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2010-06-27T19:46:00.001-04:00

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Post #61: The Rivalry Resumes: Nadal Fends Off Federer in Madrid Rematch

2010-05-17T10:37:00.003-04:00

Almost exactly a year after their last match, the Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer rivalry resumed at the Madrid Masters tournament. This time, however, the score was much different and in Nadal's favor. In a 6-4, 7-6 (5) shut-out, the Spaniard continued his roll on clay with 15 consecutive wins and regained the number two position.

According to an ESPN.com article, "Nadal also won titles in Monte Carlo and Rome to become the first player to win all three titles in the same season. He has lost only two sets during that run and is 14-7 all-time against Federer, including 10-2 on clay." Therefore, his win is even more impressive and also marks his 18th masters title, which surpasses Andre Agassi's record.

With the French Open just around the corner, Nadal's form proves to be at its best. Should he play like this on the red clay of Roland Garros, there won't be a player that can halt his reign on clay from resuming once again.

Post # 60: Williams Sisters Reclaim Top Rankings Despite Shaky Play on Clay

2010-05-16T20:33:00.000-04:00

With their continued success over the past few years, it is not surprising that Serena Williams and Venus Williams have recently reclaimed the number one and two rankings in the world. Their ascension in the rankings, or more specifically, Venus' move to number two, comes at a time of stark contrast to their recent play on clay. Although excellent by most standards, the Williams sisters must be held to a much higher level. When they enter a tournament, one of the two is expected to win. However, in their last two events, neither have claimed anything, except the longest match of a career (Serena) and a debilitating loss in a final (Venus).

The first tournament to recap: The Italian Open, which began on May 2. There, Serena bowed out in the semifinals against Jelena Jankovic at the Italian Open, while Venus sister lost a round earlier to none other than the same Serb. While the quarterfinals and semifinals are respectable, losing to Jankovic was a surprise. However, on paper it's a different story. Serena's head-to-head with Jankovic is a close 4-4, while Venus' is 5-6. Take those records and combine them with Jankovic's success on the surface, and you have a better understanding of their loss. However, while Serena is justified in her hard fought, three-set encounter with the Serb, what is Venus' explanation for the lopsided 6-0, 6-1 affair that ended her Italian Open run?

The next tournament to look at: Madrid. Here, the sisters' showing was even more stinted with Serena bowing out in the third round to Russia's Nadia Petrova, while Venus made a run to the final. First up: Serena. The younger sister played the longest match of her life in the second round (after a first round bye) against Vera Dushevina, a player she's beaten in the past quite handily, including a 6-2, 6-2 win in Sydney this January. Serena claims she wasn't playing at her best, which is reasonable given that she typically saves her best for the Grand Slams. However, to pull through that marathon match and then lose against Petrova, a player she held a 6-2 record against previously, was shocking. Yes, it was a good effort to take it to a third set, but losing 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 is atypical for Serena, who usually shines in the third set.

As for Venus, she sailed through the draw, making it to the final against the unseeded Aravane Rezai of France. In a quick 6-2, 7-5 drubbing, Rezai ousted the older sister to take home her third title on the tour and her second win over Venus. On a roll, Rezai's win means she's taken home her third straight title when making it to the finals, according to an article on the WTA Tour's official website.

In sum, the Williams sisters deserve their rankings. Despite clay being their worst surface, they both played well enough (for the standards of the normal professional tennis player) to ensure their dominance of the top spots in the world. Thankfully, they probably won't meet before the finals of a tournament for quite some time now, which is a benefit not only to their high level of play, but also to tennis fans around the world.

Post #59: Serena Struggles to Win; Plays Her Longest Match

2010-05-11T02:38:00.004-04:00

The clay court grind continues for Serena Williams at the tournament in Madrid. Williams, who "wasn't playing [her] best tennis," won the longest match of her career in a three and a half hour marathon against the forty-third player in the world, Vera Dushevina. Williams slid through to the third round with a score of 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

According to the CNN article "Serena Survives Epic Madrid Opener," "Williams had beaten the Russian convincingly in straight sets in their past two encounters, the most recent in Sydney in January, but needed to save a match-point at 6-5 down in the second set and also had to battle back from a 4-0 deficit in the deciding tie-break."

Therefore, the score shows that Serena is far from her best form. With her recent loss to Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals of the Italian Open, the younger Williams sister and current number one player in the world has a lot to prove going into the French Open, the only Grand Slam that she has not won more than once.

Williams' next opponent is Nadia Petrova, who she has a career 6-2 head-to-head. Will Williams re-group after what must have been a truly physically debilitating match remains yet to be seen in the coming days.

Post #58: Federer's Upset Make for Unsettling Clay Court Future

2010-05-10T02:45:00.007-04:00

In light of Serena and Venus Williams' recent loss to Jelena Jankovic, the clay court surprises keep coming with Roger Federer bowing out in the semifinals to Albert Montanes of Spain in two sets. Montanes went on to defend his title at Estoril against Portugal's Frederico Gil, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-5.

While Montanes is a clay court specialist whose confidence going into the event was at a high point, Federer's loss forms a question mark going into the rest of the clay court season. Can Federer improve on his form last year and take out a healthy Rafael Nadal at the French? So far, it isn't looking to good for the greatest player of all time. The true test will be coming in the next few weeks with the Masters Series in Madrid, which Federer won last year against the true King of Clay, Nadal.

With a few more matches under his belt, Federer's form should show itself. After all, he's human like the rest of the players on the ATP tour and is prone to poor play after taking time off. In fact, with the first round bye at Estoril, Federer has only played one other match on clay, which was his second round defeat at the hands of the Latvian, Ernests Gulbis in Rome. There, he was also given a first round bye. Combined with the fact that clay is his weakest surface, although that isn't saying much, Federer's defeat doesn't seem so implausible.

With Madrid his next destination, we'll see what happens. It'll be a true test for the defending French Open champion.

Post #57: Jankovic Slams Down Sisters on Clay

2010-05-07T21:26:00.003-04:00

In two days, Jelena Jankovic beat both Serena Williams and Venus Williams on the red clay of Rome. With a hard fought three-set win over Serena in the semifinals, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5), and her easy 6-0, 6-1 win against Venus in the quaters, the Serb joins a short list of players to beat the sisters at the same tournament, including the Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin.

With the impressive play from the typically shaky Serb, Jankovic will next face the surprise finalist in Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, who defeated the inspired Ana Ivanovic of Serbia. With both players obviously on a roll on the clay of Rome, the final should be a sensational display of talent.

After watching both Jankovic and Martinez Sanchez on the hard courts of the Indian Wells tournament months ago, it is not surprising that both players brought their best games to clay, too. In fact, both are known for their success on the surface. Jankovic has won at Rome in 2007 and 2007 and will be considered the heavy favorite against the Spaniard to win the title.

Regardless of who wins, the question becomes: can Jankovic use the same exceptional skill and desire to take out the sisters yet again at Roland Garros? When it's a Grand Slam, it's safe to say that a Williams sister will be in her way. If Jankovic can embody this same player, maybe she will finally win the elusive Grand Slam title.

Post #56: Del Potro Set for Wrist Surgery, Clijsters Sidelined by Foot Injury

2010-05-04T19:44:00.005-04:00

In a sad state of affairs for Juan Martin del Potro, the US Open winner will remain sidelined quite a while longer with wrist surgery in his future. Del Potro, unable to play since the Australian Open in Janruary, might remain immobile for months more. Without a date set for the Argentine's return, the seriousness of the injury is magnified, especially with the troubling way in which the information was relayed to the public.

In Peter Bodo's "The Oracle of Delpo," he writes that the message was relayed in an "unusual fashion" during a pop and rock radio show. A letter accompanied the announcement making reference to accusations of the Argentine possibly facing depression. The unprofessional way that this matter was handled coupled with the unsettling idea of depression strikes that everything is going awry for the one-time Slam winner. Who knows if he'll be able to reclaim the title of champion again? His actions and problems off the court don't suggest such.

In another case of injury, Kim Clijsters of Beligum was forced to pull out of the Madrid Master series event due to a left foot injury. According to the Associated Press article "Clijsters Pulls Out of Madrid with Foot Injury," she was hurt during Belgium's recent Fed Cup match with Estonia.

With a longer period of time necessary before properly healing, hopefully the setback will not affect her play at Roland Garros too severely. With a lack of experience on the red clay of Paris for quite some time, Clijsters might find herself rusty for the French slam. In that case, it would be wise to discount Clijsters as a major contender for the title, which makes her compatriot Justine Henin look even stronger, especially given her recent win at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix tournament in Stuttgart, Germany.

Post #55: Henin Hones in on Stuttgart Title

2010-04-30T23:59:00.004-04:00

In a birthday brawl for the twenty-three year old Shahar Peer, Justine Henin let nothing slide in her 6-3, 6-2 thrashing of the Israeli. With the win, Henin advanced to the Stuttgart final which, according to the Associated Press article, "Henin Ousts Peer to Make Stuttgart Final," reported the win takes her to "to her third final in five tournaments since coming out of retirement in January."

On the other side of the draw lies the Australian Sam Stosur. If Stosur gets through her qualifier, the Russian Anna Lapushchenkova, and makes it through to the final, I foresee the Belgian making the final push and taking home the title. Despite her steady play and ability to overcome three-set hurdles, Henin has yet to win a title. With a 0-3 record in her appearance in finals since coming out of retirement, the Belgian must be hungry for the win.

In another Associated Press article describing her way to the semifinals, it reported, "she stayed on course for her first title since coming out of retirement by beating Jelena Jankovic - yet again." Jankovic is a tough opponent on any given day and with the confidence that comes with pulling through a close 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 match, Henin surely has the fire and passion to win.

Post #54: Federer Fades Early in Rome; Schnyder Surprised

2010-04-30T00:00:00.004-04:00

In a shocker of a match, the Latvian Ernests Gulbis dethroned the 2009 King of Clay, Roger Federer in the first round of the Rome Masters event in a lopsided 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 affair. Playing in his first clay match of the year, Roger's loss calls into question his drive and ability to succeed in the surface that typically alludes his success. However, even more interesting is the fact that the Swiss took home the French Open last year. Can he do the same this year with a healthy Nadal back in action becomes the question.

In the Associated Press article, "Federer Loses to Gulbis in Second Round of Rome," he is quoted as saying, "“I hope I can come back from this. That’s usually what I do after a loss like this ...Sometimes it takes a loss to wake up and shake you up for your approach the next week. When you always win, sometimes you forget how hard it is. That’s why today I don’t get too worried about this loss.”

The match, along with being his first on clay, was also his first in approximately one month."He took off several weeks after losing in the fourth round in Key Biscayne, Fla., at the end of March," continued the article. Federer blames his serve for the uncharacteristic loss. For example, he got in less than 50 percent of his first serves in, reports the article. Gulbis landed in 71 percent. Match play probably plays a large part in this poor showing.

Although Federer is used to winning and taking out lower ranked guys through intimidation and sheer skill, as the years go on, he'll find himself losing more and more, especially as his schedule of play lessens to mostly the top tier of events. With his dominance these past few years, maybe that challenge is a welcome one.

On the WTA side, personal favorite and fellow Swiss, Patty Schnyder, also succumbed to a lower-ranked player. Schnyder, who is in a senior slump of her own, was taken out in the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix SAR in Fez, Morocco by the Romanian teenager, Simona Halep. With the successful results coming fewer and farther between, the veteran Schnyder, a former perennial top ten player, might just call it quits after this year is finished.

Post #53 : Despite Williams Sisters Withdrawal, US Fed Cup Team Defeats Russia to Reach Final

2010-04-27T01:09:00.006-04:00

In a surprise showing of spirit for their country, the Serena and Venus Williams-less US Fed Cup team featuring teenage sensations Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Liezel Huber defeated the Russian team, 3-2. With the win, the US advances to the finals against Italy, their opponents last year.

If the team can rally together once again and put in the same energy and drive that put them over the edge against the tricky Russian team, they will take home the title for the first time since 2000. According to an Associated Press article, "U.S. Beats Russia 3-2; Will Face Italy in Fed Cup Final," much of the Americans' success points to the powerful and patriotic play of Mattek-Sands, who is currently ranked outside of the top 100. Her performance, however, speaks more to her career-high ranking of 37, which occurred in March of last year.

