Rafael Nadal: I Am A Person Who Doesn’t Like Big Changes, But Carlos Moya On My Team Is Nothing New
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2017 @ 11:24 pm
A healthy Rafael Nadal returns to the Australian Open hoping to start the climb back up the top of the rankings. And maybe, win a second “Career Grand Slam”.
Nadal fell last year to Fernando Verdasco in a first round stunner, and later suffered a wrist injury which he says hampered him from May until the rest of the year. Fortunately, though, he says he’s ready to fight. He’ll begin against …
After Trying to Lose, Mertens Wins 1st WTA Title at Hobart
Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 14th, 2017 @ 2:06 pm
Qualifier Elise Mertens won an unlikely first WTA title of her career on Saturday, upsetting No. 3 seed Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the Hobart International in Australia.
Aside from needing to qualify to even reach the main draw, the tournament win was surprising considering the Belgian reportedly tried, unsuccessfully, to retire from her second-round match so that she could rush to Melbourne in time to compete in …
Emotional Muller Wins 1st ATP Title After 15 Years Trying
Posted by Staff on January 14th, 2017 @ 1:37 pm
It took 15 years playing on the pro tour, but 33-year-old Gilles Muller of Luxembourg finally broke the title duck on Saturday, in the championship match of the Apia International Sydney defeating Britain’s Daniel Evans 7-6(5), 6-2.
The unexpected final featuring the No. 6-seeded Muller, who was 0-5 career in ATP finals, against the unseeded Evans who was appearing in his first-ever final.
It was 13 years after Muller had appeared in …
Sousa Gets Socked as American Wins ATP Auckland Final
Posted by Staff on January 14th, 2017 @ 1:09 pm
American Jack Sock was made to work hard for his second career title on Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand, in the final defeating Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 for the ASB Classic championship.
The 24-year-old Sock, the No. 4 seed, improved to 2-4 in career finals, adding to the Houston title from 2015.
The two traded breaks early in the third set before Sock ran with the lead to eventually …
Andy Murray: I Don’t Feel Any Different Being A No. 1 Seed At A Slam
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2017 @ 1:31 am
(Sir) Andy Murray will open play Monday afternoon at the Australian Open and he’ll do so as a No. 1 seed for the first time at a Grand Slam.
Murray will hope that holding the top spot will finally give him the Australian Open trophy which he has come up just short of winning on five occasions.
Murray could have a difficult draw with Roger Federer looming in the quarters then potentially …
Moving Forward, That’s Why Milos Raonic Hired Richard Krajicek
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2017 @ 1:09 am
Milos Raonic is a man with a plan and that plan is to get to the top, no limits. Raonic has gone through several coaches including Ivan Ljubicic, Carlos Moya, John McEnroe and has now hired Richard Krajicek. Why go to the big Dutchmen with the similar game to him? Raonic says it’s all about “moving forward”.
Raonic admits, he can’t compete with the likes of Andy Murray and Novak …
Roger Federer: It’s A Great Draw Because I’m In The Draw, But Playing A 5 Set Match, That’s The Unknown
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2017 @ 12:58 am
Roger Federer is back! Federer officially return to tennis on Monday night in Melbourne where he’ll face a qualifier in the first round at the Australian Open. It’s Federer first tour match since stumbling out of the Wimbledon semifinals to Milos Raonic and ending his 2016 season due to his left knee.
The knee is now okay but Federer, a 4-time Australian Open champion, is seeded down at No. 17 and …
Bernard Tomic Says He’s Fitter Than Players In The Top 10
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 13th, 2017 @ 10:25 pm
A firestorm always seems to follow Bernard Tomic. Lately, the Australian press has focused on Tomic’s fitness, or lack thereof, after former pro John Fitzgerald criticised the 24-year-old on his weight.
“He’s had some good Australian Opens, but I think he could be fitter, and what confuses me is that he has just lost four-and-a-half kilos when prior to that he said he was fitter than he had ever been,” …
Stan Wawrinka: I’m Not In The Fourth Round And Neither Is Nick Kyrgios
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 13th, 2017 @ 10:07 pm
Former champion Stan Wawrinka is among the top favorites to win at the Australian Open. But the question of the day posed to the 2014 Australian Open winner was his thoughts on a fourth round showdown with Nick Kyrgios. However, Wawrinka didn’t add any fuel to the fire, dismissing the match for now.
Wawrinka opens against lefty Marin Klizan. Stan won the last hardcourt Slam. He talked to the press today …
Novak Djokovic: It’s a Huge Challenge To Face Verdasco, I Hope I Won’t Have To Defend Match Points Again
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 13th, 2017 @ 9:58 pm
Novak Djokovic is back in Melbourne home of his favorite and most successful Grand Slam. Djokovic has won the Australian Open the last two years and this year tries to become the first to win it seven times.
But he also enters under a cloud. No more Boris Becker and no more No. 1 ranking and with just one title since the summer – that in Doha a few weeks ago …
Australian Open Women’s Preview: Serena, Kerber Not Sharp
Posted by Staff on January 13th, 2017 @ 7:17 pm
The top women on tour aren’t exactly entering Melbourne playing scintillating tennis in 2017.
World No. 1 Angie Kerber has a 1-2 win-loss record on the season. Serena Williams is 1-1.
Serena by reaching the final could regain the No. 1 ranking.
A giant title could be up for grabs for a first-time Slam winner in January. Here’s a look at the women’s field of the 2017 Australian Open:
TOP QUARTER
Top 4 Seeds: (1) …
Mystery Konta Beats Radwanska for WTA Sydney Title
Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 13th, 2017 @ 3:13 pm
Britain’s Johanna Konta, who this time last year was barely ranked inside the Top 50, continued her ascension up the WTA rankings on Friday in Australia with the title at the Apia International Sydney where she beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the final 6-4, 6-2.
The 25-year-old No. 10-ranked Konta had never appeared on anyone’s radar while rising up the rankings over the last few years, only cracking the Top 100 last …
Australian Open Men’s Draw Preview: Djokovic Opens With Verdasco, Federer Lands With Murray
Posted by Sean Randall on January 12th, 2017 @ 10:03 pm
The big reveal with the first Grand Slam draw of the season would be the resting place of a 17th seeded Roger Federer. The Swiss who hasn’t played a real match since Wimbledon avoided an early round hazard but will stil have the task of facing Andy Murray in the fourth round.
While Murray has an easy start, defending champion Novak Djokovic opens with Fernando Verdasco, the man who he …
Poll: Who’s Your Early Favorite To Win The 2017 Australian Open?
Posted by Staff on January 10th, 2017 @ 10:02 am
The draw comes out just over two days from now (Thursday night ET), but it’s never too early to debate who’ll win the first Grand Slam of the 2017 season.
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are virtually the co-favorites to win the Australian Open. Djokovic has won the title in Melbourne the last two years, six times overall.
Murray, the current No. 1, has finished runner-up five times and just lost to …
Maria Sharapova Set For April 26th Return From Ban In Stuttgart
Posted by Staff on January 10th, 2017 @ 9:52 am
The Stuttgart event will host the return of Maria Sharapova. Sharapova’s 15-month ban from tennis ends on April 25. So Stuttgart has given the Russian a wildcard and a Wednesday, April 26th first round match date.
“I could not be happier to have my first match back on tour at one of my favorite tournaments,” said Sharapova. “I can’t wait to see all my great fans and to be back doing …