French Open Men’s Seedings: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray The Top 2; Rafael Nadal No. 5
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 16th, 2016 @ 9:59 am
For the fifth time in the last six years, Novak Djokovic will be top seed at the French Open. However, the Serb, who has never won the French, could face rival Rafael Nadal as early as the quarterfinals after the Spaniard failed to secure a Top 4 ranking.
All Top 32 players are expected to play in Paris. And thanks to his surprise semifinal run in Rome, France’s Lucas Pouille has …
French Open Women’s Seedings: Serena The Top Seed For A Sixth Time
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 16th, 2016 @ 9:53 am
Serena Williams will be seeking a fourth French Open title next week at Roland Garros, and she’ll try to do it as the tournament’s top seed for a sixth time after 2003, 2010, 2013-2016.
Thanks to Flavia Pennetta’s retirement and Maria Sharapova’s doping suspension, Serena’s BFF Caroline Wozniacki secured the 32nd seed. The Dane, however, has been recovering from a ankle sprain leaving her participation in some doubt.
French Open seedings are …
Serena Williams Has Never Defended A French Open Title, Will This Be The Year?
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 16th, 2016 @ 9:30 am
Serena Williams is back to her winning ways. The 34-year-old ended a 9-month title drought taking her fourth Rome title yesterday defeating Madison Keys in Rome.
It was Serena’s first clay event of the season and she didn’t drop a set en route to the win.
“I think my patience was really great,” Serena said. ‘I wasn’t stressed out. I wasn’t rushing too much. Basically more than anything I was able to …
After Double Bagel Loss, Tomas Berdych Cans Coach Dani Vallverdu
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 16th, 2016 @ 9:09 am
Following an embarrassing double bagel 60, 60 loss Thursday to David Goffin in the Rome third round, Tomas Berdych has fired his coach Dani Vallverdu.
Berdych and Vallverdu had linked up at the end of the 2014 season after Vallverdu was dropped from Andy Murray’s camp.
“My results lately have not been what I expected As I am not a tennis player at the beginning of his career I have …
Preview: ATP, WTA Players Look for Mojo Heading Into French Open
Posted by Staff on May 16th, 2016 @ 1:44 am
BANQUE ERIC STURDZA GENEVA OPEN
Geneva, Switzerland; Surface: clay
Seeds: Stan Wawrinka, David Ferrer, Marin Cilic, John Isner, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Federico Delbonis, Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey
Floaters: Lukas Rosol, Mikhail Youzhny, Guillermo “G-Lo” Garcia-Lopez
Notes: Two Top 10ers in Wawrinka and Ferrer…(1) Isner after a bye will likely start against the upset specialist Rosol…(7) Johnson in a tough start against the veteran Youzhny, and (8) Querrey starts against G-Lo…Wildcards went to Cilic, Ferrer …
Andy Murray Wins Rome, Beats No. 1 Novak Djokovic On Clay For 1st Time
Posted by Staff on May 16th, 2016 @ 12:51 am
Andy Murray ended his bitch-boy status to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday, beating the Serb 6-3, 6-3, and capping his 29th birthday with the Italian Open title in Rome, the first British man to win it since 1931.
“It’s mostly great players that have won this event, so I’m very proud to have my name on the trophy,” Murray said. “Today against Novak it was nice. I know he …
Keys Can’t Unlock Rome Title as Serena Williams Ends Trophy Drought
Posted by Staff on May 15th, 2016 @ 12:27 pm
It took until a week before the French Open, but world No. 1 Serena Williams claimed her first title of 2016 on Sunday, beating Madison Keys 7-6(5), 6-3 in the all-American final of the Italian Open.
Williams improved to 1-2 in finals this year, snapping a nine-month title drought. It was her fourth career Italian Open title.
Keys led 3-1 in the first set before Williams evened the set then captured the …
Is Birthday Boy Andy Murray Finally Ready To End Novak Djokovic’s Run In Rome? Who’s The Pick?
