Let's start off by bestowing Player of the Week honors on Guillermo Coria, who won the first of the big clay events in Monte Carlo. Kill Bill (Vol. 2) played a tremendous week of tennis. With Juan Carlos Ferrero struggling, Rafael Nadal out of action, Andre Agassi AWOL, and Roger Federer still unproven at Roland Garros, Coria is fast emerging as the French favorite. ...

How about some props for the runner-up Rainer Schuettler? A week ago, our man was a WTHIGOW candidate. After a dynamite week in which he beat Carlos Moya and recovered from a 1-3 deficit in the final set to outlast Lleyton Hewitt, Schuettler looks to be back in business. When it Rainers, it pours. ... In the Monte Carlo doubles, the first-time pairing of Tim Henman and Nenad Zimonjic proved successful -- they eliminated the No. 7 team of Gaston Etlis and Martin Rodriguez in the final ... The list of absentees -- Federer, Agassi and Andy Roddick, among others -- was unfortunate, but maybe the ATP needs to think about scheduling an event in Houston that ends the day before the top players are expected to appear on the Mediterranean coast. ...

Lots of Fed Cup play this past weekend including Venus Williams' heroics against Slovenia. Check out the Fed Cup Web site for results. Apparently, there has been yet another rule change for Fed Cup. If the organizers keep this up, pretty soon no one is going to care much about the competition. (That was supposed to be a joke.) ...

What qualifies for big news in the insular world of tennis? The USTA announced the creation of the U.S. Open Series, which groups together the U.S. summer hard-court events building up to the Open. There will be an improved television platform -- thanks to our friends at CBS and ESPN, a series bonus pool and series sponsors. Perhaps it's not quite the "revolutionary" sea change it was cracked up to be, but it's good for the sport nonetheless. ... The inaugural USTA National Collegiate Wheelchair Tennis Championships will be taking place April 30 through May 2 on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. This event will feature players from four schools: Arizona, Middle Tennessee, Northeast Louisiana and host Texas-Arlington. The tournament includes men's and women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles. ...

Loyal readers, I ask you: How wild is this? You haven't lived until you've had a middle seat on an Air China flight. ... Did I really just read that Prince is 5-foot-2? ... Another random factoid one comes across on a 14-hour flight: The creator of the Sugar Daddy, Robert Welch, also founded the John Birch Society. Who knew? ... Many of you remarked on the "news" that Anna Kournikova is being sued by her parents. I have nothing concrete to add to this. Can we just do E! True Hollywood Story: Anna Kournikova Part II and be done with it? ... This just in: Corina Morariu hates filtered coffee. ...

Back to last week's discussion about tennis books, apparently Bill Scanlon is putting the finishing touches on a book about his time on tour. Suffice it to say, it is unlikely that John McEnroe will be writing a breathless cover blurb. ... More books, from the shameless plug department, if you buy one book on the 1986 New York Mets, make it Jeff Pearlman's The Bad Guys Won ...

Onward ...

Are these overriding concerns with burnout anything new? Or, have they been caught in a media cycle sans controversy and player tiffs. You'd have to admit that with the men and women being cordial recently, the media needs to find some overarching theme.
 -- Jim, Champaign, Ill.

	MAILBAG Jon Wertheim will answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag each Monday. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

It was French Word Week at the Mailbag, as dozens of you wrote about effete players and their malaise and ennui. Most of this was occasioned, of course, by Marat Safin's impolitic suggestion that players are burned out and being run ragged by an unreasonable schedule. At some other point, we can discuss the concept of "slow news day" as well as how it came to be that Safin, of all people, has emerged as the players' mouthpiece. But the whole issue of overplaying/underplaying has hampered tennis for years, and it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Basically, the promoters and tours want (need?) the top-ranked players to appear as often as possible. The top-ranked players want (need?) to remain healthy and mentally fresh, which usually necessitates paring back events. Hard to see that ever changing. And as tennis gets increasingly global, it's hard to see the problem getting better.

That said, both the tours and the players can do a better job of scheduling. Why the ATP would sanction an event in Houston that ends before a compulsory Tennis Masters Series' event in Monte Carlo is something of a mystery. Why a player such as Roddick (who, in fairness, has not complained about burnout) would sign up to play on five continents in five months is also a mystery.

We're sympathetic to overplaying the injuries that can result from competing week in, week out. But you also get the sense some players don't quite get the reality of the economic model. The TMS events don't pay $3 million in prize money so Fernando Vincente can play Radek Stepanek in the final. Nike, Adidas, Head and Wilson don't pay fat endorsements so players under contract can enter eight or 10 events of their choosing. Nasdaq-100 doesn't pay sponsorship dollars to attach its name to a second-rate women's field. The fact is, the health of the sport depends on the stars playing with some regularity.

