Tennis!

[Katsuya]

He's looked a different man really since about halfway through last season. Definitely got more confidence about him and now that he knows he can beat Djokovic and Nadal, I think there's a real chance that he can win another Grand Slam. He's not even got that many ranking points to defend in the French or at Wimbledon, so if he keeps getting in to the Semi Finals at least then he'll be in the top four for a while yet. Can't see Ferrer hanging around in there anyway.

[Dan]

GB just beat the USA in the Davis Cup.

[Katsuya]

And what should be a very winnable match against Italy next, too.

[Lineker]

Former British number one Elena Baltacha has been diagnosed with cancer of the liver. "I'm currently undergoing treatment and fighting this illness with everything I have," said Baltacha.

Judy Murray, captain of the GB Fed Cup Team said: "Obviously this is a tough time for Bally [baltacha], Nino and her family but she is a such a determined, upbeat person and everyone around her is staying positive as well. I know she'll be really grateful for all the support that she's getting."

[Hornswoggle4PM]

Hopefully she'll fight back and get better soon. I know it took a huge amount out of Kleybanova who's only just come back after a long fight wtih cancer, hopefully she won't have it that bad.

[Baddar]

Laura Robson needs wrist surgery and will miss the French Open and Wimbledon.

[Bobfoc]

I hope she manages to come back and refine her game once she's recovered. She's got so much potential, but she makes so many unforced errors too, which is probably the main reason she's been so inconsistent. I still consider her a possible top ten player, but she needs a decent coach to help her iron out the mistakes and get her performing at her best more often, much like Brad Gilbert did with Andy Murray a few years ago.

[Lineker]

Elena Baltacha has died.

[Dan]

Just saw that news. That's really sad, she was only diagnosed a couple of months ago

[Baddar]

Horrible. Fuck cancer.

[Liam]

Incredibly sad. Shortly after she retired, just a couple of weeks before she got married was the diagnosis.

RIP

[Adam]

Very, very sad news that has quite upset me. It is really shocking, so soon after being diagnosed. Sadly cancer can take anyone in any amount of time. 30 is so young as well.

[DFF]

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/27333443

Aljaz Bedene to switch his allegiance to Great Britain

Slovenia's Aljaz Bedene is to declare his allegiance to Great Britain - and could play alongside Andy Murray in the Davis Cup next year.

The 24-year-old, who first set up a base in the United Kingdom in March 2008, has a highest ranking of 71.

He has lived permanently in Hertfordshire since 2011.

If his application for a British passport is successful, he will be eligible to represent Britain any time after February next year.

Britain will play their Davis Cup World Group first-round tie in March.

However, it is believed Murray will have the ultimate say on Bedene's participation.

If the Wimbledon champion is unhappy at the prospect of playing alongside a man who was born and brought up in another country, then Bedene will not be considered by captain Leon Smith.

Bedene's best surface is clay - the de facto surface for any team awarded a home tie against Britain - and he appears to have the potential to become a regular member of the world's top 50.

At the very least, Bedene's arrival would increase competition for the second singles spot, which has been shared in recent ties between James Ward and Dan Evans.

The Lawn Tennis Association has not yet been asked to support Bedene's passport application directly but has provided legal assistance and invited the player to train on a couple of occasions at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

Bedene is now settled in Hertfordshire with his fiancee, Kimalie, who is a rising singing star in Slovenia, and is currently trying to prove he has spent enough time in the UK over the past five years to fulfil residency requirements for a European Union national seeking a British passport.

Johanna Konta, who was born in Australia to Hungarian parents, did not become a British citizen until May 2012: about seven years after making the UK her base.

Konta has been given a warm welcome, but Bedene will be aware that Greg Rusedski was not at all well received by some other British players when he switched his allegiance from Canada to Britain in 1995.

On Friday, Evans responded to the news of Bedene's intention to represent Britain by tweeting: "So a guy is becoming British who has already played for his country. Doesn't quite sound right to me!"

Bedene is based at the Global Tennis Connections Academy in Gosling and surprised everyone - not least his opponents - by helping his adopted team win the County Cup last November.

He had been planning to go public with his intentions at Wimbledon next month and is determined to represent Britain even if not initially selected to play Davis Cup.

He has been known to don Union Jack-style wrist bands in training and appears to have developed a strong affinity to

There are clearly commercial advantages associated with such a switch, although Bedene would now be too old to qualify for direct LTA funding as he turns 25 in July.

There is, however, the added attraction of wildcards - if required - into Wimbledon and the warm-up events at Nottingham and Queen's Club as well as Davis Cup fees which can be considerable.

Ironically, Bedene's most recent appearance ended in a straight-sets defeat to Britain's top teenager Kyle Edmund in the first round of a Challenger event in the Italian city of Vercelli last month.

Bedene was suffering from an inflamed left wrist at the time - an injury that he picked up while training in the UK at the end of last year - and has been advised not to return to competition until this month's French Open at the earliest.

Novak Djokovic's former manager, Dirk Hordorff, is currently overseeing Bedene's career and coaching.

Bedene, who was born in Ljubljana and currently stands at 108 in the rankings, reached his first ATP semi-final in Chennai last year and also gained direct entry into all four Grand Slam events for the first time.

The Lawn Tennis Association said it was aware Bedene wishes to switch his nationality, adding: "He is currently progressing with his citizenship application which will take some time, and in the meantime he will continue to base himself in Hertfordshire."

[EddieG]

Murray will be representing Scotland by then anyway.

[Adam]

Don't see a problem with it myself, we need all the half-decent players we can get. A clay court specialist will come in handy for Davis Cup too. No one is bothered that Johanna Konta is foreign, and Greg Rusedski was a pretty good player to have representing us back when he was around too.

[Baddar]

McIlroy broke up with Wozniacki.

[Adam]

Wonder if that'll have the opposite effect on her career that getting together with him had.

[Lineker]

So far so good for Heather in the French Open.

Li Na however knocked out in the first round!

[EddieG]

As is Wawrinka.

[Lineker]

Serena is out!