ATP Weekend Wrap: No Grigor, No Problem for Sofia Debut
Posted by Staff on February 7th, 2016 @ 7:15 pm
No Grigor, But You Get Agut for 2016 Sofia Debut
Even more than Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov skipping his country’s debut ATP event because he wasn’t offered enough appearance money, the Sofia Open will be remembered for top seed Roberto Bautista Agut etching his name in the history books as the event’s first winner.
The Spaniard in the final of the Garanti Koza Sofia Open topped No. 2 Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4. …
Tomic The Tank Engine In Quito: “F This Place” [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 7th, 2016 @ 3:01 pm
During a 3-set loss to Paolo Lorenzi in Quito on Friday, top-seeded Bernard Tomic lashed out.
A courtside microphone picked up Tomic saying to himself, “go to Miami, drive your Ferrari, you don’t need to be here, fuck this place.”
This is the same Tomic who said last month that he plans to reach the Top 10 by the French Open.
Caroline Wozniacki Will Carry The Flag For Denmark At The Olympics
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 7th, 2016 @ 2:47 pm
Earlier this week it was announced Caroline Wozniacki will carry the flag for Denmark at the upcoming summer Olympics in Rio.
“It is an honor for me. The Olympics really means a lot to me, and I have amazing memories from my previous two Olympic participations. I am enjoying being a part of the Danish team, and feeling the team spirit that I normally do not experience every day. To carry …
All Eyes on Rafael Nadal in Buenos Aires: ATP Previews This Week
Posted by Staff on February 6th, 2016 @ 9:59 pm
ARGENTINA OPEN
Buenos Aires, Argentina; Surface: clay
Seeds: Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, John Isner, Dominic Thiem, Fabio Fognini, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Pablo Cuevas
Floaters: Juan Monaco, Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco, Nicolas Almagro
Notes: Three Top 10ers in the strong field…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…Tough starts for (1) Nadal after a bye likely vs. the former champ Monaco who he has lost to before, and (4) Isner after a bye likely vs. …
Venus Gets Paid in Taiwan; Swiss Top Seeds in St. Pete: WTA Previews
Posted by Staff on February 6th, 2016 @ 10:42 am
ST. PETERSBURG LADIES TROPHY
St. Petersburg, Russia; Surface: hard
Seeds: Belinda Bencic, Roberta Vinci, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Kristina Mladenovic, Alize Cornet
Floaters: Annika Beck, Dominika Cibulkova, Yanina Wickmayer
Notes: No Top 10 talent in the field, but four from the Top 20, and two former world No. 1s…The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…Potential tough starts for (1) Bencic vs. the German riser Beck, (3) Wozniacki vs. Cibulkova, …
11 Things I Think I Thought About The Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams And Roger Federer’s Knee
Posted by Sean Randall on February 4th, 2016 @ 3:28 pm
Now that the first Grand Slam of 2016 is over, some thoughts on the Australian Open.
1. Djokovic’s Era
He crushed Roger Federer, manhandled Andy Murray and he’s already whipped Rafael Nadal and to make matters worse for the field he’s only 28, he’s fit and he’s hungry. So until someone steps up or he gets injured – which hasn’t happened since…?? – it’s his show. He’s the boss. Get …
How Did Roger Federer Injure His Knee? Turns Out It Was Just A Walk In The Park With The Kids
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 4th, 2016 @ 9:39 am
According to Swiss news reports, Roger Federer injured his knee during an innocent walk in the park in Melbourne with his girls Charlene Riva and Myla Rose last week.
The injury occurred the day after Federer lost to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals. Before his flight home, Federer took the kids for a walk and that’s when the injury occurred, according to Le Matin.
Federer underwent knee surgery …
Juan Martin Del Potro To Return In Delray Beach
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 3rd, 2016 @ 11:46 am
Juan Martin Del Potro announced today that he will return to tennis in a few weeks at the Delray Beach event starting on February 15th.
The Argentine, who hasn’t played in almost a year, said he is grateful for all the support he’s received from his friends and fans, and he hopes to make a full return from multiple surgeries last year on his left wrist.