Mattek-Sands beat Ekaterina Makarova "6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the second match Sunday to keep the U.S. title hopes alive in the best-of-five contest. The match was all but over after Mattek-Sands got mad over a fault call on a first serve in the final set. She then double-faulted but responded with a nifty drop shot to go up 4-1, sticking her hands out palms-up and wriggling her fingers to the fans," reported the article. Moreover, Mattek-Sands clinched the final point of the Fed Cup tie when she teamed up with Huber, the experienced doubles specialist, in a 6-3, 6-1 shut out of the newly formed team of Elena Dementieva and Alla Kudryavsteva.

Oudin, although she beat Dementieva during her run to the quarterfinals of last year's US Open, proved unable to clinch the third set she typically dominates in her matches. She lost to Dementieva in two hours and thirty-seven minutes.

With this new drive and the wave of energy surely felt by this eclectic group of Americans, maybe the title can finally be brought up. In many ways, this was a much needed win not only for the purposes of Fed Cup, but for American women's tennis in general. Not everything needs to be decided by the Williams Sisters. Unless, of course, we're talking about a Grand Slam title.

Post #52: American Mayhem: Serena, Venus Don't Play Fed Cup, Roddick Withdraws

2010-04-23T11:58:00.006-04:00

In a not so surprising move for the Williams sisters, playing for the United States in the Fed Cup will not occur. Venus Williams, who after weeks of keeping the public on edge about whether or not she would represent her country, cited a knee injury for withdrawing from the event.

The TENNIS.com article, "Venus Will Not Play in Fed Cup Semis," reports that Mary Joe Fernandez, the captain for the US Fed Cup team was hoping that at least one of the Williams sisters, either Venus or Serena Williams, would be fit for play. However, that is obviously not the case.

That leaves the team of Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and Liezel Huber as the current spot holders for the team. While certainly not the star status of the Williams sisters, it is excellent experience for the teenaged, Oudin. Hopefully, the team can pull-off a win in the semifinals and reclaim the past history of women's tennis in America during the age of Chris Evert.

In other news, Andy Roddick, another American, chose to withdraw from the Rome Masters event due to personal reasons. The plausible reason? His marriage. With his exceptional play on the hard courts at the Sony Ericsson Open, maybe his decision to skip the clay event for some relaxation is justified. It'll be interesting to see the American's results on clay. Can he take it to the next level at the French?

Post #51: WTA Tour Slumps with Injuries, Sporadic Play

2010-04-20T01:35:00.002-04:00

In the latest smattering of injuries, WTA players Dinara Safina, Caroline Wozniacki, and Sabine Lisicki are being hampered by a variety of physical problems. These ailments are widespread across the tennis world, including the ATP side, too. With these injuries come compromised tournaments and personal anguish.

Let's look at the specifics.

For the world's number three player, Safina, a three times Grand Slam finalist, her back is the cause of the pain. For instance, according to a short article on Tennis.com, Safina blogged about "the back injury that has plagued her since last August. Safina wrote that an MRI revealed two stress fractures on her L5-S1 disk and a ruptured muscle." The seriousness of the injury cannot go unchecked. According to Safina, "That was the worst news I could ever hear from a doctor, but now finally I’m recovering, though not as fast as I would prefer."

Safina is currently in Croatia doing her physical therapy, and there is "no timetable for her return." Moreover, the article reports that Safina "hasn’t played a match since she retired from her fourth-rounder at the Australian Open in January." This is an extreme pity for a player so hungry for that first Grand Slam title and comes at a time when, due to other injuries around her, if she can just improve her healthy quickly, she might just come out on top.

Along with Safina's case is that of Wozniacki, the current number two player.

Also writing in her blog, Wozniacki reported that "that the ankle injury she sustained in the Family Circle Cup semifinals against Vera Zvonareva isn't that serious." And hopefully this self-diagnosis turns out correct. Wozniacki has been having a breakout time on the tour with her strong showings at the largest events. She wrote, "The doctor said that I might be ready soon. I just need to make sure the right treatment."

The third player, Lisicki of Germany, also has an injury of her own. Specifically, a left ankle injury. Therefore, she was forced to pull out of the Family Circle Cup, the tournament that took out Wozniacki from playing. Together, these three young players represent the future of the WTA tour, especially the later two. We'll certainly being seeing more from all three. The question is: when?

Post #50: The US Open National Playoffs - A Good Idea?

2010-04-18T16:04:00.008-04:00

"For the first time ever, you can compete for a wildcard into the U.S. Open Qualifying Tournament," states the USTA's official website in its description of the tournament that gives non-professionals and professionals alike the chance at playing in Flushing Meadows.

Is this a good idea? On a number of levels, yes. For one, by allowing people to get involved in the process of entering a tournament, getting match play, and experiencing the grind of a professional tennis player, the respect for these athletes increases dramatically. Moreover, the stories of individuals whose passion for tennis rivals even that of the professionals comes through. For example, one player, fourteen-year old Deja Kitchiner, is just one of the entrants hoping to make it to the qualifying round. Imagine this young tennis sensations taking her game to the next level and making a real run for a Grand Slam title. Who could argue with the appeal of that sort of story?

This unique marketing campaign for tennis is much needed. Although the number of tennis players is on the rise, creative steps like this need to be taken. Hopefully, the tournament is deemed a success, and a young up-and-comer, or even an professional hoping to reclaim past glory shines through the grueling battle.

For more information about the tournament, click here.

Post #49: Nadal's Needed Win Finally Found at Masters Event

2010-04-18T15:58:00.005-04:00

Spain's Rafael Nadal finally took home a title after months without a win. With his defeat of Fernando Verdasco, 6-0, 6-1 at the Monte Carlo Masters event final, the Spaniard takes home his sixth straight title at the tournament. According to the ESPN article, "Nadal Wins 6th Straight Monte Carlo Masters Title," "The second-seeded Nadal overpowered Verdasco with a stunning display of attacking clay-court tennis to earn his sixth straight victory at Monte Carlo, but his first title since the Rome Masters in May 2009."

Therefore, the win, his first in just under a year, ends the drought and elusiveness that Nadal has grown accustomed to, especially with the injuries plaguing his play. Further enhancing the importance of Nadal's win, the article continues that he"is the only player to win six consecutive titles at the same tournament since tennis turned professional in 1968, and the 23-year-old has tied top-ranked Roger Federer with 16 Masters titles, one behind Andre Agassi's record."

With history already made and even more to come, hopefully Nadal can continue his sensational tennis and take home more titles. He deserves it.

Post #48: Roddick Reigns Supreme Over Berdych

2010-04-07T02:42:00.003-04:00

Andy Roddick's defeat of Tomas Berdych at the Sony Erricsson Open in straight sets signals a surprising show of success for the veteran American. With his 7-5, 6-4 victory, Roddick proves he's still fighting and improving to claim the titles that have been somewhat elusive these past four years. In fact, this Masters Series event win marks the first for the big server in just that amount of time.

Getting to the finals, and winning, was no easy accomplishment that's for sure. In fact, in order to get past the semifinals, Roddick had to face Spain's Rafael Nadal, who continues to recover from a nagging knee injury. The match's results, however, should not be discounted. In an epic 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 thriller, Roddick shut down the fourth-seed. With strong serving and steady play, he broke Nadal's serve three times, firing approximately 15 aces along the way in the last two sets.

According to the article, "Andy Roddick Beats Rafael Nadal to Secure Place in Sony Ericsson Final," "Roddick had played Nadal seven times previously, losing five times including their most recent three meetings." Therefore, the accomplishment was that much sweeter and the victory that much more meaningful.

Roddick's win against Berdych also signified a step strong than his showing in the final at Indian Wells, the largest tournament outside of the Grand Slam events. There, he lost to the surprise finalist, Ivan Ljubicic, who was having a dream run under the California sun.

If Roddick can keep the momentum going, especially while other plays like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are fading with injuries, maybe the American will find himself holding the elusive third Grand Slam.

Post#47: Clijsters Re-Claims Miami Title, Trounces Venus Williams in Straight Sets

2010-04-04T02:56:00.002-04:00

With Kim Clijsters' win over Venus Williams in straight sets, the Beglian shows her dominance on a WTA that remains so open to different looks at titles. With Serena Williams out and Justine Henin dispatched in a three-set semifinal thriller, albeit filled with errors on both sides, the first Beglian comeback queen reigns supreme.

Can Clijsters make good on that impressive US Open win this past year with a title in France? She certainly shows she has the continued capacity. In fact, Clijsters' win speaks even more to her ability as Williams was on a two-title winning streak prior to the loss. However, Clijsters and clay do not typically match up well in relation to the big wins. Even more distressing for the Belgian is Henin's competitive edge on Paris' famous red clay.

If Clijsters can be aggressive and attack Henin's beautiful, finesse game, she has a shot to have a second career breakthrough. She's surely proven that the sky is the limit and that being a mom plays nothing into her action on the court.

An article to read: Clijsters's Win Is Like a Day in the Park

Post #46: Clijsters Closes Out Henin in Three Set Showdown, Advances to Final

2010-04-02T18:20:00.003-04:00

In an expected semifinal showdown between the two Belgian comeback queens, Kim Clijsters took it to Justine Henin in a sloppy, three-set affair. Although unspectacular play dominated the majority of the match with unforced errors greatly outweighing the winners, the third set was impressive by my standards.

With poise fitting her experience, Clijsters calmly eliminated Henin's chance to claim the Miami title, and to set-up a meeting with Venus Williams, who's been playing some impressive tennis in a fifteen match winning streak. After easily taking the first set 6-2, Clijsters conceded the second, 6-7(3), before ending 7-6(3). The win stands for a lot both for the rivalry between the two Belgians and the state of the WTA tour.

To have such a high profile match strewn with so many unforced errors and to have such reactions as in Steve Tignor's article, "A Train Wreck to Remember," proves women's tennis stills remains in a recession. That doesn't even begin to draw upon Serena William's disappointing story that she hasn't yet set a date for her return.

The WTA Tour needs both Williams sisters in play for the high quality, high intensity matches that always seem to be brought out by the American duo. Serena craves winning another French Open. Can she do it this year? Yes, but Venus Williams, Henin, and Clijsters will surely stand in her way.

Post #45: Fish Puts Up a Fight; Henin In and Jankovic, Kuznetsova Out

2010-03-30T01:29:00.005-04:00

Although Mardy Fish ended up succumbing to injury in the fourth round of Miami, his inspired play struck a chord with me as a possibility for him to succeed this year. Finally. With his third round win over Britain's Andy Murray, the event's third seed behind Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, the American showed the ability to test the top players. This was reminiscient of the excellent play that took Fish to the finals of Indian Wells last year.

His 6-4, 6-4 victory over Murray sent shock-waves through the tournament, alerting fans to the fact that the Scot has been struggling these past few months, especially in contrast to his impressive play that took him to the Aussie Open finals against Federer. Murray might be dealing with his second loss in a major final difficulty. To add on even more mental anguish, the fact that Federer was across the net both times, although not a surprise, did not probably help at all, too. Maybe Murray should have a long talk with the other Andy in the top ten, Andy Roddick, whose been in the situation plenty of times before.

While I don't see Murray or even Fish taking a Grand Slam title home this year, things are looking good for Justine Henin and very shaky for Serbia's Jelena Jankovic on the WTA side. While asserting her dominance over Elena Dementieva in the second round, Henin continued to play smart tennis in her match against Dominika Cibulkova to get to the fourth round.

Jelena Jankovic, recent winner at Indian Wells, continued to show the huge question marks that's been following her around lately with her three-set loss at the hands of the Aussie, Sam Stosur. Jankovic, naturally bringing to the court not only a solid down-the-line backhand, but also her flair for high dramatics, succumbed 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Jankovic's chance to take a major title has passed in my opinion. As world number one, she had the chance to pull through with a win, but now she'll be meeting too much firepower, too early on. Of course, kudos still goes to her for taking the fifth largest tournament in the world at Indian Wells. She's shown she has the stuff to pull out the big win, but not the biggest. That luxury seems still to be reserved for champions such as Kim Clijsters, Henin, and Serena Williams.

Post #44: American Wayne Odesnik's Trial

2010-03-29T02:41:00.005-04:00

The fact that American journeyman Wayne Odesnik was found with and pleaded guilty to importing human growth hormones cannot, and must not, be tolerated within the sport whatsoever. These individuals who add nothing to the sport and yet create such horrible headlines tarnish tennis' otherwise clean record. By importing the hormones, Odesnik does not only hurt his personal, moral image, but also that of American tennis. That is completely unacceptable.

Not only is it stupid to put your professional tennis career in jeopardy, the act of taking hormones in a sport so grounded in movement and quick reaction time makes no scientific sense. Why would he turn to drugs for the solutions to his problems? Yes, his best Grand Slam result was a comparatively minuscule third round appearance at the 2008 French Open. However, everything is at stake now. In my opinion, he needs to be met with the harshest of consequences so that others may benefit from this mistake.

