Popular American Andy Roddick and James Blake meet in a rare first round match in Memphis tonight.

WATCH OUT FOR MY EXPLODING HEAD — Serena Williams on keeping the No. 1 ranking in 2010: “I don’t think about it a lot. I’ve got a lot on my plate. Everyone assumes that I’m No. 1 anyway.”

“In my opinion there is no danger that the tournament will be pulled,” McLoughlin says.

The second week of the interesting “Mexico Swing” on the new WTA Tour calendar, which is down time for most all of the top players who have taken the two weeks off to prepare for tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami.

“I really didn’t agree with what went on over there,” Roddick said. “I don’t know if it’s the best thing to mix politics and sports, and that was probably a big part of [his withdrawl].”

Shocker: Defending champ Andy Roddick pulling while still in the semis at Memphis, passing on defending his ranking points and collecting a hefty appearance fee. “They have all seemed to have legitimate injuries,” Colm McLoughlin, the managing director of Dubai Duty Free, told reporters on Saturday regarding players skipping out. “I have no concerns. We have heard that Roddick was on the start of a hernia. I didn’t hear any other reports.”

This fine amount represents the highest fine ever levied against a Tour member.

“I told them the story I heard, and they laughed,” Bryan said.

It is still very unfortunate that due to the decision of the Dubai tournament and the UAE, I could not participate in the tournament this year. This has hurt me significantly both personally and professionally.

What happened to Shahar last week was discriminatory, reprehensible and unacceptable, and the Tour will shortly be determining remedies for her, penalties to be imposed on the tournament, and the additional assurances we will require to guarantee all Israeli athletes entry to the UAE so that future tournaments in the UAE may take place.