Future Tennis Stars

Bob and Mike Bryan pulled out of the season ending Masters Cup due to Mike’s elbow injury. That top ranked pair will be replaced with Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich.

“I am extremely disappointed that I won’t be able to compete in the Tennis Masters Cup this year,” Mike Bryan said. “Unfortunately I have had a problem with my elbow for the past couple of weeks and it hasn’t recovered in time to be ready for the tournament.”

The Bryans won the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup doubles title in 2003 and 2004.

Rafael Nadal ended Marcos Baghdatis’ hopes of playing in the Masters Cup in Shangha. Baghdatis lost a touch 2 hour and 25 minute, three set match, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. It looked like Baghdatis was going to get his first ever career win over Nadal after he took the first set and led 3-1 in the second. Nadal came back however and took the match. Baghdatis needed to reach the finals to get a spot in the season ending championships but instead, Richard Gasquet will take that spot and will play David Nalbandian for Sunday’s final.

In a stunning turn of events, Martina Hingis announced on Thursday that she is currently under investigation for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon this year.

“I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100 percent innocent,” Hingis said in a brief statement.

Hingis has struggled in recent months with injuries and health problems. Hingis ended her season a month ago after having problems with her hip and said she would take as long as she needed to recover. However, the drug allegations seem to be totally out of character for Hingis.

Since returning, Hingis has beaten top players and won 3 titles including the Italian Open last year. Hingis has struggled since reaching the fourth round at Indian Wells. She finished 2006 ranked 7th, and is currently 19th.

Hingis retired in 2003 after long bouts with ankle injuries.

Maria Sharapova and Daniela Hantuchova grabbed the final two spots for the year end WTA Championships on Monday. Venus Williams pulled out of the event with dizzy spells that she’s had since the US Open. Marion Bartoli is the first alternate.

Justine Henin and Jelena Jankovic qualified long ago and Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams and Anna Chakvetadze quickly followed.

With her health problems this year, Sharapova was a question mark going into next week’s Championships but she assured everyone that she is ready to go.

“This has been a very frustrating year for me physically but I’m a big competitor and am determined to compete at the Sony Ericsson Championships,” Sharapova said.

The Championships represent the final test this year for Serb’s Jankovic and Ivanovic to grab a major title.