If that means being banned from the sport permanently, it truly is a sad, sad day for American tennis in many ways.

Kudos to compatriot Andy Roddick's strong, uninhibited reaction. His emotions were quite in check, and he was unafraid to show his feelings toward Odesnik's dilemma. Hopefully, both Roddick's anger and the ruling Odesnik will soon face, works to effectively curb future drug use in professional tennis.

Post #43: Ivanovic Ousted Early Again; Nadal Defeats Nalbandian

2010-03-29T02:32:00.003-04:00

Ana Ivanovic, the former world number one, continues her dismal play in Miami with a second round loss at the hands of the soft-hitting tactician, Agnieszka Radwanska. Why Ivanovic is having so much difficulty putting together matches is a wonder to me. She continues to say the right things, showing off confidence and pose in her post-match interviews. However, something simply isn't clicking. At all.

Ivanovic needs badly needs to find the form that took her to finals at the French Open, and then the grit that took her to the title the her after. If she can't, I see Ivanovic making an early exit from tennis, possibly to pursue other interests before the fire re-ignites itself. Otherwise, why both continuing to disappoint not only yourself, but also the fans that expect so much? Yes, there is much to be said for the Serb to be sticking through the results and not giving up. However, there must be a point where she decides to take some time away to fix her game.

Ivanovic is a joy to watch and speaks with a charm and simplicity that makes her difficult not to love. Hopefully, she regains her form or figures out the right career decision to take her back to the top of women's tennis.

Another struggling superstar, Rafael Nadal, had a little more success in his three-set win over Argentina's David Nalbandian, 6(8)-7, 6-2, 6-2. The win showcased Nadal's determination to take the top spot in the men's game once again, despite physical injury. In the past, Nalbandian has given Nadal lots of difficulty. Therefore, Nadal's victory will give him a special dose of confidence going into the second week in sunny Miami. It'd be nice to see him make the final with Roger Federer to re-ignite one of the most compelling rivalries in tennis history.

Post #42: Djokovic Dismissed; Henin Heats Things Up in Miami

2010-03-27T01:50:00.004-04:00

In not-so-surprising fashion, Novak Djokovic was defeated by Oliver Rochus, 6-2, 6-7(7), 6-4. This second round upset, Djokovic's opening match of the tournament, will surely hurt his recent ascent in the rankings to number two, putting further pressure on the rest of the top ten to step of their games. Djokovic's play these past few weeks has been nothing fitting of the second best player in the world, especially one trailing Roger Federer. Yes, he came out victorious at Doha, but he was taken to three sets in many of his matches.

At Indian Wells, the same shoddy play sent him out in the fourth round against the eventual winner of the event, Ivan Ljubicic. Despite a 15-3 record going into Miami, the three, now four losses, signify more in my mind than his wins, which have been lately three set spectacles. I predict Djokovic's play to continue on a down slide, before this Aussie Open champion re-emerges as a real threat for a major title.

On the flip side, Justine Henin, who played a disappointing Indian Wells, reclaimed the top form that took her to the finals at this year's Australian Open with some superb play against Russia's Elena Dementieva, winning 6-3, 6-2. Henin needs a strong showing here, and I think she can take the whole tournament, to get herself back into the top ten in the world. Currently at number 33, Henin's result thus far, which include a couple wins over Dementieva already, show she's set for center stage. Maybe she'll even take a shot at the Wimbledon crown, the one major that has alluded her so far.

Post #41: New Rankings In - Henin Hones in on Top Ten; Nadal and Ivanovic Slide Slippery Slope

2010-03-23T03:21:00.005-04:00

With impressive play to start off the year followed by a blip at Indian Wells, Justine Henin finds herself well on the way to cracking the top ten. Henin, who entered the ranking system by playing in her third tournament, is now ranked 33. If she can avoid poor play as in Indian Wells and concentrate on strong showings at the Grand Slams, I see Henin cracking into not only the top ten, but the top five by the year's end. She has the dedication and conviction needed to make a move back to the pinnacle of woman's tennis, especially with shoddy play of many of the top players currently.

In contrast to Henin's impressive ascent in the rankings are the cases of Rafael Nadal and Ana Ivanovic. Both fell in the rankings due to injury and bad form. In Nadal's instance, injuries have continued to hamper his physical game, including in his upset to Ivan Ljubicic at Indian Wells. Last year, Nadal won the even, explaining why his semifinal showing simply was not enough to protect his ranking. Assuming his health is back on track, Nadal should be able to not only reclaim the number three ranking, but catch up to Roger Federer, regaining his number two ranking. Federer, despite an early lose to Marcos Baghdatis at Indian Wells, continues to shine as the world's number one.

Along with Nadal's ranking dip comes a much more disappointing figure: Ivanovic's leaving the top fifty for the first time in year's with her loss to Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia in her opening match at Indian Wells. Last year, Ivanovic was runner-up at the event. If Ivanovic can somehow find her form and improve upon her fourth round showing at the French Open, the event she won in 2008, things might just start looking up for the Serb. Maybe she can take some confidence in compatriot Jelena Jankovic's win at Indian Wells. Hopefully, she does not burn out like the young Nicole Vaidisova, who recently announced her retirement from the sport after years of poor play.

Post #40: Indian Wells Concludes in Surprising Fashion: Ljubicic, Jankovic Win

2010-03-22T01:30:00.005-04:00

Ivan Ljubicic and Jelena Jankovic proved ready to battle the California heat to win the fifth largest tournament in the world. While Ljubicic took out American Andy Roddick, Jankovic upset the second-seeded Danish player, Caroline Wozniacki. Their wins concluded an already surprising tournament that saw early exits from top players such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Justine Henin, and Kim Clijsters, among numerous other champions.

What do their wins mean? For Ljubicic, it shows the depth in the men's field at a time where both Federer and Rafael Nadal are suffering. On the women's side, there is just the opposite. With so many top seeds bowing out early on and the Williams sisters absent from the event, the tournament lacked any sort of consistency from the top players, showing the WTA tours weaknesses. Moreover, the early exits from the Belgians Henin and Clijsters means that they might have a lot more work to do in their respective comebacks.

Kudos and respect go to Ljubicic for returning back inside the top fifteen for the first time in the past few years and for Jankovic to win her first title in about seven months. Both players proved strong and steady, beating out expectations and coming home with moving upset victories.

Post #39: Federer Fades, Djokovic Destroyed, and Nadal Nears Defeat at Indian Wells

2010-03-18T02:13:00.006-04:00

In a tournament already full of surprises, who would've guessed that the biggest were still to come? In a re-match of the 2006 Australian Open, the Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis took his game to a whole new level, defeating Roger Federer in three sets, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(4). In the other major upset, Novak Djokovic struggled to find his game against Ivan Ljubicic, bowing out with a meek 7-5, 6-3 loss. Whereas both the number one and number two players in the world failed to advance, Spain's Rafael Nadal, the world number three, scraped past the American giant, John Isner, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

With results like those, it justifies Indian Wells as not only the unofficial fifth Grand Slam, but one as wholly unpredictable as the rest. Maybe been more so. Especially given the Australian Open's expected winners in Serena Williams and Federer.

The nature of the tournament being so difficult to read, it may not even be worth attempting to predict future results. However, let's take a look at the draw regardless. Let's keep in mind, however, that anything truly can, and, probably will, happen.

With Andy Roddick playing well and off the record, I see him advancing to the semifinals. There, he could meet Andy Murray, who's fresh off a walkover and should defeat Robin Soderling. I take Andy Murray to make the final as I predicted before the tournament began.

On the bottom half of the draw, I don't see anyone taking out Nadal. He's proven that he's in the tournament to win, no matter the state of his knees. Nadal is hungry and ready for a fight. He should feel confident coming off of that strenuous match against Isner. Therefore, I'm writing Nadal in straight to the finals. If he makes it, I take Murray over him in three lopsided sets.

But, then again, who can tell with such a crazy tournament.

In terms of Federer's loss, I don't see it as anything to worry about. That Baghdatis went on to lose to Tommy Robredo in three sets, although disappointed, was not in any way surprising. Federer will shake off the defeat and come back strong for the rest of the hard court season before the French Open. Djokovic on the other hand could be in for much less success. He's been squeaking by these last few rounds. It's bound to catch up with him eventually.

On the WTA side, I'd like to give my kudos to Agnieszka Radwanska for her superb play against Elena Dementieva. Who knew Radwanska had the ability to out play one of the women with the best ground strokes in the game. I see her beating Caroline Wozniacki to make this breakout final.

Her opponent? I really like the way Maria Martinez Sanchez has been playing even since defeating Victoria Azarenka. Should Martinez Sanchez get past Stosur, I'd take her over Jelena Jankovic. At this Indian Wells, only time will tell.

Post #38 Nadal Easily Advances; Upsets Ensue at Indian Wells

2010-03-16T12:12:00.004-04:00

Rafael Nadal and John Isner raced through their third round matches, while the Serbs Novak Djokovic and Jelena Jankovic needed marathon three-set matches to advance. On the surprise-side, session ten at Indian Wells saw Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka lose, as Israel's Shahar Peer advanced in three.

In Nadal's match against Mario Ancic, the Spaniard wowed the crowed with shot after shot, making his established opponent look like a confused country-player. With his powerful top spin forehand, Nadal dominated Ancic with beautifully hit passing shots and curling forehands hit from outside the doubles alley that miraculously clipped corners of the court. In the end, Ancic looked completely baffled, bowing out, 6-2, 6-2. The third seed next faces the American giant, John Isner.

Isner beat friend and fellow Davis Cup partner, Sam Querrey, 7-6(3), 6-4, asserting his rightful place as the second-ranked American in the world. The question remains, can Isner push himself to the max and take down the defending champion, Nadal, in the next round. My prediction: probably not.

Djokovic looked to have an easy match against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first set, but things intensified as Kohlschreiber's one-handed backhanded and the California heat weighed down on the Serb's game. Djokovic outlasted Kohlschreiber's three match points and took the third set tie break to win, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(3). Next up is a harder test in Ivan Ljubicic, the twentieth seed.

Another Serb, Jankovic, looked to be all but out of the tournament against her lower-ranked opponent, Sara Errani in her 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 win. For the first set and most of the second, Jankovic would set the point up with one of her beautifully placed down-the-line backhands. However, she continually made unforced errors, allowing Errani to dictate play. In the second set tiebreak, Jankovic was up 6-1, until sloppy play ensued. Jankovic lost the next five points, but eventually took the set and the match.

Clijsters and Azarenka bowed out in surprising fashion. Clijsters lost to Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(4), while Azarenka was defeated by Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, 7-6(4), 6-2.

With Clijsters out, my prediction for a Belgian champion at the 2010 Indian Wells tournament comes to a close. However, there is the exciting possibility of a new winner on the west coast, which is just as powerful a storyline.

Azarenka's defeat by Martinez Sanchez was a huge upset, showcasing the Spaniard's beautiful variety, including drop shot returns, finesse volleys, lobs, and well-placed serves. All combined to throw off Azarenka's powerful baseline game and end her hopes for a big win.

Other matches of note had Israel's Shahar Peer versus Flavia Pennetta, Vera Zvonareva against Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova, and Australia's Sam Stosur meeting Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Peer came back from a difficult loss in the second set to take a commanding win in the third set, beating the Italian, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1. In the other match, 2009 champion Zvonareva put a stop to the Latvian's strong run 6-2, 6-3, while Stosur out-hit the recent titlist, Pavlyuchenkova, in a lopsided, 6-3, 6-0.

Post #37 Sharapova Surprised by Zheng; Federer Through in Three

2010-03-15T00:49:00.005-04:00

Another blackhorse pick to win Indian Wells is out. This time, the number ten seed, Maria Sharapova, fell in three sets to the number eighteen seed and Australian Open semifinalist, Jie Zheng of China. Although it looked like Sharapova's confidence would be enough to make a real run for the trophy, Zheng's powerful groundstrokes proved too much. Sharapova lost 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

With Sharapova gone, Zheng should surely make it to the quarterfinals, where she'll potentially meet the third seed, Caroline Wozniacki, who will soon meet Maria Kirilenko in the round of 32. Should Wozniacki pull through, and make it to a match with Zheng in the quarters, I pick Wozniacki to win in three.

