NOTEBOOK | Court-side

Fed Cup Snub: Lindsay Davenport isn't happy she was left off the U.S. Fed Cup team that faces Italy in Washington, D.C., on July 19 and 20. Davenport's mother is having surgery the Monday before the Saturday-Sunday quarterfinal, so Davenport wouldn't be able to show up until Tuesday. But Davenport said that U.S. captain Billie Jean King wouldn't allow her to turn up a day later than the rest of the squad. "Billie runs a tight ship," Davenport said. "She's been tough on all of us." Venus Williams, Monica Seles, Meghann Shaughnessy and Lisa Raymond will be on the team. Like Davenport, top-ranked Serena Williams would have been a day late. Williams has a commitment related to her acting career. Serena, who helped beat the Czech Republic in the first round, said she understood why she was left out. But Davenport really wanted to participate. "I think I've supported it better than anybody in the last decade of tennis," Davenport said. She isn't the only player who thinks King's rules are too strict. Jennifer Capriati was kicked off the team the night before a match against Austria in April 2002, when King told her she couldn't practice with her father -- her coach. "I think Billie Jean's rules are too stringent in general," Capriati said.
Paradorn's people power: Despite losing to American Andy Roddick in the fourth round, Paradorn Srichaphan isn't expecting to lose any fans back home. In fact, he expects a sizable turnout when he returns to his native Thailand. "I would think so, yeah," he said, when asked if fans would greet him upon his arrival. "Like every time I go home." Paradorn, seeded 12th, made it to the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time. He's won three tournaments in his career and finished last year in the top 20. "I mean, most of the people watch the game and really follow what I'm doing," he said. "They're excited that I'm doing well."
Bjorkman confident: Un-seeded Swede Jonas Bjorkman isn't underestimating his chances against American Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals. Bjorkman, one of the few remaining serve-and-volley players in tennis, beat the fifth-seeded Roddick on grass last year en route to winning the Samsung Open in Nottingham. He also beat Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the fourth round on Monday. "I feel I got a very good chance to win," Bjorkman said. "I have beaten him on grass. I like (being an underdog) and going in and playing those guys. That suits me pretty good."