Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Williams sisters' never-ending Indian Wells saga Singles players take aim at ATP chief; Clement may play Davis Cup

Ron Cioffi/TR
Mal Taam/MALTphotoArnaud Clement may be a surprise Davis Cup
competitor and Vania King didn't surprise
Lindsay Davenport.REHASHING THE WILLIAMS SISTERS IW CONTROVERSY: The tennis message boards continue to rage with discussion about whether Serena and Venus Williams should play '09 Indian Wells, and if they don't, what type of suspension they should face? There are four critical points that are being overlooked:

1: According to Sony Ericsson WTA CEO Larry Scott, the use of "emotional distress" as an excuse for not playing (which TennisReporters.net unearthed in January) was declared invalid at a WTA board meeting in March.

2. Sources say that is unlikely that either Venus or Serena will face a significant suspension (although they could face major fines), especially one that will result in them being booted from Miami. The tour is floating the idea around that if a player shows up at the tournament that she's skipping and does media, corporate and fans appearances (like Maria Sharapova did at '08 Miami) that might be enough to keep her out of hot water. They might also be able to put in major promotional appearances elsewhere. But … how does that satisfy a tournament that is being forced to put significantly more prize money to be called a "mandated" event and can't sell tickets off the stars who are boycotting it?

3. Scott is unlikely to butt heads with Venus, a player whom he is close to and who has consistently stepped up to the plate for the tour on major political issues.

4. With all the hand-wringing on both sides of the IW Williams boycott issue, one extremely important development has never occurred that might entice the sisters to return: a massive letter writing campaign from Indian Wells fans imploring the sisters to return.

ATP CHIEF DE VILLIERS .UNDER FIRE FROM SINGLES PLAYERS: ATP Tour Executive Chairman/President Etienne de Villiers is under fire from the top singles players, who aren't convinced that his contract should be renewed when it expires in December. But sources tell TR that the doubles specialists are firmly in his corner and still appreciate how he stepped in and stopped their near extinction when he first took over from Mark Miles. But without the support of at least some of the top singles players, de Villiers has no real chance at survival.

WILL CLEMENT BE A LAST-MINUTE DAVIS CUP SUB? The word off the court is that French Davis Cup Captain Guy Forget may sub in Arnaud Clement against the US before the Davis Cup draw is announced in order to team him with his regular doubles partner, Michael Llodra, against the powerful Bryan brothers. As of now, France sports Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Llodra and the red-hot Paul-Henri Mathieu, who is ranked a career high of No. 12. So who is to go, the slumping Gasquet or the erratic Tsonga?

LEVELS OF GREATNESS: Lindsay Davenport calls Vania King a "great" young player and then stomps her 6-2, 6-3 at Amelia Island. If Vania is great, the talent level in The OC (Davenport's neck of the woods) must be getting pretty thin.