The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

July 25th, 2015

Rafa Heads Hamburg, Isner in Atlanta; ATP/WTA Previews

Notes: Time for the tournament sponsored by an online betting site as the tour fights rampant match-fixing…Loaded dirt field…Rafa makes his first appearance since being upset at Wimbledon…Tough starts for (1) Rafa vs. Hot Sauce

Posted by Staff @ 11:47 pm in Tennis | 10 Comments »

April 25th, 2015

ATP Previews: Federer in Turkey?; Munich, Estoril

The first-ever ATP World Tour event in Turkey debuts, with organizers spending for Roger Federer to mark the occasion…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes, but potential tough starts for (7) Youzhny vs. Bellucci, and (5) Haider-Maurer vs. Dodig…Wildcards were awarded to Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, Turkey’s Cem Ilkel, and Russian Andrey Rublev.

Posted by Staff @ 4:15 pm in Tennis | 26 Comments »

April 4th, 2015

ATP Previews: Isner in Houston, Ugly in Casablanca

The Bryan brothers, coming off the Miami Open title, are the top seeds in doubles…The tournament celebrates its 15th year in Houston after moving about in the U.S. since 1910…Former champs in the field are Verdasco (2014), Isner (2013), and Hewitt (2009).

Posted by Jeremy Davis @ 7:34 pm in ATP, Casablanca, Houston, Tennis | 3 Comments »

September 21st, 2014

ATP/WTA Preview: Loaded Women’s Field at China Debut Event

Notes: It’s the debut of the Premier 5 Series event in China…Victoria Azarenka pulls from the event with a foot injury, and announces she will miss the rest of the year…Potential tough starts include (1) Serena Williams after a bye vs. her nemesis Cornet, the struggling (6) Bouchard after a bye vs. the resurgent Peng, (4) Sharapova after a bye vs. countrywoman and former world No. 2 Kuznetsova, (5) Radwanska after a bye vs. the Venus/Garcia winner, (16) Petkovic vs. the comer (Q) Vekic, (12) Cibulkova vs. the big-hitting Keys, and (14) Safarova vs. the likewise big-hitting Lisicki…

Posted by Staff @ 6:47 pm in Tennis | 1 Comment »

July 27th, 2014

Serena Leads Stanford, Men and Women in Washington; ATP/WTA Previews

Notes: Solid field with four Top 10ers and two unseeded Slam champs…The Top 4 seeds receive opening round byes, with tough starts for (5) Ivanovic vs. Lisicki, (4) Azarenka after a bye likely vs. (WC) Venus, (3) Kerber likely vs. Vandeweghe, (7) Suarez Navarro vs. Puig, and (2) Radwanska likely vs. Garcia…Wildcards went to Americans Kristie Ahn and Venus, and Azarenka…Pulling from the tournament were Sara Errani and Petra Kvitova…Cibulkova beat Radwanska in last year’s final…Venus is 2-4 in Stanford finals…Martina Navratilova (5-4) has reached the most Stanford finals in the tournament’s history…Returning champs in the field are Cibulkova (2013), Serena Williams (2012-11), Azarenka (2010), and Venus Williams (2002,’00).

Posted by Staff @ 11:11 am in Tennis | Comments Off on Serena Leads Stanford, Men and Women in Washington; ATP/WTA Previews

July 12th, 2014

ATP Previews: Gasquet, Ferrer Lead at Bogota, Hamburg

Notes: All 16 seeds receive opening-round byes in the 48-player draw…Dolgopolov has not won a match at Hamburg in three attempts, and fellow seeds Youzhny, Kohlschreiber, Granollers and Giraldo also have losing records in the ‘burg…Tough potential starts for (16) Seppi vs. Monaco, (4) Dolgopolov vs. Janowicz, (7) Kohlschreiber vs. Montanes, and (14) Sousa vs. Rosol…107th edition of the event…

Posted by Staff @ 9:16 pm in Tennis | 1 Comment »

July 6th, 2014

ATP/WTA Previews: Ferrer, Isner, Halep Lead Events

The hodgepodge of seeds includes a former world No. 1 and Wimbledon champ and this year’s Wimbledon men’s doubles winner…Interesting starts for (7) Sock vs. the veteran Kuznetsov and the struggling (2) Karlovic vs. Ginepri…

Posted by Staff @ 6:42 pm in Tennis | 6 Comments »

June 16th, 2014

Azarenka Returns at Eastboune; WTA, ATP Previews

Wildcards went to Azarenka and Brits Heather Watson and Johanna Konta…Pulling from the event were Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sorana Cirstea…Tough starts go to (5) Kerber vs. Riske, (4) Azarenka vs. Giogi, (8) Wozniacki vs. Stosur, and (2) Kvitova vs. Safarova…Returning former champs in the field are Wozniacki (2009) and Radwanksa (2008).

Posted by Staff @ 12:17 am in Tennis | 9 Comments »

April 26th, 2014

Sharapova Meets Ivanovic For The Stuttgart Title While Boyfriend Dimitrov Battles in Bucharest Final

Love couple Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov will try to win titles on Sunday.

Posted by Staff @ 6:56 pm in Barcelona | 26 Comments »

February 23rd, 2014

Djokovic, Federer in Dubai: ATP/WTA Previews

DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS Dubai, U.A.E.; Surface: hard Seeds: Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mikhail Youzhny, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Dmitry Tursunov Floaters: Radek “The Worm” Stepanek, Igor Sijsling Notes: The defending champ Djokovic has won four Dubai titles (four of last five years) while Federer has won five…Djokovic […]

Posted by Staff @ 4:06 pm in Tennis | 2 Comments »

September 19th, 2010

Fish, Querrey Under Davis Cup Pressure Today in Colombia

Will Fish and Querrey lead the US back to the Davis Cup World Group?

Posted by Sean Randall @ 11:27 am in Davis Cup | 5 Comments »

May 3rd, 2010

Midpoint of the Clay Season, Nadal Still the King

The big questions posed in the beginning of the clay court season was whether or not Rafael Nadal would resume his dominance and who would be able to derail him?

Posted by Ben Pronin @ 12:28 pm in Barcelona, Clay Season, Estoril, French Open, Madrid, Monte Carlo, Rome | 57 Comments »