Djokovic Opens Rome Title Defense Tuesday; Serena, Sharapova Lead Women
Posted by Staff on May 11th, 2015 @ 11:50 pm
After skipping the Madrid Masters, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic returns to action Tuesday at the Rome Masters where he’ll face former Top 10 Nicolas Almagro in the second round.
The Serb, who beat Rafael Nadal in the final last year, is seeking his fourth Masters title of the season. And he enters on a 17 match win streak having won 21 straight at this Masters level.
“I want to build a …
7 Things I Think I Thought About Rafael Nadal’s Loss To Andy Murray In Madrid
Posted by Sean Randall on May 11th, 2015 @ 3:41 pm
After entering the month of May with zero career final appearances in clay events, Andy Murray now has TWO CLAY TITLES in the span of just six days! What the heck happened?
Let’s see.
Thanks to a relatively easy draw, Murray won Munich last Monday over Phil Kohlschreiber, a tough but winable finale. But then to destroy both of Madrid’s 2014 finalists this weekend like he did, culminating with yesterday’s 6-3, 6-2 …
Andy Murray Is Undefeated As A Married Man, And He Leads The ATP In Clay Titles In 2015!
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 11th, 2015 @ 10:10 am
What a turnaround for Andy Murray. Since getting married a month ago, Murray has not only gone undefeated (9-0) but he now leads the ATP in clay titles for 2015 with two!
He hasn't lost since getting married, so naturally @andy_murray writes 'Marriage Works' on the TV camera! #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/sJrcw9mSEk
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) May 10, 2015
Murray, who …
Rafael Nadal: I Have To Just “Delete” What Happened Today Against Andy
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 11th, 2015 @ 10:00 am
In one of his worst performances in a final, Rafael Nadal routinely dismissed by Andy Murray in the final of the Madrid Masters yesterday. Nadal, who was a 2-time defending champion at his home Masters event, had never lost to Murray in six clay meetings, but yesterday the former No. 1 was far from himself, committing numerous errors in a lackluster effort against Murray.
The 63, 62 loss was his worst …
Rafael Nadal Is Down To No. 7 In The ATP Rankings, First Time Out Of The Top 5 In 10 Years!
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 11th, 2015 @ 9:40 am
After failing to defend his Madrid title losing to Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal saw his ranking plummet from 4 to No. 7 this week, marking the lowest the Spaniard has been ranked since May 8, 2005.
Last time #Nadal out of Top 5 #Emirates #ATP Rankings May 2, '05: 1 Federer 2 Hewitt 3 Roddick 4 Safin 5 Gaudio 6 Heman 7 Nadal
— Greg Sharko (@SharkoTennis) May 10, 2015…
Milos Raonic To Undergo Foot Surgery Later This Week Leaving French Open In Doubt
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 11th, 2015 @ 9:30 am
After withdrawing from the Rome Masters, Milos Raonic will undergo foot surgery later this week. The Canadian star has long suffered from a chronic pinched nerve in his right foot, and after injury flared up again this clay season (he withdrew from Barcelona), he’s decided to have the surgery and hope to be ready for the French Open.
I will be undergoing surgery to repair a nerve
…
Nadal’s Stunning Collapse, Kvitova Title Highlight Madrid Finals
Posted by Staff on May 10th, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
Even after the match, as the trophy ceremony rolled on, fans were asking themselves, “Did that just happen?”
Andy Murray rolled over an absolutely lost-looking Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday at the Spaniard’s home-country tournament at the Mutua Madrid Open, leaving Nadal’s French Open hopes in disarray.
Murray was spectacular in claiming his second career claycourt title and second in a row after Munich, but Nadal nonetheless was a confidence-challenged car …
Blockbuster WTA Rome Field to Answer Pre-French Questions?
Posted by Staff on May 10th, 2015 @ 11:50 am
With 16 of the Top 18 players on the WTA tour including world No. 1 Serena Williams and surprise Madrid winner Petra Kvitova, and more floating upset-makers meeting seeds in the first round than you can shake a racquet at, this year’s Italian Open will be telling leading into the French Open in a couple weeks.
