After beating Rafael Nadal en route to the semifinals in Rome last week, Stan Wawrinka hopes tumbled again today as the Swiss favorite loss in his home of Geneva to Federico Delbonis 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4.

The loss was Wawrinka’s third to a player outside the Top 50 in as many months, and it comes on the eve of the French Open.

Delbonis, who beat Roger Federer on clay a few summers ago, …

A day before the release of the French Open draw, project six seed Milos Raonic withdrew from the event, he announced on twitter.

“I am sad to have to unfortunately withdraw from Roland Garros this year, I tried my best to be back and healthy in time after surgery,” Raonic said. “I will continue my rehab and procceed with preparations for a 100 percent strong Wimbledon and Queens run.Thank you …

So why do I think Novak Djokovic was better in 2011 than his is now entering the 2015 French Open. Here’s why:

1. The Record
This is simple. In 2011 he was 37-0 and undefeated on the year rolling into Roland Garros. This year, two blemishes, albeit in the first two months of the year and in 500 events (Federer in Dubai, Karlovic in Doha).

No matter how you slice it, 37-0 > …

I was going to make this a comment on the other thread, but I’ll give it its own home. So here are my pre-draw French Open favorites (draw comes out Friday morning).

1. Novak Djokovic
The clear choice. He’s won everything under the sun lately (just never the French!). Dominated the right guys. Seems to be healthy. Is he better than he was in 2011? No. But he doesn’t have to be. …

The French Open released a video montage last month of what they think are Rafael Nadal’s five greatest matches or moments at the tournament. Here’s what they came up with.

#5
2008 QF def Nicolas Almagro 61, 61, 61
* Part of his dominant French Open romp in which he never lost a set en route to his fourth straight victory in Paris

#4
2005 F def Mariano …

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Robin Soderling says he no longer wants to be the only man to ever beat Rafael Nadal at the French Open.

Soderling, who’s been off the tour since the summer of 2011 with mono, says there’s more to him than just that win, which is what he’s known for, a label he can’t shake.

“It’s good to be the only one, but everybody …

After a dominating win over Roger Federer yesterday for his fourth Rome title, Novak Djokovic turned his attention to the French Open which is his only missing Grand Slam from his trophy cabinet.

“I don’t think that I need to gear up or do anything special in order to be successful at the Roland Garros,” Djokovic said Sunday. “I have been very close to that title before, played several finals, I …

The lead-up is over and after Monte Carlo and Rome titles, Novak Djokovic is the big winner on the clay thus far. But does that make him the favorite to finally win his first French Open? The oddsmakers say so, but not Roger Federer who still tabs Rafael Nadal to take home his 10th French Open.

“You cannot take away the last 10 years,” he said of Nadal. “It’s going to …

Novak Djokovic’s French Open hopes and dreams nearly came to a crashing end yesterday after winning his fourth Rome title, beating Roger Federer 64 63.

During the post-match trophy ceremony, Djokovic popped the customary champagne, except the cork nearly hit him in the eye!

Watch for yourself:

Djokovic had to get treatment for the injury which drew blood near his nose.

“I am very, very fortunate to still have …

Novak Djokovic outclassed Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3 on Sunday to win his fourth Internazionali BNL d’Italia title in Rome. It was the fifth title of the year for the World No. 1, who improved to 19-20 career versus the Swiss.

“Roger put a lot of pressure on my service game at 4-4, but I managed to respond well, to gain those break points, move him around the court, and then I …

OPEN DE NICE COTE D’AZUR
Nice, France; Surface: clay

Seeds: Gilles Simon, John Isner, Ernests Gulbis, Leonardo Mayer, Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios, Jack Sock, Juan Monaco

Floaters: Sam Querrey

Notes: Gulbis is defending the Nice title (d. Federico Delbonis) then a Roland Garros semifinal…Gulbis is 1-11 win-loss this year…(8) Monaco could start against Querrey…Wildcards went to France’s Maxime Hamou and Lucas Pouille, and Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis…Withdrawing from the tournament were Simone Bolelli, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, …

Maria Sharapova collected a much-needed claycourt title in the Rome final on Sunday, putting her solidly into the conversation entering Roland Garros in a week’s time.

The Russian former French Open champ had only two claycourt appearances under her belt in the run-up to Roland Garros, losing in the first round at Stuttgart, and in Madrid stopped in the semifinals by fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.

On Sunday at the Italian Open Sharapova …

Despite making his second straight final, Novak Djokovic isn’t happy with the Centrale court conditions this week in Rome. We’ve seen the maintenance crew out numerous times, not just for Novak’s matches, tending to holes and inconsistent spots on the clay surface.

Djokovic went on to explain the issues with these lashing quotes to AFP.

“It’s obvious the court is not where it’s supposed to be condition-wise,” Djokovic said to …

For the third time this year the two top in the world, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, meet in a big match final. This time it’s for the red clay title in Rome, the last major tune-up before the French Open.

Djokovic was the first to reach the final, earning his ninth straight victory over David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4. It was Novak’s 21st straight win in a row, 25th consecutively at …

Maria Sharapova will be the overwhelming favorite to win her third title in Rome tomorrow against the hot-handed Carla Suarez Navarro who upset Simona Halep in her semifinal.

In her match, Sharapova had a struggle in the first set then gained control taking out Cinderella qualifier Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 6-3. The young Gavrilova who stunned Maria in Miami and was playing in her first WTA semifinal, once again had her …