A Dream Team?

International News  |  Roger Federer has not played doubles at a major since 2004. His country woman, Martina Hingis, twice retired from competitive tennis, has her sights set on earning a mixed doubles berth into next summer's London Olympics. The Olympic tennis event is being staged on the grass courts of Wimbledon, and both Swiss players could compete for the gold.

According to a report from Melbourne's Herald Sun, Hingis will make a return to Grand Slam competition early in the new year to play mixed doubles with Federer at the Australian Open. The 30-year old Hingis has not played a Grand Slam since the 2007 U.S. Open. The former World No. 1 won five Grand Slam singles titles and is also a 9 times Grand Slam doubles champion. Hingis retired from the sport at 22 due to a chronic ankle problem. She returned in 2006 and played for two seasons. She retired again in 2007 after revealing she had tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon the same year.

Although she was rumoured to be back on tour last year, she continued playing a number of exhibition matches as well as World Team Tennis for the New York Sportimes for the past two seasons. This report in the Australian newspaper does not make an official confirmation, and according to the eligibility rules for the Olympics, Hingis must accumulate some rankings points to have a chance to play in London.

It's clear Federer, the 2008 Olympic men's double champion, wants to add another Olympic gold medal to his collection. This sounds like a dream team in the making, but can these two 30 year old players come together and make it happen?

EDIT: Federer and Hingis' names are not on the mixed doubles draw. But the dream is not over yet... there are two more opportunities to do it before the Olympics Games. At the French Open and at Wimbledon!

A Recent Resurgence of Federer

Australian Open 2011  |  On the eve of the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne, Roger Federer has credited Paul Annacone, his coach, for his recent resurgence in form. He is on a 19-match winning streak.

"It's about combining the head, heart and talent components of a player, and understanding how they interact, the best way to match up against other players.

"And, ultimately, the best way for them to keep having fun doing it, and the best way to try to get better."

Paul Annacone outlined his approach to coaching the current world number two. The 47-year-old American was hired by Federer at the end of August last year, has previously coached Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.

"If he can stay healthy and happy and eager, I don't know what the end number would be. But is 20 (Grand Slam tally) realistic, sure, why not?" said Annacone.

Federer has had several temporary associations with coaches in recent years, including Darren Cahill, Jose Higueras and Tony Roche, but has also gone without a coach for extended periods. 

Rafael Nadal is the favourite to win the Australian Open which starts on Monday. If Nadal does do it, he will hold all four Grand Slam titles concurrently for a Non-Calendar Grand Slam. Federer acknowledged that Nadal has been dominating the Slams and that makes Nadal a favourite. He also believes that Nadal can become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time (Calendar Grand Slam).

However, Federer, who starts the defence of his title against Slovakia's Lukas Lacko on Monday is targeting his own 17th Grand Slam. Ever since Annacone came onboard his team, he has won the last 4 of the 5 tournaments he has entered since the US Open. His only loss was in the final of the ATP World Tour Masters in Shanghai to Andy Murray, the tournament he had played right after the US Open. Since then he has also beaten Nadal to win the year end ATP World Tour Finals in London.

As all eyes in the men's singles will be on Rafael Nadal to see whether he can win a fourth consecutive major, Roger Federer is ready to add to the 16 Grand Slam record he currently holds. Either way, the player who wins at the end of the two weeks will have a chance to go on to make a Grand Slam in 2011.

Agassi and Graf Extended Interview

"Tennis does asked a lot from you and it does take a lot from you. But it does gives you a lot. You get to discover a lot about yourself and you get to sort of answer questions you didn't even ask yourself."  Andre Agassi, 2009

Inside Sport's Gabby Logan interviews Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in Las Vegas. They discuss what it means to be one of the sport's most celebrated couples, family life after retiring from the game and their charity projects. Click here for the video link.

Wimbledon's Retractable Roof Revealed

Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters return to mixed doubles action at Wimbledon as the Centre Court's new roof is unveiled today. From now on, rain or shine, the show must go on.

All England Club chief executive Ian Ritchies says the new Centre Court roof is "insurance" for the Wimbledon championships and will not lead to night matches. It takes about 9 or 10 minutes for the roof to close. Then allowing 20 or 30 minutes to get the air management system right, so the court is bone dry.

Kim Clijsters also announced her return to competitive tennis before the start of the match. Her decision was made 4 weeks into her training for this event. However motherhood will affect her schedule on the WTA tour. For the record, Henman and Clijsters beat Agassi and Graf 7-6 in the mixed doubles while Agassi beat Heman 6-4 in the singles, with Clijsters beating Graf 6-4.