The odds have been set. Woods has a 1/1 odd to win the year’s first major, and a 9/1 to capture all four majors, also known as the Grand Slam. Along history, no one has yet managed to achieve the Grand Slam, and there’s a reason why nobody hasn’t: it’s really difficult.

Wood says: “Most of my career, I've won four tournaments in a year plus. You just have to win the right four. The whole idea is to have your game peak four times a year".

After announcing his retirement from professional tennis courts, Brazilian racket champion, Gustavo Kuerten, who has been affected with a chronic hip lesion that has impaired him to play regularly since 2004, said that he wants to intensely enjoy the last months of his career.

Kuerten’s professional tennis career started back in 1995 and reached the top at the Roland Garros tourney, when he became the champion of the French Open in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

Although he is willing to play and win his 100th cap, English player David Beckham is not certain to take part in his national team’s friendly match next month against France. Coach Fabio Capello left him aside against Switzerland and recently declared that Beckham will not be selected unless he is absolutely ready.

“I've no match fitness,” the 32-year-old player explained. “All I've done is training. We're still two weeks into our pre-season routine and fitness-wise, we're getting there slowly.

It was certainly a tough match for number two of the world Rafael Nadal who lost to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. The Frenchman, who is currently in Nº39 of the world ranking, was untouchable and played an astonishing match to advance to the final of the Australian Open for the first time in his career.

“I was playing fine,” Nadal commented after the match. “He played unbelievable. Congratulate him.”

The Gulf state was the only country to present a formal proposal to host the Asian Cup, although they still had to satisfy the AFC of their ability to stage the tournament before being confirmed as hosts. India and Iran gave up before the deadline.

Due to AFC's rotation policy, only countries from West Asia could participate but the AFC said it'd have changed the process if Qatar's proposal had failed to meet the required standards. “I think it'll be a great tournament,” AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said.

The attacker made on Monday his goal number 35 in 64 games of the Argentinean Team and has beat no other than the former soccer God Maradona, positioning himself as the only follower of Gabriel Batistuta, who reached 56 victories in 78 matches.

Diego Armando Maradona, who played in the team of his country from the year 1977 up until 1994, scored 34 goals, the last one was on the World Cup of the United States in 1994 against Greece at the Foxboro Stadium of Boston.

Swiss Roger Federer, world’s number one, and the American Pete Sampras, who has the record of Grand Slam titles with 14, are carrying out an exhibition tour in November through several Asian countries.

Both men, considered by many specialists as the two best tennis payers of all times, are starting the tour on November 20th in Seoul, with a stop on November 22nd in Kuala Lumpur, before finishing on the 24th in Macao, where the presence of over 15,000 people is expected at the Venetian Hotel.

The Swiss Joseph Blatter, president of FIFA, has re assured that the next World Cup will definitely take place in South Africa, during 2010. With his words he clarified any doubts that could have been about the capacity of the country to organize the event.
“If there isn’t any natural catastrophe, the 2010 World Cup will be played in South Africa. That is my last word in the matter.” Blatter said in Malaysia. The FIFA president pointed out Mexico and Spain as the countries prepared to organize the 2010 World Cup in case South Africa can’t host this tournament.

Chelsea is going to be Manchester United’s opponent in the finals of the England Cup of soccer, after beating the Blackburn by 2-1 last Sunday. They had to go to extra time since they ended up tied 1-1.

The Football Association (FA) had not hidden their preference for the finals to face these two giants of English soccer in the first game of the official competition in the new Stadium of Wembley next May 19th.

After the game, Federer spoke to the press and explained that he didn’t feel any pressure to beat the record that Guillermo Vilas has of 46 victories on a row. Roger said that he feels he has proven that he is able to beat id, but doesn’t feel pressure to do it. He also talked about the performance of his opponent, the Argentinean tennis player.

He pointed out that the important thing is to play each game and dedicate to it, but sometimes that is hard to accomplish.