Serbian player Novak Djokovic, top-seeder in Roland Garros, defeated Ernests Gulbis in three sets 7-5, 7-6 and 7-5 and will face again current champion Rafael Nadal in semifinals. Djokovic, number three in the world ranking, will play against the Spanish player, just like in the previous year, when Nadal came out victorious.

Although Nadal has not lost a set yet, the Serbian will meet him on the court in his best shape, as the leader of the ATP race and after winning the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Rome. If he beats Nadal, Djokovic could dethrone him and take place number two in the international ranking.

Number one tennis player of the world, Belgian Justine Henin, announced that she will leave tennis courts with immediate effect. “This is the end of a beautiful adventure. I’m here to announce my definitive retirement,” Henin said during a press conference held in Limelette. The player was expected to defend her title in the French Open this month.

“I’m starting a new life. It feels like I have already lived three lives. Now I’m starting my life as a woman,” Justin Henin explained. “I’m leaving as number one and that is important. It’s always better to leave at the top. I’m abandoning with no regrets and I know this is the right decision.”

The Danish government is considering the possibility of ending the gaming monopoly in the country and allowing foreign companies to operate legally. Kristian Jensen, Minister of Taxes, commented that, currently, it is illegal for foreign gaming sites, like sports betting websites, to offer their products in the Scandinavian nation.

“Our office is investigating the possibility of allowing non Danish companies to enter the national market, so that they can operate together with the state company Danske Spil, as long as they comply with the regulations established by the government,” Jensen said.

Whether it is betting on television shows or competitions or simply soccer matches, the Spanish are well-known for their gambling preferences. It is the country that bets the most in Europe, a fact that is confirmed by the operating of the new sportsbook.

Spain has always been a hot point of gambling, and now that sportsbooks have been installed, the industry is expected to grow considerably. The famous bookmaking firm, William Hill, has already joined the Spanish gaming company Codere and is going to open the very first sportsbook in Madrid this week.

Russian Nº1 tennis player Nikolay Davydenko is almost certain to miss the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup, in which Russia will face the Czech Republic. “It will depend on how soon Davydenko recovers,” Shamil Tarpíschev, captain of the Russian Davis Cup team, explained.

Tarpíschev also said that the first step will be the evaluation of the player, although, in his view, there is very little hope that Davydenko will be fit to play next Friday. The main obstacle in the world’s Nº4 way to the quarterfinals is the change of surfaces, since he comes from several tournaments on cement and the Davis Cup event will be played on clay.

After announcing his retirement from professional tennis courts, Brazilian racket champion, Gustavo Kuerten, who has been affected with a chronic hip lesion that has impaired him to play regularly since 2004, said that he wants to intensely enjoy the last months of his career.

Kuerten’s professional tennis career started back in 1995 and reached the top at the Roland Garros tourney, when he became the champion of the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001. He won a total of 20 singles titles, the last of them in 2004 and in 2000 he became number one in the world tennis ranking.

For 215 weeks, Roger Federer has been Nº1 of the ATP ranking and none of the other players has been able to dethrone the Swiss since he achieved this privileged place in February 2004. Rafael Nadal has been the only runner up for the last 138 weeks, since 25 July 2005, when the Manacorí reached the second position in the ranking.

Back in 2005, Nadal was 3,040 points away from Federer. This week, he managed to reduce the gap to only 350, the closer they have ever been. However, there is no immediate reason for the Swiss player to get nervous since the next tournament and first of the Masters Series is Indian Wells.

Although he is willing to play and win his 100th cap, English player David Beckham is not certain to take part in his national team’s friendly match next month against France. Coach Fabio Capello left him aside against Switzerland and recently declared that Beckham will not be selected unless he is absolutely ready.

“I've no match fitness,” the 32-year-old player explained. “All I've done is training. We're still two weeks into our pre-season routine and fitness-wise, we're getting there slowly. I would love to reach the 100 caps, but I have to be physically ready to be part of the team.”

The ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) confirmed this week that, as announced in July 2007, those players who compete at the Beijing Olympics will be awarded ranking points. The granting of points to tennis Olympians started in 2000 with the Sydney Games.

“The Olympic games remain an integral part of our sport's great story and are a welcome addition to this year's calendar,” Etienne de Villiers, ATP executive chairman, said. On the other hand, ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti confirmed that all the necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the 2008 Olympic tennis competition have the best field.

It was certainly a tough match for number two of the world Rafael Nadal who lost to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The Frenchman, who is currently in Nº39 of the world ranking, was untouchable and played an astonishing match to advance to the final of the Australian Open for the first time in his career.

“I was playing fine,” Nadal commented after the match. “He played unbelievable. Congratulate him.” The second-ranked played well and had only 12 unforced errors, but this was not enough against the French player, who made it to the Open after struggling with several injuries.