Maria Sharapova was criticized a lot lately since she withdrew from the Fed Cup on two occasions in 2007; actually the 20-year-old is yet to make a Fed Cup appearance for her native country.

Both times the highest-ranked Russian player pulled out because of injuries, but after the second withdrawal, which was at the last minute, Russian tennis officials accused her of putting her own interests ahead of her country.

"I'm telling you, just forget about all these promises," said Russia's chief tennis coach Vladimir Kamelzon. "Her closest advisers are Americans and they would never allow her to play for Russia," he added. Read more »

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Click here to check out who are currently the most beautiful female athletes and vote for your favorites. At the moment, they are all in the first round, but then they can advance to so called “Sexy 16”, “Elite Eight”, “Fab Four”, “Women’s Final”, and in the end one of them will be named the “Hottest Athlete”.

Out of WTA players there are Maria Sharapova, Daniela Hantuchova, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Kirilenko.

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You can hardly name a tournament Jelena Jankovic didn’t play in 2007, so if anyone needed a vacation it was her. This summer she went to Marbella, Spain, and spent there one week swimming, jet-skiing, playing golf with friends, and enjoying wonderful beaches.

“The most important thing is that my injury from the Fed Cup in Kosice has been healed. This vacation means very much to me and now I am ready for the new challenges in my professional career,” said the 22-year-old.

After the vacation, Jankovic spent very short time in her home city of Belgrade, and was quickly back in an airplane to fly to the United States where she’ll firstly play the Acura Classic, a Tier I event in San Diego. (source: Blic Online)

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Doubles specialist Liezel Huber became an American yesterday. "It's amazing," Huber said about her new citizenship. "I'll be playing in the US Open as an American. So, that's a dream come true." World No.4 in doubles has lived in Houston for some time, and together with her husband was actively engaged in helping the victims of Katrina and Rita in Louisiana.

Note: Liezel Huber and her doubles partner Cara Black of Zimbabwe are currently ranked No.1 in the Race to the Sony Ericsson Championships. (sources: Women Who Serve, ABC)

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World No. 11 Marion Bartoli lost her first chance to prove that she is not just a one-hit wonder. The Frenchwoman was beaten in her first match since the Wimbledon final.

Bartoli left the court in tears after a 7-5 4-6 3-6 loss to American Lilia Osterloh at the Bank of the West Classic. The 22-year-old said that her body was too tired and had no energy due to busy past two months.

I still believe that Wimbledon final was not the last great achievement of Marion Bartoli. She possesses courage and determination to be admired. Don’t forget that she beat world No.1 Justine Henin and world No.3 Jelena Jankovic despite the pressure of playing at a Grand Slam! Remember what happened to Ivanovic in the same situation? In addition, Jankovic still hasn't beaten Henin.

In think that Bartoli deserves all the respect, and shouldn’t be underestimated. (via BBC)

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