I think the reason that male tennis players are playing so much is because too many tournaments are compulsory: four slams and nine masters. In addition, they need to play at least six or seven warmup events. This makes for a lot of matches. My suggestion to lessen the workload: Reduce the number of masters events and make attendance non-compulsory. For example, count the best six out of eight events. What do you say to that? 
 -- Saurabh Agarwal, New Delhi, India

Again, the players want it both ways. You say nine TMS events is too many. But those are the events that draw in the big sponsors and television revenue. It's like the NBA players who bitch and moan about the travel and length of the schedule, but don't want anything do with a a pay cut. It's playing 41 home games over five months that brings in the bucks from attendance, television and sponsorship. Cut the season down and gross revenues go down, which mean player salaries go down.

That said, I agree with your suggestion. Men's tennis is sufficiently deep that if players were expected to play seven to nine events, the tournament draws would still be strong. As for the six to seven non-compulsory events, you call them "warmups," the more cynical would call them "money grabs." Those are the events that pay stars the six-figure appearance fees. If Player X really feels that his or her schedule is too packed, it is Memphis and Dubai and San Jose that ought to get truncated from the schedule.

Here's another suggestion aimed at lightening the workload. It took me a while to come around on this but here goes: Let's stop playing best-of-five matches at Grand Slams. As the public's collective attention span dwindles, these matches are just toxic. They clog up schedules and turn off television networks and alienate casual sports fans. The players often walk off the court exhausted and injured and ... for what? How many fans really would have been disappointed if those U.S. Open matches had been best-of-three? Would the drama really have been sucked out? A good three-setter will still last more than two hours; and in the case of a 55-minute whitewash, it affords the opportunity to air other matches, perhaps some doubles. All in the name of tradition, best-of-five seems like a hell of a way to turn off young audiences and exacerbate injuries.

Why no mention of Lindsay Davenport? She is No. 2 in earnings, just picked up title No. 40 and seems to be playing well after foot surgery. And she's showing up for matches. Are you ignoring her because she does not whine and complain?
 -- Jake Earley, Mount Hood, Ore.

I would submit that Davenport gets her fair share of plaudits at this address. But just to be sure, yes, she should indeed be recognized for her play this year. Married, financially comfortable and coming off a fairly dismal 2003, Davenport looked as though her ride was winding down. But, happily, she has gotten a second wind and is back in the mix. The work she's done with a personal trainer has paid off; and even on clay, admittedly her least favorite surface, she has played awfully well. Whatever the reason (the injury-o-rama that has leveled the field, the chance to play in the Olympics, comfort with her coach, et al.) her motivation sure seems to have returned. Last week, a bunch of you surmised that she could win the French, which I still say is a long shot. But as long as she's hitting the ball crisply and accentuating the positive as they say, you have to give her a serious look at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

I've noticed more players coming up with their own post-match bows -- Paradorn Srichaphan has the Asian-style bow with hands in prayer position that he does to all four sides of a stadium. Agassi has a similar bow but in a Western style. Serena Williams has the individual kisses in four directions, and Venus Williams has the closed-hand-arm-extended-overhead-twirling wave, plus welcoming arm out à la beauty pageant contestant. I even saw Elena Dementieva attempt a less graceful and silly looking show of gratitude at the Nasdaq-100.
 -- Arden W., Los Angeles

As far as Dementieva goes, that wasn't a bow. It was the follow-through from her service motion. (Rim shot please.) Now that you mention it, there has definitely been an uptick in bowing. Plus, Serena does that goofy pirouette. But so what? The less cynical among us (all two of you) would argue that the players are genuinely honored by the fan support and they are only demonstrating their appreciation. But even if this is pure shtick, how can you take issue with anything that humanizes the players a bit and shows some connection with the folks who have paid money to watch them?

How is my idol Pete Sampras today? What's the latest news about him?
-- Vickke Bael, Cebu, Phillippines

Though he's not even a year into his official retirement, Sampras already has learned Mandarin, taught himself to play Stairway to Heaven on the glockenspiel, kayaked in Patagonia, read the complete works of Judy Blume, taken up kabala and opened a tennis academy for underprivileged kids in South Central.

You can read all about it in the next edition of Yeah, Right magazine. Characteristically, Sampras has kept a low profile and, we hear, is enjoying being a father and husband, playing lots of golf and watching the soap opera that is the Lakers.

Why isn't Juan Carlos Ferrero more popular in the United States? He is one of the most entertaining players to watch with big shots, good speed and those under-the-leg winners?
 -- Josh, U.S.

The easy answer is that Americans need to develop a better appreciation of players who come from beyond our shores, and the USTA needs to do a better job of promoting those players. But the truth is, before last year's U.S. Open, Ferrero's results in the States had been mostly unremarkable. It's been much easier for fans to become enamored of, say Carlos Moya, who has won American TMS events and generally had more presence.

