Bercy 2013 Semifinal Predictions: Djokovic v. Federer & Nadal v. Ferrer

The Masters 1000 event in Paris is always good, but having all 8 World Tour Finals participants in the quarterfinal round was something.  Here are my picks: 2 Novak Djokovic vs. 5 Roger Federer Federer has played well to get to this point.  Beating Kevin Anderson, Phillipp Kohlschreiber and Juan Martin del Potro in succession…

Nadal downs Janowicz, Djokovic overcomes Isner

Originally posted on The Grandstand:
Rafael Nadal gets past Jerzy Janowicz in straight sets on Thursday in Paris. Novak Djokovic joins Nadal in the quarterfinals by coming back from a set down against John Isner. (1) Rafael Nadal d. (14) Jerzy Janowicz  7-5, 6-4 Nadal ensured that the BNP Paribas Masters quarterfinals would feature all…

Murray will only return in Australia if in the shape to win

Originally posted on Online News Portal:
LONDON: Andy Murray will only play at next year’s Australian Open if his back has recovered enough for him to win the title. Wimbledon champion Murray, runner-up to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne this year, ended his season early last month when he had surgery on his lower back and…

Federer Seals Year-End Spot for 12 Straight Year

Originally posted on Energy Sports:
Roger Federer, widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, may have had a season to forget, but he will be able to end on a high as a victory over Kevin Anderson at the Paris Masters confirmed his qualification for the ATP World Tour Finals for the…

Marathon man’s 2013 ends with marathon loss

Originally posted on The Grandstand:
Thank goodness for final-set tiebreakers. Perhaps that is exactly what Nicolas Mahut was thinking late in his second-round match against Gilles Simon at the BNP Paribas Masters on Wednesday afternoon. The two Frenchmen had been battling for almost three hours when Mahut held serve at 5-6 in the third set.…

Dimitrov wins first ATP title, Haas snags 15th

Originally posted on The Grandstand:
Grigor Dimitrov triumphs in Stockholm by upsetting David Ferrer in three sets on Sunday. In Vienna, Tommy Haas wins a three-setter over Robin Haase. If Stockholm Open: (7) Grigor Dimitrov d. (1) David Ferrer 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Dimitrov captured the first of what are expected to be many ATP titles…

Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Shanghai

Power Ranking 2013 #13 1.  Rafael Nadal – I said Rafa had locked up the #1 slot on my Power Ranking for 2013 after the US Open.  If Nole wins out, I will have to revise that pronouncement.  Rafa has not done anything wrong since the US Open ended, but this time of year has…

Del Potro vs. Rafa and Nole vs. Tsonga Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Juan Martin del Potro vs. Rafael Nadal JMDP won last week in Tokyo and has a longer winning streak than Rafa at the moment.  JMDP has had some historical success versus Rafa.  His height makes some of Nadal’s high bounding spin a liability for the Spaniard.  If JMDP serves bombs and…