Wimbledon veteran and champion Venus Williams was outclassed by Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro at the Australian Open on Thursday. The game ended with 2-6 6-3 7-5 in favor of Navarro.

World number 46 Suarez Navarro showed few nervousness signs in their second round clash. Venus was then in complete control of the early opening set whi beokw her rival in the first and fifth set. Suarez Navarro then proved Williams wrong when she swept into a 3-0 lead in the second set.

Venus appeared to recover with a 4-3 but then lost her own service which gave Navarro the chance to win the match.

The decider was controlled in its opening by Williams but she then failed to reverse the scenario. Williams ended up losing the final three games.

“When you go on court you have got to expect anything,” said Venus. “I’m not surprised at how well she played. I haven’t quite figured out the areas of my game that went wrong, but I have to credit her.”

Meanwhile, second-seeded sibling Serena Williams had a victory game over Argentine Gisela Dulko 6-3 7-5.

The Issue:

LONDON – Martina Hingis was banned for two years Friday for testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon last year.

The International Tennis Federation said an independent anti-doping tribunal found that Hingis, who announced her retirement Nov. 1 on the day she revealed the positive test, had committed an offense.

The 27-year-old Hingis denied using cocaine, but the tribunal rejected suggestions there were any doubts over her sample.

Although the five-time Grand Slam winner is now retired, her suspension is backdated to Oct. 1, 2007.

The ITF also disqualified Hingis’ results from Wimbledon in 2007 and any subsequent tournaments she played in. She also forfeits any ranking points gained and US$129,481 in prize money.

Hingis lost 6-4, 6-2 to Laura Granville in the third round at Wimbledon last year. – AP/ 01/04/2008 | 07:56 PM

The Opinion:

I would like to comment on the argument that the International Tennis Federation has for prohibiting tennis champ Martina Hingis.

It would be a big question if the ITF did not assess the situation, since all international sports, or any sports at that, has its own guidelines and regulation. However, it could be a right notion that the penalty given to her is a bit melodramatic (disqualification, banned, and forfeiture).

There is still no scientific measurement as to how an illegal drug, specifically cocaine, enhance the capacity of a tennis player in obtaining a rank or a victor. Cocaine would, if used, subject the player to possibly play with extra stamina but not to the extent of giving him/her intellectual prowess.

Tennis is a game of wit, too. Not merely of endurance.