Posted by Sean Randall on May 14th, 2016 @ 8:31 pm
For the third straight day Novak Djokovic had to fight to stay alive in the Rome Masters. After dropping a bagel set Thursday to Thomaz Bellucci, Djokovic fought off a tough Rafael Nadal Friday and today overcame an early ankle issue to take down Kei Nishikori in a 3-hour thrill ride 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).
Djokovic again came out scratchy, and early on needed treatment for what looked like a minor bone …
Serena Williams Meets Madison Keys In All-American Final In Rome Sunday
Posted by Staff on May 14th, 2016 @ 3:18 pm
Serena Williams and Madison Keys will meet in the Rome final Sunday. It’s the pair’s third career meeting after wins by Serena at the 2015 Australian and US Opens.
It’s also the first all-American final on the WTA since 2012 Stanford where Serena defeated CoCo Vandeweghe and first on clay since Serena’s win over Venus in the 2002 French Open final.
Both players won in straight sets to reach the …
Novak Djokovic Beats Rafael Nadal In Thriller While Andy Murray Impresses; Rome SF Picks And Pans
Posted by Sean Randall on May 13th, 2016 @ 6:11 pm
He played better, he’s getting closer, but Rafael Nadal still cannot solve the Novak Djokovic riddle right now. And few can! Today, Nadal lost his 7th straight to his rival in the Rome quarterfinals 7-5, 7-6(4) in a very good, very entertaining match.
“Certainly winning against Nadal on clay doesn’t happen often, doesn’t happen every day,” Djokovic said. “So it is one of the ultimate challenges if not the ultimate challenge …
Novak Djokovic Won The First Set From Rafael Nadal In Rome With This Incredible Point [Video]
Posted by Staff on May 13th, 2016 @ 4:10 pm
In what will go down as one of the best points of the season, Novak Djokovic took the opening set from Rafael Nadal thanks to this incredible point.
Djokovic should off his defense, his speed and quickness to get the job done. And it wasn’t for not as he took the second set to win the match 7-5, 7-6(4).
“I thought towards the end of both sets …
Serena Gets Revenge On Kuznetsova, Reaches Rome Semis; Muguruza, Keys Collide
Posted by Staff on May 13th, 2016 @ 4:02 pm
Serena Williams had her revenge Friday in the Rome quarterfinals. The world No. 1 is playing her first event since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in Miami, but today she crushed the Russian 6-2, 6-0 to advance to the semifinals where she’ll face the surprising Romanian Irina Camelia Begu.
“It’s great. It makes me feel good,” Serena said. “Svetlana’s probably one of the best clay-court players, and having to face her …
Roger Federer: I Knew I Was Never Good Enough To Do Well In Rome, So It Was Just An Information Event
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 13th, 2016 @ 9:02 am
After losing Thursday to Dominic Thiem in the Rome third round, Roger Federer addressed the media about his ailing back and his plans for the French Open which begins in nine days. He doesn’t sound too worried.
His presser:
Q. Do you still feel it’s been a positive week for you to play two matches, even though you didn’t go through?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. No, absolutely. I’m happy I was able to play …
Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal Friday at Rome; Federer Falls, Berdych Double Bageled
Posted by Jeremy Davis on May 13th, 2016 @ 12:44 am
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and French Open owner Rafael Nadal will meet in the quarterfinals at Rome on Friday after both winning through tough matches on Thursday.
Djokovic came back from a bagel to beat Thomaz Bellucci 0-6, 6-3, 6-2, and Nadal likewise came from a set down to outlast Nick Kyrgios 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4.
“I’m playing well, I feel like I am playing at the right level,” said Nadal, who …
Serena Wins and Says She’s No. 1 Always; Friday Rome Preview
Posted by Jeremy Davis on May 12th, 2016 @ 11:47 pm
World No. 1 Serena Williams was at her best on Thursday in Rome, fighting off a set point to advance into the quarterfinals and reaffirming she’s No. 1 — even when she’s not.
Williams beat countrywoman Christina McHale 7-6(7), 6-1, setting up a quarterfinal with former world No. 2 and French Open champ Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Daria Gavrilova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
“I feel good, because I feel like she hits a …