While he did not set a …
Roger Federer Out A Month After Undergoing Knee Surgery To Repair Torn Meniscus
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 3rd, 2016 @ 8:47 am
The iron man of tennis Roger Federer will miss Rotterdam and his title defense in Dubai after undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
According to a post he made on Facebook, Federer injured the knee the AFTER his semifinal loss at the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic.
“I want to inform you that yesterday I underwent arthroscopic surgery on my knee,” Federer posted on Facebook. “I injured my knee …
Fed Cup Capsules: Halep Skips Surgery To Compete, Bouchard And Radwanska Skip Out
Posted by Staff on January 31st, 2016 @ 12:46 pm
World Group I
Czech Republic at Romania
World No. 2 Simona Halep is reportedly delaying nose surgery to compete for Romania, joined by Irina-Camelia Begu, Monica Niculescu and Andreea Mitu, against the formidable Czech team of Petra Kvitova, Karolina Pliskova, Barbora Strycova and Denisa Allertova on hardcourt.
Switzerland at Germany
This is a mouth-watering tie as Belinda Bencic and Timea Bacsinszky in singles, and Martina Hingis in doubles travel to take on …
ATP Previews: Clay Kicks Off in Quito; Cilic and French Force in Montpellier
Posted by Staff on January 31st, 2016 @ 12:42 pm
OPEN SUD DE FRANCE
Montpellier, France; Surface: hard
Seeds: Richard Gasquet, Marin Cilic, Gilles Simon, Benoit Paire, Gael Monfils, Joao Sousa, Borna Coric, Marcos Baghdatis
Floaters: Ernests Gulbis
Notes: Homecountry hope Gasquet is the lone Top 10 player in the draw…Not a lot of floating talent in the field, but Gasquet after a bye will likely start against the dangerous Gulbis…Wildcards went to the No. 8 seed Baghdatis and Frenchmen Julien Benneteau and Quentin Halys…Players pulling from …
Novak Djokovic ‘Serb Slam’ at French Open? Why He is Tennis’ Lone Star
Posted by Jeremy Davis on January 31st, 2016 @ 11:28 am
It’s time for Novak Djokovic to get the respect he deserves.
Djokovic last year had a better record than Serena Williams, but the American sucked all the air out of the room with her quest for a calendar-year Grand Slam, raking in numerous Athlete of the Year accolades.
But now it’s time for the Serb to enjoy the sole spotlight as the greatest player on the planet. And time for rumblings of …
Andy Murray: It’s Been A Difficult 2 Weeks, I’m Proud To Have Made The Finals, Now I Want To Get Home
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 31st, 2016 @ 8:48 am
For the fifth time Andy Murray came up short in the Australian Open. In a rematch of the 2015 final, the 2016 edition result was the same with Murray falling to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic 61, 75, 76(3) in Melbourne Sunday night.
After getting his doors blown off in the first set, Murray played much better in the second and third, breaking Djokovic and showing little fatigue following a 4-hour …
Novak Djokovic: No Doubt That I’m Playing The Best Tennis Of My Life The Last 15 Months
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 31st, 2016 @ 8:38 am
Novak Djokovic captured his sixth Australian Open and 11th overall Grand Slam Sunday night beating friend and rival Andy Murray 61, 75, 76(3).
Djokovic has now won five of the last seven Slams including the last three as he approaches Rafael Nadal’s total of 14 and Roger Federer’s all-time mark of 17. And he’s just 28.
Djokovic remains far and away on top of tennis having now won his last 21 in …
2016 Australian Open Men’s Final Open Thread: Novak Djokovic v Andy Murray
Posted by Staff on January 31st, 2016 @ 12:01 am
In a rematch of last year, the top two players in the world, No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Andy Murray, renew their rivalry for the Australian Open title.
In their 31st career meeting, Djokovic leads 21-9. He’s also won 10 of his last 11 matches against Murray. His only loss in that time came in the final at 2015 Montreal-1000. Djokovic has a 7-6 win-loss record against Murray in …