And mind you, it took a little while before we had a winner.

Exhausted and out of breath, the players knew just one goal would be enough to win the elusive 2010 FIFA World Cup for their nation.

As the clock ticked toward penalty kicks, the shivering crowd at Soccer City Stadium grew anxious. Spain or the Netherlands would win its first championship. That is if somebody can find the back of the net.

Andres Iniesta did, and Spain rules the soccer world at long, long last. “We have all done an incredible job,” Andres Iniesta said Sunday night, shortly after the 1-0 extra-time victory. “I don’t think we even realize what we have done.”

They beat the Netherlands on Sunday to go one better than the European title Espana won in 2008. Spain won its last four games by a score of 1-0 — a tight margin that characterized the month-long tournament. The World Cup featured a record 31 one-goal decisions out of 64 matches — four more than the previous high set in 2002, according to STATS LLC.

This final was a physical test of attrition that sometimes turned dirty — a finals-record 14 yellow cards were handed out and the Dutch finished with 10 men. In the end, it was Iniesta breaking free in the penalty area, taking a pass from Cesc Fabregas and putting a right-footed shot from 8 yards just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg with about seven minutes left to play, including…

This is the 124th staging of the event, and the third Grand Slam tournament of the 2010 tennis calendar.

Yes, the 2010 Wimbledon Championship is finally here and as always, the brightest stars of the game came out to capture tennis’ brightest gem. Here’s the list of favorites in the women’s division for this year’s tourney.

Serena Williams is the defending champion for Wimbledon this year although winning last year surely was not easy. Williams saved match point in the semis against Elena Dementieva and then had a close set against Venus Williams to open the final.

Williams is considered the favorite despite subpar results over the clay court season as she has a pattern of success at Wimbledon even after lackluster clay court results. Last year she fell in the quarters of the French Open and then went on to win Wimbledon with a combination of strength and will power. Williams has won Wimbledon 3 times, she is currently ranked number 1, and she is also the current holder of the Australian Open title.

Venus Williams, on the other hand, has won Wimbledon 5 times and she is currently the second ranked player on the women’s tour. She has made 8 of the last 10 finals at the All England Club including 3 in a row and her form has improved this season.

In 2009 she went out in the second round of the…

Yep, just in case you didn’t know, the third Grand Slam of the tennis calendar has begun.

The 2010 Wimbledon Championship is finally underway and it will carry on until July 4th. It is widely accepted as the most important tournament on the pro tennis calendar. Over the years, top-ranked players of every generation have dominated the courts at the All-England club.

Who do you think will win it all this season? As always, Roger Federer comes to mind. Federer has been set as the No. 1 overall seed at the 2010 Wimbledon tournament at the All England Club and will be a heavy favorite this year. He is the defending men’s champion at Wimbledon after a historic final match against American Andy Roddick at the 2009 tournament.

After a disappointing run at the 2010 French Open, Federer will look to rebound from the heartbreaking loss in his favorite tournament of the year. Despite some inconsistent results in 2010, Federer remains the best player on fast surfaces.

Roger is especially good on grass court, like Rafael Nadal is on clay, having won 6 of the last 7 Wimbledon titles including five in a row from 2003-2007. This is mainly due to the fact the great Swiss player has a game that is a perfect fit for grass. Federer is one of the best servers in the game, if not the best, and his powerful forehand is a huge weapon on this surface.

If Roger Federer were to defend his Wimbledon title, he will have to once again contend with his nemesis Rafael Nadal. The hardworking Spaniard has just completed an undefeated clay court season, culminated with a terrific victory at the French Open. Nadal will look to repeat what he managed to pull off two years ago which was to win both the…

Yep, the French Open in all its clay court glory is here again.

Dubbed as the most challenging of all the grand slams, the 2010 French Open tennis tournament is sure to stay true to the rigors and tough competitiveness so typical of the second of the annual tennis majors.

This year’s French Open will be held from May 24^th to June 7^th and this year’s tournament is sure to unleash some of the most riveting grand slam tennis action you’d ever see. Thousands are expected to arrive at Roland Garros during the two weeks of the competition in hopes of catching a glimpse of the best tennis players in the world.

Leading the pack for the men’s favorites is the ‘king of clay,’ Rafael Nadal who seem to come up with his best tennis every time he plays on that clay surface.

He etched his name into French Open history after matching the record of the well-known Bjorn Borg and the 1920’s heroine of the Open, Suzanne Lenglen, with four consecutive French Open titles.

Nadal’s success on clay is so ridiculous, you’d be a fool to bet against this guy in this tournament.

That brings us to Roger Federer. Can he win a title in France and…

Yep, the French Open is here and if you’re a betting man, you should take note about these bitches you shouldn’t be betting against on May.

In case you didn’t get that, it’s that time of the Grand Slam tennis season when the best tennis players in the world head to Roland Garros for the 2010 French Open tennis tournament.

And as far as the women’s side of things go, Justine Henin is the clear cut favorite to win this tournament. Henin’s presence in the draw is clearly pushing the odds long for even the second favorite and there is good reason for that.

Henin made the finals of the recent Australian Open and, despite her long layoff, she is a force on tour even at the Grand Slam level. Her best Grand Slam has always been the French Open as she won four titles at Roland Garros (2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007) before she ‘retired’ from tennis just prior to the 2008 French Open.

Her past success at the French Open, combined with her stellar play on tour since returning from retirement has clearly won her a lot of backers to win again at Roland Garros this spring.

Trying to outwit Henin is Kim Clijsters. Even though Clijsters’ best results at the French Open were back in 2001 and 2003 when she was the runner up in both tournaments in Paris, Clijsters has remained to be a…

How come? She’s out. Already.

You read it, the 2010 Australian Open is already done with Maria Sharapova as quickly as premature ejaculation.

