Wiping away the competition in the under-16 category of the meet, Delhi tennis player Prateek Bhambri won his first major title at the DSCL Nationals. The luck of the draw handed him a second-round meeting with the top seed VM Ranjeet - a match which took the expected path and handed the top seed a place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, figuring in the senior category this time around. On the second day of the national championships at the DLTA Complex, Ranjeet won the match 6-2, 6-1.

Bhambri simply disintegrated in the face of his opponent's powerful serve and groundstrokes.

Zurich - Roger Federer will play only two tune-up events on clay in 2009, ahead of the only Grand Slam he has never won, the French Open.

The former world number one Federer said on his website that he will play at the Madrid and Rome 1000 Series (formerly Masters Series) events ahead of the May 24 French Open start in Paris.

Switzerland's Federer played four events on the dirt this year, but was beaten for the third time in a row by new number one Rafael Nadal of Spain in the Roland Garros final.

Clay is his least favourite surface.

Sydney  - World number one Jelena Jankovic was Wednesday re-thinking her January schedule and might not be able to headline at the Medibank International.

The week before, the Serb is due to star at a special event in Hong Kong along with Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams, where her appearance is assured.

Jankovic's life changed as she ended the 2008 season on the top ranking spot and demands on her time are obviously growing. Sydney officials are still keen to have her and would happily offer a late entry to the tournament starting January 11.

Los Angeles - Three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport has been dropping hints that her tennis career could finally be over, with motherhood fast becoming a full-time occupation.

The 32-year-old has vowed to decide in the next few days whether she will prepare for the Australian Open, which begins January 19 in Melbourne.

Indian tennis star Leander Paes has been nominated as vice-president of the Bengal Tennis Association (BTA).

The decision was taken at the 67th Annual General Meeting of the BTA held at the BTA complex in Kolkata.

"Leander has shown keen interest for the development of tennis in the state. So, we have included him in the BTA top management keeping in mind the interest of the game," said BTA secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee.

Chatterjee was re-elected to the post this time also.

Sushil Mehrotra was elected the president.

Hong Kong  - Organisers will hold the line on ticket prices for the expected return of Maria Sharapova to tennis in early January due to the world economic crisis.

The Russian is due to start her 2009 campaign at the "World Challenge" event, with a field which also includes Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Serbia's world number one Jelena Jankovic.

The January 7-10 tournament with a 12-strong field will hold prices for punters to the same level as in past years in hopes of keeping the Victoria Park stadium full.

Prices are set to remain at the equivalent of 36 to 105 dollars per day.