Black Tennis Pros

Opening Day of the Olympic Tennis event will see American Serena Williams Centre Court at 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning against Olga Govortsova of Belarus.

James Blake will also be on court in first round action against Australian Chris Guccione.

Venus and Serena are seen here practicing, and seem to have run into Roger Federer in the process.

Serena Williams

Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Venus Williams

From inception to production, the spectacular event that was the Opening Ceremony for the Beijing Olympics was beyond compare.

I have NEVER seen the conceptualization of anything so brilliantly put to movement, lights, pyrotechnics and costuming. From beginning to end each and every aspect of this 'experience' was without flaw. I am in awe of the depth and degree of life and energy invested into bringing this concept to fruition.

The event's creator manifested 5,000 years of history right before your eyes. If you know anything of China's history, you literally saw it evolving with each act of the performance. Most impressive in that evolution was the fact that with the exception of the fireworks, everything was people driven. From their numbers, to their talent, to their costumes, the people of China that performed for this event put their hearts into every movement.

When the performance portion concluded, I thought that the parade of countries was going to be just that, the parade of countries. It was then that the real beauty of the Opening Ceremony kicked in for me. Looking into the faces of all of those beautiful people from every corner of the world in their cultural dress waving their countries flag was just a heart warming spiritual moment. I think that I've somewhat dismissed this moment or taken it for granted in years gone by. The current state of the world helps you put things into perspective when you see such a conglomeration as was seen last night.

If nothing else was accomplished, I do believe that China set a beautiful tone, and opened a few hearts and minds to the possibility of their theme "One World, One Dream."

BEIJING (AFP) — Everything about the Beijing Olympics is on a huge scale and organisers intend to start as they mean to go on judging by their plans for Friday's opening ceremony, a three-hour 'spectacular'.

But the longer the performance, the greater the chance of something going wrong and, having invested so much time and effort in bringing the Games to China, officials will be desperate to ensure their grandiose plans go off without a hitch.

Some 15,000 performers are set to take part, with 29,000 fireworks due to be released into the night sky.

The ceremony is also due to see Chinese pop star Liu Huan, together with British singer Sarah Brightman, sing a specially commissioned theme song in the closing 'artistic' section.

Yet for many genuine sports fans around the world, the opening ceremony of the Games are something of a puzzle, delaying the serious business of competition for little obvious benefit.

However, ever since athletes first walked in behind their flags, which were expected to be dipped before Britain's King Edward VII, at the 1908 Games in London, the opening ceremony has increasingly become an opportunity for the host nation to say something about its culture.

That is all the more true in an era of mass television with China, a country which once prided itself on being closed to prying eyes, now keen to show itself off to a global audience of hundreds of millions.

Given all that, it is no surprise that film director Zhang Yimou, best known in the West for his Oscar-nominated movie "House of Flying Daggers", has been entrusted with overseeing the ceremony.

Zhang explained this week that the event "would showcase "the ancient and long history of the Chinese nation".

He added: "The performance will reflect the cultural aspects of Chinese society and showcase what modern China and its people are all about."

But even before Friday's show starts, carefully-laid plans were upset when a film crew from South Korea's private station SBS sneaked in and filmed a rehearsal and then broadcast parts of it on Tuesday before posting it on the Internet.

However, one thing has remained secret and that is the identity of the person who will light the Olympic flame after China President Hu Jintao declares the Games open.

Basketball star Yao Ming who carried the Olympic torch through Beijing's Tianamen Square on Wednesday, had been tipped for the honour.

But tradition dictates that a person can only carry the torch once in the run-up to a Games.

Officials remained tight-lipped, saying only the flame-lighter had been selected for their "sporting achievement" and "social influence".

Photos AP, AFP and Reuters
Header CBS.com

BEIJING (AFP) — Former Olympic tennis champion Lindsay Davenport pulled out of the Beijing singles tournament on Friday with a knee injury, a US official said.

The 1996 gold medallist has been struggling with the problem since it forced her to withdraw from Wimbledon.

"It's still complications from the knee injury that forced her to pull out of Wimbledon," a team spokesman said.

"There's concern about being able to play potentially 11 matches on it."

It was not clear whether Davenport, who remains in the doubles tournament, would be fit for the US Open on August 25.

The 32-year-old former world number one, who returned to the circuit last year after giving birth to a baby boy, has previously said she had "no plans" beyond the Olympics and the US Open.

Davenport remains in the doubles competition where she will partner Liezel Huber. She earlier spoke about her injury without announcing a pull-out.

"It's doing a bit better. I've been resting it since I hurt it at Wimbledon," she told a press conference on Friday.

"For me it's a thrill to be back no matter what happens."

The six-foot-two-and-a-half (1.89m) Californian is a luminary of the women's game after winning Grand Slams in three consecutive years between 1998 and 2000.

She returned to the circuit in September after giving birth to baby Jagger last June and has won in Auckland and Memphis this year, taking her career total to 55.

Davenport picked up the knee problem playing in Eastbourne in July and was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after her first-round win against Czech player Renata Voracova.

"There's two events that I've been wanting to play since I've been back," she said at the time.

"The Olympics were number one. That's on the forefront of my mind. To play in New York another time. After that, I have no plans."

On Friday, Davenport said the Olympics were the longest time she had been away from her baby.

"It just wasn't feasible for it to happen. I figure this is probably one of the last times it'll be that way so I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it," she said.

"Unfortunately it just didn't work out this time. They're with me in spirit."

Alright, I'm going to tell you all right now that you might as well get used to a multitude of photos and a whole lot of USA, USA, USA from me. Between my love for the Olympics and plenty of photos from Bob Bryan's iPhone, there will be Olympic overload here at Black Tennis Pro's.

Let me say this up front, while I love the players from all over the world when regular tennis tournaments are being played, they can kick rocks during the Olympics, lol. Right now it is all about Team USA. It's on!!

With Venus at the tennis venue.

Arriving in the village.

In the cafeteria.

Food of champions!

In the spotlight.

8 a.m. team meeting.

Here are few candids of the U.S. Tennis Team before leaving the U.S. and after arriving in Beijing. Some of the shots are from Bob Bryan's iPhone. Bob will be blogging from the Olympics.

Welcome monitors at check in.

Our illustrious team!

Preparing to go to Beijing.

James Blake, Bob and Mike Bryan arrive in Beijing.

Venus Williams was escorted past dozens of waiting photographers as the American team arrived at the airport.

Lindsay Davenport made her way through the airport as the American team arrived.

A general exterior view of the Beijing Olympic Green Tennis Center ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.