The X Blog - Dysfunctional Tennis Blogging at its Finest

March 6th, 2011

Real Grass Calling for U.S. Hosting Spain in Davis Cup Quarterfinals

This match will be right after Wimbledon, so hopefully Courier and the USTA don’t screw up and choose a fast hard court or indoor surface. Wherever this match is held, if the U.S. can dial back the clock to 1980 and hire someone who did groundskeeping work at Wimbledon 30 years ago, a slick old-school grasscourt will see the U.S. beating Spain.

Posted by Jeremy Davis @ 12:38 pm in Davis Cup, Tennis | 30 Comments »

July 5th, 2010

Querrey Back to Grass at Newport: ATP/WTA Previews

(1) Querrey starts against Levine in an all-American encounter, (3) Falla faces (WC) Mahut in a tough one, and (5) Fish renews his in-country rivalry with Russell; Ram (2009) and Dent (2002) are former champs in the field.

Posted by Staff @ 12:44 pm in Tennis | 17 Comments »

June 7th, 2010

Federer, Nadal Take to Grass Immediately; Queen’s, Halle, Birmingham Previews

Notes: (Q) Dancevic could make a run at (1) Nadal in third round; Dent could go deep if he gets by Kevin Anderson first round; Fish could also easily go deep to meet (5) Cilic in quarters; (11) Gasquet vs. Nishikori interesting first-rounder; Since its inception in 1979, 25 of the past 27 Wimbledon champions have played at the Queen’s Club; three of the Top 4 seeds have won the Queen’s Club title; Roddick is 29-4 at Queen’s; past champions in the field are Murray (2009), Nadal (2008), Roddick (2007, ’05-03), and Hewitt (2006, ’02-00).

Posted by Staff @ 12:20 am in Grass season, Tennis | 92 Comments »

July 14th, 2008

ATP Newport Blog Wrap

I’ve attended all of the summer ATP events in the U.S. and several of the European ones. I have to say that The Campbell’s Hall of Fame ranks up there as one of my favorites. Due to its surface, location and timing, this tournament will never attract the top players that you see at the other International Series events. What it lacks in star power is more than made up for in ambiance, accessibility and charm. This is the only grass court tournament left in the United States.

Posted by Staff @ 1:54 pm in Newport, Tennis | 3 Comments »

July 14th, 2008

Tennis-X Weekend Wrap: Chang Engaged, Roddick Hurt

So 36-year-old Michael Chang is engaged to married to 24-year-old WTA player Amber Liu, who he is coaching? Go Michael! Now they’ll have to cancel pre-production for the 40-Year-Old Virgin II….

Posted by Staff @ 10:30 am in Tennis | 125 Comments »

July 10th, 2008

ATP Newport Blog: Fish Fried, Players Cut Loose

Nonetheless, this was a stellar day for curse beneficiary qualifier Rohan Bopanna. While beating Fish in the first set, fellow Indians, the Amritraj father and son were busy sending text messages of support. Who the messages were being sent to, I have no clue? It appears their help worked as Bopanna only needed two tiebreak sets for his Fish fry.

Posted by Staff @ 9:48 am in Grass season, Tennis | Comments Off on ATP Newport Blog: Fish Fried, Players Cut Loose

July 9th, 2008

ATP Newport Blog: Dent and Two-Handed Racquets

He had to cheer loudly to be heard over the crowd on center court watching Taylor Dent attempting a comeback against Canadian pretty-boy Frank Dancevic. Frank doesn’t strike me as a pretty-boy name; like say for example, Taylor? Dent gave it a valiant effort but he won’t be going home with the prize. No big deal says Taylor, “a year ago they told me I wouldn’t ever play tennis again.”

Posted by Staff @ 2:22 am in Grass season, Newport | Comments Off on ATP Newport Blog: Dent and Two-Handed Racquets

July 7th, 2008

Newport Blog Day 2: Two-handled Racquets and Real Grass

I had the opportunity to try out my strokes on the grass court this afternoon with Brian Battistone. He and his brother Dann have been creating some waves and gaining a following for their unusual style of play and even more unusual rackets. Called the “Natural One,” the 29-inch racket has not one but two handles. The unique handle angle puts less stress on your elbows and helps the body balance better. I loved it so much I bought one.