Storylines that could be answered this week in Rome:
Can world No. 1 Serena …
Nadal Finds His Groove, Meets Murray In Madrid Final; Who’s The Pick?
Posted by Sean Randall on May 9th, 2015 @ 6:56 pm
Is it Jonas Bjorkman? Is it the married life? Or is it something else? Who knows, but whatever it is, it’s been working the last two weeks for Andy Murray. After winning his first clay title Monday in Munich, Murray is now into his second clay final, this one at the Masters level where he’ll face Rafael Nadal tomorrow in the King of Clay’s backyard in Madrid.
Nadal began semifinal Saturday …
Rome Men’s Draw: Djokovic Returns, Big 4 Together For First Time This Clay Season
Posted by Sean Randall on May 8th, 2015 @ 11:14 pm
After a much-deserved few weeks of rest, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic returns to action next week in Rome for what will be his final tune-up before the all-important French Open. Joining Djokovic are his Big Four colleagues Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and even Roger Federer who decided to play the event following a disappointing showing in Madrid.
On to the draw.
First Quarter
The way Djokovic’s has been playing of …
Kvitova Ends Serena’s Unbeaten Run To Reach Madrid Final Against Kuznetsova
Posted by Staff on May 8th, 2015 @ 9:07 pm
In a shocking semifinal in the Madrid women’s event, heavy favorites Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova were both bottled up on the same day in straight sets by Petra Kvitova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, respectively.
Kuznetsova, who had battled through two third set tiebreak wins, pulled the first upset beating countrywoman and defending champion Sharapova concisely 6-2, 6-4.
“I feel very happy, it was a very tough match,” Kuznetsova said. “I was playing …
Nadal Downs Dimitrov, Faces Berdych In Madrid SFs; Murray Meets Nishikori
Posted by Staff on May 8th, 2015 @ 8:55 pm
With just a few weeks from the French Open, Rafael Nadal continues to (re)build confidence. Today, the 2-time defending Madrid champion cruised past Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-4
“Overall I’m satisfied; I’m happy,” said Nadal after his 13th straight win at the tournament. “I have made it to the semi-finals, and I think that’s a great result for me, especially after losing in Barcelona the way I did.
“My goal is [to] …
Nadal v Dimitrov, Ferrer v Nishikori In Madrid QFs; Murray Stays Hot
Posted by Sean Randall on May 7th, 2015 @ 7:48 pm
Even though Roger Federer lost and Novak Djokovic didn’t show up, it’s still quite a line-up Friday in the Madrid quarterfinals.
After an incredible Wednesday of tennis, things calmed down decidedly today with “only” three of the eight third round men’s matches going the distance, and none of them beyond 5-all in a fairly form-fitting day.
If there was a surprise it was maybe was Grigor Dimitrov knocking out Stan Wawrinka in …
Former Madrid Champions Serena, Sharapova Close In On Final Meeting
Posted by Sean Randall on May 7th, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
Former champions and favorites Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are now just one match away from a meeting in the Madrid final.
After saving three matchpoints in a third round thriller over Victoria Azarenka, Serena upped her win streak to 27 after hammering Spain’s Carla Saurez Navarro 6-1, 6-3.
“I approach everything as I want to do the best that I can,” said Serena who has won her last 50 Premier Mandatory …
ATP CEO Kermode Admits Players Are At A Disadvantage If They Finish Late
Posted by Tom Gainey on May 7th, 2015 @ 11:47 am
After the second late finish by a Big Four player this season, ATP CEO Chris Kermode says the tour will look at making changes.
In February, Rafael Nadal didn’t finish his match until 3:18am in the Rio quarterfinals. A weary Rafa returned later that evening only to lose in the semifinals to Fabio Fognini in three sets.
Yesterday, Andy Murray didn’t finish his second round match against Philipp Kohlschreiber until 3:00am …