Federer shows off new look, so does Centre Court, as Wimbledon gets started; Blake upset

WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer thought Centre Court looked smashing, what with its new retractable roof at the ready, all white fabric and steel trusses.

It ain’t ‘ova ’til it’s ‘ova: Sharapova digs out of big deficit to win 1st match at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — There was a time, not all that long ago, when Maria Sharapova wondered when she would be back at Grand Slam tournaments, let alone winning matches.

With new roof open, Roger Federer wins in straight sets to start Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — The new roof wasn’t tested. Roger Federer was — briefly.

Sharapova rallies from poor start to get past Kutuzova in 1st round at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Maria Sharapova has overcome a poor start to beat Viktoriya Kutuzova in the first round at Wimbledon.

New roof open at Wimbledon as Roger Federer begins bid for 6th title

WIMBLEDON, England — So far, Wimbledon’s new roof is keeping the rain away.

Some things don’t change: Venus Williams begins bid for 3rd straight and 6th Wimbledon title

WIMBLEDON, England — When Venus Williams first played here in 1997, Wimbledon had a much different look, and not only because there’s now a retractable roof on Centre Court.

Loudest grunter at Wimbledon insists she is not a cheat

LONDON - The row over Wimbledon’s grunting girls is getting louder, but the loudest offender insisted that she is not a cheat.

Sharapova writes off her title chances

LONDON - Maria Sharapova has written off her hopes of recapturing her Wimbledon Ladies’ title.

WIMBLEDON ‘09: Federer eyes 6th All England championship, record 15th Grand Slam title overall

WIMBLEDON, England — Roger Federer is building something of a reputation as an on-court crier, and he remembers well the first time he wept after winning a match.

Williams sisters could meet in Wimbledon final after being drawn in separate brackets

WIMBLEDON, England — The Williams sisters could be set for another Wimbledon final after they were placed in separate halves of the bracket in Friday’s draw.

Defending champ Rafael Nadal gets tough Wimbledon draw, may face Lleyton Hewitt in 2nd round

WIMBLEDON, England — Defending champion Rafael Nadal will face a tough draw at Wimbledon if his aching knees allow him to play, with a likely second-round matchup against former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Murray possibly waiting in the semifinals.

World No. 3 Andy Murray gets retro outfit for Wimbledon to honor 100th birthday of Fred Perry

LONDON — It’s no longer only women who get to unveil their outfits for major tennis tournaments these days.

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal and Dinara Safina seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Defending champion Rafael Nadal and top-ranked women’s player Dinara Safina were seeded No. 1 for Wimbledon on Wednesday.

Sharapova beats Dubois 6-4, 6-2 in 1st round of Aegon Classic

BIRMINGHAM, England — Maria Sharapova has beaten Stephanie Dubois 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Aegon Classic.

After long layoff, Sharapova happy to be playing again and focused on returning to top level

BIRMINGHAM, England — Despite missing the past 10 months rehabilitating shoulder surgery, Maria Sharapova says she hasn’t ruled out winning Wimbledon again — but probably not this year.

No. 1 wants No. 1: Eyeing 1st Grand Slam title, Safina to face Kuznetsova in French Open final

PARIS — Dinara Safina cursed at herself in English, muttered to herself in Russian and generally carried on in much the same manner of older brother Marat Safin.

Navratilova terms grunting players cheats

MELBOURNE - Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who won 18 grand slam titles, has called grunting female players cheats, and asked that something to be done to end the noise on court.

Samantha Stosur advances to French Open semifinals by beating Sorana Cirstea in straight sets

PARIS — Samantha Stosur of Australia reached her first major semifinal Wednesday by defeating Sorana Cirstea of Romania 6-1, 6-3.

After ending Nadal’s reign, Soderling closes to within 2 wins of French Open title

PARIS — When the French Open ends, Robin Soderling wants to be remembered for more than merely stopping Rafael Nadal’s four-year reign.

Murray bundled out in Paris as Soderling streak continues

PARIS - Chile’s baseline blaster Fernando Gonzalez hammered third seed Andy Murray out of the French Open quarter-finals 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 Tuesday, firing 45 winner to sink the Scot.

Maria Sharapova loses to Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-2 in quarterfinals of French Open

PARIS — Facing match point in the quarterfinals, Maria Sharapova was no longer focused on winning her first French Open title. She merely wanted to win a game.

Top-ranked Dinara Safina reaches semifinal with 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 win over Azarenka in French Open

PARIS — A slow start couldn’t stop top-ranked Dinara Safina from reaching the semifinals at the French Open.

No. 1 Safina gets through 1st test at French Open, coming back to beat Azarenka in quarters

PARIS — Top-seeded Dinara Safina has overcome her first test at this year’s French Open, coming back to beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 and reach the semifinals.

Four-time defending champ Nadal ousted in 4th round at French Open, ending 32-match win streak

PARIS — Cancel the party, Roland Garros, because Rafael Nadal won’t be celebrating his fifth straight birthday — or his fifth straight French Open title — in Paris this year.

Maria Sharapova rallies again, advances to French Open quarterfinals by beating Li Na

PARIS — Maria Sharapova rallied again at the French Open on Sunday, moving into the quarterfinals by beating Li Na of China 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal loses in 4th round at French Open

PARIS — Rafael Nadal’s unbeaten run at the French Open is over.

Jankovic now a diet expert (French Open diary)

PARIS - Jelena Jankovic, never short of an opinion, is now somewhat of an expert on dieting after shedding six kilos.

30th-seeded Samantha Stosur upsets No. 4 Dementieva in 3rd round of French Open

PARIS — Samantha Stosur knocked fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva out of the French Open on Saturday, beating the Russian 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the third round.

‘Foreign ground’: Venus Williams loses in 3rd round at French Open for 3rd year in row

PARIS — Out of breath and out of sorts, Venus Williams played her way right out of the French Open on Friday with her most lopsided Grand Slam loss since 2001.

Venus Williams loses, defending champions Ivanovic, Nadal advance at French Open

PARIS — Venus Williams was eliminated from the French Open on Friday, losing in the third round of the clay-court major for the third straight year.

Djokovic, Ivanovic advance in French Open

PARIS - Novak Djokovic completed a Serbian double at the French Open Friday as he joined defending champion and compatriot Ana Ivanovic in advancing by completing a match interrupted by darkness.

Venus Williams loses, defending champion Ana Ivanovic, Novak Djokovic win at French Open

PARIS — Venus Williams was eliminated from the French Open on Friday, losing in the third round of the clay-court major for the third straight year.

Yuri Sharapov takes a break as Maria slugs (French Open diary)

PARIS - Yuri Sharapov appears to have taken his informal leave from coaching, as his three-time Grand Slam champion daughter Maria Sharapova makes her comeback from injury at the French Open.

Roger wants to make sure pregnant Mirka weathers heat (French Open diary)

PARIS - Roger Federer finds it easy to beat the heat which characterised the opening days of the French Open, but it’s his pregnant wife Mirka about whom he’s more concerned.