Sweeping the court

Li Na and Carlos Rodriguez have parted ways. According to Rodriguez's IMG agent, the academy in Beijing that Rodriguez oversees wants him there and not on the road. Li reportedly did not take the news that well.

Phyllis "Woodie" Walker has been named the Chief Umpire of the 2014 U.S. Open.
 
Google Maps is calling Wimbledon's former Henman Hill, casually renamed Murray Mound, Henman Hill again. On Sunday, Petra Kvitova, who has reached the 2014 final, suggested it be called Petra Perch.

The Grand Slam committee is "studying" the time violation rule. I have no idea what it means to "study" one of the most clear-cut rules in professional tennis, but perhaps there will soon be a task force that will explain it all.

The last time I went into a pinkberry store, the young woman behind the counter said: "Well, you really belong here!" Until that moment, I'd forgotten I was wearing my Sharapova t-shirt. As I was enjoying my pinkberry fare, another staff member left the counter, came to my table and said "I didn't really know anything about Maria until we started selling Sugarpova. Can you tell some things about her?" So I got to talk about 'Pova for a while. My friend Steve says that I am an expert in JJ-ology, but I think I didn't too badly with Sharapovology that day.

Halep withdraws from Miami

I don't like the term "blessing in disguise," yet sometimes I have to go with it. I'm kind of going with it in the case of Simona Halep's withdrawal from the Sony Open because of a toe injury. The world number 5 (I like saying that) has had foot problems lately; notably, in her Achilles tendons. It's no surprise that she would have a toe injury.

13th seed Roberta Vinci is out (again), defeated by Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. The Czech player had a couple of signature anger outbursts during the match, prompting Tennis Channel commentator Tracy Austin to give some speeches about professionalism. Speeches or no speeches, this is how Zahlavova Strycova is on court. Always has been, always will be.

Genie Bouchard is out too--defeated 1-6 6-1, 6-2 by Elina Svitolina. But the shock of the day was the upset of 7th seed Jelena Jankovic by Varvaro Lephenko. I mean this as no slight against Lepchenko; it's just that JJ was up 5-1 in the third set. And then lost the set--and the match--in a tiebreak.

There was a lot of action in doubles. Martina Hingis and Sabine Lisicki beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Safarova. Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears beat Kristina Mladenovic and Flavia Pennetta. Vania King and Zheng Jie beat Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber (that's right--Raymond and Huber) 7-6, 7-6.

Tomorrrow, Maria Sharapova plays Lucie Safarova. 'Pova, by the way, has teamed with pinkberry to promote Sugarpova.