Ana Ivanovic withdraws from Beijing Olympic tennis

You know what, I feel devastated with the rain delays and all the last minute withdrawals.

The latest updates said that no. 1 seed Ana Ivanovic withdrew from the Beijing Olympic tennis because of inflammation in her right hand that has bothered her for several weeks.

Why now, Ana?

Ivanovic said she hasn’t been able to practice (Ana, we saw you practicing) because of the injury, which began to bother her last month. She was expected to play her first-round match for Serbia on Monday, but after consulting with a doctor, she said she needs more rest.

“It’s one of the hardest moments in my career,” Ivanovic said. “I’m very, very disappointed.”

Ivanovic said the injury may take two weeks to heal, and she still hopes to play in the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 25, right after the Olympics.

Yesterday, Tatiana Golovin of France withdrew from singles and doubles shortly before the scheduled start of the Olympic tennis tournament.

She was already assured of losing the top spot in the women’s rankings Monday to No. 2 Jelena Jankovic.

Now I believe the gold medal is totally in Dinara Safina hands, looking at the injury complained by soon-to-be world no. 1 Jelena Jankovic, although she hasn't pull out yet.

By the way, for details of the latest 1st round women's singles results, click here.

(Images by PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images, anaivanovic.com)

Sania Mirza in dress code controversy, again

There's only one world to describe Sania Mirza. Nope, it's not the word TALENTED. It's CONTROVERSY. Here she goes making headlines for the wrong reason, again.

While all the male members of the Indian team were dressed in off-white sherwanis at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the tennis duo of Sania Mirza and Sunitha Rao were attired in black trousers and practice jackets. Not only did the two not follow the dress code, the contrast was even more jarring to the eyes when they walked with Delhi paddler Neha Aggarwal who chose a greenish saree for the occasion.

Most of the Indian atheletes also did not march smartly, Rathore, tennis ace Leander Paes and shooter Gagan Narang being the exceptions.

According to the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Suresh Kalmadi, “Everybody had been given their dress. The two had returned from their practice and there was no time. The Chef de Mission (K. Murugan) was caught in a dilemma and could not leave out Sania as questions would have been raised about her absence,” said Kalmadi, who added that sarees of different colours had been given to the athletes to make the group look, er, colourful.

(Image via AP Photo)

Heavy rain delays first round match at the Beijing Olympics

James Blake (USA) and Chris Guccione (Australia) supposed to start their first round match at the Centrecourt at 10.30 this morning. However due to the heavy rain in Beijing, it seems that all matches has to be delayed.

(Image by PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)

More HOT photos from the tennis training session at the Beijing Olympics

This is the final batch of training sessions photos taken before the men and women tennis players battle for medals at the Beijing Olympics 2008 tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Here's the hot Kei Nishikori, the tennis prince from Japan. This one is specially dedicated to you, Esther!

And I know many Rafael Nadal's fans who googled their way into my blog, will never get bored of his sexy photo.

And I find Elena Dementieva (Russia) rather sexy here in these pictures. Good job in handling the ball, girl.

(Images via ITF, BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images)