The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

Vandeweghe Batters World No. 1 Kerber Out, Venus Wins at Australian Open

Posted by Staff on January 22nd, 2017 @ 9:15 am

American CoCo Vandeweghe wants you to know she’s ready for her close-up.

The confident unseeded American powered No. 1 Angie Kerber off the court on Sunday at the Australian Open in fourth-round play, moving into her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

She hit 30 winners to Kerber’s seven in a 6-2, 6-3 win, sending out the women’s world No. 1 on the same day that the men’s world No. 1 Andy Murray crashed …

Roger Federer: I Think I’m Playing Better And Better, And I Felt Great In The Fifth Set!

Posted by Staff on January 22nd, 2017 @ 8:44 am

If you don’t believe Roger Federer is back, think again. Federer missed six month to rehab his left knee and in his first tournament back he’s already beaten two Top 10 players and will be the heavy favorite Tuesday in Melbourne against Mischa Zverev and reach the semifinals.

Earlier today, Federer overcame a slow start to deny Kei Nishikori 6-7(4), 6-,4 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 in the Swiss’s first five set match …

World No. 1 Andy Murray Out in 4th Round Stunner To Mischa Zverev at Australian Open

Posted by Staff on January 22nd, 2017 @ 8:42 am

If you still believe in the “Big 4,” then it was whittled down to the Big 2 on Sunday at the Australian Open, where world No. 1 Andy Murray crashed out against unseeded Mischa Zverev of Germany, while 35-year-old Roger Federer continued his amazing comeback run.

Murray was shocked 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 by Zverev, the older brother of teen wunderkind Alexander Zverev.

“I don’t know how I did it,” the 29-year-old …

Andy Murray: I Wasn’t Flat, It Just Wasn’t To Be Today, Mischa Deserved To Win

Posted by Staff on January 22nd, 2017 @ 3:43 am

Just a month into the season, the top seeds in men’s tennis are already struggling. Three days after Novak Djokovic stunning loss to Denis Istomin, World No. 1 Andy Murray fell as well, losing today to World No. 50 Mischa Zverev 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the fourth round.

Murray suffered his earliest exit at the Australian Open since a 2008 first round loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It was his first …

Rafa Rises Up Down Under; Federer v Nishikori Tonight At The Australian Open, Who’s The Pick?

Posted by Sean Randall on January 21st, 2017 @ 10:16 pm

We are just about to tip-off the men’s final 16 at the Australian Open. Everyone’s there. Roger Federer. Rafael Nadal. Andy Murray. JW Tsonga. Stan Wawrinka. Kei Nishikori. Milos Raonic. Hell, even Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov decided to join the party. But not Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic’s loss was the story of the first week in Melbourne. And very nearly the second story was going to be the decline of …

Upstarts Gavrilova, Brady Join Serena in Winner’s Circle Saturday at Australian Open

Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 21st, 2017 @ 8:59 am

There was a little something for everyone on Saturday at the Australian Open as a homecountry hope advanced into the fourth round after an upset, Serena Williams kept her title hopes alive, and two unseeded players positioned themselves for a quarterfinal run.

No. 22-seeded Aussie Daria Gavrilova thrilled the home crowd in one of the final night matches, upending No. 12-seeded Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Gavrilova dropped serve to start the …

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Nadal Stares Down Teen Zverev in 5 Sets; Gasquet-Dimitrov Late at Aussie Open

Posted by Staff on January 21st, 2017 @ 8:13 am

Former No. 1 Rafael Nadal’s match against rising German teen Alexander Zverev met the hype on Saturday at the Australian Open, where the No. 9-seeded Spaniard’s experience prevailed from 1-2 sets down 4-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-2.

