The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

Roger Federer And Stefan Edberg Have Split

Posted by Staff on December 8th, 2015 @ 9:39 pm

The first major coaching change this off season has hit the wires and it’s a surprise. Earlier today, Roger Federer announced that he and Stefan Edberg have split.

The two joined up two years ago and after a slow start, Federer played some of his best tennis in a while under Edberg this season, reaching two Grand Slam finals to finish No. 3.

The 34-year-old will now be joined by Ivan Ljubicic …

Watch Milos Raonic Return A Tomas Berdych Serve From Behind His Back And Win The Point! [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 7th, 2015 @ 10:25 am

We haven’t heard much from Milos Raonic. The promising Canadian suffered through injury for much of the season, but yesterday at the IPTL Raonic dazzled the crowd with this behind-the-back service return against Tomas Berdych. And he eventually won the point!

“I don’t make many highlight reels but this one was dope!” Raonic posted on Twitter.

After finishing No. 8 a year ago, the 24-year-old Raonic ended …

Nick Kyrgios: I Want To Win A Grand Slam In The Next Year Or Two

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 7th, 2015 @ 10:11 am

Controversial Australian Nick Kyrgios is eyeing a Grand Slam title in the next few years.

“I’m looking to, you know, go really far in a grand slam and then almost win one in the next year or two,” Kyrgios told AFP at the IPTL.

After a tumultuous 2015 season, the 20-year-old added that he’s matured.

“I think I’ve matured a lot this year and I’ve learned a lot and I definitely feel …

Roger Federer And Martina Hingis In Mixed Doubles At The Rio Olympics?

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 7th, 2015 @ 9:56 am

According to a Swiss report from Le Matin, Roger Federer and Martina Hingis are locked to play in the mixed doubles competition at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The 35-year-old Hingis ranks No. 1 in doubles with partner Sania Mirza on the WTA.

Federer will also play doubles once again with Stan Wawrinka. The two won the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Federer of course is also targeting a first …

The WTA Now Supports The IPTL, The ATP Still Does Not

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 3rd, 2015 @ 11:32 am

The tennis season is over but the exo season is kicking into full gear. This week the IPTL in Asia relaunched offering participants plenty of money after a long, arduous season.

Unless a significant charity component is involved, the tours – the WTA and ATP – have always shunned these type of exos which confuse fans (Do these matches count? Are they part of the ATP/WTA?), damages the field of sanctioned …

Does This Sound Like Robin Soderling Is Making A Comeback In 2016?

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 3rd, 2015 @ 10:49 am

It’s been 4.5 years since we last saw Robin Soderling on a tennis. Now 31, Soderling has been fighting mono since that 2011 July event in Bastad.

But the Swede still makes tennis a big part of his life. In a new interview with Smash Marketing, Soderling spoke about his new career, as a tournament promoter and director of the Stockholm Open and his new rs-tennis.com venture. And not specifically …

A List Of Novak Djokovic’s 2015 Achievements

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 2nd, 2015 @ 10:21 am

Novak Djokovic finished one of the greatest seasons ever in tennis winning the ATP Finals 10 days ago. Courtesy of his website, here’s a list of what Djokovic accomplished in 2015:

– First man to win five Australian Open titles
– Third man alongside Rod Laver and Roger Federer (in the Open Era) to reach all four Grand Slam finals in one year
– Second man alongside Federer (in the Open Era) …

Novak Djokovic Will Not Play The Cash Grab December Exos In The IPTL And Abu Dhabi

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 2nd, 2015 @ 10:17 am

To recover and rest for the upcoming 2016 season, Novak Djokovic will pass up the big cash available at the IPTL and the Abu Exos this month.

Djokovic was to play for the Singapore Slammers during the second season of the IPTL, but the World No. 1 officially withdrew yesterday.

“I had a great experience in the inaugural edition of the IPTL and was eagerly looking forward to playing in the second …

Your 2015 ATP Top 10 Plus Year-End Rankings Statistics

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 1st, 2015 @ 11:03 am

The official 2015 year-end ATP Rankings were released yesterday. For the fourth time in five years Novak Djokovic sits atop the very best in the sport. The Big 4 make up four of the Top 5 spots, with French Open champion Stan Wawrinka finishing in the Top 4.

The final ATP Rankings for 2015:
2015 ATP Top 10 (as of Nov 30, 2015)
1 Novak Djokovic 16585
2 Andy Murray 8945
3 Roger Federer 8265
4 …

Juan Martin Del Potro Is Hitting Backhands Again [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 1st, 2015 @ 10:01 am

Juan Martin del Potro continued his road to back to tennis. After three surgeries on his left wrist, the Argentine posted a video last week of him hitting backhands, the shot that has kept him off the tour since March.

No timetable for return has been set by del Potro, but there is some chance the 27-year-old could be back in the early part of …

David Ferrer And Girlfriend Marta Tornel Were Married Over The Weekend

Posted by Tom Gainey on December 1st, 2015 @ 9:55 am

One more top ATP player joined the ranks of married men this weekend. On Saturday, David Ferrer and longtime girlfriend Marta Tornel were married in Valencia.

The ceremony was reportedly attended by a small gathering of 200 guests.

The two met in 2008 via Ferrer’s former coach Javier Piles.

RT @DavidFerrerGDF @DavidFerrer87 y @martatornel se casaron tras 8 años de relación. https://t.co/RR1othQn2b pic.twitter.com/1nZFqxLp6t

— …

Andy Murray The Hero As Great Britain Wins The Davis Cup For First Time Since 1936

Posted by Staff on November 29th, 2015 @ 12:38 pm

Andy Murray and Great Britain won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936 after Murray beat Belgium’s David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first Sunday singles match to clinch the tie in Ghent, Belgium.

It was Britain’s 10th team title in the history of the Davis Cup.

“I just can’t believe we did it,” said Murray. “I play some of my best tennis when I’m playing for my country.”

The …

Andy Murray Leads Great Britain Into Davis Cup Final Against Belgium This Weekend

Posted by Staff on November 26th, 2015 @ 11:42 am

Andy Murray will try to join his fellow Big 4 cohorts by winning the Davis Cup title. This weekend Murray and Great Britain travel to Ghent to take on Belgium for the 2015 Davis Cup crown.

In singles Friday, Murray will open against Ruben Bemelmans while 19-year-old Kyle Edmund makes his debut against David Goffin.

With Murray the favored to win both singles on the red clay, Edmund will have an uphill …

Boris Becker: Roger Federer’s 2006 Season Was Better Than Novak Djokovic’s 2015!

Posted by Tom Gainey on November 25th, 2015 @ 11:54 am

Boris Becker told the Roger Federer fan relax Monday. The former tennis great admitted in a tweet that his player Novak Djokovic’s just-finished 2015 season was not as great as Federer’s 2006 campaign.

Just a word to all the @rogerfederer fans in the world …he is the GOAT ! 2006 was even better than 2015 but give @DjokerNole respect!!!

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) November 23, …

8 Things I Think I Thought About Novak Djokovic And The ATP Finals

Posted by Sean Randall on November 25th, 2015 @ 12:04 am

The ATP Finals put a fitting period on the 2015 season as the man who began on top, Novak Djokovic, finished the year on top with his 5th career London title.

Here are some final thoughts:

1. King Novak
There really isn’t any doubt, he’s the best in the biz right now and that’s a fact by a wide margin. If fact, it’s one of the widest margins by ranking points this sport …