The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

Crying Shelby Rogers Can’t Be Stopped at French Open; Serena, Venus Monday

Posted by Staff on May 30th, 2016 @ 12:10 am

Unseeded American Shelby Rogers apparently cannot be stopped at the French Open, on Sunday upsetting No. 25 seed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3, 6-4, and trademark-edly bursting into tears at the end of the match as she has done in previous rounds.

“I’m definitely outside of my comfort zone already, and I keep telling myself, you belong here,” Rogers said.

Rogers is a year older than the 22-year-old Garbine Muguruza, who she faces next.

“I …

Richard Gasquet Brings Parisians to Feet with Kei Nishikori Upset at French Open; Novak Djokovic Monday

Posted by Staff on May 29th, 2016 @ 7:11 pm

Who is this Richard Gasquet and what’s he done with the old one?

The French wunderkind who never panned out as an adult bloomed late — specifically on Sunday at Roland Garros — advancing to his first French Open quarterfinals in 13 tries after a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 upset over No. 5 seed Kei Nishikori.

Gasquet said he benefited from a rain delay in the first set and subsequent change of …

Tight Serena Leads U.S. Women’s Surge at French Open; Muguruza vs. Kuzy on Sunday

Posted by Staff on May 28th, 2016 @ 5:43 pm

It was a banner day for U.S. women’s tennis, which went 3-0 on Saturday at the French Open as Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Madison Keys moved into the fourth round. But it was not without its struggles.

The world No. 1 Serena Williams could not find her game yet muddled through a 6-4, 7-6(10) win over No. 26-seeded Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic.

“I feel like I made a tremendous amount of errors,” …

Djokovic Wins, Gulbis Talks a Lot, Murray v Isner Sunday at French Open

Posted by Staff on May 28th, 2016 @ 4:55 pm

Top 10 seeds Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych moved into the fourth round on Saturday at the French Open, while a tearful No. 6 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw his Roland Garros campaign ended by injury.

The top-seeded Djokovic played like a man late for dinner and beat the darkness as the last match on with a surgical 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 win over Brit Aljaz Bedene, while the No. 7-seeded Berdych came …

Kvitova, Stephens Make Ugly Exits at French Open; Williams Sisters Saturday

Posted by Staff on May 27th, 2016 @ 4:30 pm

The women’s tour made another unscheduled stop in Upset Town on Friday when a former Slam champ and two Top 20 seeds were beaten in third-round action at the French Open.

Unseeded American Shelby Rogers toppled sleep-deprived No. 10 seed Petra Kvitova by the lopsided score of 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-0.

“I felt just weird. I didn’t really sleep last night and it’s just difficult day today,” Kvitova said. “I was feeling very …

John McEnroe Announces He’ll Help Coach Milos Raonic At Wimbledon

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 27th, 2016 @ 4:20 pm

John McEnroe was on Eurosport this evening taping a segment for the “Game Set Mats” show with Mats Wilander. And on the show, McEnroe revealed that he will be on the coaching team for Milos Raonic at Wimbledon as a consultant.

Raonic, who is currently with Carlos Moya, hasn’t commented on this acquisition. And what of Moya? Will he be let go after the clay swing?

Raonic won easily today over …

Barbora Strycova And Agnieszka Radwanska Both Did Splits During This Point [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 27th, 2016 @ 4:12 pm

She didn’t win the match. but Czech Barbora Strycova won this terrific, leg-splitting point today against Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round at the French Open.

WUT just happened?! Ninjas unite on Lenglen. #RG16 https://t.co/X0WTf1a3NA

— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2016

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Andy Murray Has Short Day, Lines Up John Isner Next at French Open; Djokovic, Tsonga Saturday

Posted by Staff on May 27th, 2016 @ 4:00 pm

All Top 10 seeds in action punched through, and mouth-watering fourth-rounders such as Kei Nishikori vs. Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray vs. John Isner were realized on Friday at the French Open.

