We are down to just eight at the final prominent pre-French tune-up this week in Rome, and it’s a Big Eight with five guys over 6-foot-5, two former champions and the workhorse Dominic Thiem.

Rafael Nadal leads the way and he’s the clear favorite to win an eighth Rome title come Sunday. Nadal routed Jack Sock today 6-3, 6-4 for his 17th straight win on clay (12 straight sets).

Sock made a …

Angelique Kerber’s reign at No. 1 in 2017 continues to astound. As in, it’s astounding she’s No. 1.

Kerber, who withdrew from Madrid with a hamstring injury, looked hamstrung in her opening match on Wednesday at the Italian Open, falling 6-4, 6-0 to unseeded Estonian Anett Kontaveit in Rome.

Kontaveit’s enthusiasm was not colored by her opponent’s injury.

“It’s my first time beating the No. 1 in the world, so, you know, I’m …

Rafael Nadal enjoyed his easiest day of the clay season getting an early retirement from compatriot Nicolas Almagro who ended the match down 3-0 with a knee injury.

Nadal will continue his bid for an eighth Rome title tomorrow against Jack Sock. The American edged Jiri Vesely 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(1).

Nadal has won all three meetings with Sock most recently in Miami in March. But Sock did take a set from Nadal …

Many WTA fans in the U.S. are feeling the same confusion that Serena Williams is feeling, and that is how does one watch women’s tennis on TV!

This year in the U.S., with the exception of Grand Slam and U.S. events, WTA tournaments are no longer being televised on the Tennis Channel. Instead, WTA matches from Madrid and Rome and others are being aired on beIN network which has limited distribution …

Maria Sharapova took to twitter to release a statement which seemed to be directed at the French Open’s denying her a wildcard.

“If this is what it takes to rise up again, then I am in it all the way, every day. No words, games, or actions will ever stop me from reaching my own dreams. And I have many,” she wrote.

Yesterday, not only did Sharapova learn the French …

Rafael Nadal might be the new leader in the 2017 season points race, but the Spaniard isn’t focusing on a return to the No. 1 in the 52-week list.

“I want to be high in the ranking,” Nadal said Tuesday in Rome. “Because if I am high in the ranking means I am playing well. That’s all.

“But I said before the season, somebody asked me about try to be No. 1 …

Andy Murray continued to struggle on Tuesday in Rome. In his opening match of his title defense, the World No. 1 was dismissed rather routinely by local Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-4.

“I wasn’t creating enough chances on my own,” said Murray who won last year’s title without losing a set. “Normally during matches your opponent might give you a few opportunities with some errors, and obviously you hope to create a …

Maria Sharapova simply had a shite day on Tuesday at the Italian Open — and in general.

On a day she learned that the French Open would not be offering her a main draw wildcard, or even a qualifying wildcard, Sharapova lost in the second round at Rome when she was forced to retire at 6-4, 3-6, 1-2 against Croat No. 16 seed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

“I apologize for having to withdraw from …

In a stunning move, the French Open not only denied Maria Sharapova request for a main draw wildcard, but also a qualifying spot. That leaves Sharapova out of the French Open, an event she twice won.

French tennis federation president Bernard Giudicelli made the announcement earlier today on Facebook.

“I decided not to give Maria Sharapova a wild card. I’m very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be …

Two former No. 1s headlined women’s play Monday in Rome. Maria Sharapova continued her comeback with a scratchy 6-4, 6-2 victory over American Christina McHale.

McHale was up in the first set three times with a break lead, but couldn’t hold off the Russian.

“The conditions are quite different to Madrid, so I felt like the adjustment was really important,” said Sharapova who converted 7/14 break chances. “I also played a different …

Juan Martin del Potro survived a spirited fight from Grigor Dimitrov to advance Monday in Rome with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

After saving break points at in the 4-3 game, Del Potro broke to go up 5-3 then served out the match and improve to 5-0 against the Bulgarian.

“I think I played well during the whole match. I had my break points in the first set, and Grigor played better …

For the second straight year Roger Federer will skip the French Open. Federer, who missed last year’s event due to a back injury, opted not to play any clay warm-up events and today decided to pass up on the second Slam of the season.

“Regrettably, I’ve decided not to participate in the French Open,” Federer said in a statement. “I’ve been working really hard, both on and off the court, during …

Rafael Nadal is the new leader in the 2017 ATP points race, moving ahead of Roger Federer following his fifth Madrid Masters title.

Nadal now had a 690 points edge on the Swiss and has the chance to add to it in Rome this week.

Madrid finalist Dominic Thiem is now 3rd, semifinalist David Goffin is 4th. Andy Murray stayed at 11th while Novak Djokovic climbed seven spots to 16.

Nadal also swapped …

Andy Murray celebrates his 30th birthday today! Happy Birthday to the World No. 1.

Murray joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka as 30-somethings in the Top 5. His friend and rival Novak Djokovic turns 30 next Monday.

“I was talking to my team about that a bit yesterday, and everyone sort of says, oh, when you’re 30 or 40, like, they are huge birthday,” Murray said Sunday in Rome. “I …

No. 3 seed Simona Halep successfully defended her Mutua Madrid Open title on Saturday, in the championship match defeating France’s Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.

“I feel great that I could defend this title,” Halep said. “It means a lot because it’s very big and gives me confidence for the bigger tournaments…I [mentally] started pretty bad this year. Now I’m back with the confidence.”

The bad start almost caused a split between …