On the ATP tour, Roger Federer had a scare in his match against Victor Hanescu, needing three sets to advance. Federer won 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-1. The win shows that while he's a little rusty, Federer's not going anywhere, anytime soon. In fact, playing a three set match is good for Federer in that he got the challenge and game play necessary to succeed as the tournament continues. His next opponents to watch out for? Marcos Baghdatis in a third round re-match of the 2006 Australian Open final and, potentially, Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals. I see both opponents putting up strong fights against the Swiss champion to no avail.

Other develoments of note: American James Blake defeated the thirteenth seed, David Ferrer and Nikolai Davydenko withdrew from the tournament with a broken wrist.

Post #36: Henin Downed by Dulko; Sharapova Squeaks Through; Sevastova Surprises; Cilic Out

2010-03-13T12:25:00.007-05:00

Wildcard Justine Henin, my pick to take home the Indian Wells title, was ousted by the thirty-first seed, Gisela Dulko in three sets in the first round, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. The score says it all: Henin let the first set slip away, came firing in the second, and then looked to clinch the win before falling in a close third set. With Henin out of the way, look for Elena Dementieva to capitalize on her section of of the draw. There, only Agnieszka Radwanska, the fifth seed, has a chance to touch Dementieva, although even that is questionable given the Polish player's lack of power.

In other results, Maria Sharapova, a blackhorse selection, locked in a close three-set win over Vera Dushevina, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. While she isn't playing at her best so far, I see Sharapova winning comfortably against the surprise Australian Open semifinalist, Jie Zheng in the next round. Although Zheng won her match easily, 6-3, 7-5, Sharapova has the tenacity and the hunger for a large title. Sharapova will need to make the first strike and take advantage of Zheng's weak serve to ensure victory.

Another match of note is Latvian Anastasija Sevastova's win over Ana Ivanovic, 6-2, 6-4. The win means that Sevastova has defeated both former Serbian world number ones within the same couple weeks. She recently took out Jelena Jankovic in the first round of the Monterrey Open before losing in the semifinals to the eventual champion, Anastasia Pavyluchenkova. Look to see Sevastova continue her strong showings on the WTA tour and put up a good fight against the number twelve seed, Vera Zvonareva in the round of 32.

On the ATP side, Marin Cilic, another of my blackhorse selections, bowed out in two lopsided sets, 7-6(1), 6-0, against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. With Gilles Simon of France also out, Novak Djokovic will have a much easier time making it to the quarterfinals, where he'll meet Rafael Nadal. Although coming off of serious knee injury, Nadal looked strong in his 6-4, 6-4 win over qualifier Rainer Schuettler.

Post #35: Federer and Nadal Question Marks at Indian Wells, Murray and Djokovic Bring Exclamation

2010-03-12T18:20:00.008-05:00

With Roger Federer's lung infection and Rafael Nadal's knee problems, the ATP side of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells might be as open to new success as the WTA tour, where champions Serena and Venus Williams continue to abstain from play. Of course, just because injury has hampered both men in the past doesn't mean they aren't ready to take the title. In fact, the case can easily be made that since Federer lacks the pressure to win with his Grand Slam success and recent illness, he will continue to keep the tennis world in awe with a win at the fifth "Grand Slam." In Nadal's case, the Spaniard probably feels even more fired up than usual to show the tennis world that he truly is physically fit. The decision was difficult for him to retire against Andy Murray at the quarterfinals of Australian Open and to not play the recent Davis Cup tie. Therefore, look to see some aggressive, intelligent play coming from Nadal, who desperately needs a win to re-assert the confidence and at least a little of the dominance he showcased at the beginning of 2009.

However, while both men hold the skill and, obviously, the intensity required to take the title, a slew of other men are raring to show their worth, too. A couple obvious names and probable opponents are Serbia's Novak Djokovic, the champion in Dubai, and Great Britain's Andy Murray. While Djokovic appears in Nadal's bottom half as the number two seed, Murray could meet Federer in the semifinals.

My quick predictions: I see Djokovic taking the bottom half of the draw, while Murray makes good at the top. The final will be a fierce competition between them, with Murray prevailing in three.

Blackhorse picks include: The number eight seed, Marin Cilic, the Australian Open semifinalist who put up a good fight against Murray. He will probably meet Djokovic in the quarterfinals; American Andy Roddick, who needs to prove he continues to have the high level of play that took him to 16-14 in the fifth against Federer at the 2009 Wimbledon. There will be a potential re-match of that epic in the quarters; and the under-achieving fifth seed, Russian Nikolai Davydenko, who finally got a racket endorsement.

Post #34: Indian Wells 2010: A Belgian Brawl?

2010-03-11T23:32:00.004-05:00

The 2010 BNP Paribas Open is upon us and the competition looks fierce on the WTA side. That is, however fierce it can be without the Williams sisters present. With their absence comes the chance for new faces to emerge and take command of the draw. Regardless, two champions look ready to fight their way through the 128-player field, and they are certainly not new faces at all. Unless, of course, you consider their hiatus from the sport for a while.

Yes, that's correct. The two women I see battling it out is none other than the Belgian comeback queens, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. The draw, although not overwhelmingly favorable, provides just enough levity to all but ensure the two make it comfortably into the quarterfinals of the event. Let's break it down.

Henin, who appears in the bottom half of the draw will first face the lightweight and number five seed, Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round. Radwanska, although certainly technically talented simply lacks the raw power needed to push past Henin's finesse. Basically, Henin plays Radwanska's game, but stronger and better. Next up for Henin will probably be the up-and-coming German, Sabine Lisicki. Lisicki, although more talented will not be able to match-up to Henin's cunning. I see Liscki going strong on her powerful serve, but succumbing in two close sets. If Henin should pass through that test, her next opponent will be the number four seed, Elena Dementieva. Dementieva has a lot to prove in this match-up, especially with her agonizingly close battle with Henin at the Australian Open. Look to see Dementieva fall under the pressure yet again after a three-set battle against Henin. If Henin reaches the semifinals, she will have a tough test in the other Russian, Maria Sharapova, who is looking to keep her winning streak going and show that she still has the fire and skill to take home the biggest titles.

Clijsters on the other hand appears in the top half of the draw as the fourteenth seed. Her first seed comes in the form of Alisa Kleybanova, who recently won her first title at the Malaysian Open against Dementieva. If Clijsters prevails against the confident Kleybanova, she'll face the number one seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova. I see Clijsters winning in two sets against Kuznetsova, who is not used to being the first seed at an event, especially one as large as Indian Wells. Her head will get the best of her, and I see Clijsters winning in two. Also looming in Clijsters' future are Jelena Jankovic, who's been having a poor start to the year, the sensational Shahar Peer, who made a stunning semifinal run at Dubai, or Dominika Cibulkova, always a threat at the big events. If all works out for Clijsters, the semifinals will potentially mean a match with Victoria Azarenka. Look to see Clijster's experience get the best of Azarenka, a player always prone to letting emotion get the best of her as was the case when she imploded at the semifinals of the Australian Open against Serena. If the match between Clijsters and Azarenka emerges, it should be a thrilling, three-setter with all sorts of ups-and-downs.

If the Belgians make it through to the final two, I predict Henin improving upon her runner-up title at the Sunny Slam and restoring her name at the top of the WTA tour.

Blackhorse picks include: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a young Russian, who recently won her first title and is the event's number twenty-five seed and Caroline Wozniacki, the quiet, number two seed, and 2009 US Open finalsit, that will probably meet Sharapova in the quarterfinals.

Post #33: Pavyluchenkova Prevails, Sevastova Continues to Impress

2010-03-08T00:57:00.003-05:00

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won her first title on the WTA tour today, playing two matches in one day at the Monterrey Open. On the way, she took out Latvian up-and-comer, Anastasija Sevastova in the semifinal. Both the semifinal and final match were lopsided affairs for the Russian, including her 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win over Sevastova, and her 1-6, 6-1, 6-0 win in the final versus Daniela Hantuchova.

Pavlyuchenkova, currently ranked 25 in the world for singles, was long overdue a title given her impressive wins over the past couple years. With her confidence at an all time high, it will be fascinating to see her performance at next week's Indian Wells tournament, especially as Serena Williams and Venus Williams open the draw by not appearing at the event. With her aggressive baseline game and obvious momentum, it'd be no surprise to see Pavlyuchenkova make it to the quarterfinals. In fact, last year, the Russian made it to the quarterfinals, eventually losing to the defending champion, Ana Ivanovic.

Parallel to Pavyluchenkova's success story is that of Sevastova, who was taken out of this year's Australian Open by the former at the event's first round. Getting to the semifinals was no easy feat for the Latvian, who defeated Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in the first round, 5-7 6-4 6-4. With a current ranking of 72 that will certainly rise based on her success along with wins over the former world number one and the three-set fight against Pavlyuchenkova, a top 30 player, look out for Sevastova to finish the year inside the top 50.

Should she make it to Indian Wells along with Pavyluchenkova, it will be compelling to keep an eye out for these Eastern European tennis stars. Both are looking strong going into the fifth major.

Post #32: Federer, Nadal In and Del Potro, Gonzalez Out

2010-03-07T01:37:00.004-05:00

Despite recent illness from Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's ailing knee, both champions have committed to playing the 2010 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. However, just when it looked like the top men would be well enough to compete together, word has reached that Juan Martin Del Potro and Fernando Gonzalez will be pulling out of the event. While Del Potro continues to suffer from a right wrist injury, Gonzalez will be staying in Chile to help out ongoing relief efforts from the recent earthquakes that wracked his country.

Gonzalez's decision is to be applauded. His commitment to helping Chile is exceptional. Hopefully, the top players can band together as they did in wake of the Haiti earthquake and help out the Chilean relief effort, too.

As for Federer and Nadal playing the event, it will certainly amp up the competition's level. Weeks previously, the tournament looked to be without these two players with only Serbia's Novak Djokovic to seem the only contender left to take the tournament, especially in light of Andy Murray's poor play in Dubai.

However, everything has changed now, for the better. It will be interesting to see if Federer's lung infection has healed well enough to give the Swiss star a fighting chance. Moreover, can Nadal show that he's ready to play his physical game once again and prevail? Only time will tell. Indian Wells just got a whole lot more interesting this year, that's for sure.

Post #31: Safina, Jankovic Continue to Disappoint

2010-03-02T02:11:00.005-05:00

Current number two player in the world, Dinara Safina, and former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, continue to disappoint with the former sidelined by injury, while the later exits from a tournament early.

Safina, who had a rocky Australian Open, pulled out of the Indian Wells tournament recently. After fizzling out at the finals of the 2009 Australian Open and French Open, Safina has simply not looked the same. Citing injury, it seems that mentally, she's also suffering. Big time. Not quite to the same extent as former top-ten player and French Open semifinalist, Nicole Vaidisova, but if things don't being looking up for the Russian, she just may end the year outside of the top ten. There will inevitably be a slippery slop back into the top-tier of the woman's game, especially with Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, and Maria Sharapova making strong comebacks. Safina needs to regain the power and mental toughness that took her to the number one ranking. It won't be easy, but I believe she still has the ability to make it to a Grand Slam final. The only question is, can she actually win one?

Like her struggling compatriot is the Grand Slam-less and other former world number one, Jankovic, who bowed out early to Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, at the Monterrey Open. She lost to...who exactly? Apparently, Sevastova is a 19-year old player currently at her career-high ranking of #73 in the world. With solid play like she took to Jankovic, maybe there's a strong career from her for the future. She might be someone to keep an eye out for.

Anyway, Jankovic needs to get back on track and possibly take advice from her compatriot, Ana Ivanovic who, although struggling, is showing signs of life by recruiting Heinz Gunthardt, Steffi Graf's former coach, to her team. I don't see things picking up for Jankovic, or Ivanovic for that matter, before Indian Wells.

Post #30: Djokovic, Venus, Win in Three; Kleybanova Blasts Past Dementieva for Maiden Title

2010-02-28T23:00:00.004-05:00

Serbia's Novak Djokovic made good on his run to the Dubai finals with a win over Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, while Venus Williams took down Polona Hercog to claim the Mexican Open title in Acapulco. Alisa Kleybanova also came out as a winner for the first time on the ATP tour, shocking Elena Dementieva in two lopsided sets.

Djokovic's win, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, shows a confident number two player in the world, ready to fight for success. Taking this title proves that Djokovic still has what it takes to claim victory, despite many of the other top men struggling with personal setbacks and injury. I see Djokovic doing well at Indian Wells and possibly taking the title if the other top men are unable to find their form in time.

Venus Williams, who came back from a set down, to beat Hercog, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, shows she also has the fire to keep her champion status going strong. While certainly not her most competitive tournament, Venus did not play anyone inside the top fifty from her quarterfinal match on, the win on clay must feel good. Who knows? Maybe she has it in her to get passed the red clay of Paris? That is if she can keep the momentum going against sister Serena Williams and Justine Henin, certainly the favorites to win, and the toughest tests on clay for any player.

