By Gavin Versi

The WTA Tour has fined Maria Sharapova’s $5,000 for her no-show at her mandatory post-match press conference on Friday. The world No.1 said she was ill after beating Michaella Krajicek 7-6, 6-4, but was slapped with her second fine of the year – illegal coaching from father Yuri cost her $2,000 at the Australian Open. If the Russian’s remorseful behaviour towards her agent in the player’s lounge was anything to go by, the dressing down she received from IMG was a lot more painful than the monetary punishment for a woman who earns in excess of $10 million a year.

_______

Roger Federer is unlikely to play Davis Cup unless the competition undergoes scheduling changes. “As long as they don’t change the scheduling it’s going to be hard for me to play, because my focus is on No.1 in the world and winning Grand Slams, Wimbledon especially,” said the Swiss. “Davis Cup is at the moment not the biggest priority and as long as they don’t change those weeks it’s going to be very hard for me.”
 
_______

This tournament is a favourite of the players, with the men and women enjoying being in the same venue but without the pressure of a Grand Slam. The site itself is a fantastic facility, with the men in particular embracing the large grass expanse beside the practice courts. Soccer matches are the order of the day, but tackling is banned, lest they risk injuries. “Everyone [among the players] is pretty good,” said Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis. “But the coaches suck.”

_______

World No.37 Jose Acasuso, meanwhile, amuses himself by downloading new episodes of drama series 24. He’s so enthusiastic about the show that he recently recommended it to Argentine journalists.

_______

Overheard: Vania King saying to a fellow American competitor during a game of Scrabble, “You’re just not on the same mental level as me.”

_______

The announcers here at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens clearly have a quirky sense of humour. Since the qualifying rounds they have insisted on asking the crowds for rounds of applause for many low-ranked players as they walk off court. More often than not the requests are met with stony silence.

_______

Argentine Mariano Puerta, who had his eight-year ban for a doping offence reduced to two years upon appeal, recently announced that he will return to the Tour after his suspension expires on 5 June. The 28-year-old has paid back the prize money he won during the period between his failed drugs test and the date he was banned.” Nobody thought I would be back," he told Clarin newspaper. “That’s another proof I’m innocent – anyone else would have kept the $900,000.”