Rafael Nadal Visits Rio De Janeiro’s Christ The Redeemer Statue [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2014 @ 9:34 am
Rafael Nadal spent Saturday visiting some of the many sights in Rio de Janeiro, and among the attractions was the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that sits at the peak of the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen,” Nadal said. “It is very beautiful, the surrounding mountains, an amazing view. And the statue is fantastic. It is a great …
Rafael Nadal: I Hope My Back Injury Is No Longer A Problem
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 16th, 2014 @ 9:26 am
Rafael Nadal met the press in Rio on Friday and among the topics discussed was the back he first injured during a loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the Australian Open final last month.
“I spent some days resting at home and I hope my back injury is not going to be a problem to reach the final,” said Nadal who admitted before he left his back still was not at 100%. …
Defending Champion Del Potro, Kvitova Out; Cilic Authors Take Down Of Murray In Rotterdam
Posted by Staff on February 14th, 2014 @ 7:43 pm
In Rotterdam, 2013 winner and top seed Juan Martin del Potro was surprised by the hot-handed Ernests Gulbis 6-3, 6-4 on Friday in the quarterfinals.
Gulbis, who’s had a history of running either hot or cold, has again caught fire this week after wins over Grigor Dimitrov and now the former US Open champion.
“My ambition this year is to reach the Top 10,” said Gulbis. “It is a big goal. I …
Rafael Nadal Has Landed In Rio, And He’s Already Making The Local Girls Cry [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 14th, 2014 @ 9:49 am
Rafael Nadal’s back may still not be 100%, but the World No. 1 hasn’t lost his charm. Nadal arrived into Rio de Janeiro’s Galeao Airport last night where he was greeted by hordes of fans.
Among them was student named Barbara Brum who after a five hours of anxious waiting finally got up close and personal with her idol Nadal. And the experience left her shaking and in tears.
Here’s the …
Murray Masters Thiem, Faces Cilic Friday In Rotterdam QFs; Del Potro, Berdych Also In Hunt
Posted by Staff on February 14th, 2014 @ 1:02 am
Andy Murray resumed his comeback from surgery Thursday in Rotterdam with a tough 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over promising 20-year-old Dominic Thiem.
The Austrian Thiem went toe-to-toe with the reigning Wimbledon champ who finally seized control with a break during a lengthy second game of the final set.
“Obviously it was a tough match, it was a long match, a lot of long, close games,” said the wildcard Murray. “In the second …
Li Na’s Mother Isn’t Interested In Watching Her Daughter Play Tennis!
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 13th, 2014 @ 1:28 pm
We hear so often of parents becoming too much of a burden in pro tennis, both on the men’s and women’s tour. But that’s clearly not the case for Li Na. The two-time Grand Slam champion who won in three sets yesterday in Doha, revealed after the match that her mother takes no interest in her tennis, not even when she played the Beijing Olympics.
“Never,” Na said when asked if …
Stanislas Wawrinka Is Now A Subaru Ambassador [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 13th, 2014 @ 1:15 pm
One of the many benefits of becoming a Grand Slam champion is the increase in sponsorship opportunities, and that’s what’s happening to Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Australian Open champion has just been signed by Japanese car maker Subaru as one of their brand ambassadors.
“I am selective in choosing partners,” Wawrinka said via Google translation. “They need to go me. Just like Subaru. As the pioneer of AWD embodies many of the characteristics …
Murray, Del Potro Advance In Rotterdam, Tsonga Upset; Dimitrov v Gulbis Thursday
Posted by Staff on February 12th, 2014 @ 11:59 pm
The top two seeds in Rotterdam, Juan Martin del Potro and Andy Murray, both eased into the second round on Wednesday.
Playing with an injured left wrist, del Potro got past the red-hot Gael Monfils 7-6(6), 6-3.
“My left wrist is getting better,” del Potro said. “It’s improving day by day. I think I played 50 per cent slices. For the next match I will try to play more my regular backhand. …
Good News! After A Bad Back And A Stomach Virus, Rafael Nadal Is Training Again
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 12th, 2014 @ 9:41 am
Rafael Nadal is back on the tennis court training for Rio. After suffering a back injury at the Australian Open and then getting a stomach virus that kept him out of Buenos Aires, the World No. 1 Nadal hitting tennis balls again at the Manacor Tennis Club with an eye on playing the new ATP event in Rio de Janeiro next week.
“Practicing to the Rio tournament in my …
Li Na: We Are Not Old, We Are Just More Experienced
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 12th, 2014 @ 9:27 am
Li Na arrived in the Middle East this past weekend as the No. 1 seed at the Qatar Total Open in Doha. She also enters as the Australian Open champion and with Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova absent, she’s now the star of the tournament.
And at 31, Na continues the trend of older women women Grand Slams.
The last four Slams have been won by the 28+ crowd. A 31-year-old …
Watch Dmitry Tursunov Complain About Rafael Nadal’s Butt-Picking And Time Wasting [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 12th, 2014 @ 9:08 am
Never one to shy away from his opinions, a frustrated Dmitry Tursunov unloaded on umpire Cedric Maurier about the time policy during a changeover yesterday in Rotterdam
Tursunov lost the match in three sets to Grigor Dimitrov, but he still managed to get some shots in, specifically at Rafael Nadal.
Turusnov was warned by Maurier to speed up play to which the Russian responded by asking the umpire if the same …
Murray, Del Potro v Monfils On Tap Wednesday In Rotterdam
Posted by Staff on February 11th, 2014 @ 11:03 pm
Nursing an ailing left wrist, defending champion Juan Martin del Potro returns to action Wednesday in Rotterdam. The Argentine who revealed last month that his left wrist led to a quick exit at the Australian Open, meets the hot-handed Gael Monfils.
“I had played well in Sydney, but when I got to Melbourne the surface was faster and the balls were different,” said del Potro. “I started to feel something …
ATP Releases 2015 Schedule, Finally There Are THREE Weeks Between French And Wimbledon
Posted by Staff on February 10th, 2014 @ 11:33 pm
The ATP released its 2015 schedule and the big reveal was an extra week of grass court tennis was added between the French Open and Wimbledon.
The third week which was first announced in July of 2012 is a much-welcomed change to the calendar.
“The extended grass-court season, with additional Emirates ATP Rankings points at stake, is a positive step forward,” said new ATP CEO Chris Kermode who use to …
Weekend Wrap: ATP, Fed Cup Winners and Losers
Posted by Staff on February 9th, 2014 @ 11:37 pm
The Fed Cup losers over the weekend were — everyone?
The top Russian, Italian and U.S. players bowed out, leaving numerous “B” squads competing at what is supposed to be the premier women’s international tennis event.
The Italian “B” squad routed the favored U.S. “B” squad, and advanced to the semifinals to face the winner of the unfinished Spain vs. Czech Republic meeting. Spain leads 1-0 as rain held up weekend play.
The …
No. 1s Nadal, Serena Williams Pull; ATP/WTA Previews This Week
Posted by Staff on February 8th, 2014 @ 2:59 pm
QATAR TOTAL OPEN 2014
Doha, Qatar
Surface: hard
Seeds: Li Na, Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani, Jelena Jankovic, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Dominika Cibulkova, Roberta Vinci, Samantha Stosur, Carla Suarez Navarro, Sloane Stephens, Eugenie Bouchard, Kirsten Flipkens
Floaters: Francesca Schiavone, Daniela Hantuchova, Venus Williams, Lucie Safarova, (WC) Alisa Kleybanova, Kaia Kanepi, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Flavia Pennetta, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Sorana Cirstea
Notes: Sixteen of the Top 20 post for Qatar, missing among …