The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

June 26th, 2008

Roddick Chokes as Americans Head for Exit at Wimbledon

Other upsets were orchestrated by Guillermo “G-Lo” Garcia-Lopez, who topped Spanish countryman and No. 19 seed Nicolas Almagro in five sets; former world No. 2 Tommy Haas, who gave a straight-set grass master course to No. 23 seed Tommy Robredo, and Croat Marin Cilic, who outlasted No. 24 seed Jarkko Nieminen in five sets.

Posted by Staff @ 9:16 pm in Tennis, Wimbledon | 42 Comments »

June 25th, 2008

Safin Shocks Djokovic; Brits Bag on Fat Players at Wimbledon

The Independent on Roger Federer’s Wimbledon sweater: “This, it almost goes without saying, is a prime example of how not to wear knitwear,” Susannah Frankel wrote. “Federer resembled nothing more than an ageing Harry Potter, although one suspects that this was not the effect he was aiming for.”…

Posted by Staff @ 10:11 pm in Tennis, Wimbledon | 54 Comments »

June 25th, 2008

Sharapova Tuxedo Shirt No Hit at Wimbledon; Gilbert Quits LTA

British Lawn Tennis Association coach Brad Gilbert’s charge Alex Bogdanovic lost first round at Wimbledon, and now Gilbert is out the door. It was announced that Gilbert will part ways with the LTA and following Bogdanovic around the Challenger circuit when his contract ends in three months.

Posted by Staff @ 12:08 am in Tennis, Wimbledon | 49 Comments »

June 24th, 2008

Wimbledon Day 1 Dish: Federer, Ivanovic Cruise; Serena’s Trenchcoat

The slew of upset-makers Tuesday were Casey Dellacqua (d. (12) Patty Schnyder in three), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (d. (17) Alize Cornet in two tiebreaks), Vera Dushevina (d. (19) Maria Kirilenko), Evgeniya Rodina (d. (27) Virginie Razzano after getting bageled in the first), and Jie Zheng (d. (30) Dominika Cibulkova).

Posted by Staff @ 1:11 am in Tennis, Wimbledon | 51 Comments »

June 23rd, 2008

Tennis-X Barbs: Grass is Greener for Spaniards…and Slower

New ATP Player Council member and U.S. TV commentator Justin Gimelstob speaking to a D.C. radio show on Anna Kournikova: “Hate’s a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate. I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios ‘Scumbag’ category….And this whole bluff about her retiring because of her back? She had the yips on her serve, she can’t get her serve on the court. Wait until you see on July 23, she’s gonna be serving 40 miles an hour and I’m gonna be just plugging it down her throat…We do exhibitions together and I’ll mock her, and make fun of her. I’ll just make her know that she’s stupid…I’m sure she’ll rue the day that she has to come here and actually share space with me…I have no attraction to her, because she’s such a douche…I really have no interest in her. I wouldn’t mind having my younger brother, who’s kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that.”

Posted by Staff @ 1:23 am in Tennis, Wimbledon | 18 Comments »

June 17th, 2008

Tennis-X Notes: Tursunov Kicked Out of Tournament; Nadal Wimbledon Pick

“After reviewing the situation, the ATP Supervisor has withdrawn Dmitry Tursunov from the singles tournament at the Slazenger Open,” the ATP released in a statement.

Posted by Staff @ 11:13 pm in Tennis | 24 Comments »

June 16th, 2008

ESPN Wimbledon Coverage Release: Gilbert Returns; Like It or Rip It?

Dick Enberg will work his 25th Wimbledon to call matches, sharing the duty with Cliff Drysdale — the two-time Wimbledon semifinalist who has been with ESPN since its first tennis telecast in 1979. They will team with analysts Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. In addition, Brad Gilbert, an ESPN analyst 2004 — 2006, returns after a two-year coaching stint. Shriver will frequently be utilized as a roving reporter covering play in “outer courts” and as a sideline reporter, as will Luke Jensen who will also appear on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN.com. Chris Fowler, who has served as ESPN’s studio host for Grand Slam tennis events since 2003, will host and call select matches. In addition, legendary tennis journalist and commentator Bud Collins, who joined ESPN in August 2007, will make his Wimbledon debut for ESPN.

Posted by Staff @ 1:06 pm in Tennis | 22 Comments »

June 15th, 2008

Five Reasons Why Federer Will Never Beat Nadal Again On Clay or Win the French Open

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?

Posted by TennisOne @ 4:45 pm in ATP | 60 Comments »

June 15th, 2008

Federer, Nadal Win Grasscourt Titles; Destined for Wimbledon Final?

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.

Posted by Richard Vach @ 3:37 pm in ATP | 21 Comments »

June 15th, 2008

No Denying Nadal, Not Even on a Grass Court

Rafael Nadal is getting scary good.

Posted by Sean Randall @ 12:45 pm in Grass season, Queens | 125 Comments »

June 8th, 2008

Nadal Punishes Federer for Fourth French Open

In the early part of the movie “Troy”, Brad Pitt as Achilles strikes down a giant with his sword, and then yells out at the stunned opposing army, “Is there no one else?” That scene reminds me of just how good Rafael Nadal is on clay.

Posted by Sean Randall @ 2:55 pm in French Open | 309 Comments »

May 5th, 2008

Tennis-X Notes: Rafa Rages Against ATP, Dokic Wants Help

BURN SOME CALORIES, THEN HAVE A FEW BEERS: According to Consumer Reports magazine, tennis ranks among the top five activities for the most calories burned per workout. While playing just a half hour of singles tennis, a 140-lb. person will burn 254 calories and a 200-lb. person will burn 364 calories.

Posted by Staff @ 12:15 am in American tennis, ATP | 7 Comments »