My Starting Point I will put my bias out there and state that Roger Federer has been all-time my favorite tennis player to watch since 2003. I like his game, his balance, his shot making etc. I also will bluntly say that Roger is not playing near his career best 2006 level, or his 2004-2007…
Category: French Open
Masters Madrid Semifinal Predictions May 11, 2013
Predicted Winners in BOLD Semifinals 5 Rafael Nadal vs. Pablo Andujar – If Andujar is ever going to win against Rafa, this is his chance. Nadal played 2 tough sets and a 3rd set versus Ferrer. Nadal is also seemingly a little rusty. The altitude in Madrid has never been to Rafa’s liking. Still, I…
French Open Memories: Steffi Graf 1987-1989
My first distinct tennis memories are matches between Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe in the 1982 Wimbledon men’s championship and the 1984 US Open semifinal. Both were five set thrillers, but I did not start following tennis regularly until Boris Becker won Wimbledon in 1985. French Open matches did not make much of an impression…
French Open Memories: Agassi vs. Courier 1989-1992
I will be sharing some of my favorite French Open memories between now and the start of the 2013 French Open. My first subject is Andre Agassi versus Jim Courier. Once upon a time it was rare to see the same players match-up year after year at slams in men’s events. Jim Courier and Andre…
Nadal’s Reign: Unrelenting Supremacy
King Rafa 2005 – ? Can anyone stop a prepared Nadal on clay? That is a question that has been hounding professional tennis since 2005. There are a few scenarios for how Nadal might lose a match on clay, but these scenarios become even less likely when a match moves to a best of five…
Tennis History: Nadal and Sharapova
A Trip Inside my Unofficial Historical Tennis Rankings The 2012 French Open is in the books. Sadly, the quick transition to grass rarely allows for the full impact of this event to be appreciated until later in the year. Still, Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova made a great deal of history. Here is a quick…
Power Ranking for the Week of June 11 – June 17
Dan Martin’s 2012 Power Rankings for the Week of June 11 through June 17 The French Open Reshapes My Top 10 1. Rafael Nadal – A French Open title, two Masters 1000 titles and 3 consecutive wins over Nole have Rafa moving into the top spot. Change from last ranking +1 2. Novak Djokovic –…
2012 Men’s French Open Final: #1 Novak Djokovic versus #2 Rafael Nadal – Can Godzilla Be Stopped?
This match is what every tennis fan has been wanting since the conclusion of the 2012 Australian Open. Nadal pushed Djokovic for nearly 6 hours (6 hours!) in Melbourne. Can Rafa reverse the tide of 3 consecutive Grand Slam final losses to Novak? If Monte Carlo and Rome’s results are to be taken seriously,…
Update – Women’s Final Breakdown & Men’s Final Preview
I will have both of these up later today. As an aside, my 23 month old son is quite captivated by tennis. He is mimicking the Sharapova and Errani as I type.
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 