Madrid Men’s Draw: Top Seeded Federer Could Face Nadal In SFs; Can Rafa Get Back On Track?
Posted by Sean Randall on May 1st, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
Spain’s biggest tennis event kicks off this weekend in Madrid with loaded men’s and women’s tournaments. Novak Djokovic opted out of the extravaganza to rest – smart move, I think – leaving Rafael Nadal with the perfect opportunity to get his game and confidence back. And I think he should like the draw.
First Quarter
From the top, Roger Federer returns as a top seed at a big time tourney (sorry …
Murray Wins In Munich Clay Debut, Thiem Crushes Fognini; Federer Friday In Istanbul
Posted by Staff on April 30th, 2015 @ 7:27 pm
Andy Murray is undefeated as a married man! Playing his first match since tying the knot with Kim Sears almost two weeks ago, Murray cruised past German qualifier Mischa Zverev 6-2, 6-2 in the second round at the Munich Open.
“I thought I started off the match well today and played pretty well,” said Murray who has never won a clay title in his career.
Murray will meet Lukas Rosol Friday in …
Novak Djokovic Officially Withdraws From Madrid
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 30th, 2015 @ 9:05 am
For the second straight year Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Spain’s biggest tennis event, the Madrid Masters. The World No. 1, who missed the 2014 event due to a right wrist injury, will return for Rome in about two weeks.
No one has been better than the Serb this season. Djokovic has won all three Masters events and took home the Australian Open.
With Djokovic out, Roger Federer will be the top …
Federer Wins 200th Clay Match; Married Murray Returns Thursday In Munich
Posted by Staff on April 29th, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Roger Federer cruised to his 200th career match win on clay Wednesday dusting veteran Finn Jarrko Nieminen 6-2, 7-5 in the opening round at the inaugural Istanbul Open.
“I’m happy that I won my first match ever in Turkey,” said Federer who becomes one of seven active players to reach 200 on clay. “In the second set Jarkko started playing better and I’m happy that I managed to close the match.”
Federer …
Andy Murray Puts Floyd Mayweather As The Favorite Over Manny Pacquiao [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 28th, 2015 @ 11:04 am
Boxing fan Andy Murray says he’s leaning toward Floyd Mayweather beating Manny Pacquiao in this weekend’s mega-fight in Las Vegas.
Murray says the fight will go the distance and with the fight in Mayweather’s town, it would be tough for Pacquiao to win a decision.
“I think It will go the distance,” Murray said. “I would say Mayweather would be favorite. I don’t know who’s going to win, but I think it …
Andy Murray Talks About Being A Married Man, “Not Much Will Change” He Says
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 28th, 2015 @ 10:52 am
Andy Murray met the media in Munich yesterday for the first time since getting married to Kim Sears 10 days ago in Scotland.
Murray, though, said being married won’t change him much.
“I don’t imagine much will change,” Murray said. However there is an issue with the wedding right, he told the Guardian. “I might wear it on a necklace, but the necklace I got broke the first day I got …
Who’s The French Open Favorite? Roger Federer Says It’s Still Rafael Nadal
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 28th, 2015 @ 10:39 am
Despite his 2015 slump and what the betting sites say, Roger Federer still thinks Rafael Nadal is the man to beat at the French Open next month. The Swiss, talking at an Istanbul presser on Monday, added that Novak Djokovic is right up there as well.
“At the French Open, Rafa for me is still the favourite alongside Djokovic who has been playing so well,” Federer told AFP. “Even though …
Roger Federer Can’t Believe How Popular He Is In Turkey
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 27th, 2015 @ 9:53 am
Tennis legend Roger Federer is making his first appearance in Turkey this week at the inaugural Istanbul Open. And the tournament rolled out the red carpet for the star.
The Swiss has won 84 titles in 18 different countries. Will it be 85 and 19 after this week?