The No. 2-seeded Murray took a respite from five-set matches on Friday, defeating No. 27 seed “Dr.” Ivo Karlovic 6-1, 6-4, 7-6(3).

Murray said he was happy to close it out in a third-set tiebreak and improve to 7-0 career …

Rafael Nadal: Today Is One Of The Toughest Days

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 27th, 2016 @ 3:58 pm

Following his stunning withdrawal from the French Open due to a left injury, Rafael Nadal went to facebook to post this message to his fans:

“Today is one of the toughest days. Having to withdraw from arguably the most important tournament of my career, a tournament that I love so much. I will be back in Roland Garros in the next years and hope to keep having chances in the …

Rafael Nadal Withdraws from French Open with Left Wrist Injury

Posted by Staff on May 27th, 2016 @ 11:02 am

Nine-time French Open champ Rafael Nadal called a press conference on Friday in Roland Garros to announce he was withdrawing from the tournament due to a wrist injury.

Nadal, who had dropped a mere nine games in two rounds, said he was attending to the wrist in the weeks leading to the event.

“Yesterday I played with injection on the wrist…I could play, but yesterday night I start to feel more and …

Serena, Top Women Again Ease Through at French Open; Venus Beats Down Teen

Posted by Staff on May 26th, 2016 @ 7:39 pm

It was a very un-WTA-like day for the top seeds at the French Open, where the Top 10 women came on strong, setting up some mid-tournament blockbuster matches.

No. 1 Serena Williams led the way, brutalizing Brazil’s Teliana Pereira 6-2, 6-1, setting up a meeting with No. 26 seed Kristina Mladenovic, who beat Timea Babos, 6-4, 6-3.

It’s going to be difficult,” Mladenovic said of facing the world No. 1. “Maybe I …

Djokovic, Nadal Win Easy; Marathon Man Murray Up Friday at French Open, Krygios-Gasquet

Posted by Staff on May 26th, 2016 @ 7:13 pm

No Top 15 seeds went down on Thursday at Roland Garros on a day when world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and clay GOAT Rafael Nadal showed they are in it for the long haul.

Djokovic topped Belgian Steve Darcis in straight sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in Paris, and Nadal likewise did not drop a set, dominating Argentine Facundo Bagnis 6-3, 6-0, 6-3.

“It’s not easy, because he’s very quick, and he anticipates …

Rafael Nadal Joins Roger Federer And Novak Djokovic In 200 Grand Slam Match Win Club

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 26th, 2016 @ 5:52 pm

Rafael Nadal joined some elusive company winning his 200th career Grand Slam match after bruising Facundo Bagnis in the second round at the French Open on Thursday.

As usual, Nadal, who turns 30 next Friday, wasn’t too interested in the milestone.

“My first Grand Slam was at Wimbledon in 2003. It had always been a dream for me,” said Nadal. “But the most important thing is a victory in the second round …

Novak Djokovic Says He’s A Vegetarian, Or A Pescatarian

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 26th, 2016 @ 5:41 pm

Novak Djokovic had a work a little hard today against Steve Darcis than he did in a quick first round win over Hyen-Sun Lu. Today, the Serb was pushed by the Belgian in a tough-then-expected 75, 63, 64 victory to advance to the third round of the French Open and win his 23rd straight match in Grand Slam.

Obviously, the talk with Djokovic has been his quest for the career Grand …

Serena, Venus Up Thursday at French Open; Muguruza Mows French Wildcard

Posted by Staff on May 25th, 2016 @ 6:36 pm

The upsets came to an almost complete halt, a rarity on the 2016 WTA tour, as four Top 10 seeds and 11 of 12 seeds in action moved into the third round on Wednesday at Roland Garros.

In fact only two seeded winners were stretched as No. 24 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova outlasted Turkey’s Cagla Buyukakcay 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, and No. 25 Irina-Camelia Begu weathered the big-hitting onslaught of American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7(4), …