Top tennis players at the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

Finally the Beijing Olympics 2008 has begun!

While some tennis players have their personal views and issues (such as injury) that keep them from taking part in this world's biggest games, most of them including tennis star players join their compatriots for a historical moment at the Opening Ceremony, in the National Stadium or better known as the Bird's Nest.

Flag bearers including Roger Federer (Switzerland) and Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) certainly made tennis and their countries proud. Other tennis players spotted are Rafael Nadal (Spain), Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Andy Murray (UK), Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) and Lindsay Davenport (USA). There also a picture of Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) taking picture of his tennis player girlfriend Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic). Their pictures are in sequence.

Lindsay Davenport, however, pulls out from the women's single draw due to knee injury. However she will still be playing doubles with partner Liezel Huber.

And by the way, Jelena Jankovic skips the Opening Ceremony cited injury she got during Friday's training session.

I missed the front part of the Opening Ceremony. Hope to catch the rerun of the event later.

(Images via Yahoo! Sports, ATP and Getty Images)

Kei Nishikori, Ai Sugiyama: The Japanese tennis team at Beijing Olympics

Together with Ayumi Morita (picture nowhere to be found), Kei Nishikori (錦織圭) and Ai Sugiyama form the Japanese tennis team at the Beijing Olympics (オリンピック) 2008.

Tennis veteran Sugiyama will face tough opponent Daniela Hantucova, the 10th seed in the first round, while Morita will be facing New Zelander Marina Erakovic.

In the men's single draw, Japanese tennis prince Kei Nishikori, the 124th-ranked wildcard entrant Kei Nishikori (JPN) is drawn to face 34th-ranked, Wimbledon 2008 semifinalist, Rainer Schuettler in the first round.

(Images via nikkansports.com)

Shirtless tennis players: It's hot right here in Beijing!

The Olympics 2008 will start in less than 12 hours! But before that...

It was hazy and it was definitely hot in Beijing yesterday!

With that kind of weather, there's only one things for the ladies, shirtless players. Novak Djokovic, Guillermo Canas, Nicolas Massu, Fernando Gonzalez, Jonas Bjorkman, Lleyton Hewitt and Rafael Nadal (pictures all in sequence) sure couldn't stand the heat and took their shirts off. Nadal's picture is a repeat from this post.

UPDATES: Checking the latest weather report, it's raining now in Beijing, which is good for the Opening Ceremony tonight.

(Images by BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)

The Olympic Tennis Draw is Out

The Opening Ceremony of Beijing Olympics 2008 is just 18 hours away.

Coincidentally, today is also Roger Federer's birthday. He received an early present, a tough draw in the first round against Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov.

It's slightly better for soon-to-be world no. 1, Rafael Nadal could face a tough second round match meeting either Lleyton Hewitt of Australia or veteran Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.

No. 3-ranked Novak Djokovic faces American Robby Ginepri, and No. 8 James Blake will start against Chris Guccione of Australia on the path to a possible quarterfinal meeting with Federer. Chile’s Nicolas Massu, the gold medalist in Athens, faces Belgium’s Steve Darcis.

Both of host China’s representatives drew daunting first-round matchups. No. 7 David Nalbandian of Argentina will take on Zeng Shaoxuan, while Sun Peng will face 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile, a bronze medalist in Athens.

The top seeds in the women side are luckier. Top-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia drew Ukraine’s Mariya Koryttseva, while second-seeded Jelena Jankovic also of Serbia will face Zimbabwe’s Cara Black, who drew an Olympic wild card to make the tournament after another competitor withdrew.

Fourth-seeded Serena opening against Belarus’ Olga Govortsova and No. 7 Venus facing Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky. Lindsay Davenport, the Olympic champion in Atlanta 12 years ago, drew Australia’s Alicia Molik, who won a bronze medal in Athens.

Three of China’s four women’s representatives also drew ranked opponents. Li Na must face No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, while Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie will meet 11th-seeded Agnes Szavay of Hungary, and Yan Zi takes on ninth-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia.

Well, I say it's tough for the Chinese men and women in tennis.

For the complete draw, click here for the men's singles draw and here for the women's singles draw.

(Images via ITF website, texts mostly via Yahoo! Sports)