Rafael Nadal: I Played Well From Everywhere Tonight, This Was One Very Good Day!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2014 @ 7:48 am
Rafael Nadal dominated Gael Monfils tonight 61, 62, 63 in the third round at the Australian Open. Monfils, who played Nadal to close earlier this month, was no match for the World No. 1 Spaniard on this day.
The only moment of concern for Rafa came early in the second set when he tweaked his ankle, but otherwise it was a picture perfect match against the dangerous Frenchman.
Nadal, the 2009 Australian …
Andy Murray And Grigor Dimitrov Shared An Ice Bath After Their Wins Today
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2014 @ 7:40 am
With so many players in the locker room, sharing is often a requisite. And after their wins today, Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov did just that sharing a nice cool down in the ice bath per a picture the Bulgarian tweeted out.
@andy_murray! You think he is smiling from joy in the ice bath? pic.twitter.com/Nsn80i86E2
— Grigor Dimitrov (@GrigorDimitrov) January 18, 2014
“I don’t know …
Grigor Dimitrov: I Practiced A Lot, Did My Homework, I Expected To Make The Second Week Of A Slam
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2014 @ 7:02 am
Promising talent Grigor Dimitrov earned one his best career wins on Saturday upending rival Milos Raonic in four sets to make his first career Grand Slam fourth round at the Australian Open.
The 22-year-old Dimitrov, who also dates Maria Sharapova on the side, has been talked about for a while as one of the next new stars and now finally the Bulgarian is fulfilling the promise. And with lightly-regarded Spaniard Roberto …
Roger Federer Isn’t Going To Go Crazy Looking At His Australian Open Draw
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2014 @ 6:47 am
Roger Federer roared into his 13th straight Australian Open fourth round on Saturday after a comprehensive 62, 62, 63 victory over Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili. The Swiss wrapped up a good first week with new coahc Stefan Edberg without losing a set but was fortunate to not have faced any real competition.
However moving forward Federer could be on a treacherous path that might take him through Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray, Rafael …
Sloane Stephens Says She Has A “Nonexistent” Relationship With Victoria Azarenka
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 18th, 2014 @ 6:39 am
Already in her young career, American star Sloane Stephens has ruffled the feathers of the top two players in the world, which could be perceived as an acknowledgement of her future potential.
Last year Stephens got into a war of words in the press with Serena Williams. And before then, there was that controversial loss to her next opponent, Victoria Azarenka, who got treatment for choking during the …
Djokovic, Serena Beat the Heat Friday; Saturday Aussie Preview
Posted by Staff on January 17th, 2014 @ 8:43 am
It was breezy-easy for the Top 10 men on Friday at the Australian Open, where temperatures remained high, but the on-court time for the top contenders remained low after straight-set wins.
Moving into the fourth round in straights were No. 2 Novak Djokovic, No. 3 David Ferrer, No. 7 Tomas Berdych, and No. 8 Stan Wawrinka.
“It was a miracle when I won the second set,” said the grinding Ferrer, who got …
Andy Roddick: It’s Funny The Most Prepared Players Don’t Keel Over In the Heat!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 16th, 2014 @ 5:16 pm
Speaking during a PowerShare Series conference call yesterday, former No. 1 Andy Roddick offered his thoughts on the hot topic of the week: the Australian Open heat. The outspoken Roddick who has had his share of battles under the hot Melbourne, says the heat is just part of the tournament, let’s not get too caught up in it.
“Part of me finds it entertaining that every time we go down to …
Juan Martin Del Potro: “Sometimes Favorites Lose Early”
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 16th, 2014 @ 4:59 pm
In the biggest upset thus far the Australian Open, Juan Martin del Potro was stunned last night in five sets by Roberto Bautista Agut 46, 63, 57, 64, 75. At No. 5 the recent Sydney winner was the highest men’s seed to lose through the first four days of the tournament.
“I like the tournament,” del Potro said. “I think this year the courts are faster than years ago. For …
Andy Murray Won The Last 23 Point Of His Match – “It’s Not Easy To Do” He Says!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 16th, 2014 @ 4:50 pm
Struggling to close out qualifier Vincent Millot, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray had one of the most remarkable finishes to a match not just in his history but also in recent memory.
Murray, who dominated the Frenchman early, led by two sets but found himself down 51 and having to fight off set points in the third. That’s when the Scot turned on his game remarkably winning 23 straight points to close …
Federer, Nadal Ease Into Australian Open Third Round; Sharapova Survives Heat Test
Posted by Staff on January 16th, 2014 @ 9:39 am
Friends and rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both won concurrent straight-set matches Thursday to advance to the third round at the Australian Open.
With heat forcing the closure of both the Laver and Hisense roofs and luck playing a role, Federer and Nadal began their match at roughly the same time, a rare treat for tennis fans.
Playing his first contest on Hisense in 10 years, Federer won his 70th career …
Serena, Djokovic Take the Heat, Dodig Doesn’t at Aussie Open; X-Notes
Posted by Staff on January 15th, 2014 @ 8:59 am
Another day, another dollar (or actually $75,000 third-round prize money) for world No. 1 Serena Williams, who punched Serbian Vesna Dolonc’s clock 6-1, 6-2 on Wednesday to move into the third round at the 2014 Australian Oven…err, we mean Open.
“I was happy just to get that win under my belt and have a chance to go at the next round,” Serena said regarding the heat and a relatively quick match …
Roger Federer: The Heat Is A Mental Thing, If You Can’t Deal With It, You Throw In The Towel
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2014 @ 4:29 pm
Following a straight set win yesterday under a scorching hot sun, Roger Federer explained how he handles the heat at the Australian Open.
“It depends on who you play, if you’re playing a big server, clearly faster conditions,” Federer said after beating James Duckworth. “If you’re getting into rallies, I guess you’ll feel the heat a bit more.
“Depending on where you come from it has a bigger effect on you, this …
Rafael Nadal Jokes He’ll Hire John McEnroe As His Next Coach!
Posted by Tom Gainey on January 14th, 2014 @ 4:18 pm
Taking a cue from fellow rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray who have all added tennis legends to their coaching circles, Rafael Nadal joked last night that he’ll continue the trend by maybe hiring John McEnroe.
“Well, I am thinking with McEnroe for me now,” he said with a smile yesterday. “No, seriously for me, I believe in the continuation of the things, something long time work. So my …
Isner Limps Out, Off Federer Upbeat at Hot Australian Open
Posted by Staff on January 14th, 2014 @ 8:46 am
For the second consecutive day at the Australian Open, 15 of the 16 seeded men in action advanced into the second round, with the lone loser attributed to injury. On Monday it was Tommy Haas. On Tuesday it was John Isner.
The big-serving American, who entered Auckland with a hot hand and the Auckland title under his belt, retired with a foot injury after two sets trailing Slovak Martin Klizan 6-2, …
Kvitova Toppled, Djokovic Lauds Becker at Australian Open Day 1
Posted by Staff on January 13th, 2014 @ 8:59 am
Two women’s Top 10 seeds and four overall exited the park on Day 1 at the Australian Open, compared to a quiet opening day on the men’s side.
Thailand’s unheralded Luksika Kumkhum claimed the highest-ranked scalp of the day, downing No. 6 seed and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
“Really happy today that I doing good today, yeah,” said the Thai with the two-handed forehand in her halting English. …