Chinese number one Na Li will miss this month's China Open because of a right rib injury which has been bothering her since June. Everything started at the DFS Classic, a tournament in Birmingham, when Na Li couldn’t stop coughing because of her pollen allergy. Since then, we haven’t seen her on court at all.

Another Chinese player will miss China Open. World No.129 Jie Zheng, Wimbledon 2006 doubles champion, won’t play in Beijing because of an ankle injury.

These persistent injuries prevented Na Li and Jie Zheng from taking part in both Wimbledon and US Open, and there is little hope that they will recover soon.

"It is very bad news," Chinese Tennis Association (CTA) vice president Gao Shenyang told China Daily.

"Their rehabilitation is slower than we expected, I am not sure when they will be back." (via Reuters)

No wonder Maria Sharapova is irritated by the fact that many people have written her off just because she lost in the third round of the US Open the year she defended her title. In the so called weekly doodles at her official website, in order to prove that she’s here to stay, Masha depicted all the hardships that she went through on her way to the top:

“Anyways I know it's just as tough for my fans to handle my losses as it is for me, but let me point something out….I didn't leave my mom at the age of 7 for nothing. I didn't spend 6 hours a day practicing in the Florida sun at the age of 9 for nothing. I didn't spend those extra hours on the back courts with my dad figuring out if I'm going to play right-handed or left-handed for nothing. I didn't sleep in little cods for 3 years eating oatmeal out of a packet, while playing ITF's in the middle of nowhere for nothing. Read more »

Before flying back home, Martina Hingis attended the BCBG – Max Azria 2008 spring/summer show. The Swiss tennis star was photographed with singer Natasha Bedingfield and Nigel Barker from 'America's Next Top Model'.

Hingis lost to Belorussian Victoria Azarenka in the third round of the US Open 2007. (source: Tennis Served Fresh)

Twelfth seed Venus Williams of the USA set up a semifinal clash with Justine Henin at the US Open 2007 with the triumph over third seed and last year’s semifinalist Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

Williams’ fast serve was not a big problem for Jankovic who made a break twice in the first set. However, she won it 6-4 because she didn’t hold one of her serves. Second set completely belonged to the American, who stayed in the match with a decisive 6-1. In that set Jankovic kind of surrendered, and began to save energy for the third set. The decider was a thrilling tie-breaker, and Venus won it 7-6 (4). Read more »

For those of you who are wondering what Monica Seles is doing these days, here she is at the US Open 2007. The nine-times Grand Slam champion was spotted watching Justine Henin vs. Serena Williams quarterfinal.
(via Down the Line)