We can’t say we’re surprised though. With the way Maria Sharapova has been playing dating as far back as her injury-riddled campaign last year, to say that she no longer has the form that has caught the eye of most tennis fans is an understatement.

Sharapova, seeded no.14, lost her very first match in the Australian Open, losing to the unseeded Maria Kirilenko 7-6, 3-6, 6-4. With a disappointing start to her 2010 campaign, can we still expect Sharapova to have a good year?

2009 was a disastrous season for the Russian tennis sensation. Last year was so disappointing that she was looking forward for a fresh start this year, looking for a solid outing in Melbourne at the 2010 Australian Open.

Unfortunately for her, it looks like she hasn’t fully recovered from the shoulder injury that has kept her out for most of last year’s Grand Slam season.

This year will be a crucial year for Sharapova as she needs to reestablish herself is she wants to stay relevant. Sharapova began her 2010 season with two exhibition matches, with Venus Williams in Hua Hin, Thailand. She defeated Williams 6-3, 6-4 in the singles. However, she lost in the mixed doubles partnering with Paradorn Srichaphan.

Sharapova continued her preparation for the…

It’s back to the tennis courts.

The 2010 Australian Open promises to deliver all the action and excitement of Grand Slam tennis starting on January 18th before concluding with the finals on January 31st at the Melbourne Tennis Stadium in Flinders Park.

There are four major international Grand Slam tournaments held each year; the Australian Tennis Open, the French Tennis Open in Paris, Wimbledon in London and the US Tennis Open in New York. With the often extreme summer temperatures of Australia, the Australian Tennis Open is regarded as one of the most physically demanding for players.

The Australian Open is important in many ways, not least of which is because it is the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year. And all eyes will be on French phenom Rafael Nadal as he attempts to defend the very title he won here last year.

Another guy to look out for at the 2010 Australian Open is of course, Roger Federer, who will be looking to put his 2009 breakdown behind him. He will need to win in Melbourne if he wishes reassert his supremacy in men’s singles tennis.

Other notable players to watch out for include Novak Djokovic. After finishing last season with the Masters Cup title under his belt, Djokovic will come in the Australian Open brimming with confidence.

We also have Andy Murray, easily the most improved player of the season. He will be looking to prove that he’s capable of Grand Slam greatness as he comes in Melbourne looking for greater things.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams will enter the tournament as…

Probably since the dude is riding high with momentum lately.

The last Grand Slam of the tennis calendar, that being the 2009 U.S. Open, will be held from August 31 to September 13 at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City.

Defending Champion Roger Federer, now back as the no.1 ranked tennis player in the world, will try to defend his U.S. Open crown, and judging by the way the guy’s been dominating everybody all over again, betting on him to accomplish a successful title defense is probably a good idea.

Roger Federer proved over the last month that, regardless of who his opponent is, he still has that edge that puts him above everybody else. By winning both the French Open and Wimbledon, the first time in his career that he has done that, Federer has not only proven that he is STILL the best ever but he has reclaimed his spot on top of the food chain.

BUT, as the hard court season begins and takes us to the U.S. Open, the field still seems like it is creeping up on Federer a little.

One of which who could give Federer a run for the title is Andy Murray. He has certainly proven that he is capable of taking Federer out as he is 6-2 against the Swiss maestro heads up. However, Murray did lose to Federer in the U.S. Open final last year and at +250 (5/2) Murray does not appear to offer great value.

This year’s tournament, contrary to rumors, will feature…

Because that’s where the last Grand Slam of the tennis calendar will be played and unfortunately, Serena Williams is on it.

Unfortunate for tennis fans like me who’d rather watch those little skirts Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic will probably wear in the 2009 U.S. Open than another ass whooping we’ll probably see on some poor sap personally delivered by Serena Williams who has bigger arms than me.

And since Serena Williams is the defending champion of the U.S. Open, not to mention the fact that she’s still fresh from her huge win at Wimbledon, the younger Williams sister will definitely be the woman to beat.

Serena has this tendency to make her opponents look decidedly ordinary with her speed and strength, unless of course she’s playing against the hot and sexy Maria Sharapova who’ll probably make Serena look like a freaking gorilla compared to Sharapova’s long legs, smooth skin, perfect ass and those tight little skirts that give her one sweet looking camel t…

ANYWAY, Serena is the current holder of the U.S. Open singles title and her odds should shorten as summer tournaments heat up. She’s the best athlete on the women’s tour and she has a slight, but significant, age advantage on her older sister Venus Williams. It’s hard to imagine Serena not at least making the semis of the U.S. Open and despite being ranked no.2 in the world, she should be the odds-on favorite.

Then we have Dinara Safina. It is hard to find a serious…

After being out of tennis competition for two months, looks like Nadal could be out for more.

Yes, arguably the best tennis player to come out of Spain could be out longer, forcing him to miss the last Grand Slam tennis tournament of the season which would be the 2009 U.S. Open.

Too bad considering that Rafael Nadal was the no.1 tennis player in the world coming in 2009. When he lost in the French Open at Roland Garros for the first time ever, it was so monumental that everything started crumbling down with it.

You see, Nadal has been out of action for two months with knee problems during which time he lost both the French Open and Wimbledon titles to his rival Roger Federer. Since then, Federer has reclaimed his spot on top of the mountain, thanks primarily to Nadal’s troubles on and off the court.

As of this writing, Nadal has no idea if he’d be able to play in the U.S. Open and give him a chance to redeem himself.

”I can’t tell you if I’ll be 100 percent for the U.S. Open,” Nadal said. ”It depends on many factors but clearly, I’ll work as hard as I can try to be in condition there. But most of all, I want to make sure my knees respond well.”

”Once I know my knees will respond well, I can…”