Could you take some time to tell people all about how much Mac McIngvale has done for American tennis? Between the Masters Cup coming to Houston, and U.S. Clay Courts, and the countless lesser-known U.S. players (see Brian Vahaly) that he throws his monetary support behind, I feel he deserves to be recognized.
 -- Brian Plain, Boston

I generally agree with you. His financial support, enthusiasm and flavorful marketing are appreciated and welcome. But inadvertently, you've touched on why McIngvale has emerged as a somewhat polarizing figure. Yes, he has done wonders for American tennis. But tennis, at least on the ATP, is a global sport, not a national one. If his interest is in boosting the profile and quality of American tennis, his efforts (and greenbacks) might be better invested in USTA junior programs. If his interest is in boosting tennis as a sport, the old "think globally, act locally" adage might serve him well.

Looking ahead to Roland Garros, there are really no clear favorites on either side. Although we have a few tourneys to figure this out, at this point who would you bet on for Grand Slam glory? The names Coria, David Nalbandian, Amelie Mauresmo, Davenport, Maria Sharapova and Nadal come to mind.
 -- VE, New York

Provided her viral infection clears up, I think you could safely call Justine Henin-Hardenne a strong favorite. She has won three of the past four Slams including, of course, Roland Garros in 2003. On the men's side, you can, unfortunately, scratch off Nadal, who's out with a broken foot. Ferrero has been dragging this year. Nalbandian is still fighting his injuries. Federer will be the top seed, but he didn't win a solitary set at the tournament last year. As of today, I think you have to go with Coria. But, hey, we're still five weeks out.

Do players get appearance fees when they play at TMS events or Grand Slams?  
 -- Clint F. Houston

As a rule, no. You could, however, make the case the Masters Cup gives appearance fees, since even the losers are guaranteed a six-figure payout. Also, here's a hypothetical I could easily see transpiring: A management firm owns a TMS event, and a client-player's contract has a clause in it that says, "If you commit to playing our events, we will reduce your commission rate by X percent." This would have the same effect as an appearance fee. The money would just come from a different arm. But again, that's just hypothetical. I'm sure it will never happen because the mere appearance of a conflict of interest would scare off any self-respecting agent.

I know it will never happen ... but speculation is fun: Who would win this doubles match, if all were healthy: Justine Henin-Hardenne & Venus Williams vs. Kim Clijsters & Serena Williams?
 -- BT, Cardiff, Wales

Quite apart from the pairings, your question presupposes they'll all be healthy at the same time. The funny thing, I could see Serena and Clijsters playing together at some point. (The other pairing....um, no.)

You know, I might actually defy conventional wisdom and go with Venus and Henin-Hardenne. At least if Venus can get her serve in. Venus and Serena are basically a wash on the doubles court, neither decidedly stronger than the other. And Henin-Hardenne returns every bit as well as Clijsters and probably volleys better. Plus the tighter the match gets, the more balls Clijsters would see.

From a purely statistical point of view, if the score in a match is 1-1 in sets, who is more likely to win the third set, the player who won the first set or the one who won the second? And what about if it's 2-2 in sets? I know these mean nothing in individual matches, but is there some trend to be seen?
 -- Elina M., Turku, Finland

New rule: Anyone from Turku, Finland, gets special consideration. Great town. That said, I don't know the answer. My guess is that whoever has the momentum from the previous set stands the better chance of prevailing. (That is, in a three-setter, whoever wins the second is the better bet to win the third; in a five-setter whomever wins the fourth.) But I base that on nothing empirical. Anyone know the real answer?

WTHIGOW Tommy Haas? (I assume WTHIGOW can be used in an admiring, positive way?)
 -- Adrian Ewins, Saskatoon, Canada

Nice touch. Yeah how about Tommy Haas? Off the tennis radar while recovering from the shoulder injury, he is suddenly back in the mix, playing top-10 tennis. Plus, he's a trooper. After he beat Roddick to win the Houston event last Sunday, he jumped on a plane to make the Monte Carlo draw. The guy has always been ubertalented. Maybe in a perverse way, the time off did him some good.

I recently watched The Royal Tenenbaums for the first time. I must say the scene with Richie Tenenbaum falling to pieces at the US Championships nearly killed me. What are your top-five tennis moments in movies/TV?
 -- Dan Martin, Erlanger, Ky.

I feel like we've done this before, but I can't remember what we wrote. I feel like we're missing some obvious ones, but here goes:

1) Annie Hall.

2) Bachelor Party. Last time I saw that movie -- when I was about 13 -- I remember laughing uncontrollably at the tennis scene.

3) Trading Places. (Who can forget the line, "And he stepped on the balls"?)

4) That Cosi movie.

5) Fletch. ("Usually I'm a terrific player.")

Finally, we got a lot of good responses for our contest, but there also seemed to be a fair amount of confusion about what we're after. Mike H. of Virginia, suggested this slight alteration, and I think it's a good one: What is the one rule change or one specific idea you believe will make the game more appealing to the masses, non-tennis fans, and generally help the sport's popularity, television ratings, etc.

Again, a new Babolat racket goes to the winner.....

Have a good week everyone!

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim covers tennis for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com.