Is Novak Djokovic Already Practicing On Red Clay With An Eye On Winning The French?
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 7th, 2014 @ 10:21 am
Novak Djokovic posted on social media yesterday that even though it’s still over 3 months out, he’s already started his red clay training in search of that elusive French Open title.
As part of the sponsor promotion, Djokovic wrote on Facebook, “It’s no secret that I have my eyes set on ROLAND-GARROS, but how about my new sponsor Peugeot !! They made me start clay court preparations a bit sooner than …
Roger Federer Stars In New Credit Suisse Campaign [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 7th, 2014 @ 10:05 am
Roger Federer and long-time sponsor Credit Suisse are working on a new campaign starring the Swiss tennis superstar.
The description reads:
Who would not like more of such things as variety, excitement, fun, friends or time? “More is More” is the tagline of the new Credit Suisse advertising campaign for the Bonviva Banking Package. In the TV ad, this is visually depicted in a number of scenes with the Swiss tennis …
Maria Sharapova Is Working At The Sochi Olympics For NBC Sports [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 7th, 2014 @ 9:34 am
Maria Sharapova has returned home to Sochi, Russia this month as an Olympic correspondent for NBC Sports. The 26-year-old who spent 5-6 years of her childhood in Sochi learning the sport of tennis, says her fellow athletes are in good hands in the city.
“Once I arrived here, I knew that all the athletes will feel extremely safe,” Sharapova told CNN. “I certainly had my doubts before, because I’ve been …
With The Back Improving, Andy Murray Will Play Rotterdam Next Week
Posted by Staff on February 7th, 2014 @ 9:03 am
In a move signalling the continued improvement in his surgically repaired back, Andy Murray has accepted a wildcard into the Rotterdam tournament next week.
“Last week I contacted Andy Murray and his management,” said tournament head Richard Krajicek. “Because he didn’t have a tournament planned between Australian Open and Acapulco and came back from Australia free from physical issues, it seemed like a good idea to both of us if he …
Victoria Azarenka Has Withdrawn From Doha
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 6th, 2014 @ 2:57 pm
Two of the top tournaments in the Middle East could be without Victoria Azarenka. The oft-injured Belarussian announced that due to a foot injury she will be unable to play in Doha next week, and possibly miss Dubai later.
“I am sorry I can’t make it to Doha for the Qatar Total Open, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to recover on time from my ongoing foot injury,” Azarenka said. “I …
Rafael Nadal Will Not Play Buenos Aires, He Has A Bad Stomach [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 6th, 2014 @ 2:38 pm
Rafael Nadal will not play in Buenos Aires next week. Nadal, who injured his back during the Australian Open final, also now suffering from a stomach issue.
“Sorry announcing my withdraw from B Aires. Fans & Tournament can’t be better but stomach virus didn’t allow practice today & tomorrow. I’m not ready.”
A stomach illness also kept Nadal out of the Australian Open last year.
Nadal is still hopeful of returning for …
Novak Djokovic Nearly Quit Tennis In 2010? [Video]
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 6th, 2014 @ 2:30 pm
During a recent interview with Serbian TV PRVA, Novak Djokovic admitted that he nearly quit tennis in 2010.
“At the beginning of 2010. Wanted to quit tennis!”, Djokovic reportedly said via google translation. “The ability to get hold of the first places in the world. Knew I had to beat Rafa and Roger that come in the first place, I won Wimbledon, that was my goal.”
Up until the start …
Novak Djokovic And Girlfriend Jelena Ristic Might Be Married Sooner Than Later
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 6th, 2014 @ 2:09 pm
According to the ATP, Novak Djokovic and girlfriend Jelena Ristic might be getting married in the next few months.
“Jelena, enjoy it while you can. In a couple of months you will be changing your last name to Djokovic,” Djokovic said during a recent interview.
A “couple of months” puts the wedding just after Miami and before Monte Carlo. Interestingly Andy Roddick and Roger Federer both had their weddings …
Most Aces Hit In A Tennis Match – Karlovic Fires 3-Set Record 44 In Zagreb [Chart]
Posted by Staff on February 5th, 2014 @ 1:01 am
Tennis’s serving sensation Ivo Karlovic matched a record yesterday firing 44 aces in a 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 win over Daniel Brands in the first round of Zagreb.
