Grigor Dimitrov celebrated his 23rd birthday today by reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 semifinal in Rome. The Bulgarian famous for being the girlfriend of Maria Sharapova, advanced after his quarterfinal opponent Tommy Haas retired down 6-2 with a right shoulder injury.

After the match, the fun really began as the tournament and his coach, Roger Rasheed, serenaded Dimitrov by singing the Happy Birthday song. Then…

Dimitrov …

The top three remaining seeds at the Rome Masters had a tough day Thursday. Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both lost their opening sets before rallying while Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka suffered his second straight early exit this month in Masters play.

Wawrinka, who added an impressive Monte Carlo title to his resume last month, fell this afternoon to 36-year-old Tommy Haas 5-7, 6-2, 6-3. The third round loss for …

We are a little less than a month away from the crowning the 2014 French Open champion, and for the first time in what seems like a lifetime the case can be made it’s a wide open field in Paris. That’s because the “King of Clay” himself, Rafael Nadal, continues to languish on his favorite surface.

Today, after getting gifted a Madrid title by the improving Kei Nishiori, Nadal was pushed …

Jeremy Chardy scored the first big upset at the Rome Masters 1000 today, but it was anything but easy. Playing 2013 runner-up Roger Federer in very windy conditions, Chardy dropped the opening set 61, then took the second and held a break advantage in the third before Federer evened to eventually force a final set breaker.

And in the breaker after an ill-timed double fault to hand Federer a matchpoint on …

Credit Suisse has a new video out featuring their lead spokesman Roger Federer talking about the sport of Football. Federer says he can’t wait for the World Cup to begin and is looking forward to supporting his Swiss team while at Wimbledon.

Just a week after the birth of his second set of twins, boys Lenny and Leo, Roger Federer was all smiles at the Rome Masters 1000 on Tuesday. The 2013 finalist fielded questions from the interested press and Federer obliged.

“To be honest being back on the tour is the least important thing,” said Federer who arrived in Rome on Monday. “I couldn’t be happier – for those who …

A pair of unseeded veteran Slam winners orchestrated upsets on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome when Samantha Stosur defeated No. 15 seed Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-3, and Francesca Schiavone put on a claycourt clinic in ousting No. 17 seed Genie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2.

Seeded players into the second round were No. 11 Ana Ivanovic, No. 12 Flavia Pennetta, and No. 16 Sloane Stephens coming from a set down …

Uncle Toni agreed with the sentiment that Rafael Nadal didn’t deserve to beat Kei Nishikori and win the Madrid Masters 1000 title. Nadal had lost the first set and was a break down in the second at 43 when Nishikori’s back flared up.

Nadal didn’t lose another game thereafter and took the match when Nishikori retired at 30 in the third.

“We did not deserve to win. The other (Nishikori) yes, …

ATP stars Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov had some fun this weekend in preparation for the Rome Masters. During some downtime Murray, a known prankster, took over the important duty of styling Grigor Dimitrov’s hair in the salon.

Dimitrov, who was all smiles no doubt after girlfriend Maria Sharapova won Madrid, called Murray’s effort “beautiful”.

With his hair sharp, Dimitrov went on to win a three setter today in his first match …

Following his fourth Madrid Masters title yesterday, Rafael Nadal returned to the top spot in the 2014 ATP points race, moving ahead of Stanislas Wawrinka who has held No. 1 for much of the season.

Nadal also guaranteed himself that he will hold the 52-week No. 1 ranking entering the French Open (he will be the top seed), though No. 2 Novak Djokovic could overtake him in Paris.

Rafa is tied with …

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was let off the hook in the Mutua Madrid Open final on Sunday when Kei Nishikori retired at 2-6, 6-4, 3-0. It was the fourth career Madrid title for Nadal, who it remains to be seen if the Madrid gift will be enough to restore the Spaniard’s confidence.

“He played very aggressively and he went for his shots,” Nadal said. “He came on court with the …

Novak Djokovic says his ailing right wrist is ready to go this week at the Rome Masters. Djokovic, who injured his wrist after winning Miami, had to withdraw from Madrid due to continued issues. But on the eve of the final big event before the French, the Serb is confident he can play up to his best again.

“I did not feel any pain four days before I was supposed to …

According to his agent, Kei Nishikori has withdrawn from the upcoming Rome Masters where he was to play Ernests Gulbis in the first round. The 24-year-old had to retire today in Madrid final to Rafael Nadal.

From Nishikori's agent Olivier van Lindonk: Kei is pulling out of Rome,will fly back home to Bradenton, Fla to get ready for the French Open

— Randy Walker (@TennisPublisher) May 11, 2014…

The wounded are piling up.

Victoria Azarenka is out of Rome with a foot injury. Caroline Wozniacki withdrew citing a knee injury, allowing Canadian comer Genie Bouchard to sneak into the seedings.

World No. 1 Serena Williams is the top seed this week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, otherwise known as the Italian Open, but she may not even set foot on the clay after withdrawing from Madrid last week with a …

Four months in it’s really been quite an unpredictable season. With Stan Wawrinka taking the Australian, then Novak Djokovic rising up and sweeping the U.S. Masters events followed by Rafael Nadal’s stunning tumble in April. Will May follow suit? The potential is there.

Tomorrow in the Madrid Masters final it’s Nadal against the surprising Kei Nishikori in what would figure to be a no-brainer outcome. But those are often the ones …