French Open 2016: Two Clay Court Lessons I Failed to Learn

Given today’s soggy weather, I will journey into my own modest past playing USTA junior events on har-tru/green clay.  I remember two losses that could have gone the other direction had I been less stubborn on court. Lesson from Match One – Vary Service Speeds and Placements In the early round of an event, I…

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The Top 10 Female French Open Champions

Originally posted on Tennis Abides: Dan Martin on Tennis and Life:
The Top 10 Female French Open Champions Chris Evert – The draws Evert faced in the 1970s may not have been terribly deep, but Evert won this title 7 times with her first title coming in 1974 and her final title coming in 1986.…

French Open 2016: May 30th Men’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD This is a Fun Slate of Matches David Goffin (BEL) [12] vs. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) – Gulbis keeps advancing despite my picking against him in every round.  Well, he is not getting my nod vs. Goffin.  The Belgian played some awesome tennis in Miami and then stumbled a bit in his transition to…

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French Open 2016: May 30th Women’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD Today’s Matches Should Be Awesome Serena Williams (USA) [1] vs. Elina Svitolina (UKR) [18] – This is the last match I made a pick for in this post.  Part of me thinks Svitolina and the future arrive in a big way via an upset.  On the other hand, Serena is the defending champion…

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French Open 2016: Clay Court Tips – Sliding

I’ve only ever played on har-tru/green clay when it comes to softer surfaces.  Sliding has been a skill that has eluded me since I first started playing tennis in 1985.  It may be too late for me, but hopefully it is not too late for you.  I will give sliding another try this summer.  Hopefully,…

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French Open 2016: May 29th Men’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD [3] Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs [22] Viktor Troicki (SRB) – Stan is on a winning streak of a sort, but I am not even sure how Troicki is here.  I keep picking against him so his camp should be glad to see I again have little faith in this Serbian player….

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French Open 2016: May 29th Women’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD   .@SvetlanaK27 defeats Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-4! Meets Muguruza next in @RolandGarros Round of 16! #RG16 pic.twitter.com/zXatV0277I — WTA (@WTA) May 27, 2016   [4] Garbine Muguruza (ESP) vs [13] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) – Muguruza should win so long as she doesn’t drown in a hail of errors.  I think Muguruza is…

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French Open 2016: History Still On the Line

With Roger Federer not coming to Paris and Rafael Nadal withdrawing from the tournament, it is easy to forget that history can still take place in Paris.  Sure Federer ended his record consecutive Grand Slam appearance streak.  Rafa will not win a 10th Roland Garros title in 2016.  That doesn’t mean the biggest history on the…

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French Open 2016: May 28th Men’s Predictions

Predicted Winners in BOLD   No Nadal but Djokovic back in action at French Open https://t.co/idSNx1Jm64 pic.twitter.com/U4MhNSfrpR — FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) May 28, 2016   Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [6] – I thought Gulbis was more or less on the way out of tennis, but a few wins may mean he is coming back…

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