By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
John Isner will play top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the first match Friday of the Davis Cup quarterfinal between the United States and Serbia.
The No. 1-ranked is hoping his opener against Paul-Henri Mathieu is the first of seven matches this month at the venue where he's had the most success in Grand Slam tennis. His five-set, 5-hour, 53-minute win over Rafael Nadal in the final last year has already been written into Australian Open folklore, and followed his titles at Melbourne Park in 2008 and 2011.
Novak Djokovic shelved the conventional preparations for a while, warming up for a shot at a third consecutive Australian title with a bit of weekend hit-and-giggle and a Gangnam Style dance with Serena Williams.
The lofty expectations placed on British hope Andy Murray every year at Wimbledon ramped up several notches following Rafael Nadal's surprising exit.
No matter what happens in Week 2, this Wimbledon will be remembered.
Top-seeded Maria Sharapova was knocked out of Wimbledon on Monday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to Sabine Lisicki in the fourth round just a month after completing a career Grand Slam.
Novak Djokovic will skip Serbia's Davis Cup quarterfinal match against the Czech Republic next month.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are eyeing a confidence-boosting victory at the season-opening Qatar Open. But Novak Djokovic, elsewhere in the Persian Gulf, is already showing signs that made him such a force in 2011.
U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic pulled out of Serbia's opening singles match against David Nalbandian of Argentina on Friday in the Davis Cup semifinals because of back pain.
Four days after their grueling U.S. Open championship match, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are expected back on the court Friday.
Friday's quarterfinals at the Legg Mason Classic epitomized more than just great tennis; it embodied the classic American spirit. Donald Young and John Isner embraced their national motto of gritty resilience to upend their favored opponents and lend each of Saturday's semifinal matches an American flavor.
There's no Andy Roddick at Rock Creek Park this week, but Ryan Harrison spent one match showing a little of why he has drawn comparisons to the American star. Frustrated at himself on a few points Tuesday, Harrison slammed the ball into the court and high into the air — conveying a bit of the emotion and intensity missing without Roddick.
Roger Federer made his way back into the French Open semifinals on Tuesday, and he'll now get a chance to end Novak Djokovic's perfect season.
Novak Djokovic has extended his winning streak to 22 consecutive matches by beating wild card James Blake 6-2, 6-0 in the third round at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 Saturday to give France a 2-1 lead against Serbia in their Davis Cup final.
Sam Querrey, the top-ranked American at No. 20, will face Viktor Troicki in the second match, based on the draw announced Thursday in Boise, Idaho.
"Last year I found out three hours before the match that I would play," Troicki said. "But this time, I'm aware that he might not play if he's not right."
