Where's the heart of the game?

Mario Ancic has a beautiful, flowing tennis game. But where's the heart?

It's not really fair to just pick on the 24-year-old Croatian. He suffers from the same malady as a great many of the other players on the men's and women's pro tours.

But there was Ancic on Saturday, going through the motions against the great Roger Federer. Unsurprisingly, Ancic didn't mount a real challenge.

There seems to be some connection between heart and the ability to construct points. You've got to have both to have success against a player of Federer's magnitude.

Think about it. Other than being great champions, what did Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Steffi Graf, Justine Henin and a few others have in common? And most notably Federer, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova among current players?

They all had or have their hearts attached to their games, the ultimate fighters. And all were or are masters at constructing points, pouring their entire heart, soul and mind into their games.

Women get green light

Women's tennis just got the green light to expand. There's a good chance that the game will crown a new superstar next Saturday in Paris. Henin, Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Amelie Mauresmo are all history for this French Open.

Of course, Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova still have French Open glory on their mind. As Grand Slam tournament champions, they have a huge advantage over the others in that they have their breakthrough moment in their past. Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina still have to get there.

So, thank you, Venus and Serena. You have opened the door for the rest of women's tennis.

But someone will have to beat Sharapova. She doesn't have to worry about Serena this time, as she did at the Family Circle Cup. Sharapova's most serious challenge might be that she is in the all-Russian quarter of the draw.

Sharapova's next match, and probably next three if she keeps winning, will be against a Russian. Safina is next, followed by either dangerous Vera Zvonareva or Elena Dementieva, and then possibly Kuznetsova in the semifinals. Jankovic and Ivanovic should have the bottom half of the draw under control. If the Sharapova-Kuznetsova semifinal happens, the survivor will be my pick to add to her Grand Slam resume.

Local notes

--Former College of Charleston men's tennis coach Phil Whitesell will direct a Nike Tennis Camp for four one-week sessions this summer at Creekside Tennis and Swim in Mount Pleasant. The sessions will run Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for overnight boarders or day campers. The dates will be July 13-18, July 20-25, July 27-Aug. 1 and Aug. 3-8.

Whitesell, who will be assisted by Creekside tennis director Andrew Heafner, is excited that a player from Tokyo has registered for the camp. "This is a great opportunity for local Charleston kids to be exposed to kids from all over the U.S. in their own backyard," said Whitesell, now a pro at Dunes West.

For information, contact Nike camps (1-800-nikecamp or www.ussportscamps.com).

--Beach Tennis USA will conduct a tournament June 14 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Creekside. The Tennis Channel is scheduled to have a film crew on hand.

--Family Circle Tennis Center has been selected as one of the nation's top 50 Welcome Centers by the Tennis Industry Association.

--It's time to sign up for another league tennis season. Combo league registrations will start Tuesday, giving teams until June 27 to form with the minimum number of six players.

Reach James Beck at jdbeck@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5540.