Murray Rising Andy Murray is playing the best clay court tennis of his career. On Monday, Murray won his first ever clay court title in Germany. He has backed up this victory with successive wins over Kohlschreiber, Raonic, and Nishikori. Kei Nishikori is a serious threat on clay, and Murray took him down in straight…
Category: Madrid
Preternatural Petra Kvitova Wins Madrid
Petra Kvitova is the biggest enigma in women’s tennis. We’ve seen Petra struggle with her health and lose to players with far less talent. We’ve also seen Petra play two nearly flawless Wimbledon finals, win a year end championship with guts and brilliance, and now demolish her semifinal and championship opponents at Madrid. Given that…
Masters Madrid 2015: Semifinal Prediction Andy Murray vs. Kei Nishikori
Andy Murray vs. Kei Nishikori: Momentum Meets Momentum Andy Murray has played a lot of tennis since last Saturday. He has also won every match. Murray is fresh off of his first ever clay court title. It now seems he cannot get enough of the red stuff. Kei Nishikori won Barcelona and then had a…
Masters Madrid 2015: Semifinal Prediction Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych
Rafa will be happy that the surface is clay and not blue Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych: This May be Closer than One Would Think Rafael Nadal on clay in Spain versus an opponent he has dominated in the past. Sounds like a recipe for a one-sided thrashing. Rafa has played well enough in Madrid…
Madrid 2015: Championship Prediction Kuznetsova vs. Kvitova
Svetlona Kuznetsova vs. Petra Kvitova: An Unexpected Final In this corner Raise your hand if you had these two in the final? Kuznetsova won the 2009 French Open and was runner-up at Roland Garros in 2006. Kuznetsova may be a good bet for the International Tennis Hall of Fame when she retires if one adds her…
Madrid 2015: ATP Quarterfinal Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD I am still sick and missed predicting the WTA semis – good thing as I would have gotten both wrong [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs [10] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) H2H – If Grigor wins, panic might be warranted by the Rafa fans. I don’t think that will happen though. [6] Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs…
Masters Madrid 2015: May 7th ATP Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD I am a bit ill so these are coming later than usual. Manolo Santana (11 a.m. start) [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Simone Bolelli (ITA) H2H – I like Rafa to advance. [7] David Ferrer (ESP) vs Fernando Verdasco (ESP) H2H – This match should be pretty awesome, but in the end I…
Madrid 2015: May 7th WTA Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD These are a bit later than usual, but I am under the weather. Manolo Santana (11 a.m. start) [3] Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs [5] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) – Already in progress so no prediction [1] Serena Williams (USA) vs [10] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) – This match should be a good measuring…
Masters Madrid 2015: May 6th ATP Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD (This is an incredible slate of matches) [3] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Steve Johnson (USA) H2H – Johnson is a great story, but not every story has a happy ending. [1] Roger Federer (SUI) vs Nick Kyrgios (AUS) – I could see this going either way as Roger may be pacing himself for Paris….
Madrid 2015: May 6th WTA Predictions
Predicted Winners in BOLD [3] Maria Sharapova (RUS) vs Caroline Garcia (FRA) – Sharapova is likely to win on what seems to be her best surface. Wrong Surface I know [1] Serena Williams (USA) vs Victoria Azarenka (BLR) – For a second consecutive match, Serena finds herself benefiting from playing on clay. Serena adapts to dirt…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 