London - Novak Djokovic can officially don two hats after his family consortium won official approval to stage an ATP event in the Serbian capital of Belgrade.

The world number three will leave most of the heavy organizational lifting to his relatives, but cannot hide his delight that his work over the past months behind the scenes has finally resulted in a first tennis stop for the newest power nation in the game.

Hong Kong  - Maria Sharapova will miss a high-powered Hong Kong tune-up event for only the second time since 2004 after the reigning Australian Open champion was forced to withdraw due to lack of preparation.

The Russian revealed that she underwent arthroscopic surgery in October on her problem shoulder and was only able to return to the practise court in Los Angeles a few weeks ago.

Melbourne, Australia  - Mark Philippoussis will make a return to tennis two years after last playing professionally as he enters the senior event at the Australian Open.

The 32-year-old double Grand Slam finalist sprang the surprise on Monday with the first major of the season now a month away. Philippoussis last competed in January
2007, going down with injury at the Hopman Cup.

Melbourne - Former world number four Jelena Dokic achieved the first step of a tennis comeback dream on Sunday, defeating teenaged Monika Wejnert 6-7 (3-7),
7-5, 6-3 to claim an Australian Open wild card spot.

The week-long effort from Dokic ended with a fighting victory, where she lost the opening set in a tiebreaker, and recovered from a break down in the second and finally clinched victory over her Queensland opponent.

"I don't have to worry about the Australian Open now," said Dokic, who will be making her third main draw showing at the major after playing in 2001 and 2006.

Geneva - By his superhuman standards, 2008 was been an "off" year for Roger Federer, with only a fifth straight US Open title and the Olympic doubles gold medal added to his world-class collection of honours.

It was also the first season in half a decade that the 27-year-old Swiss failed to end the year on the top ranking spot after ceding the position to Rafael Nadal just prior to the Beijing Olympics.

While Federer's Grand Slam title count stalled on 13 as he attempts to pull level on all-time mark of 14 majors held by Pete Sampras, the calm Swiss is not in the least discouraged.

London - Wimbledon might be hoping to lure Tim Henman back onto court at a May test event to mark the completion of a three-year project to put a roof over Centre Court.

The British player who was famously done in by rain on several occasions during his career at the All England Club - never emerging past the semi-finals on four heart-breaking attempts - might be part of the public trial, British press reports said.

The unspecified competition is to fall five weeks before the start of the championships on June 22.