Required Reading

• Doug Robson on Captain Courier.
• If this is what Lleyton considers "hitting back", then we can't be surprised with the status of his on-court game these days.
• Mailbag!  I'd like to have whatever Schlomo's smoking.
• Some midweek thoughts on Doha from Steve Tignor.
• Liz Clarke with a WTA 2010 post-mortem.  Objectively, I totally get it.  But I've had fun and I guess to me, that's all that matters.
• Really great piece from Alexandra Willis on Fran.  Fran gives good quote, natch: "I never thought about becoming No.1, No.6 or top 10, or top 20 in the world. I prefer being free to feel big emotions when I play, to dream of winning Wimbledon, the Australian. At the end, I worked for this, to show people who I am. They say, 'Thanks to you,' and I say, 'No, thanks to you, you gave me the chance to show you who I am, not just what I do.'"  Amazing.
• Tennis.com has started doing these "Raquet Reactions" pieces every day after certain matches.  They're nice quick reads.  But this one had a line that kind of broke my heart: "This year has been Stosur's breakthrough on the singles circuit. And while it will mostly be remembered for her loss in the French final, a season-ending championship would be impossible to ignore."  He's totally right.  We'll only remember that loss.  Sadz.
• Steve Tignor thinks out loud on whether there is anything the WTA can do with respect to its schedule to help prevent all the injuries and year-end burnout.  My take?  Not really.
• Non-Required Reading: Get over yourself, Bieber.
• Non-Required Reading: I need to start watching Italian X-Factor.
• Non-Required Reading: Second funniest thing I've read all week.
• Non-Required Reading: Funniest thing I've read all week.
• Non-Required Reading: Best thing I've read all week.  Sometimes, and I know this is really hypocritical of me to say, I think you should need a license to blog.  Because seriously, people stay the DUMBEST shit on the internet.  Oh, and I'd like to buy Beth a beer.  Cheers to you for keeping it classy while still ripping that chick a new one.