It's refreshing to hear about a new player in the winner's circle. That's the beauty of these post-Slam tournaments. Even more interesting to hear is her 6-3, 6-2 win over Dementieva. The feat was monumental for Kleybanova and may prove to be telling of success to come. Hopefully, there will be more spotlight for Kleybanova in the coming months. It's always nice getting a fresh perspective in on the WTA action.

Post #29: Djokovic Steadily Staying In to Win

2010-02-27T02:40:00.003-05:00

Despite the numerous setbacks currently facing the ATP tour in terms of player health, Serbia's Novak Djokovic is continuing to get matches under his belt. While he might not be playing at his best, the Serb recently won a hard fought match 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-4 against the Cypriot, Marcos Baghdatis, to reach the final at Dubai.

Next up for Djokovic is Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, who has been showing some inspired play to make it back to the final stage of the tournament he won in 2006.

If Djokovic wins the next match convincingly, the tables will momentarily turn as to the next big player to watch for the season. Djokovic feeds off confidence more so than some of the other top guys. He needs the big wins to take his game to new heights, especially with drama to fuel him. Despite playing poorly, if Djokovic can string together one more match, regardless of it going to three sets, Djokovic's game will surely soar to new heights. Winning in Dubai will also establish a winning record going into the next big tournament of the season at Indian Wells. Of course, if he struggles or loses to Youzhny, this season might just remain up for grabs.

You might, however, want to take all of the aforementioned predictions with a grain of salt as they are all quite presumptuous of the fact that Roger Federer's lung infection will affect future play. It being Federer, the man of steel, being sidelined for long by injury or illness is highly doubtful. Furthermore, Rafael Nadal's knee could very well heal sooner than expected. If so, the kings of the court will resume their dominance.

Currently, though, there's smooth sailing ahead for Djokovic, the lone star in action.

Post #28: Top Men Show Wear and Tear Early in Season

2010-02-25T01:40:00.002-05:00

With Roger Federer ill, Rafael Nadal sidelined by injury and both Andy Murray and Nikolay Davydenko succumbing to much lower ranked players early on in Dubai, the men's game is not looking too healthy at the moment. But then again with the season as long as it is, maybe that's too be expected.

What's especially worrisome about this all is Nadal's own "worry" about his knee injuries, as reported in a recent Associated Press article, "Costa: Nadal 'worried' about constant injuries" in which the Spanish Davis Cup Captain Albert Costa relayed the troubling news. Yes, Nadal is hurt, but to actually go so far as to report worry to the media shows a very, un-Nadal-like sign. One that proves that the physical pain is transcending deeply into the emotional. This could be a sign that even Nadal himself doesn't hold that same belief in his ability to recover, that's there are some deeper issues beginning to surface than simply those plaguing his knees.

In other news, Murray and Davydenko disappoint in Dubai with the Brit falling to the other male Serbian, Janko Tipsarevic, while the Russian retired due to his nagging wrist injury. While Davydenko's story is justified, what went wrong with Murray? Losing 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 to Tipsarevic is certainly a shocker. In fact, according to the AP article, Tipsarevic has barely strung together any wins on the ATP level recently, not to mention over a top-ten player in the world, and recent Grand Slam singles finalist. The article reports, "Tipsarevic, who hadn’t won on tour this year until this week, served for the match at 5-3 in the third set but was broken by Murray’s double-fisted backhand passing shot on the run."

Only Novak Djokovic is continuing his form, securing a well-fought win over another Serb, Viktor Troicki, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

With the way things are going, the ATP tour is looking pretty weak. Maybe it's time for some up-and-comers to emerge and claim a sport at the top echelon of tennis. If there were ever a time, it's right now.

Post #27: WTA Future Weigh-In

2010-02-24T00:00:00.003-05:00

The action has been fierce on the WTA tour with Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova both coming off recent wins in Dubai and Memphis, respectively, Shahar Peer stunning the tennis and political worlds into an inspired semifinal run, and China's Na Li making a big statement about her future before faltering in Malaysia. If the drama and intensity continues as it has so far, this year will be prove to be one of the most exciting yet.

First, Venus' exceptional play. By beating Victoria Azarenka and claiming Dubai, Venus shows she still has the desire and ability necessary to take home the big trophies. Maybe not Wimbledon, but her win in Dubai over Azarenka proves that Venus is still very competitive at the top of the game. Look to see the older Williams sister keep claiming those smaller titles. Are majors out of the question? I see a typical, weak run at the French, but a strong showing on her home turf at Wimbledon during the summer.

Sharapova, who shocked many with her first round loss at the Australian Open, came back in her first match since then to claim her first title of the season and claim the 13th ranking. Sharapova did not drop a set, including in her lopsided final against the unseeded Sofia Arvidsson. With play like that, Sharapova could be a real contender at the French Open. If the confidence is high and the serve strikes true, look to see Sharapova not only match, but improve upon last year's surprise quarterfinal run at the French. Indian Wells should be a promising tournament, too.

Next on the list: Shahar Peer. TENNIS.com's Steve Tignor does the situation justice with an interesting interview of Peer's coach, Pablo Giacopelli. Hopefully, Peer can keep the confidence going and continue to shine through the season.

Finally, Na Li's desire to become number one looked like it had merit as she fought to the semifinals of the Sunny Slam. However, this looked much tougher after some uninspired play in the first round at the Malaysian Open with her 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 loss to Tatjana Malek of Germany. It looks like the pressure might be getting to Li. While she has the skill to remain a top-ten player, I predict she continues to succumb to her nerves in the coming months

Conclusion: Venus and Sharapova remain dominant forces, while Peer and Li are question marks going into the spring and summer season.

Post #26: American Davis Cup Team Looking Strong as Querrey Tops Isner in Final

2010-02-23T23:47:00.003-05:00

An all-American final pitting the newly selected United States Davis Cup team of Sam Querrey and John Isner ended 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-3 for Querrey at the Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tennessee.

With such a strong showing from these top, up-and-coming Americans, the Davis Cup, which lacks the all-Star power from Andy Roddick and James Blake, looks strong. It'll be nice to see how the two fare in Davis Cup play in the coming months.

In other news, Federer's recent pull-out from the Dubai tournament is worrying as the Australian Open champion claimed to be suffering from a lung infection. The news is particularly surprising given Federer's nearly clean track record in the past few years regarding illness and injury. The only major physical ailment being his bout of mono about a year ago.

Regardless, if anyone can pull through the sickness and come out on top, Federer can, and most definitely will. Hopefully he finds himself well enough to play at the next large event on the tennis circuit and unofficial fifth slam: Indian Wells on March 11.

Post #25: Peer's Political Run Ends Against Williams in Dubai

2010-02-20T03:23:00.002-05:00

Israel's surprise semifinal appearance came to a close against Venus Williams quite easily in a 6-1, 6-4 match. The symbolic significance of Peers placement in the tournament, however, speaks much more than her results.

Having been denied entrance into the tournament last year due to her Israeli citizenship, making it all the way to the final four was an impressive win. And that's only an understatement. Her success, although compelling for the number of seeded players Peer defeated on her way, including Australian Open semifinalist Na Li and the top seed, Caroline Wozniacki, to the semifinals, is vastly political, too.

The implications of her win show that Peer is not only ready to rise into elite standing among tennis' top tier as was the case during her quarterfinal showing at the Aussie Open a few years ago, but that Israel must be recognized by Dubai, not shunned. Her play was a blatant testimony to that effect.

For the future, I can only hope that Peer keeps up with her aggressive play, promoting political acceptance, too.

Post #24: Oudin Out in Style, Poses for Tennis Magazine

2010-02-13T13:26:00.005-05:00

Numerous tournaments are well underway on the tennis circuit with one particular semifinal match catching my attention: Elena Dementieva's defeat of American Melanie Oudin at the Paris Indoors Tournament.

Oudin's success, and strong show against Dementieva, sparks interest for her developing future. In fact, the young Georgian recently posed for the cover of Tennis Magazine.
While she faded out of the Australian Open to Alla Kudryavstava much earlier than expected, big things are coming for the US Open quarterfinalist much sooner than expected.

After her debilitating loss, which should have ended in her favor given the vast lead she secured, things were looking down for Oudin. However, with two wins over France in Fed Cup over Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-4 and Julie Coin 7-6(3), 6-4 combined with the semifinal run in Paris, the teenager just might be ready to take on the red clay of the French Open.

It seemed likely that the expectations were getting to her after the surprise US Open run, but Oudin truly does believe, and has what it takes.

Post #23: Nadal Fades to Number Four

2010-02-12T02:02:00.004-05:00

Hello again! The lull has taken its toll, and the stories are slim post-Australian Open. But one bit of news that struck me as a surprise was Rafael Nadal's recent dive in the rankings to number four in the world.

With the Spaniard out of the top three for the first time in just a little less than five years, it doesn't look like he'll fare too well in the coming months. Nadal's a fighter, but has he tried to hard? His body seems to suggest just that. The recurring knee problem doesn't want to heal, and without his awesome defensive skills, Nadal is simply not the same player.

It's a shame that this bull fighter's body broke down so quickly in his relatively young career. Otherwise, it's safe to say that Nadal would have continued his reign as number one for much longer. Down under last year was a huge win, and bringing Roger Federer to tears is no easy feat. But, Nadal did it. To lose in the fourth round against Robin Soderling at the French Open summed up the year, and might just be suggestive of his future, too. Yes, he still has the ability to win more slams in his career, the guy is only 24 after all. Fitness is key at this point, and so is finding a way out of the nagging knee pain. Otherwise, that 2009 Australian Open could very well have been his last for a long while.

Assuming the Spaniard gets back to fighting form, I see him making it to the semifinals at the French Open. The competition is heating up these past few months, and it will never be the cakewalk to the Roland Garros title as it proved to be for those four consecutive wins. Federer says he's playing the best ever. Who's to challenge that sentiment right now? No one, especially with Nadal out of peak condition. It's going to be an uphill battle for Nadal, but he has the drive to surpass any obstacle.

Post #22: The Post-Slam Lull

2010-02-05T01:04:00.003-05:00

After an exciting Australian Open that featured the top players dominating the field, think Serena Williams and Roger Federer, the tennis world has slipped into the expected lull that takes place just after a Grand Slam tournament Although, this isn't really the case in regards to the short period just after the French Open and before Wimbledon, but that's a different story.

Personally, the excitement of a Grand Slam, watching so much tennis online, reading so much tennis online, hearing, writing, see pictures, picking up the gossip is intense, and, even a little overwhelming. But, that's the beauty of the sport. For eight weeks out of the year, when the competition is at its finest and all the top players in the world (unless plagued by injuries, which is inherently common in such a competitive sport) fight to claim the titles for which they've worked so hard, a tennis fan is on cloud nine.

It is fitting that there is a post-slam lull because maybe that's what makes the love of the sport so powerful. Maybe by not hitting fans over the head with huge matches, not covering the sport as closely as football or soccer, and not making it so dominant in the media outside of the Grand Slams, the effect is to actually make the love of the sport that much greater. Yes, it'd be nice to have easy access to more tournaments and hear the sport discussed on a wider realm to increase popularity, especially in the United States where new players in the top 100 are desperately needed, but this fan is doing fine just the way it is.

And that's the beauty of such a wonderful, complex sport. You get to think about it even after it's over, for an extended period of time.

Post #21: Federer Defeats Murray, Acquires Sweet 16 in Three Sets

2010-02-01T00:35:00.005-05:00

Roger Federer has done it again: persevering through two intense weeks for the sixteenth time to take home the trophy, and this time as a father. This Aussie Open win, his fourth title, pitted the Swiss champion against Britain's Andy Murray, who is his country's only hope to finally securing a Grand Slam trophy after decades of loss.

The match itself was pretty routine for Federer. He showed off his beautiful footwork, his sensational forehand, and the mental game that proved too much to handle for the fiery Murray. Despite the three-set score, there were many chances for Murray to take it to a fourth, including five in the tiebreak. However, he failed to capitalize, proving that, while Murray has the game to win a Slam at some point in the future, he isn't quite there yet.

Federer's impressive win announces that the father of two is not going anywhere any time soon. All around him, the top men are battling through injuries, such as Spain's Rafael Nadal, who will now drop to number four in the world, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and numerous others. At the same time, even if the aforementioned individuals were completely healthy, they could do little to hurt Federer in a Grand Slam, except, of course, Nadal, who still holds the edge in major finals.

