The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

Is Caroline Wozniacki Sending A Message With Her New Twitter Avatar?

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 30th, 2014 @ 12:21 pm

A week after getting dumped by Rory McIlroy, Caroline Wozniacki has changed her twitter avatar. Gone is a simple picture of her with a racquet. And it’s been replaced by this:

Wozniacki

Looks evil, doesn’t it? Good for her.

Wozniacki’s didn’t find much success on the tennis court either this week, losing in the first round at the French Open Tuesday to Yanina Wickmayer.

Radwanska Eliminated Leaving No Top 3 Women’s Seeds In A Slam 4th RD For First Time In Open Era

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 30th, 2014 @ 11:22 am

No. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska became the latest top player to fall at the French Open losing today in the third round to Croatian 21-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic 64, 64.

The loss is significant because following the upsets of Serena Williams and Li Na, it means no Top 3 seeds will have advanced to the fourth round at a Grand Slam women’s event for the first time in the Open Era.

“After seeing, …

Juan Martin Del Potro Is Practicing Again [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 30th, 2014 @ 11:05 am

Good news for Juan Martin del Potro fans, the 2009 US Open champion is back hitting tennis balls again. The Argentine underwent surgery on his left wrist in March, and after two months is now taking the next step in his recovery.

Wrote del Potro on Facebook, “Hey everybody! I’ve got good news to share: I’m back on a tennis court! It was a light hit, some forehands and volleys …

Nadal, Murray Roll At French Open, Federer Djokovic Return Friday In Third Round

Posted by Sean Randall on May 29th, 2014 @ 6:33 pm

It’s been quite an upsetting French Open thus far. Tournament favorites Stan Wawrinka, Serena Williams, Li Na, Grigor Dimitrov and even Venus Williams all bowed out before “their time”. But that’s been the theme for most of the season – surprises, surprises and more surprises.

Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon your allegiances, the stalwart Big Four march on. Today Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray broke barely a sweat taking down their …

Tennis-X Wrap: Williams Sister Double Shocker at French Open

Posted by Staff on May 28th, 2014 @ 8:51 pm

Serena Williams joined the early exit rush on Wednesday at the French Open, going out in a shocking 6-2, 6-2 loss to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza. The world No. 1 came out flat, and has now failed to advance past the fourth round at her first two Slams of the year.

“I have a couple of words to describe [the year], but I think that would be really appropriate, so I’m going …

Sad If True: Rory McIlroy Broke Up With Caroline Wozniacki During A 3-Minute Phone Call

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 28th, 2014 @ 5:58 pm

According media reports, Rory McIlroy broke up with fiancee Caroline Wozniacki over the phone during a 3-minute call last week.

The London Times had this two say about the star couple’s recent split just as they were send out wedding invitations.

Caroline Wozniacki played tennis in a lovely old arena at Roland Garros yesterday but would rather have been in Belfast, asking Rory McIlroy to his face why he left her …

Taylor Townsend Has A Fan In Andy Murray

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 28th, 2014 @ 5:47 pm

New American sensation Taylor Townsend is quickly drawing rave reviews from those in tennis. The 18-year-old American from Washington D.C. pulled the biggest win of her young career knocking out France’s best player Alize Cornet today in three sets 64, 46, 64.

During the match, Townsend led the No. 20 seed in both of the last two sets, by 4-1 in the second and 5-1 in the third and still managed …

Serena, Venus Slammed At The French Open On Same Day, All-Williams Third Rounder Foiled

Posted by Staff on May 28th, 2014 @ 1:26 pm

For the just fourth time in their Grand Slam history, both Serena and Venus Williams lost on the same day ending the hope of an all-sister third round match. Just as Serena took the court on Suzanne Lenglen, Venus fell to 19-year-old Anna Schmiedlova in three sets 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Serena would restore order, but the world No. 1 and defending champion was stunned in quick fashion 6-2, 6-2 by Garbine …

Tennis-X Wrap: Li, Dimitrov Crash Out of French Open on Day 3

Posted by Staff on May 27th, 2014 @ 10:43 pm

This year’s Australian Open champions on the men’s and women’s sides never made it out of the first round at Roland Garros.

Following Stan Wawrinka’s exit Monday, on Tuesday former French Open champ Li Na bailed out of Paris lost in a claycourt cloud of self-doubt, losing 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to No. 103-ranked Kristina Mladenovic of France.

“The problem is myself. I don’t think I’m doing well on the court,” the Chinese …

Marinko Matosevic Celebrated His First Career Grand Slam Win By Rolling In Clay [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 27th, 2014 @ 4:55 pm

It took Marinko Matosevic 13 Grand Slams but today he finally got that elusive victory after beating Dustin Brown 76, 64, 67, 75 in the first round of the French Open.

After waiting so long to win, here’s how the 28-year-old Australian celebrated:

“I thought about it, but I was pretty spontaneous, really,” he said of the celebration. “Maybe a little bit over the top, but just, …

Tennis-X Wrap: Wawrinka Struggles with Pressure at French Open

Posted by Staff on May 26th, 2014 @ 8:24 pm

Australian Open winner Stan Wawrinka led a handful of men’s seeds exiting in the first round on Day 2 of the French Open.

Entering Roland Garros after experiencing a back issue late in the claycourt season, Wawrinka was out-hit by Spaniard Guillermo “G-Lo” Garcia Lopez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0.

“I’ve had ups and downs,” Wawrinka said. “That’s why I’m saying I am not at the level of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, because they …

Rafael Nadal Said It Didn’t Matter That He Played On Suzanne Lenglen

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 26th, 2014 @ 5:28 pm

After a decisive win over Robby Ginepri, top seed Rafael Nadal addressed the issue on everyone’s mind, why was an 8-time champion sent to court Suzanne Lenglen instead of Philippe Chatrier?

“Doesn’t really matter a lot,” downplayed Nadal. “Always playing Roland Garros is a pleasure for me, is a really honor, and is a special feeling. So all the memories at this place give me are unforgettable. And doesn’t matter …

Novak Djokovic Sits With A Ballkid During French Open Rain Delay [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 26th, 2014 @ 5:16 pm

Despite the immense pressure on him this week, Novak Djokovic had such an easy day in his first round match win over Joao Sousa that during a brief rain delay in the first set he chatted with a ballkid while waiting out the shower.

“We had a nice chat,” Djokovic said. “He’s a tennis player, so I asked him how long he’s playing, and, you know, how he’s enjoying his time …

Stan Wawrinka After Loss: “I Need To Put The Puzzle Back Together” [Video]

Posted by Tom Gainey on May 26th, 2014 @ 5:10 pm

Stan Wawrinka’s honeymoon as a Grand Slam champion ended today when the Australian Open winner dropped in the first round of the French Open today. In first major upset of event, the third-seeded Wawrinka lost the last nine games of the match to Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 64, 57 62, 60 to become the first Australian Open champion to lose first round at the French since Petr Korda in 1998.

“The match …

Federer Rolls Day 1; Rafa, Sharapova Monday at French Open

Posted by Staff on May 25th, 2014 @ 11:44 pm

Roger Federer’s good draw at the 2014 French Open got off to a good start when he defeated Slovak Lukas Lacko 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to move into the second round at Roland Garros.

“I was happy seeing, getting early signs out of the match that I was actually playing well and I was going to get my chances I was looking for,” said Federer, watched from his box by his family. …