Madrid Masters Predictions May 9, 2013

Predicted Winners in BOLD Roger Federer vs. Kei Nishikori – Federer has had a mediocre 2013 by his standards.  He also has points to defend.  I expect Roger to advance, but a loss would not be shocking. Andy Murray vs. Gilles Simon – In 2008, Simon looked like Murray’s mini-me.  This could go either  way on clay.  I still think Murray…

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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…

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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…

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Nadal and Clay Court Invincibility

My second to most recent column revolved around Nadal’s seeming invulnerability on clay. All of the sudden, Nadal is pushed hard by Grigor Dimitrov, struggled holding a lead and closing out a match vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.  Now, his solid wins over Ferrer and Almagro in Latin America…

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Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Post Monte Carlo

Dan Martin’s 2013 Power Ranking #6 1.  Novak Djokovic – Nole ends a nearly 9 year winning streak by Nadal in Monte Carlo and in straight sets no less.  He’s #1. 2.  Rafael Nadal – Rafa has played 5 events in 2013.  His results: 3 titles and 2 runner-up finishes. Did someone really knock over his water…

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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…

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Tennis Power Ranking 2013: Post-Miami and Davis Cup

Dan Martin’s 2013 Power Ranking #5 1.  Novak Djokovic – Nole is number one, but he needs to rest his ankle if he is going to make an assault on Roland Garros. 2.  Rafael Nadal (Tie) – 3 consecutive tournament titles, including his first hard court title in over 2 years, have Rafa geared up for another…

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The State of US Men’s Tennis

 The Big Four Help The US Open is obviously a Grand Slam event.  One third of the ATP’s Masters 1000 events reside inside of the United States.  The Wimbledon and French Open championship start times are designed to get access to some of the television market in the US.  Yet, the US does not currently…

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Masters Miami 2013 Final Prediction Murray vs. Ferrer

Linked Over the Past 52 Weeks Andy Murray and David Ferrer had a pair of intense matches at the 2012 French Open and Wimbledon events.  Each man took a hard earned four set victory on his preferred surface.  Since that time, Murray has won an Olympic Gold Medal and a US Open title.  Ferrer led…

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