When the Olympic Games fall between Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, it creates the havoc we have seen this Summer.

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 hate not playing and I hate withdrawing from tournaments,” said Roddick, chomping at the bit to take the court and gain some momentum entering Flushing Meadows. “It’s the most hollow feeling every when you have to walk off because you’re hurt and you know people have come to watch you play.”

FINALLY NO. 1?: Rafael Nadal will become the new No. 1 next Sunday if he wins the title at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati and Roger Federer loses before the semifinals…

“I have done well in mixed doubles against the guys and when you take the serve out of the equation, it is a much more even playing field,” Stevenson said.

I sat courtside, and it was a hot humid day. Fans were sweating from just being in the heat. Neither player seemed to wilt from the elements, but this was not a pleasant low humidity day.

Hi everyone, the Blonde girl with a computer is back. I had a terribly pleasant day watching lawn tennis amid blooming hydrangeas and geraniums from the shaded porch of a glorious Victorian Manor. The players in their crisp whites made a striking contrast to the lush emerald of the courts while I slowly sipped my Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Tea. Had you going there for a minute didn’t I. This was no figment of my imagination by any stretch; I might have just forgotten to mention a minor detail. I’m coming to you this week from Newport, RI, home of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships or as I like to call it, the ersatz Wimbledon.

The reason for this is Sharapova can only play one way. When that way is working, when she has perfect conditions, feels healthy, is moving reasonably well and picking her spots with her serve she can humble a great player. When any of that is not working and she is forced to move during points and is not able to dictate right off of the serve or return, Sharapova looks very average. She has a monotonous game. Jim Courier called it “ball machine tennis” last summer.

British Lawn Tennis Association coach Brad Gilbert’s charge Alex Bogdanovic lost first round at Wimbledon, and now Gilbert is out the door. It was announced that Gilbert will part ways with the LTA and following Bogdanovic around the Challenger circuit when his contract ends in three months.

The slew of upset-makers Tuesday were Casey Dellacqua (d. (12) Patty Schnyder in three), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (d. (17) Alize Cornet in two tiebreaks), Vera Dushevina (d. (19) Maria Kirilenko), Evgeniya Rodina (d. (27) Virginie Razzano after getting bageled in the first), and Jie Zheng (d. (30) Dominika Cibulkova).

I allow myself to briefly occupy the mythical Commissioner of Tennis Chair that John McEnroe publicly campaigns for now and again. Johnny Mac campaigned long and hard to be the U.S. Davis Cup captain only to quit after one year, but when should reality ever hurt speculation and offering advice? Here are my 5 (best?) […]

Dick Enberg will work his 25th Wimbledon to call matches, sharing the duty with Cliff Drysdale — the two-time Wimbledon semifinalist who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast in 1979. They will team with analysts Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. In addition, Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst 2004 — 2006, returns after a two-year coaching stint. Shriver will frequently be utilized as a roving reporter covering play in “outer courts” and as a sideline reporter, as will Luke Jensen who will also appear on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com. Chris Fowler, who has served as ESPN’s studio host for Grand Slam tennis events since 2003, will host and call select matches. In addition, legendary tennis journalist and commentator Bud Collins, who joined ESPN in August 2007, will make his Wimbledon debut for ESPN.

“This completes a five-year process of reinventing the television and digital landscape for the sport of tennis in North America,” said Arlen Kantarian, CEO Pro Tennis, USTA. “Tennis will now be prominently featured for eight straight weeks on ESPN — the premiere destination in sports; Tennis Channel — our sport’s namesake network; and CBS — our longtime network partner. This new partnership will provide more tennis, to more people, in more ways than ever before.”

After scoring a touchdown, the football player jumped up and down, did a little jig in the end zone, followed by a spike of the ball and a round of high-fives to his teammates. He finally made it over to the sidelines and bounded up to his coach who was standing there looking over a clipboard. After a moment the coach looked up at his players and calmly said, “Son, next time you score a touchdown, act like you’ve done it before.”

So, I keep thinking I am forgetting something. Oh yeah, Rafael Nadal played today as well. That was where I was going with the opening heat comment and I fear I have gotten off track. Big news of the day, Nadal won. Considering he has won 101 of his last 102 matches on clay, I supposed that shouldn’t be too much of a shocker. Here is my big prediction for tomorrow: Nadal has a 99% chance of a victory. I’ll even go out on a limb to say the same is true for Sunday. If I’m wrong I’ll be the first one to stuff my high-heeled foot back in my mouth.