Ever wondered what’s going on behind the scenes at the media operations center at a major tournament? Paula Vergara, a writer at On the Baseline, takes you there.

Q. Your sister was in here earlier after her win, and she talked about you actually have talked to her through the years about trying to learn from your…

MARAT SAFIN: My mistakes, yes. (laughter.)

Q. Can you just give us a couple minutes what you think of what she’s done professionally so far this year in particular and maybe what her chances are?

MARAT SAFIN: I think if she will do everything opposite of what I’ve been doing throughout the years she will be No. 1 in the world for a long time. That’s as simple as it is.

Read the full interview here.

If you are somewhere in the world that doesn’t have access to TV coverage of the U.S. Open, check out this site for free live coverage available in various languages.

Maria Sharapova manages somehow to stay in the spotlight even though she is skipping this year’s US Open due to a shoulder injury. Shape has a story on how the tennis pro stays active off the court.

Want to get Maria’s bling? Enter to win a diamond-studded Canon PowerShot.

Russians dominate.

WTA Top 10 Rankings (August 25, 2008)

1. Ana Ivanovic - Serbia - 3612

2. Jelena Jankovic - Serbia - 3515

3. Serena Williams - United States - 3341

4. Svetlana Kuznetsova - Russia - 3181

5. Maria Sharapova - Russia - 3131

6. Elena Dementieva - Russia - 3070

7. Dinara Safina - Russia - 3047

8. Venus Williams - United States - 2586

9. Anna Chakvetadze - Russia - 2230

10. Vera Zvonareva - Russia - 2117

Did you know that James Blake and John Mayer were very good childhood pals?

In an interview with a Russian sport site, Olympics gold medal winner Elena Dementieva talks about getting an Olympic tattoo, dedicating the victory to her mother, and celebration her major win with friends and relatives in Moscow. Read the full Google-translated interview here.

Russian women tennis players made a history today in Beijing by sweeping medals in women’s singles. The victory made Russia the first nation to win all medals in one tennis event since Britain did a hundred years ago in women’s singles. Elena Dementieva won the gold medal in women’s singles by beating fellow Russian Dinara Safina 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Vera Zvonareva beat Li Na of China 6-0, 7-5 to win the bronze.

Marketing Daily reports that Canon readies new Sharapova ad for the US Open debut (even though Maria’s participation in the event is not confirmed yet due to her shoulder injury).

“…The new TV spot for Canon PowerShot, featuring tennis star Maria Sharapova and her dog Dolce, shows fans with Elph cameras approaching the player and asking to take a picture. Unfortunately, the picture they want (to her growing chagrin) is of her dog, Dolce.

The TV spot will break on the first day of the Aug. 25-Sept. 7 tournament and run for its duration on USA Network and CBS. And the tennis star will unveil five diamond-encrusted Canon PowerShot Elph cameras during an invitation-only event at “Canon Center Court” on Aug. 20 at South Street Seaport.“