Hottest female athletes at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Maria Sharapova Current world No 3 Maria Sharapova has won three Grand Slam singles titles (Wimbledon 2004, US Open 2006 and Australian Open 2008). Sharapova has been ranked in the top ten since winning Wimbledon in 2004, the longest run of any current female tennis player. During the 12 months ending June 2007, she was the world's highest-paid female athlete. In April 2005, People Magazine named her one of the 50 most beautiful celebrities in the world. In 2006, Maxim magazine ranked Sharapova the hottest athlete in the world for the fourth consecutive year. She has posed in a six-page bikini photoshoot spread in the 2006 Valentine's Day issue of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Amanda Beard Twenty-six-year-old Amand Beard is an American Olympic swimmer and model. Beard made her first Olympic appearance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games at the age of 14. Her modelling work has included appearances in FHM, the 2006 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and she posed for the July 2007 issue of Playboy. At the 2008 US Olympic Swim Trials, Beard qualified for her fourth US Olympic Team. Beard finished second in the 200m Breaststroke.

Ana Ivanovic Ana Ivanovic is currently the top-ranked women's tennis player. Aside from her tennis career, Ivanovic also studies finance at a university in Belgrade and Spanish in her spare time. On September 8, 2007, Ivanovic became a UNICEF National Ambassador for Serbia, alongside Aleksandar Dordevic and Emir Kusturica. Jennie Finch Jennie Finch is widely regarded as the most famous softball player of all time and and pitched on the USA team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was offered a lucrative contract to appear nude for Playboy magazine, but commented to the press that the offer was not going to tempt her. Finch once appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated wearing a tank top and a mini skirt. Yelena Isinbayeva Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has so far set 22 world records. Isinbayeva, who likes dolphins and Russian history, acknowledges that her rags-to-riches career, combined with her work ethic and sex symbol status, makes her somewhat similar to Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova. Nicole Vaidisova On August 9, 2006, Czech Republic tennis player Nicole Vaidisova isthe 12th-youngest player in WTA history to crack the top 10, at the age of 17 years, three months and two weeks. She likes pop music and is a fan of Madonna. She lists New York as her favorite city because of its constant activity. Vaidisova is currently dating ATP tennis player Radek Stepanek. Misty May-Treanor Misty May-Treanor is an American professional beach volleyball player. With partner Kerri Walsh, she is the 2004 Olympic Beach Volleyball Champion. She is the first cousin of tennis player Taylor Dent. May-Treanor appeared on NBC's game show Identity on April 6, 2007. She posed as "Born In 1977." May-Treanor was born in Los Angeles but spent her high school years in Costa Mesa. Alicia Sacramone Alicia Marie Sacramone (born December 3, 1987) is an American artistic gymnast. Sacramone would like to become a fashion designer one day. She trains at Brestyan's Gymnastics under Mihai and Silvia Brestyan. Daniela Hantuchova Slovakian tennis player Daniela Hantuchova speaks six languages and was trained as a classical pianist. She qualified for university in Slovakia but deferred it to pursue tennis. Hantuchova endorses Nike sportswear and has her own line with them for her tournament wear. Hantuchova's interests include skiing, ice skating, roller blading, swimming, jet skiing and cooking, while her favourite actors are Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Stephanie Rice Stephanie Rice is a swimmer from Brisbane, Australia, who holds the world record in the 200 metres individual medley. Rice is currently dating 50m Freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan. Recently Rice and Sullivan have become the new faces and bodies in a six digit deal with underwear giant Davenport. Rice likes shopping and dancing when she's not in the pool and her favourite mode of relaxation is watching movies. Laure Manaudou Laure Manaudou (born October 9, 1986 in Villeurbanne) is a French Olympic, World and European champion swimmer. Manaudou has been making more headlines out of the pool of late, but she is capable of turning things around at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cristiano Ronaldo wants to end career in US

Ace Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo would like to follow in the foot steps of England midfielder David Beckham and play in America.

The 23-year-old is trying to leave the champions of Europe and head to Real Madrid in Spain in an 85 million pounds deal, the Daily Star reported.

Speaking in Los Angeles on Thursday, Ronaldo revealed his ultimate American Dream. He said he still “had time” to play in the USA.

When asked if that meant taking the same route as England midfielder and former United and Real Madrid player Beckham to LA Galaxy, Ronaldo said: “Yes.”

He added: “You know David Beckham plays there and I spoke with him a few times and he says it’s great to play there. You never know. Maybe one day I will play here.”

A source close to the player said: “He’s made no secret of his love of the high life, and where better to get it than in Hollywood? The Beckhams have the perfect lifestyle, and why shouldn’t Cristiano follow in David's footsteps?”

“He’s followed him into the No 7 shirt at United, he wants to leave for Real Madrid, as Beckham did. So it would make sense to end up playing in America. Why not?” the source said.

Ronaldo was speaking at a glittering awards function in California. He was nominated as Best International Male Athlete at the ESPY Awards in Hollywood

Sachin, the master of singles

When we think of Sachin Tendulkar and his cricket, images of his spanking cover drive, the drive past mid-on where one gets to see the batmaker's label and the savage pull via mid-wicket chase each other.

But noted cricket writer and Australian citizen Peter Roebuck has just added another dimension to the great batsman's greatness. By calling him the the man who knows no boundaries, Roebuck has highlighted something in Sachin's batting that has almost gone un-noticed in the flurry of breathtaking strokes that we got used to when the master was at the crease.

Yes, Roebuck reminds viewers that there is probably no one better in world cricket today when it comes to taking those sharp singles... neither the Australians, nor the South Africans can come close to the Little Champ.

"Among modern batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar is the master of the single. In some respects, it is not much of a claim. It's a bit like saying Roger Federer has the best ball toss around. Tendulkar has many other more colourful qualities: a blistering straight drive, a cart that is liable to land in the fifth row, a square cut that singes the turf, a fine sweep and a defensive stroke played with a sculptured left elbow. Comparatively speaking, the single tucked to mid-wicket seems innocuous," Roebuck says in his syndicated column in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Recalling that Sachin once again began his innings with a tucked single to the leg, Roebuck comments that the move could have been an effort to break the duck in what could well be his last test on Australian soil, or may have been an attempt to guage the pitch, the bowling and the mindset of the fielders.

"The true masters do not disregard the little things," he says while commenting that four singles amount to a boundary, and can be more safely collected. Also, a single taken from a precisely pitched delivery is profoundly discouraging. "Only dolts think sport is all about glamour and panache. Meanwhile, seasoned campaigners keep putting runs on the board," says Roebuck.

The columnist found Sachin the liveliest amongst the senior Indian pros and commented that Rahul Dravid seemed a tad exhausted with his footwork while VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly seemed fluent but fortunate. As for Tendulkar, he was as good as ever at assessing the ball and deciding to play a stroke.

"It is no small thing to move into line with a missile travelling at 145kmh with the intention of manoeuvring it into a gap. Indeed, it is a risky operation and, as a rule, only an established batsmen will undertake it. But the Indian has a supreme ability to make quick decisions and act on them. He knows his game, and from his first delivery is searching for runs. Apparently, the Don was the same," he says.

And for those who believe this could well be Sachin's last tour Down Under, Roebuck has news: "Unless his nerve fails him or batting becomes a chore, Tendulkar will be back in 2012. Far from losing focus, he looks eager. Rejecting the captaincy helped him to renew his vitality. After a struggle, he has come to terms with age; has learnt to combine the singles of experience with the boundaries of youth."

Source: India Syndicate