It is uncertain whether Hamburg will stay as a lower-tier event or take its tennis ball and go home. Hamburg has been a top-level event since its beginning in 1974, boasting former champions Guillermo Vilas, Yannick Noah, Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, Michael Stich, Marcelo Rios, Gustavo Kuerten, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

What a surprise, Rafael Nadal wins again, beating Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-2 to claim the Toronto Masters.

Tursunov entered the interview room in a decidedly different mood. He explained that his level of play did not change much after the rain, but he said he noticed that Blake’s level of play had dropped. Tursunov expressed belief that his form had improved as the tournament had moved forward and that he was not superstitious enough to eat at the same places he did last year when he won the title.

I had the opportunity to try out my strokes on the grass court this afternoon with Brian Battistone. He and his brother Dann have been creating some waves and gaining a following for their unusual style of play and even more unusual rackets. Called the “Natural One,” the 29-inch racket has not one but two handles. The unique handle angle puts less stress on your elbows and helps the body balance better. I loved it so much I bought one.

Hi everyone, the Blonde girl with a computer is back. I had a terribly pleasant day watching lawn tennis amid blooming hydrangeas and geraniums from the shaded porch of a glorious Victorian Manor. The players in their crisp whites made a striking contrast to the lush emerald of the courts while I slowly sipped my Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Tea. Had you going there for a minute didn’t I. This was no figment of my imagination by any stretch; I might have just forgotten to mention a minor detail. I’m coming to you this week from Newport, RI, home of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships or as I like to call it, the ersatz Wimbledon.

I allow myself to briefly occupy the mythical Commissioner of Tennis Chair that John McEnroe publicly campaigns for now and again. Johnny Mac campaigned long and hard to be the U.S. Davis Cup captain only to quit after one year, but when should reality ever hurt speculation and offering advice? Here are my […]

During the French fortnight, Wilander asserted, “What I understand because my career is over and what Federer doesn’t understand because his isn’t, is that the day he beats Nadal on clay is the day he will never lose to Rafael Nadal again.” That scenario wasn’t plausible then, and it’s impossible now. As John McEnroe remarked, “Federer now seems farther away than ever from winning this.” Mary Carillo posed and answered the real question: “What’s to stop Nadal from carrying all this confidence into Wimbledon in a couple weeks?” And can Federer, who barely staved off rampaging Nadal in the 2007 Big W final, stop him and Djokovic there?

Can you imagine Andy Roddick coming into Rafael Nadal’s house at Roland Garros and stealing a match? That is exactly what Nadal did at Queen’s, beating the four-time winner and defending champion in straight sets, as well as toppling the serving machine Ivo Karlovic in three consecutive tiebreaks during the week.

With one week of grasscourt play left prior to Wimbledon, Top 10ers David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet head the field this week at the Ordina Open in s’Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.
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The Ordina Open also marks an appearance by former French Open finalist Martin Verkerk, who this year has been competing mostly at Futures and Challengers minor-league […]

Top seed Radek Stepanek gets a rude welcome this week in his opening-round match when he faces big-serving American John Isner at The Slazenger Open in Nottingham, England.
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No. 2 seed Paul-Henri Mathieu also opens with a tough one in rising Croat Marin Cilic.
Other seeds in Nottingham are Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, defending champion Ivo Karlovic, Frenchman […]