“[He] is a player that has an amazing potential,” Nadal said afterwards. “He is able to produce great shots. He’s already one of the best players of the world. He can be even better. …

Roger Federer Karaoke? [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2017 @ 10:00 pm

Roger Federer really can do it all. On a night off earlier this week at the Australian Open, Federer and friends Grigor Dimitrov and Tommy Haas sang karaoke to Chicago’s “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” while producer David Foster played piano. Foster is the father of Tommy Haas’s wife, Sara.

Have a listen:

We're starting a boyband #NOTNSYNC @GrigorDimitrov @TommyHaas13 @officialdfoster pic.twitter.com/oj5you11gH

— Roger …

Rafael Nadal: Alexander Zverev Has A Big Chance To Be No. 1 In The World

Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2017 @ 9:59 am

Following a good win Thursday night over former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, Rafael Nadal looked ahead to his Saturday collision with teen phenom Alexander Zverev.

“Is a great player,” Nadal said of the 19-year-old. “Is one of the best players of the world, without a doubt, today. And he’s a player that is for sure one of the next Grand Slam winners. He has a big chance to become …

Andy Murray Likes To Sleep With The Air Conditioning On!

Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2017 @ 9:52 am

As a World No. 1, Andy Murray gets asked a myriad of questions. Yesterday, after his win over Sam Querrey in the third round at the Australian Open, the Scot was asked about his sleeping habits.

“I always sleep with the air-conditioning on,” Murray said. “I know some people hate that. They say it makes them sick, gives them a sore throat. But I always sleep with the air-conditioning on, then …

Andy Murray, Roger Federer React To Novak Djokovic’s Shock Loss

Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2017 @ 9:47 am

Both Andy Murray and Roger Federer talked about Novak Djokovic’s loss Thursday to Denis Istomin.

Andy Murray:
Q. Do you feel any less pressure now that the defending champion is out or do you not take much notice of that?
ANDY MURRAY: I mean, for me, it doesn’t change anything unless I was to potentially reach the final, because I can’t play Novak in the fourth round or in the third round. Don’t …

Bernard Tomic Is 24 And He And Just Played His Ninth Australian Open

Posted by Tom Gainey on January 20th, 2017 @ 9:37 am

Bernard Tomic is only 24 yet he’s already starting to feel like an old man. The controversial Aussie fell on Friday at his home Slam of the Australian Open to Dan Evans 75, 76, 76 in the third round. It was Tomic’s first time not reaching the fourth round since 2014.

But Tomic is confident he’ll have more chances, maybe many more!

“It’s my ninth Australian Open,” Tomic said. “I’m 24, …

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Federer Delights; Rafa v Zverev Saturday at Australian Open

Posted by Staff on January 20th, 2017 @ 8:50 am

No. 17 seed Roger Federer delighted fans in the final night match at the Australian Open on Friday, upsetting No. 10 seed Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

“Upset” may be a strong term for the sixth win in a row for the Swiss over the Czech, but in the end it was a remarkably easy victory for the 35-year-old who missed the Olympics, US Open and end months of 2016 to …

Roger Federer: I Didn’t Expect To Play This Well, It’s A Great Feeling

Posted by Staff on January 20th, 2017 @ 8:32 am

Like he wasn’t 35 or had missed six months of the tour, Roger Federer rolled past world No. 10 Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open.

A flawless Federer never faced a breakpoint winning a personal Grand Slam-best 39 of 41 points on first serve with 8 aces, 40 winners to just 17 unforced errors.

Federer improves to 4-0 against Berdych at the Australian Open …

Kerber, Venus Cruise; CoCo Puffs Against Bouchard at Aussie Open

Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 20th, 2017 @ 8:08 am

World No. 1 Angie Kerber and former No. 1 Venus Williams put hurt on players as the top seeds moved into the fourth round on Friday at the Australian Open with a modicum of resistance.

Kerber ran over unseeded Czech Kristyna Pliskova 6-0, 6-4, and the elder Williams sister allowed only one game to China’s Duan Yingyang 6-1, 6-0.

“I loved accounting, I have to be honest,” Venus said in a wide-ranging …