESPY hardware Wednesday night in L.A.

Whether it is tennis, some other sport or playing tag in one’s neighborhood, I imagine all of us played various games as children that only ended when the sun went down.