With that said, what is there to keep Federer from winning the Grand Slam this year? If he can take the French Open, assuming Nadal is still fighting off injury and the two don't meet early given Nadal's compromised ranking, I foresee Federer having an extremely successful year. After breaking Pete Sampras' record, being married, having two children, and with little more to improve to the tennis world, Federer has absolutely no pressure, and is simply playing for the passion he has for the sport.

Post #20: Serena Takes Home Twelfth Title, Sends Henin Home in Three Superb Sets

2010-01-30T10:04:00.006-05:00

Serena Williams has finally done it: breaking the curse that allowed her to only win the Australian Open singles championship every other year. Williams successfully defended her title against Belgium's surprise finalist, Justine Henin, in the first three-set final since Henin's Wimbledon final against Amelie Mauresmo at the 2006 Wimbledon with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

The match, which had its ups and downs, including Henin's run of fourteen consecutive points to take it to a third set, proved that while Serena is the best player in the world, the Belgian is close behind.

With the win, Serena now matches Billie Jean King's record of twelve Slam titles, an amazing accomplishment. Serena has shown she has what it takes to keep winning in convincing fashion, and I have no doubt she will continue with a strong showing at the French Open in May. Yes, it's her worst surface, but after her talk with ESPN commentator Mary Joe Fernandez, Serena mentioned a desire to win on the red clay of Paris. We all know that when Serena has the desire, there is little that stands in her way.

Regarding Justine, it was a long, difficult road to the final, and for her string of points from the middle of the second set to the beginning of the third set, it looked like the comeback champion would match compatriot Kim Clijster's superb play at the US Open. However, it was not to be. By playing in her next tournament, though, Justine should have enough points to crack the top 50, which means her seeding will drastically improve by the time the French Open, her most successful Slam, rolls around.

It should also be noted that not only did the Williams sister win alone, but beat out the top doubles team with sister, Venus Williams, to take home their eleventh Grand Slam double title. Props to Serena for her physical stamina. It's truly impressive that she has once again strung together twelve wins, playing every day, to reign supreme.

While it's too soon to make any definitive predictions, and only time can truly tell, based on the form shown by these two chmapions, I see both making it to the semifinals of the French Open, and possibly even further, depending on the seeding. As of now, no players on the WTA tour hold the same confidence as Serena and Henin.

Post #19: Serena, Henin Post Two Set Wins to Meet at the Sunny Slam Finals

2010-01-27T23:56:00.005-05:00

Both Serena Williams and Justine Henin advanced to the finals of the 2010 Australian Open with impressive play against their semifinalist opponents from China, Na Li and Jie Zheng, respectively. While Serena battled through a 7-6(4), 7-6(1), Justine sailed through to her first Slam final since her 2007 win at the US Open with a score of 6-1, 6-0.

The stage is set, and the fight is on as both players are focused given their success in the semifinals. Moreover, there head-to-head record, tilted in Serena's favor, 7 wins to 6, has been a tumultuous one. Serena lost a string of Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2007 to Henin. However, these are vastly different circumstances. Both players have little to lose to settle this score, and, more importantly, hoist the title they've been aiming for these past two weeks.

Henin has had a much more difficult road to the final, including three, three-set matches of high drama to Serena's one. Therefore, it would seem that Serena, having had less court-time, is more refreshed. Of course, both players are physically suffering, but both are champions, and know what it takes to win on the biggest stages. As Serena wants to exact revenge over her past losses to Henin at Grand Slams, the Belgian hopes to send a clear message in only the second tournament of her comeback or second career.

Will Henin's serve stay true, and will Serena be ready to shake off past failures? Saturday only can say. My prediction: Serena uses her experience and strong mental game to push past the Belgian in two sets. Justine has put up a phenomenal effort, and will no doubt be a serious threat to win the French Open, but her serving does not have the consistency necessary to beat the current world's number one just yet.

Noteworthy Links:

Abigail Lorge's, "Saturday Night Fever: Breaking Down the Women's Final

Pete Bodo's, "Running Serena"

Post #18: Federer, Tsonga Face Tough Tests to Advance

2010-01-27T22:59:00.003-05:00

The final four has been decided with the recent wins of Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Federer, who came out victorious in a four-set topsy-turvy test from Russia's Nikolai Davydenko, next faces the heavy-hitting, Muhammad Ali lookalike, Tsonga, who exacted revenge and took out Novak Djokovic in a reverse of the 2008 Australian Open final.

Despite losing the first set against Davydenko, 6-2, Federer stayed steady, reaching his twenty-third Grand Slam semifinal. Meanwhile, Tsonga continued his five-set winning streak, playing only the second in his career, by securing the win over Djokovic.

The fact that Tsonga has faced two matches that went the distance, the 24-year old heavyweight might be too fatigued to come up with the biggest win of his career. However, he'll take confidence from his last meeting with Federer that took place at the Masters event in Montreal last summer, during which he defeated the Swiss maestro, 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(3).

Of course, the stage is bigger. And, as always, Federer shines in the spotlight. This semifinal berth should not be any different, despite Tsonga's impressive play up until this point. My prediction: Federer fends off the fierce test from the Frenchman to advance to his fifth Aussie Open final.

Post #17: Serena Fights Off Scare; Venus, Nadal, and Roddick Wilt Under Aussie Heat

2010-01-26T23:38:00.005-05:00

With the finals looming in the near future, the fights are getting fierce, and many of the top players are bowing out. Down under, things are taking an exciting turn as defending champion Serena Williams came through a close battle with Victoria Azarenka, while Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Roddick all lost in varying fashion to lower-ranked players. With the outcomes, up-and-comers are being given the chance to strut their tennis prowess on the big stage. Let's take a look at these sensational displays of quarterfinal action at the Sunny Slam.

The most recent disappointment, which showcased a surprise semifinalist, was Venus' defeat at the hands of China's Na Li, who now joins her compatriot Jie Zheng in the final four. While Venus is never to be discounted from a Slam, it appears that she has lost some of the hunger in her game since the tough loss to sister Serena Williams at Wimbledon, where here best results at the big matches have taken place. Li's flat shots and raw power proved too much for the older sister, whose serve was particularly attack-able with eleven double faults for the match.

Na Li's next opponent? None other than the other Williams sister, Serena, who came back 4-1 in the second set after having lost the first 6-4 to take Azarenka in the tiebreak. Serena next rattled off numerous games to halt the play of the feisty Belarussian, 6-2 in the final. With that big win under her belt, look to see Serena dispatch Na Li in two quick sets to exact revenge over her sister's loss.

For the men, two examples of the harsh conditions on the players' bodies due to the lengthy season shone through with the defeats of Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. As Nadal tripped and scrapped his way to three sets before retirement at the hands of Andy Murray, Roddick attempted to stave off Marin Cilic's breakthrough run by distorting his power game. Neither came out on top, and their bodies eventually gave in to the intense pressures of playing professional tennis. My prediction: Cilic's inexperience plays a large role in his defeat in the semifinals to Murray. After four intense, high quality tennis, the Scot reaches his first Australian Open final in a rematch of the 2008 US Open.

Post #16: Henin Hones in On Comeback Title

2010-01-26T00:21:00.005-05:00

Photo Credit: Reuters
Belgium's Justine Henin reached the semifinals at the Australian Open with a tough win over Russia's Nadia Petrova, 7-6(3), 7-5. With the convincing win, Henin next faces the surprise semifinalist, Jie Zheng, who took out Maria Kirilenko with an easy 6-1, 6-3 win.

The fight to the finals should prove an easy one for the 2004 Aussie Open champion. Although the two only met once at Toronto in 2005, Henin's passion and desire for a title will prove greater than any inner physical demons that may be plaguing her. However, it is important to note that Zheng is not completely outclassed and inexperienced at the Grand Slams, having reached the semifinals of the 2008 Wimbledon Championships. Therefore, the nerves will probably not affect Zheng despite what her ranking suggests.

The battle between the two will be a good one to watch. My prediction: Henin in two well fought sets to make her first Grand Slam final since her 2007 US Open win over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Another link to look at: "Henin Advances to Australian Open Semifinals" by the Associated Press

Post #15: Start of Second Week Proves Surprising, Seeds Succumb to Pressure

2010-01-24T22:38:00.006-05:00

The last couple of days brought about many surprises as the second week got underway down under. Matches of note: Marin Cilic's win over reigning US Open champ, Juan Martin del Potro, Maria Kirilenko's fortuitous advance into the quarterfinals after the number-two seed, Dinara Safina, retired due to injury, Nadia Petrova's clutch battle with Svetlana Kuznetsova, Justine making good in her comeback against compatriot Yanina Wickmayer, and Na Li's superb play in her match-up with the US Open finalist, Caroline Wozniacki.

Cilic has shown consistency in his past Grand Slam results, posting third round or better in his last four big stage events. His five set win over the Argentine proves that the 21-year old Croatian has what it takes to take out the big guns at a major. In the next round, Cilic faces American Andy Roddick, who had a tough five set battle of his own against the Chilean, Fernando Gonzalez. I see Roddick using his experience, and coming through in five.

It's refreshing to see a new face emerge at the forefront on the WTA side of things, meaning Maria Kirilenko's run to the quarterfinals. After securing the first big upset of the tournament in the first round, Kirilenko has proven her worth. Next up for the Russian, China's Jie Zheng, who took out Alyona Bondarenko in three. Given that Kirilenko played only nine games against Dinara Safina, I see her going through in straight sets against the more fatigued Zheng.

Nadia Petrova is another surprise player into the second week, especially with her two set win over Kim Clijsters and, more recently, dismantling the reigning French Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in three lopsided sets. Her win sets up a rematch of the Sydney tournament's first round with Justine Henin. Justine's drive and experience are unmatched by Petrova, who is known for her mental lapses and loss of focus, especially at the big stages. Henin has proven she is ready to get down and dirty on the court as most of her matches have gone the distance in her comeback. I pick the Belgian to advance in three.

Finally, the largest upset of this batch of round four wins: China's number 16 seed Na Li took out the US Open Finalist, Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-3. An excellent win for Li, who next faces Venus Williams, a winner against Italy's Francesca Schiavone. I see a Williams versus Williams match in the semifinals. Props to Li though for playing without pressure and going for her shots.

Post #14: Injuries Wrack Male Players in Third Round Action; Top Women Advance Easily

2010-01-23T18:57:00.008-05:00

As the first week of the Australian Open came to a close, many of the matches on the ATP side were canceled due to injury. Mikhail Youzhny, Marcos Baghdatis, and Stefan Koubeck were all victims of various ailments, failing to make good on their impressive play.

While it was certainly a disappointment in the context of this particular tournament, the slew of injuries paints a greater picture of the problems with scheduling evident on the professional circuit. To have top players bowing out from major matches so early in the season means two things: a) the players themselves might not be in the best physical shape (Baghdatis), or b) many are still recovering from the stress of playing over a span of ten months non-stop.

As a recreational tennis player as well a member of a division three college tennis team, it is evident that the aches and pains associated with the sport are many. Intensifying the strain on the body as apparent on the professional level is, therefore, substantially higher. Therefore, it would be in the best interests of the ATP and WTA tours to cut out some of the lesser tournaments, possibly closer to the end of the year, in order to give the players more time for rest and relaxation. They deserve it.

What do the retirements mean for the remainder of the draw? Let's see.

Lleyton Hewitt next faces Roger Federer in the fourth round. Despite the retirement from Baghdatis, expect the veteran Australian to bow out in straight sets to the world number one.

Next, Spain's Fernando Verdasco, who made great waves last year down under, including an epic five-set match against Rafael Nadal, will play Nikolai Davydenko. By only playing one set against Koubeck, the Spaniard should be ready to go against Davydenko,a blackhorse to breakthrough and win his first major. Prediction: Verdasco will summon the superb play that pushed Nadal to the brink last year, but come up short against the technical supremacy of the Russian. Davydenko will win in four.

Finally, Lukcasz Kubot of Poland, the man that won the walkover from Youzhny, should prove an easy match against the third seed, Novak Djokovic. The Serb is hungry for a title, and will end Kubot's best Grand Slam run in three quick sets.

While many of the lower-ranked men were struggling physically, the top seeds on the WTA side advanced comfortably into the second week. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, and Victoria Azarenka headlined play, reaching the fourth round in straight sets, including bagel sets from Serena, Wozniacki, and Azarenka. In the top half, look to see this quartet make good on their Sunny Slam success and battle it out between each other in the quarterfinals: Serena versus Azarenka, and Venus versus Wozniacki. The fighting will be fierce, and the drama at its highest.

