After missing Madrid, both Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are in the just-released draw for the Rome Masters. Federer, who has never won the title in three trips to the final, was absent from Madrid this week to be with his wife for the arrival a twin boys Lenny and Leo. Roger returned to practice but isn’t still 100% committed to the event.

Meanwhile, Djokovic has been battling a right wrist …

Rafael Nadal revved up his vaunted clay game Friday in Madrid by hammering Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals. Rafa has now beaten Berdych 17 straight times and after a disappointing April, this week in Madrid he hasn’t lost a set or faced a set point.

“It was a match with a lot of intensity, and perhaps it was my toughest match in the tournament,” said Nadal. “I …

Despite all the withdrawals and upsets, the home Spanish fans should be happy this week in Madrid. Last month Barcelona didn’t go their way but things in the Spanish capital appear to be more to their liking.

Defending champion Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Roberto Bautista Agut and Feliciano Lopez all reached the quarterfinals today, and it looks like all four Spaniards will march on to the weekend.

Nadal wasn’t at his lethal …

Andre Agassi has fanned the flames yet again in the never ending GOAT debate between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Last year Agassi ruffled many a feather stating Nadal, because he’s beaten Federer so many times, has a strong argument as the greatest of all time.

And now six months later or so, he’s sticking with Nadal as his man.

“I’d put Nadal No. 1, Federer No. 2,” Agassi told …

Rafael Nadal shook off any scuttle of struggle this clay season by pounding good friend Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-0 in the second round today at the Madrid Masters 1000. Nadal, the tournament defending champion, needed just 69 minutes to advances.

“I think I moved better and played well, better than I normally play on the clay,” said Nadal. “I was dominating over the points and playing very well. I think I’ve …

A house owned by James Blake caught fire Wednesday morning killing at least three in Tampa Bay, Florida. Blake, a former American No. 1, and his family were not in the house his management confirmed. Blake purchased the 5,856 square foot, $1,574,000 house in 2005 and had been renting it out in the upscale Avila community, according to the Tampa Tribune.

Authorities in Tampa still don’t know the cause of …

Take it for what it’s worth, but Novak Djokovic’s physio, Pavel Kolar, thinks the World No. 2 will be back on court next week at the Rome Masters.

Djokovic withdrew from Madrid this week after his right wrist he injured a month ago was not healthy. Speaking to AFP, Kolar admitted that trying to play Madrid was too early, but added he felt Novak’s “inflamed tendon” would be healthy for …

Dominic Thiem scored the biggest win of his career defeating Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the second round at the Madrid Masters on Tuesday. For the 20-year-old Thiem, who needed to qualify into the event, it marked his first career Top 10.

“I cannot really believe it,” Thiem said. “I was in this famous zone during the match. I was really unbelievably concentrated. I think that’s the …

Congratulations to Roger Federer and wife Mirka who successfully gave birth to a second set of twins earlier today. The boys, born in Zurich, are named Lenny and Leo.

Federer made the announcement via twitter.

Mirka and I are so incredibly happy to share that Leo and Lenny were born this evening! #TwinsAgain #Miracle

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) May 6, 2014

Lenny and Leo join 4-year-olds …

Fabio Fognini’s rise up the rankings has come with more exposure for the fashionable Italian star. And with that exposure the tennis world gets a better look at what Fognini really is or at times can be: a stark raving lunatic.

Today in a 3-set loss to Alexandr Dolgopolov, the 26-year-old Fognini went nutty again by taking exception to a line call mark made by chair umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, down 1-2, …

Roger Federer announced today on Facebook that he was withdrawn from the Madrid Masters 1000 to be with his family. Federer’s wife, Mirka, is in her eighth month of pregnancy and due to give birth to the couple’s third child any day now at a hospital in Zurich.

“I’ve decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family,” Federer posted …

Australian Open champions Stanislas Wawrinka and Li Na headline play at the Madrid Masters 1000 on Tuesday. Wawrinka, who just won the Monte Carlo Open, takes on rising star Dominic Thiem.

Spanish favorites David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco and Nicolas Almagro are also in action.

On day two earlier, Grigor Dimitrov knocked out fellow 22-year-old Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2, 6-4. Kei Nishikori stayed hot beating Ivan Dodig and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was 3-set winner …

Suarez Navarro Ends 0-5 Streak for 1st WTA Title in Portugal

Much like the Estoril Open which carried a claycourt cache among players before its calendar change and name change, Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro years back was a player to watch. Her sweet one-handed backhand and seeming ability to wear down opponents turned heads, but the championship mentality never materialized, with the Spaniard going 0-5 in her first five career WTA …

The WTA has announced that former British No. 1 Elena Baltacha passed away after a battle with liver cancer earlier on Sunday. She was just 30.

Baltacha was diagnosed with the disease in January, two months after she retired from the game. At age 19 she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronic liver condition which compromises the immune system.

She was survived by her husband Nino Severino.

“We are heartbroken …

The rumors from yesterday were confirmed this morning. Former champion Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the Madrid Masters, the ATP announced.

“I am very sorry for the Madrid tournament and all the Spanish fans to have to pull out of the Mutua Madrid Open,” said Djokovic on Sunday. “I did everything possible in order to play in Madrid, which is one of the biggest events of the year, …