The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

Garbine Muguruza: I’m Not Ready To Compete, I Need To Start From Zero Again

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 19th, 2016 @ 10:19 am

After a strong finish to 2015, Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza has hit the skids once again. The 22-year-old World No. 5 is just 4-3 on the season with two of those wins in Fed Cup.

And she just lost in the opening round to Elina Svitolina at Dubai where she admitted after the match she’s lost in her game.

“I’m not really finding my game, so I think I have to rest …

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Tennis Not A Topic, Novak Djokovic And Wife Jelena Talk Foundation Mission In CNN Interview [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 19th, 2016 @ 10:05 am

Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena Ristic sat down with CNN’s Amanda Davies for a “rare” interview to discuss their foundation in Serbia.

The World No. 1 who just won a sixth Australian Open didn’t talk tennis at all.

After a few weeks off, Djokovic will be back on court next week in Dubai.

Nadal Advances In Rio, Ferrer v Thiem Friday; Del Potro Comeback Continues In Delray

Posted by Staff on February 19th, 2016 @ 9:38 am

Rafael Nadal twice squandered break leads in Rio on Thursday but the former No. 1 finally advanced over Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-5.

“Winning is the important thing, which gives you confidence and lets you relax,” Nadal said.

“I’m feeling better physically.”

Nadal will now meets Alexandr Dolgopolov. Also on Friday, David Ferrer faces the hot Dominic Thiem.

In Marseille, Tomas Berdych held off fiery Alexander Zverev 7-5 in the third set. Berdych moves …

These 73 “Suspicious” Tennis Matches? Can We Get Names, Tour Level And Percentages Please!

Posted by Sean Randall on February 18th, 2016 @ 3:51 pm

So the match fixing saga continues and today gambling “watchdog” ESSA released a report which revealed 73 matches during the 2015 pro tennis season were identified as “suspicious” and therefore flagged.

What suspicious actually means is anyone’s guess but 73 matches did trigger their alert system. Sounds bad right?

Well, you should understand there were A LOT of matches played in 2015. And I would presume many of them could be …

Du-Bye! Simon Halep, Garbine Muguruza, Petra Kvitova Fall As Seeds Finish Winless In Dubai

Posted by Staff on February 18th, 2016 @ 12:37 am

For the first time in WTA history, a tournament was played without a seed winning a match. That’s the record now owned by 2016 Dubai where all Top 8 seeds lost in their opening match.

With seeds 5-8 already out, the Top 4 took the court today and results weren’t any better.

Top seed and defending champion Simona Halep fell to former No. 1 Ana Ivanovic 7-6, 6-2.

“Honestly, I’m delighted,” …

Nadal v Almagro In Rio; Del Potro Continues Comeback In Delray; Berdych Battles Zverev In Marseille

Posted by Staff on February 18th, 2016 @ 12:23 am

It’s a busy day of men’s tennis action Thursday with stars spread out across three continents.

2014 champion Rafael Nadal is in action in Rio against countryman Nicolas Almagro. Both guys lost over the weekend to Dominic Thiem who won today before the rains hit.

David Ferrer is also on court in a re-scheduled match.

Earlier today. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga suffered one of his worst career losses falling to World No. 338 Thiago Monteiro …

Rafael Nadal Wins In Rainy Rio Opener, Will Face Nicolas Almagro Next

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 17th, 2016 @ 9:23 am

After a shock loss over the weekend to Dominic Thiem in Buenos Aires, Rafael Nadal got back on track best Pablo Carreno Busta 61, 64 in a first round match that was suspended late in the first set due to rain.

“I think I played a fantastic first set,” said Nadal. “Then in the second, the conditions were so heavy. It was so difficult to serve, so there were a …

Andy Murray’s New Baby Is Named… Sophia Olivia

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 17th, 2016 @ 9:09 am

According to British reports, Andy Murray and wife Kim Sears have named their new child Sophia Olivia.

Sophia Olivia, who was born a week ago Sunday, is said to be doing just fine. No official statement on the baby has yet to come from the family.

Murray is off the court until Davis Cup next month.

Juan Martin Del Potro Wins Easily In Return, Feels He Could Still Be Dangerous One Day

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 17th, 2016 @ 9:01 am

His backhand may not have been up to par, but the rest of Juan Martin del Potro’s game looked awfully sharp in a 61, 64 win last night over Denis Kudla in the first round of the Delray Beach Open.

Del Potro was playing his first match in almost a year following a third surgery on his left wrist last summer.

Overall, the 27-year-old was pleased with his performance.

“I think winning a …

Sick Serena Williams Withdraws From Doha, Is This Another Grand Slam Hangover?

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2016 @ 10:07 am

Following her withdrawal from this week’s Dubai tournament, Serena Williams will also miss next week’s stop in Doha for the same reason.

“I unfortunately have to withdraw from the Qatar Total Open as I have come down with the flu and do not feel 100 percent,” the 34-year-old Serena said in a statement. ‘I need to take this time to recover but I do look forward to returning to Doha and …

Rafael Nadal On Zika Virus: I’m Not Scared, I’m Not Worried, If It Happens, It’s Bad Luck!

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2016 @ 9:52 am

With the Rio Olympics still many months away, Rafael Nadal is among the very first superstar athletes to visit Rio which has been the focus of the Zika outbreak.

Nadal, though, isn’t concerned.

“I’m doing the things the people have told me. I’m going out at night. I’m not scared. I’m not worried about this. If it happens, it’s bad luck,” Nadal told the press Sunday.

Nadal won the title in 2014 and …

Caroline Wozniacki Wears Nothing But Body Paint In Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2016 @ 9:41 am

World No. 19 Caroline Wozniacki took it all off for the new Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. In fact, she didn’t even wear a swimsuit, just body paint!

It's this time of year again!!@si_swimsuit on stands today!😃 so excited! Go grab your copy😁
Photo by @Fredericpinet pic.twitter.com/B9XrwFppoj

— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) February 15, 2016

…

Juan Martin Del Potro Returns In Delray Beach Tonight!

Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2016 @ 9:28 am

Juan Martin del Potro makes his long-awaiting return to tennis tonight in Delray Beach where the Argentine will face American Denis Kudla.

The former US Open champion hasn’t played a match since Miami last year, and this will be his first appearance following a third surgery on his left wrist last summer.

Also in action Tuesday in Delray is new American sensation Taylor Fritz who …

America Has a Next Pete Sampras in Memphis Runner-up Taylor Fritz

Posted by Jeremy Davis on February 14th, 2016 @ 10:24 pm

It was a learning experience for American teen wildcard Taylor Fritz, who stormed to an early lead in the final of the Memphis Open in his first ATP final on Sunday, but in the end fell to the experienced Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4.

“It’s amazing to win four [Memphis titles] in a row,” Nishikori said. “It was a tough start again today, but I managed it better. I played better tennis …

Klizan Comeback Clamps Clown Monfils; Thiem New Clay King?

Posted by Staff on February 14th, 2016 @ 10:15 pm

Klizan Caps Comeback Week with Rotterdam Title

Slovak Martin Klizan closed a week of coming from behind in big matches to defeat Gael Monfils from a set down 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-1 in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

In the quarters Klizan saved five match points against Roberto Bautista Agut, and three match points in the semifinal against Nicolas Mahut.

“It was my dream to be on …