Predicted Winners in BOLD 2 Roger Federer vs. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Roger Federer will have to play at a higher level than he did versus Gilles Simon to advance. Also, if Federer’s ankle is bothering him, he is unlikely to advance. Federer will benefit from Tsonga’s aggressive style in that he will not have a…
Category: Roland Garros
And then there were 8: Quarterfinals at Roland Garros
Note: I know going AWOL for the first week of a Grand Slam is a bad idea for a tennis website. My wife and I welcomed our 3rd child into the world right as Roland Garros 2013 was commencing. All are well, but I have been a little distracted. Sentimental Picks There are a lot…
French Open Memories: Guga
South American Renaissance Gustavo Kuerten was not expected to win the 1997 French Open, but he went through accomplished champions and clay court powers in the process. Kuerten beat fifth seeded and 1995 French Open champion Thomas Muster in the round of 32. He beat Andrei Medvedev in the round of 16. He beat defending…
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…
Rafael Nadal’s Comeback is Still On Track But Just Not the Fast Track
Credit Zeballos Horacio Zeballos of Argentina won the biggest match of his life by defeating Rafael Nadal 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 to win in Vina del Mar, Chile. Zeballos also defeated a cast of solid clay court players to reach the final by dispatching Pablo Andujar, Albert Ramos and Carlos Berlocq in succession. Still, unless he…
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 –…
Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life 