Post #13: Clijsters Collapses in Two Sets; Upsets Ensue in Round of 32

2010-01-22T10:35:00.027-05:00

Photo Credit:Clive Brunskills/Getty Images
Marion Bartoli, Alisa Kleybanova, Gael Monfils, and... Kim Clijsters? What does this eclectic group of names have in common? They all surrendered to defeat in the round of 32 at the Australian Open in outlandish fashion. The biggest upset of the round being none other than the Belgian comeback queen and recent US Open champion, Clijsters. Let's take a look at this round of disastrous disappointment at the Slam that never fails to surprise.

First upset highlight: Bartoli, the eleventh-seed succumbed to Jie Zheng of China in a lopsided 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 match. Look to the current French number one to fall out of the top twenty over the course of this year; she's already losing points for not making good on her quarterfinal run at the Slam last year.

Who can blame the Alisa Kleybanova for her three-set defeat at the hands of Justine Henin? It was a good effort from the 27th-seed to test the Belgian champion. The Russian had her chances up a set and a break in the second, but the sun and high fitness level required to secure the win got to her. I guess it wasn't much of an upset after all.

Gael Monfils was another big name in the cast of third round defeats. The showy Frenchman was out-served by the gentle giant, and number two American, John Isner. Monfils, who typically shines under the athletic pressure and blazing conditions, was bombarded in the first set 6-1 before getting his head back in it. However, Isner stayed steady, improving his tiebreak records in the process, by acing the Monfils twenty-three times to clinch the match, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(5). Next up for Isner, Andy Murray, who has been cruising so far.

Finally, the most stunning upset for last. Clijsters' comeback at the Australian Open came to a screeching halt when Nadia Petrova, who was looking for some sweet revenge after her loss to Henin in the first round of the Sydney tournament, blitzed the Belgian in a 6-0, 6-1 win. With no obvious answers to describe Clijsters' poor play, I'll count the loss as a blip on the radar, not a question mark for the next three Slams. Kudos to Petrova for securing the upset, and making her mark in the tournament. Here's a video of Clijster's press conference after her loss.

Summary and Predictions for the Winners:

Zheng Jie won't keep up the level of play, and will lose to Alyona Bondarenko, the player that upset Jelena Jankovic, in two close sets. Justine Henin will into the second week ready for a fight, shaking off her aches and pains in the process. She takes on Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer, and can only be thankful that her more well-known compatriot, Kim Clijsters, isn't there for a fight in the quarterfinals. John Isner's huge serve won't be a match for Andy Murray's superb return game. I see the American's run coming to a close in three close sets. Finally, Clijsers' slayer, Nadia Petrova, will roll over Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round, but lose in a rematch to Henin in the quarters.

Post #12: Williams Sisters Secure Wins Easily; Serbians Suffer in the Sun

2010-01-21T23:13:00.014-05:00

Photo Credit: Lionel Cironneau/AP
Serena Williams and Venus Williams handily fended off two difficult second round opponents to advance. Serena looked particularly sharp against the powerful 20-year-old, Petra Kvitova, while Venus dispatched the mother, Sybille Bammer after a tough test in the second set.

The results are telling of what's to come in the tournament's future for the sisters. Serena's intensity certainly is not the question. When is it ever? Then again, Venus, who was impressive in the first set against Bammer lost concentration as she so often does. This focus issue does not bode well in the second week of a Slam, especially one in which heat and fitness are key to winning.

That said, I'm sticking by my guns and predicting that Serena keeps her composure into the finals. However, it does not look like a sister semifinal will occur. Venus can get through the next round against Australia's Casey Dellacqua, who's been having a nice repeat of her 2008 Sunny Slam success, along with a probably fourth round match against the tenth-seeded lightweight, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland. Venus leads their head-to-head 4-1, including a 6-1, 6-2 win over the tricky counter puncher in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships. The run will most probably end at the racquet of Caroline Wozniacki, the recent US Open finalist, whose focused is almost always assured. Wozniacki is ready to shine under the big stage, and prove to the tennis world that she's confident enough to snap her four straight defeats at the hands of Venus, all of which ended in two sets.

Now for news on the Serbians. There were big hopes for Ana Ivanovic coming into this Slam, while Jelena Jankovic continued to fly under the radar. Both former number ones failed, continuing their streaky success after topping the ranking charts. Ivanovic bowed out in an epic 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4 loss to Gisela Dulko in the second round, and her compatriot's run came to a close in the third round against the Ukranian Alyona Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-3.

In terms of the Australian Open, Ivanovic's loss opens the draw up nicely for Victoria Azarenka, securing an anticipated quarterfinal match against Serena. In Jankovic's quarter, meanwhile, the surprise Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli might have the potential to make some noise. Dinara Safina and Maria Sharapova's slayer, Maria Kirilenko, loom in the background in the bottom of the draw, too.

The question is: Can the Serbs get back to a competitive level at the Slams? While I don't see either hoisting up a trophy, especially in the next three events, there's a long year ahead of the two for better or for worse.

Noteworthy News Links:

"Ivanovic out; Williamses, Djokovic win in Melbourne" by the Associated Press

"No big deal, says Jankovic after Aussie Open loss" by Agence France-Presse

"Ivanovic flops out of Open" by Agence France-Presse

Post #11: Del Potro, Davydenko, Baghdatis Advance, Aussi Open Predictions

2010-01-20T23:45:00.009-05:00

Photo Credit: Rick Stevens
The round of 64 brought in some noteworthy results with Juan Martin del Potro, Nikolai Davydenko, and Marcos Baghdatis all advancing. What does this mean for the way this Aussie Open will play out? Let's take a look.

First, del Potro was taken the lengths by American veteran, James Blake, in an intense, 6-4,6(3)-7,5-7,6-3,10-8 battle. It was nice seeing that Blake still has the firepower and speed to test the top players, despite poor showings in the last few Slams. His best result last year was making it to the fourth round down under. While it's nice to see Blake's effort, it puts into question del Potro's level, especially given the nagging wrist injury. I see the quiet giant playing some more scrappy tennis until a defeat by either Marin Cilic or Stanislas Wawrinka in the fourth round.

While del Potro squeaked through in five sets, Davydenko eased into the next round with a 6-3,6-3,6-0 win over the Ukranian, Illia Marchenko. It looks like Davydenko has been having the easiest time in advancing out of the top contenders. His almost certain quarterfinal match against Roger Federer should be a good one. Hopefully, the Russian, who blazed through the draw at the year-ending event, can again find his form against the world number one to make it a competitive match-up.

Baghdatis, the 2006 Australian Open, looked down and out against David Ferrer, the seventeenth seed in the first two sets. However, the rambunctious Baghdatis charmed the crowd as he did in 2006, and upset Ferrer in five sets, 4-6,3-6,7-6(4),6-3,6-1. With his recent win over Richard Gasquet at the Medibank International, the Cypriot has the confidence, and the personality, to keep on smiling a little longer. My prediction: Baghdatis defeats Lleyton Hewitt to make it to the fourth round, before falling to Federer.

Post #10: Oudin Outlasted in Three; Henin in It to Win

2010-01-20T09:54:00.005-05:00

The string up upsets, especially regarding my blackhorse picks on the WTA side, are continuing to keep things interesting at the Australian Open. On day one, surprise US Open quarterfinalist American Melanie Oudin looked strong in her first round match against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia. That is until she was serving to win it at 6-2, 5-4. Oudin, known for her shocking, consecutive three set wins at the US Open against Elena Dementieva in the second round, Maria Sharapova in the third round, and Nadia Petrova in the fourth, was unable to close out this latest Russian opponent.

Since her fairytale run, things have been going downhill for the 17-year old counter puncher. Although illness and fatigue were probably the issue, Oudin should not have lost this match. The pressure is getting to her now, but she has the goods to go deep into a Slam. I see her having a tough next couple tournament as she finds the her focus, and improving to the top twenty by the US Open. Can Oudin have another magical winning streak? Only if the teen holds the same belief in herself as the world saw in September.

The second round of the Sunny Slam saw a much different, more positive story in Justine Henin's impressive, 7-5, 7-6 defeat of the fifth-seed, Elena Dementieva of Russia. With the first tough test out of the way for the seven-time Grand Slam champion, Henin next faces the 27th seed, Alisa Kleybanova. I see Henin going through in two. In fact, with such a high profile win in such a short comeback, Henin will make it through to the quarterfinals easily, where she'll then battle Belgian compatriot, and fellow comeback star, Kim Clijsters. That match is sure to be one of the best of the tournament, given their recent three-setter in Sydney during which Clijsters barely prevailed.

Link to look at:

"Melanie Oudin Continues to Struggle" by Joe Drape of The New York Times

"Henin Ousts No.5 Dementieva in Second Round" by the Associated Press

Post #9: Sharapova Sinks to a Shrieking Halt Down Under; Soderling Shocked in Five Sets

2010-01-19T04:31:00.003-05:00

Photo Credit: Getty Images
One of my blackhorse picks for the 2010 Australian Open has already come to a screeching halt in the first round. No, not the young, loud Michelle Larcher de Brito, who come to think of it has completely gone off the tennis radar, but the seasoned, 2008 Aussie Open champion, Maria Sharapova.

As Managing Editor of Tennis.com, Abigail Lorge, eloquently put it in her blog post, Monday Morning Kickoff, "In a baseline battle between two 22-year-old Russian glamazons, both named Maria, the 59th-ranked Kirilenko prevailed over No. 14 Sharapova, 7-6 (4) 3-6, 6-4. The first-round exit by Sharapova, one of three former Australian Open champions in the women’s draw, was the defining story of day one."

It was an intensely close match, and a good effort from Maria Kirilenko, whose best Slam result came at the Sunny Slam in 2008 where she made it to the fourth round. On the flip side, Sharapova, who was a favorite to win the whole tournament, played a highly error prone game, making over 60 errors. Again, the question of Maria Sharapova's shoulder comes into play. Can it be used as an excuse anymore? Maybe not.

Sharapova came into the Australian Open without playing in an actual tournament, instead using an exhibition in Hong Kong as her preparation. That in my opinion was a big mistake. Sharapova should be realizing that in this second career of hers, she needs more match play to get back into the swing of things.

In her press conference, Sharapova's confidence and desire to win despite the disappointment was strong: "A bad day's not going to stop me from doing what I love. I'm still going to go back on the court and work hard and perform. I'll be back here on a Saturday of the second week, you’ll watch."

Props to the lesser-known Maria for coming out the victor. Her next match will be against Austria's Yvonne Meusburger. I see Kirilenko coming clean in two.

Peter Bodo provides some interesting commentary on Sharapova's loss in a recent Tennis World blog post.

On the ATP side, there have also been some compelling stories. Two shockers on Day Two: the rising American star, Sam Querrey bowed out in four lop-sided sets to the 33-year old German veteran, Rainer Schuettler, while 2009 French Open Finalist Robin Soderling lost 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to Marcel Granollers.

It was a complete surprise that the loss came so quickly for the eight-seeded Soderling, although he hasn't made it past the 2nd round in his career attempts at the Aussie Open. He holds a poor 2-4 record in the past. However, Soderling took out Granollers in the 2009 Wimbledon Championships on his way to the fourth round, and it looked like he was going to do the same with his two sets to one lead during the first half of the match.

Soderling's recent string of success is impressive: first Slam final at the French, fourth round at Wimbledon, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and a fantastic finish to the year at the ATP World Tour Finals. Maybe he's struggling with the new pressure having recently broken into the Top Ten in the beginning of this new tennis season. Injury could also be the issue as the Swede finds himself playing more tennis at a higher level later in his career. Whatever the case, I'm still not counting him out for the future.

Post #8: Dementieva...Determined?

2010-01-18T16:46:00.011-05:00

Photo Credit: Xinhua/Xing Guangli
Many adjectives come to mind when describing Elena Dementieva's powerful baseline game: aggressive, effortless, accurate, technically perfect. However, the word "determined" isn't one of them, at least in Grand Slams. Given her recent thrashing of Serena Williams in the Sydney final, it looks like the Russian might finally be ready. If not now, when?

The fact that she took down Serena in straight sets with a confident 6-3, 6-2 win shows that Dementieva has the power to fend off the champion on any given day. Yes, Serena has been suffering from a left leg injury and she is a completely different player in a Slam, but the win was no doubt a confidence boost.

The 28-year old needs to make a move, and fast, if she wants to hoist something besides her 2008 Olympic gold medal. To do it at this year's Aussie Open, "the top seed in the quarter...might only be the third-most-likely player to make it out. [Dementieva will] face Justine Henin in the second round, and if she survives that, most likely Kim Clijsters or Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarters," according to Steve Tignor's "Women's Previews: Collision Courses."

