Roger v Rafa Fandom: The Fedal Wars Rage On
Posted by Sean Randall on March 9th, 2014 @ 1:13 pm
The Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal “Fedal Wars” are heating up once again. The animosity these two fan bases share with each other is quite stark compared to the friendship their heroes actually have. The fans, though, aren’t looking to make friends with the other side in this rivalry. This one digs deep and in the end there can only be one GOAT.
Last year Nadal’s fans took over this site and countless …
Stanislas Wawrinka Doesn’t Care That He’s Ranked Ahead Of Federer
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 9th, 2014 @ 11:12 am
A “scared” Stanislas Wawrinka made his tournament debut yesterday as a Grand Slam champion, and he made it a successful one. The 28-year-old Swiss who stunned the tennis world by winning the Australian Open in January, edged the dangerous Ivo Karlovic 63, 75 to improve to 12-0 this year.
“I was a little bit scared the way I was going to come back, the way I was going to play, but …
Rafael Nadal Says His Serve Is Not 100% Because He’s Scared About His Back
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 9th, 2014 @ 10:52 am
Following his 3-set win last night over Radek Stepanek at Indian Wells, top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal admitted that he’s still scared of serving at 100% out of fear of re-injuring his back.
“A little bit scared for the back,” Nadal said. “I am not feeling yet 100% confident with my serve. Even if my back is better than Rio, in Rio I was feeling the back not very …
Rafael Nadal Wet Himself During His Win Last Night Over Stepanek At Indian Wells [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 9th, 2014 @ 10:38 am
In one of the lighter moments during second round play Saturday at Indian Wells, world No. 1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal had to leave the court during the second set of his 3-set win over Radek Stepanek because he spilled water on his shorts.
After the “accident”, Nadal, who’s had a history of bizarre injuries (burnt fingers, cramping at press conferences, cutting finger), had to leave the …
Nadal Tested; Djokovic, Isner on Sunday at Indian Wells
Posted by Staff on March 9th, 2014 @ 2:34 am
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal improved to 7-0 career against Czech Radek Stepanek on Saturday night in Indian Wells, but it was anything but easy.
After dropping the first set against the all-court Stepanek, Nadal came back to ground out a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 win.
“With my serve I was doing nothing,” Nadal said. “When that happens, the opponent is able to play more aggressive, play more confident and in the end, …
Azarenka Goes Down in Sobbing Mess at BNP Indian Wells; Federer, Nadal Open Play Saturday
Posted by Jeremy Davis on March 8th, 2014 @ 12:51 am
Former No. 1 and world No. 4 Victoria Azarenka gambled with a foot injury and lost on Friday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Against unseeded American Lauren Davis, Azarenka limped, grimaced, slumped, yelled, and cried through a 6-0, 7-6(2) loss.
“It didn’t phase me much because I was really trying to focus on myself,” Davis said of the Azarenka show. “I really put the emphasis on my fitness…I really …
Rafael Nadal: I’m A Great Loser, But I’m Still Disappointed About The Australian Open Final
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 7th, 2014 @ 11:48 am
Top ranked Rafael Nadal is back in the desert to defend his Masters 1000 Indian Wells title this weekend. Nadal, who is 16-1 on the year, is still feeling the sting from the loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final in January.
“I’m still very disappointed,” the 3-time champion Nadal told the press yesterday. “It’s part of tennis, but it was one of the toughest moments in my career. …
Andy Murray: My Back’s Been Very Good So I’m Close To Being Completely Match Fit
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 7th, 2014 @ 11:33 am
After undergoing back surgery last fall, Andy Murray says he’s now close to being match fit ahead of the Masters 1000 Indian Wells.
“Acapulco helped me a lot, I played a lot of long, tough matches, late finishes,” Murray said of his semifinal last week. “Then had to get up and do the same thing the next day. My body was recovering well from those matches which it hadn’t been at …
Roger Federer In High Spirits Heading Into Indian Wells: “The Hard Work Is Paying Off”
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 7th, 2014 @ 11:18 am
Roger Federer is understandably full of confidence heading into an important month of Masters 1000 events starting with Indian Wells this week.
“These two Masters 1000 are important to me,” Federer said yesterday. “I had amazing trips here, winning back-to-back. Those were really good times back then. I’m keeping up the hard work and we’ll see how things are going to go. The most important thing now is that I’m playing …
Poll: Who Will Win Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer?
Posted by Staff on March 6th, 2014 @ 12:13 am
The season’s first Masters 1000 event gets underway Thursday in the sparkling desert at Indian Wells, California, site of the BNP Paribas Open.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal, who beat Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 for the 2013 Indian Wells title, will attempt to join Roger Federer as a four-time titlist at the event. Nadal, the Australian Open fianlist, is 16-1 on the year and is a winner in the …
We Think This Is Rafael Nadal Scuba Diving [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 5th, 2014 @ 10:27 am
Rafael Nadal posted a new video on his youtube channel over the weekend. Nadal, who was in Cozumel, Mexico with girlfriend Francisca “Xisca” Perello last week, is one of the scuba divers in this video.
“I have completely disconnected from the world,” said Nadal who has a deal with a resort in the Mexican vacation spot.
The world No. 1 Nadal who just won Rio de Janeiro will open his Indian Wells …
Andre Agassi Doesn’t Know If He’ll Play In The IPTL; Won’t Say Never To Coaching [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 5th, 2014 @ 10:04 am
In an interview after his match against Pete Sampras for World Tennis Day Monday, tennis great Andre Agassi discussed the newly formed IPTL and also his coaching prospects.
Agassi was drafted to play on the team in Singapore, but the American says that based on different schedule dates to those he had agreed to, he’s no longer certain that he’ll play the fledgling league.
Agassi also says he loves the idea of …
New Grand Slam Champion Stanislas Wawrinka Goes To Hollywood [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 5th, 2014 @ 9:53 am
Ahead of Indian Wells, Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka spent a day visiting the attractions in Hollywood.
The world No. 3 got all wet at Universal Studios, went to ESPN to film a SportsCenter commercial, then CNN and finished with a trip the Staples Center where he met WTA superstar Genie Bouchard for some LA Kings hockey.
Throughout the day, did anyone actually recognize him?
After a month off of tournament action following …
Indian Wells Men’s Preview: Will Nadal Beat Murray, Federer And Djokovic To Defend Title?
Posted by Sean Randall on March 4th, 2014 @ 10:44 pm
Top ranked Rafael Nadal will have his work cut out for him if he is to defend his 2013 title at Indian Wells starting this weekend. The Spaniard who’s 16-1 on the year with just the one blemish to Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open final, could face three rivals in consecutive order to win a fourth title in the desert.
Getting right to the draw…
Nadal figures to open said …
World Tennis Day 2014 Highlights: Djokovic-Murray, Agassi-Sampras, More [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on March 4th, 2014 @ 10:57 am
The second World Tennis Day took place yesterday across the globe with over 50 countries participating in a day of tennis-filled activities.
The stars, however, were located in Hong Kong, London and in New York for marquee showdowns. In Hong Kong, Tomas Berdych played Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur faces Li Na.
In London, Pat Cash played Ivan Lendl and then Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras battled.
And the night concluded at Madison …