Federer opens play on Wednesday against the winner of Turkey’s Marcel Ilhan and Jarkko Nieminen. Federer and Ilhan will also play an exo match …
Novak Djokovic Might Not Play The Madrid Masters
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 27th, 2015 @ 9:38 am
According to Spanish sports outlet Marca, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will skip the upcoming Madrid Masters.
Djokovic, who won the Madrid title in 2011 beating rival Rafael Nadal, missed the event last year due to a right wrist injury.
Djokovic has won the first three Masters events of the season and has built a massive lead in the rankings. After his second Monte Carlo title, Djokovic has won …
French Open Won’t Seed Rafael Nadal Higher
Posted by Tom Gainey on April 27th, 2015 @ 9:25 am
Ending the debate, French Open tournament director Gilbert Ysern confirmed that the tournament would not seed 9-time champion Rafael Nadal higher than his ranking.
“We thought about it,” Ysern said to French sports paper L’Equipe. “We could not not ask the question for a champion like him, who has embodied the tournament for 10 years and only once not won a match. But the circumstances are different.
“In 2013, he came …
Garcia-Lopez, Kerber, Nishikori, Win ATP/WTA Titles
Posted by Staff on April 26th, 2015 @ 6:23 pm
Nishikori Successfully Defends ATP Barcelona Title
Kei Nishikori showed his claycourt chops on Sunday by successfully defending his title at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell, defeating Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-4, 6-4.
“I’m really happy I’m able to defend the title,” Nishikori said. “I think the second set was extremely tough and I don’t really know how I won it to be honest. Pablo was very aggressive, he kept moving the ball and …
Pliskova Tops in Singles and Doubles at Prague; Marrakech; WTA Previews
Posted by Staff on April 26th, 2015 @ 11:28 am
GP SAR LA PRINCESSE LALLA MERYEM
Marrakech, Morocoo; Surface: clay
Seeds: Garbine Muguruza, Timea Bacsinszky, Flavia Pennetta, Elina Svitolina, Mona Barthel, Roberta Vinci, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Monica Puig
Floaters: Donna Vekic
Notes: Tough start for (4) Svitolina vs. the Croat riser Vekic…Wildcards went to the top-seeded Muguruza, Morocco’s Rita Atik and Russia’s Darya Kasatkina (who starts against Muguruza)…Seven players including former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone pulled from the event…In last year’s final Spaniard …
Wozniacki Outlasts Halep, Will Face Kerber In Stuttgart Final; Andujar Stuns Ferrer In Barcelona
Posted by Staff on April 25th, 2015 @ 4:24 pm
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki continued her climb back up the rankings earning one of her best wins of the season beating No. 3 ranked Simona Halep 7-5, 5-7, 6-2 in the Stuttgart semifinals.
“I had my chances to close it out in the second set but I didn’t, but then you just have to suck it up and play a third set – there’s nothing else you can do about …
ATP Previews: Federer in Turkey?; Munich, Estoril
Posted by Staff on April 25th, 2015 @ 4:15 pm
Roger Federer goes to Turkey to collect a check, Andy Murray makes a Munich debut, and Estoril loads up on claycourt talent this week on tour:
BMW OPEN BY FWU AG
Munich, Germany; Surface: clay
Seeds: Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, Roberto Bautista Agut, David Goffin, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Bernard Tomic, Martin Klizan, Fabio Fognini
Floaters: (WC) Janko Tipsarevic
Notes: The Top 4 seeds receive opening-round byes…The No. 2-seeded Monfils could have plenty of chances to implode …
It’s Already Over For the Agnieszka Radwanska-Martina Navratilova Coaching Relationship
Posted by Staff on April 24th, 2015 @ 3:41 pm
Former Wimbledon finalist Agnieszka Radwanska announced today via twitter that she and coach Martina Navratilova have parted ways.
pic.twitter.com/5Gqxv6INav
— Aga Radwanska (@ARadwanska) April 24, 2015
Radwanska said in statement, “I just wanted to thank Martina for her time and efforts over these last few months. It was a great experience to work with one of the all-time greats. However we both agreed that as Martina …