The Fed's demands, Roddick's chances and marriage name game

Having just attended the Davis Cup tie in Birmingham, I was left with one lingering question: where was the instant replay? While there is an impartial referee, the same cannot be said about the linespeople. Is it a matter or preparation or cost or that it would only be for World Group ties or what?
-- Glenn Stein, Nashville

• Far as we know instant replay has only been used in Davis Cup finals. I think it's simply a matter of cost. I'm told it costs in excess of $10,000 just to install the video boards.

Was there not a time when appearance fees were not allowed in pro tennis? Specifically the women's game? For some reason I seem to remember this, but these days I see we are openly talking about players being compensated outside of their prize money. Did this policy change? And if so, when?
-- Aisha Cherrington, Miami, Fla.

• Good question. I think that -- fueled perhaps by the Peter Graf tax dispute, which revealed that his daughter made millions on appearance fees -- we simply reached a point where this "secret" was so open, we demeaned ourselves when we pretended otherwise.

Are you going to kick Quinton Jackson's ass?
-- Isaac Hall, Boise, Idaho

• Probably not. Why?

For Our Tennis Marriage Contest

The winners:

• Mike of Champaign, Ill.: Kei Nishikori + Florent Serra = Kei Serra (Serra)?

• Grant Cheng of Manila, Philippines: OK, I'm stretching... Billie Jean King marries Magdalena Maleeva. They get divorced, and now Billie Jean is not Maleeva. (Ed: Think Michael Jackson)

• Emily of Los Angeles, Calif.: Ivan Ljubicic marries Tommy Ho and Kim Clijsters marries Jane Chi.

Honorable Mention

• Steven Nevill of North Bay, Ontario: If Mardy Fish married Jeremy Chardy, Mardy could change his name to Mardy Chardy. However, if they broke up, and Mardy instead linked up with Go Soeda, Go could change his name to Go Fish.

• Paul Fein writes: Around 1980 Argentina's Ivanna Madruga was a top 30 player, and American Ray Disco was a fast-rising player who didn't, I do not think, quite made the world-class level. I hoped they would marry because, if they did, her name would be Ivanna Disco. Who didn't then?

• Michelle M. of New Fairfield, Conn.: Gilles Simon and Simone Bolelli: (Simone Simon) Ai Sugiyama and Dudi Sela: Ai Sela (Ay Sailor!)

• Jeff of Charlotte, N.C.: If Victor Troicki married Victoria Azarenka, he would be Victor Victoria. Wait...that doesn't work. Never mind. If Venus Williams married Marcelo Melo, she could be Venus de Melo.

• Doyle Srader of Eugene, Ore.: Vania King & Harold Solomon; TianTian Sun and Roscoe Tanner: (Sun-Tanner)

• Mike Pocrnic of Mississauga, Ontario: Lucie Safarova & Yen-Hsun Lu = Lucie Lu; Oscar Hernandez & Florian Mayer = Oscar Mayer

• Matt of Florida:If Ana Ivanovic married Australian player Bernard Tomic, she would be Ana Tomic.

[Ed: can we officially nickname Tomic's combustible dad, "Atomic" already?]

Shots, Miscellany:

• On an experimental basis, anyway, we're trying a tennis-themed twitter feed. Candid feedback welcome. Still unclear to me whether this should be strictly tennis or other random observations as well. (For instance: ever notice the inverse relationship between a product's credibility and the way it bills itself as "scientifically proven." You'd think the marketers would catch onto that by now.)

• Note to the moralizers (I think we're at seven and counting) who have chided Federer for having a child out of wedlock: please stop. The guy's been in a committed relationship with the child's mom since the Sydney Olympics!

• Move over Dave Chappelle.

• The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour today wrapped production of the second stage print advertising for "Looking for a Hero?" Curious tagline, but I suppose it's better that than "Looking for heroine?"

• Matt Woods of Phoenix, AZ/Sydney, Australia: Re: ATP logo Let me put this to rest. It's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.

• He knows about the taking clause AND he serves at 130 mph?

• Speaking of ASV, she allegedly gave birth to a child last week.

• Since so many of you asked, you'll be happy to know that Brad Gilbert and I are back on friendly terms.

• Speaking of Gilbert, here's Erin Lacher of Midland, Mich.: A few weeks ago my husband and I were sitting with friends in the airport in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, waiting to board our flight home after a week's vacation (aside: I'd highly recommend Cabo to anyone). As we stood to walk over to our gate, my husband said to me, "Hey, do we know that guy in the black behind you?" Turns out he had been puzzled for several minutes on how he knew this guy. I turned around and immediately recognized the man as Brad Gilbert. Once I told my husband, he insisted we go over and say hello to Brad, even though I wanted to just let him enjoy what I assume to be his final moments of his vacation in peace with his family. My husband's will prevailed however, and we went over and had a brief chat with Brad. Of course, by "we" I mean my husband, as I could not think of anything intelligent to say despite being a tennis fan for 3/4's of my life! Brad was very polite and as we walked away he called out to us, "Enjoy your trip home!" Say what you will about his television commentary, but Brad seems to be very personable off-court and off-camera. I wish him well in his new guest coach role at Bollettieri's. Talk about a great opportunity for the "next generation", considering this guy's track record as a coach!

• Scott G. of Atascadero, Calif. sends us this gem.

• This week's long lost siblings:

Omess Guichard of London, Canada: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Canadian actor and singer-songwriter Luck Mervil.

Have a good week everyone and enjoy the finals of Indian Wells!