Posted by Staff @ 10:04 pm in ATP, Grass season, Newport, Tennis | 4 Comments »

July 7th, 2008

ATP Newport Blog: A Sea Breeze Amidst the Qualifying

Hi everyone, the Blonde girl with a computer is back. I had a terribly pleasant day watching lawn tennis amid blooming hydrangeas and geraniums from the shaded porch of a glorious Victorian Manor. The players in their crisp whites made a striking contrast to the lush emerald of the courts while I slowly sipped my Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Tea. Had you going there for a minute didn’t I. This was no figment of my imagination by any stretch; I might have just forgotten to mention a minor detail. I’m coming to you this week from Newport, RI, home of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships or as I like to call it, the ersatz Wimbledon.

Posted by Staff @ 4:10 pm in ATP, Newport, Tennis | 4 Comments »

June 30th, 2008

No Heimlich for Choking Gasquet from Murray at Wimbledon

But the real story Monday at the All England Club was the comeback by homecountry hero Andy Murray against the mentally-fragile Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

Posted by Staff @ 8:39 pm in Tennis, Wimbledon | 19 Comments »

June 26th, 2008

Roddick Chokes as Americans Head for Exit at Wimbledon

Other upsets were orchestrated by Guillermo “G-Lo” Garcia-Lopez, who topped Spanish countryman and No. 19 seed Nicolas Almagro in five sets; former world No. 2 Tommy Haas, who gave a straight-set grass master course to No. 23 seed Tommy Robredo, and Croat Marin Cilic, who outlasted No. 24 seed Jarkko Nieminen in five sets.

Posted by Staff @ 9:16 pm in Tennis, Wimbledon | 42 Comments »

June 25th, 2008

Sharapova Tuxedo Shirt No Hit at Wimbledon; Gilbert Quits LTA

British Lawn Tennis Association coach Brad Gilbert’s charge Alex Bogdanovic lost first round at Wimbledon, and now Gilbert is out the door. It was announced that Gilbert will part ways with the LTA and following Bogdanovic around the Challenger circuit when his contract ends in three months.

Posted by Staff @ 12:08 am in Tennis, Wimbledon | 49 Comments »

June 23rd, 2008

Tennis-X Barbs: Grass is Greener for Spaniards…and Slower

New ATP Player Council member and U.S. TV commentator Justin Gimelstob speaking to a D.C. radio show on Anna Kournikova: “Hate’s a very strong word. I just despise her to the maximum level, right below hate. I think she falls into the Marcelo Rios ‘Scumbag’ category….And this whole bluff about her retiring because of her back? She had the yips on her serve, she can’t get her serve on the court. Wait until you see on July 23, she’s gonna be serving 40 miles an hour and I’m gonna be just plugging it down her throat…We do exhibitions together and I’ll mock her, and make fun of her. I’ll just make her know that she’s stupid…I’m sure she’ll rue the day that she has to come here and actually share space with me…I have no attraction to her, because she’s such a douche…I really have no interest in her. I wouldn’t mind having my younger brother, who’s kind of a stud, nail her and then reap the benefits of that.”

Posted by Staff @ 1:23 am in Tennis, Wimbledon | 18 Comments »

June 17th, 2008

Tennis-X Notes: Tursunov Kicked Out of Tournament; Nadal Wimbledon Pick

“After reviewing the situation, the ATP Supervisor has withdrawn Dmitry Tursunov from the singles tournament at the Slazenger Open,” the ATP released in a statement.

Posted by Staff @ 11:13 pm in Tennis | 24 Comments »

June 15th, 2008

Federer, Nadal Win Grasscourt Titles; Destined for Wimbledon Final?

Can you imagine Andy Roddick coming into Rafael Nadal’s house at Roland Garros and stealing a match? That is exactly what Nadal did at Queen’s, beating the four-time winner and defending champion in straight sets, as well as toppling the serving machine Ivo Karlovic in three consecutive tiebreaks during the week.

Posted by Richard Vach @ 3:37 pm in ATP | 21 Comments »