The 6-foot-11 Karlovic’s 44 ace count matches Mark Philippoussis’s long-standing 3-set mark set back in 1995 at Kuala Lumpur.
Here are the most aces hit in a 3-set match on the ATP Tour since 1991 when aces first began being tracked (via ATP):…
Rafael Nadal: The Australian Final Was The Worst 90 Minutes I’ve Spent On A Tennis Court!
Posted by Tom Gainey on February 4th, 2014 @ 9:34 am
In a new interview, Rafael Nadal admits that playing Stanislas Wawrinka with an injured back during the Australian Open final was the worst hour and a half he’s ever spent on a tennis court.
Via google translation, Nadal said, “I knew I had no chance of winning, but I had no intention of retiring. It was the worst hour and a half I’ve spent in a tennis court,” Nadal told …
Fed Cup Previews: U.S., Italian, Russian Teams Say ‘No Thanks’
Posted by Jeremy Davis on February 3rd, 2014 @ 7:14 pm
The Fed Cup quarterfinals are this weekend, and consider the following preview a debate as to whether the international women’s competition should be further embraced, or just dumped entirely since the players themselves don’t seem to give a shit.
Here are the teams competing this weekend:
RUSSIA AT AUSTRALIA
Russian tennis was crumbling even before legendary captain Shamil Tarpischev bailed out last year in favor of new Russian captain Anastasia Myskina. The iron-handed …
Poll: Roger Federer Will Play v KazakhSTAN; Are The Swiss Now The Davis Cup Favs?
Posted by Staff on February 3rd, 2014 @ 5:15 pm
Roger Federer announced on twitter today that he will be part of the Swiss Davis Cup team that hosts Kazakhstan for quarterfinal play in April.
Joining my friends, captain Seve and STAN against KazakhSTAN in April! #atmosphere #loud #fans #cowbells #switzerland #loveit
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) February 3, 2014
With Australian Open champ Stanislas Wawrinka also available giving the team a …
Federer and Swiss Strong, U.S. Stunned in Davis Cup
Posted by Staff on February 3rd, 2014 @ 12:49 am
Czech Republic d. Netherlands 3-2
Tomas Berdych powers the Czechs to two singles wins, and teams with compatriot Radek “The Worm” Stepanek to close out the Dutch 3-1. Dutchman Robin Haase forced a 1-1 split after day one with a five-set win over Stepanek.
Japan d. Canada 4-1
The Canucks suffer without the injured Milos Raonic as Kei Nishikori steps up with two singles wins. Unheralded Yasutaka Uchiyama teamed with Nishikori to stun …
Pavlyuchenkova, Makarova Capture WTA Titles
Posted by Staff on February 3rd, 2014 @ 12:12 am
Russians Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Ekaterina Makarova captured WTA titles over the weekend in Paris and Pattaya City respectfully.
The unseeded Pavlyuchenkova won the Open GDF Suez in Paris, in the final upsetting No. 3 seed Sara Errani 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. En route to the final the Russian also ousted Top 10 players Angie Kerber and Maria Sharapova.
Down 3-1 in the third set, Pavlyuchenkova won five straight games to run out the …
Haas Leads Zagreb; ATP Previews This Week
Posted by Staff on February 2nd, 2014 @ 5:01 pm
OPEN SUD DE FRANCE
Montpellier, France
Surface: indoor hard
Seeds: Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon, Jerzy Janowicz, Dmitry Tursunov, Gael Monfils, Jarkko Nieminen, Edouard Roger-Vasselin, Julien Benneteau
Floaters: Paul-Henri Mathieu, Nicolas Mahut, Nikolay Davydenko, Michael Llodra
Notes: Five of eight seeds French…Tough starts for (1) Gasquet after a bye against either countryman Mathieu or Mahut, (8) Benneteau vs. Davydenko, and (2) Simon vs. his net-crushing countryman Llodra…Wildcards went to Frenchmen Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Mathieu and …