To win down under, one aspect of Dementieva's game needs to emerge: the determination and desire to win that first Grand Slam title after so many lost attempts through the years.

Here are some quotations from the players on the upcoming Dementieva-Henin second-round match.

Post #7: Support from the Tennis Community in Destruction's Wake; More Aid to Be Served Up?

2010-01-18T16:17:00.009-05:00

Photo Credit: Shuji Kajiyama/AP
The impact that the earthquake in Haiti left, taking hundreds of thousands in its destructive path, cannot be done justice. With that said, I applaud the efforts by Roger Federer, whose "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser, was a success, according to the Associated Press' article, "Federer and Co. stage fundraiser for Haiti Victims."

With $185,000 already raised to help the cause, it was an excellent choice for Roger Federer to once again put his celebrity into play for philanthropy's sake.

Serena Williams has also lent a hand, or in this case her clothing, for the sake of Haiti. The tennis champion, and budding fashionista is auctioning various articles of clothing on eBay to promote the cause.

Hopefully, more can be done in the future as Haiti attempts to right itself after such a traumatic and heart-wrenching disaster. It's comforting as a fan knowing that the top-tier of tennis stars are ready and willing to help out when they are needed most.

Here's another noteworthy article about Federer's fundraiser:"Haiti Earthquake: Roger Federer and Top Players Raise £114,000 for Victims."

This is a link to the Associated Press article on Serena's fundraising effort.

Post #6: The Battle of the Belgians

2010-01-18T16:02:00.005-05:00

Photo Credit: Getty Images
Hello everyone!

Sorry for the delay in my posting, I've been on vacation. These past few days have seen a lot of action in the tennis world. Therefore, I will be adding numerous posts in the coming days to catch-up.

The first story that comes to mind, and which I believe is owed some attention, the thrilling outcome of the Brisbane International 2010 final. As predicted, both Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin got there. However, no one could have predicted the intense battle that ensued between the Belgians. 6-3, 4-7, 7-6(6) for Clijsters? Does is get any closer than that? Not really. It will be exciting to see the way in which the rivalry between these two women intensifies as the season progresses.

Yes, Clijsters squeaked through with the victory, but Justine had chances to close it out. I still see her defeating Clijsters sooner or later. Maybe at the Aussie Open.

Post #5: Future Predictions: Serena Fends Off Belgians for Aussie Open Title

2010-01-06T19:16:00.012-05:00

Photo Credit: Rick Stevens/AP
Hey everyone,

Yesterday, I provided my commentary on who I believe will take home the Australian Open Men's Single title this year. Is it really a surprise that I chose Roger Federer? I guess not, but he really shows his stuff in the Slams.

The WTA Tour:

Serena Williams not only ended the year number one, but also demolished her opponents in the year-ending event, winning all of her matches. I predict that this Williams sister will continue her winning streak down under. Of course, there will be a lot of drama.

With Kim Clijsters hot off her surprising US Open win, and currently cruising through the Brisbane draw, I believe she will go far in the Sunny Slam. In Peter Bodo's recent blog post, "Kim Time?" her superior physical conditioning is cited as one of her greatest assets on the court. This pure athleticism will certainly help at the Aussie Open, which is a real test of fitness when combined with the debilitating Australian heat. Bringing into question, would Serena have fended off Svetlana Kuznetzova at last year's Australian Open without the interesting decision by tournament officials to close the roof? Anyway, I suspect Clijsters will make a brilliant showing, and continue her impressive form all the way to the semifinals.

No post about the WTA Tour and a Grand Slam title at stake could forget the other Belgian champion on a comeback of her own, Justine Henin. With an improved serve, a beautiful one-handed backhand, and a recharged spirit, I believe Justine will go far at the tournament. Justine will be a dangerous floater in the tournament as an unranked player, and will likely upset numerous seeds on her way to the quarterfinals. Does she have the form to take out Serena or Clijsters? We'll have to see. It certainly would not be a surprise given her 6 wins to 7 losses head-to-head against Serena, the last of those three wins coming at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open in 2007, and her 12 wins and 10 losses to Clijsters. There's nothing stopping her from taking these rivalries to the next level.

Predictions: Serena takes home her fifth Australian Open, breaking the curse in which she only wins the Slam every other year; Kim Clijsters outlasts and outhits her way to the semifinals / finals depending on the draw; and Justine Henin finds her way back to the top tier of competitive tennis, bowing out no earlier than the quarterfinals, making a splash, especially with her new serve, the whole way.

Blackhorses: Although ranked two in the world,and coming off of an extremely successful year with her two Grand Slam finals, it is fitting that Dinara Safina appears only as a blackhorse in the competition. However, when she's on her game, which hasn't been for a while now, she's always a threat at a Grand Slam. But, can she take it one step further without breaking down? The Dane, Caroline Wozniacki, is another person who deserves attention. With the confidence that comes from reaching a Slam Final, especially on the hardcourts, I believe Wozniacki will prove that she has what it takes at the Aussie Open, too. Plus, she'll be looking for improvement after that difficult three set loss to home favorite Jelena Dokic last year. Finally, Maria Sharapova should not be discounted. It all depends on the shoulder because we all know she certainly has the spirit and fight to win against anyone, on any given day.

Post #4: Future Predictions: Federer to Shed Happier Tears at the Aussie Open This Year

2010-01-05T23:47:00.025-05:00

Photo Credit: AP
With the Australian Open coming up in a little less than two weeks, I thought I'd offer my thoughts on who I believe will take the title on the ATP and WTA tours over the next couple of days. While some early results come off as surprising, think Roger Federer bowing out to Robin Soderling in a recent exhibition, many others stick true to form, how about those Belgians? I'll break it down for you, and predict the winners at the sunny summer Slam. Sorry, ladies. Men come first for now, plus I noticed that I have not really written about the ATP tour yet!

The ATP Tour:

Yes, the draws have yet to be announced, but on the men's side, is there ever a Slam without Federer in the Final? Okay, maybe the Australian Open in 2008, but the Serbian Novak Djokovic was particularly in form that tournament. I believe that the new father will find 2010 to be much the same as last season, beginning with the Aussie Open. Although Federer fell in a tearful final to Rafael Nadal last year, he will be revved up and ready to take it to the rest of the tour quite convincingly. Think hardly dropping a set, if at all. Particularly hungry after losing to Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open final, especially being hit off the court by that awesome bullet of a forehand by the young Argentinian, Federer will come out the victor, further showcasing his dominance of the sport. Can anyone tell me why Tiger Woods was named the best athlete of the decade?

Anyway, that takes care of the top part of the bracket, where Federer will invariably appear as the number one player in the world. Now for the second half. With Nadal coming off of a streaky year-end event and that nagging knee injury (despite a strong showing at the US Open ending in a three set semifinal beat down from del Potro), I don't predict another Federer-Nadal final down under. If anything, I believe that del Potro will keep up his good form, and take it to Federer in four as long as the draw sets itself up that way. If not, Federer will get his revenge against the Argentinian in four sets.

Also due for a good showing in a slam is the perennial underachiever, yet hyped British player, Andy Murray. He couldn't quite cut it during the US Open after his strong semifinal appearance at Wimbledon this past year. Murray only made it to the fourth round, before falling to Marin Cilic of Croatia 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. However, Murray, a personal favorite, has proven in the past that hard courts are his home. His best showing at a Slam is his US Open final in 2008, which he lost against Federer in three sets. Now, it's just a matter of being more aggressive with that forehand, showing off his new high level of fitness, and displaying his beautiful brand of tennis and finesse that has proven so successful in the past.

Predictions: Federer makes it to the final; del Potro gets to the finals/semifinals (depending on whether he sits opposite Federer); Nadal disappoints in a quarterfinal loss to an up-and-comer; Murray finds his way to his first semifinal down under.

Blackhorses: Nikolai Davydenko, who came off his strongest win at the year-ending event; Andy Roddick, who's hungry for more success after the tough 16-14 loss to Federer at the Wimbledon final and the disappointing loss to the giant John Isner at the US Open; and Novak Djokovic, who has been flying under the tennis radar for some time now.

Post #3: Justine, the Latest Comeback Queen?

2010-01-04T01:58:00.017-05:00

Well, with her excellent performance today in Australia's Brisbane tournament against the second-seeded, Nadia Petrova, who is currently ranked twenty in the world, it certainly looks so for Justine Henin.

It was a thrilling, and well-fought match for both players, but the seven-time grand slam champion made it through to the second round quite convincingly with a nicely improved, although erratic, first serve. It's interesting to note that while Henin made only 47% of her first serves, according to the match's official statistics, when her first serve did get in, she was almost unbeatable, winning 90% of the points.

Yes, Petrova is not the most difficult of first-round opponents, but the win will no doubt give the 27 year old Belgian confidence going into her second-round match against the qualifier, Sesil Karantancheva of Kazakhstan, who is making a comeback of her own. In my opinion, Henin will continue with an easy win in the next round.

And after seeing her play, I couldn't help but recognize (and applaud) the efforts Henin has made with her physical and mental game over the past twenty months. Her graceful one-handed backhand looked particularly beautiful, and was a welcome sight with all of two-handers out there these days. The poise Henin had in her pre-match interview was also noteworthy, and it seems that she has truly grown as a person, too.

My prediction: Henin will win easily in the next few rounds to meet WTA's other comeback queen, the 2009 US Open champion and her compatriot Kim Clijsters in the finals.

Brisbane Tournament's Official Site

Article on Justine's Brisbane Win

Post #2: Book Recommendation: A Terrible Splendor by Marshall Jon Fisher

2010-01-03T23:42:00.016-05:00

Photo Credit: aterriblesplendor.com
Hello all!

So, I've reading a lot lately since being on break from college, and I must say that I realized something this past decade in tennis: there have been numerous high quality tennis biographies, memoirs, non-fictions published. Titles that come to mind instantly include:
* Open by Andre Agassi
* On the Line by Serena Williams
* A Champion's Mind by Pete Sampras
* Break Point by Vince Spadea
* A Terrible Splendor by Marshall Jon Fisher

As I continue this blog, I will share my recommendations. Feel free to add your two cents!

A Terrible Splendor by Marshall Jon Fisher is the latest tennis-related book I could get my hands on, and I must say it was an excellent read.

The book title states, "Three Extraordinary Men, A World Poised For War, And The Greatest Tennis Match Ever Played," and although that last phrase may be up for debate (think Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final), I wholeheartedly agree with the other statements.

Fisher does well in capturing the personalities of American tennis great, Don Budge, the German star athlete, Baron Gottfried von Cramm, and the man that was considered one of the first champions of the sport, "Big" Bill Tilden. An excerpt from the novel's jacket reads, "This deciding 1937 Davis Cup match, played on the hallowed grounds of Wimbledon, was a battle of titans: the world's number one tennis player against the number two; America against Germany; democracy against fascism. For five superhuman sets, the duo's brilliant shotmaking kept the Centre Court crowd - and the world - spellbound."

I must say, it did particularly well in keeping my interest piqued as well. Through a riveting account of the match itself, with each set marked as a separate section quite creatively, Fisher brings to life the aforementioned individuals that greatly altered tennis for years to come. By reading A Terrible Splendor, I fond myself immersed in the compelling history of the time, the personalities of the players, and the enormity of such an epic match.

My opinion: This is certainly a must-read for sports historians, and tennis fans alike.

A Terrible Splendor's Official Website

Post #1: Welcome to Tenaciously Tennis

2010-01-02T16:58:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone, and thank you for reading!

First off, a little background information about myself. I'm Ben, an avid tennis player, fan, and journalist. I found myself in love with the game at around the age of twelve, when my father introduced me to the sport. Since then, I've become immersed in every aspect of the game: playing, watching, reading, and, now, writing.

Having grown up with a family of tennis players, I have come to appreciate the game's ability to bring people together. For me, the sport symbolizes unity and self-confidence. From the public courts of Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island, where I first picked up tennis, to watching my first US Open on television, and actually seeing the mesmerizing Arthur Ashe Stadium in person, the sport has become a welcome part of my life.

The goal of this blog is to take my passion for tennis and share my thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and love for this entrancing game. I hope to stay true to the Blog's working title, Tenaciously Tennis, which has the connotation of "holding fast," being "highly retentive," and staying true to my opinions. Through sharing my musings of this sport, I hope to provide you, the reader, with enjoyment and, importantly, something to contemplate about the next time you take to the courts.

Again, enjoy! Thank you for reading.

Sincerely,
Ben