The five-time Grand Slam champion, who is already retired, was banned from tennis for two years Friday when it was announced she was found guilty of testing positive for cocaine at the All England Club.

A three-person, independent tribunal rejected Hingis’ defense, calling it “a simple and straightforward case.” Her manager said she won’t appeal the ruling.

“Since Martina has retired from competitive sports, it makes no sense for her to challenge the judgment,” manager Mario Widmer said in Switzerland. “She just isn’t going to play anymore.”

Martina Hingis (Photo: Heather Faulkner/AFP/Getty Images)

Martina Hingis: I believe that I am absolutely, 100 percent innocent.

The failed drug test after Hingis’ loss to Laura Granville on June 29 at Wimbledon came to light Nov. 1. That’s when the 27-year-old player choked back tears at a news conference while revealing she tested positive for cocaine and said she would leave the sport she once ruled.

That day, she called the accusations “so horrendous, so monstrous,” and added, “I believe that I am absolutely, 100 percent innocent.”

Read the rest of Martina Hingis Banned for Two Years for Testing Positive for Cocaine

An evening with Maria Sharapova? How does that sound? And no, it’s not a dream. If you have MYR 4,230 or SGD 1,800 (approx. USD $1,231), your dream will come true.

But first, you’ll have to watch her play tennis against Anna Chakvetadze, current World number 6 in Singapore Indoor Stadium.

For SGD 1,800, you’ll get the following: -

• VIP Champions Club seat at the ‘Maria Sharapova vs Anna Chakvetadze Challenge Match’ – December 30, 1007 at 8:00pm – Singapore Indoor Stadium
• VIP Invitation to ‘An Afternoon with Sharapova’ – December 29, 2007 at 3:00pm – location TBC
• VIP Invitation to ‘Maria Sharapova Celebrity Night’ – December 29, 2007 at 6:00pm – location TBC
• One copy of the ‘Maria Sharapova Live Official Souvenir Program’
• One copy of the ‘Maria Sharapova Live Official Coffee Table Book’ (available 45 days after the event)
• One item of ‘Official Maria Sharapova Live Merchandize’

Guess it’s not just an evening, it’s an exhibition match, ‘an afternoon’, ‘an evening’ and a few limited edition souvenir! For SGD 1,800, it’s quite worth it. Unless if you’re flying from the other part of the world.

For more information, visit Ticket Pro.

“I’m sort of surprised. This guy can play tennis, you know,” the Swiss player said after his loss Saturday.

Read the rest of Sampras Stuns Federer in Final Exhibition

Pete Sampras, the world’s former number one was no match for the current champion, Roger Federer when they met on court in Seoul, Korea, yesterday for only the second time.

In an exhibition match here, Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras 6-4, 6-3 in a match lasting just 61 minutes. This is the first of three matches this week.

Read the rest of Roger Federer Trashes Pete Sampras

Roger Federer (right) vs Pete Sampras (left)

If you are not a fan of Federer, then, you must be a fan of Rafael Nadal! Nadal will be playing in Malaysia too, but not against Federer or Sampras but Richard Gasquet, the winner of three French Open.

To be held in Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam, this will be a great treat for the fans. Tickets are priced from MYR 83 to MYR 443 for Federer vs Sampras match (November 22, 2007) and MYR 83 to MYR 403 for Nadal vs Gasquet match (November 20, 2007).

Tickets can be bought online from: www.ticketpro.com.my

At first, you heard, “I don’t mind spending some time. Just hanging here with you in the jail.

Later, you get to hear, “Even though the gods are I am crazy (Oh)… Even though the stars are judge is blind (Oh)… Even though the gods are I am crazy (Oh)… Even though the stars are judge is blind (Oh)… Repeat till get out of jail.”

Paris Hilton is definitely going crazy.

In other news:

• Nadal destroys Federer in French Open Final.
• Finally, Bill Gates gets his degree after dropping out of the college 33 years ago.