Watch what you tweet.

That’s the note tennis authorities are delivering as the U.S. Open gets set to start Monday, telling players and their entourages to be careful about what they post on the social networking site Twitter.

Signs are being posted in the players’ lounge, locker rooms and referee’s office at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with the header: “Important. Player Notice. Twitter Warning.”

The signs, written by the Tennis Integrity Unit, point out that Twitter messages could violate the sport’s anti-corruption rules.

“Many of you will have Twitter accounts in order for your fans to follow you and to become more engaged in you and the sport — and that is great,” the notices read. “However popular it is, it is fundamental to warn you of some of the dangers posted by Twittering as it relates to the Tennis Anti-Corruption Program Rules.”

Andy Roddick, for one, is not a fan of the warning. In a tweet Friday night, the 2003 U.S. Open champion wrote that he thinks it’s “lame the US Open is trying to regulate our tweeting.. I understand the on-court issue but not certain they can tell us whether we can’t do it on our own instance … we’ll see.”

He added in another tweet: “I definitely respect the rule about inside info and on the court, but you would seriously have to be a moron to send ‘inside info’ through a tweet.”

Told of Roddick’s comments, tournament spokesman Chris Widmaier said, “We agree with Mr. Roddick that it would be ‘moronic’ to supply what might be construed as insider data. However, in the age of new media, it is vital to ensure the absolute integrity of the game.”

Sports leagues and governing bodies are paying close attention as more and more athletes turn to Twitter to reach fans directly; some…

[Source] dhiram