Indian Wells, California  - On-fire American Andy Roddick dismissed Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-2 to send the defending champion out in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters on Friday.

The 68-minute rout improved Roddick's best start of his career. He stands 23-3 after playing in his fifth quarter from as many events in 2009.

Djokovic, who won Dubai last month but crashed to a pair of Davis Cup defeats a week later in Spain, was humbled in a little over an hour. Roddick ended each set with a break as the Serb lost serve four times.

Indian Wells, California  - Vera Zvonareva followed up on a Grand Slam semi-final with a win into the final of the Indian Wells Masters on Friday, defeating doubles partner Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-3.

The fourth-seeded Russian winner took less than 90 minutes to go through in spring heat in the desert. Zvonareva, who reached the Australian Open final four, now owns a
4-0 record over Azarenka and has not lost a set in that series.

Indian

Indian Wells, California - The WTA will take a hard financial line with the Williams sisters, who have boycotted the Indian Wells Masters since a booing incident in 2001.

Tour boss Larry Scott says that Venus and Serena will pay the price for their continual absences from the required event. "There will be sanctions despite the personal issues of the Williams sisters," said Scott. "They will pay significant consequences."

The forthcoming Palm Pre and Web OS might just bring Palm some kind of a turnaround of fortunes, especially after the struggling company reported a 72 percent plunge in the smartphone revenue in the most recent quarter!

The Sunnyvale, California-based company reportedly generated $77.5 million in revenue, after a 42 plunge in the total sales of its smartphone devices to 482,000 units. The company's total revenue figures of $90.6 million also fell short of analysts' expectations of $105 million.

California (US), Mar. 20 : President Barack Obama has confirmed that a presidential dog in the White House will come sooner than later.

Confirming a timetable for the First Family''s acquisition of a canine companion, Obama told The Tonight Show host Jay Leno here that the dog would arrive after his planned trip to Europe in early April.

"When we get back, the dog will be in place," Fox News quoted Obama, as saying, and adding that his daughters Sasha and Malia were not the only ones looking forward to its arrival.