In The Tramlines

We've Moved!

2011-08-24T21:32:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone, we've moved. www.inthetramlines.com is our new url. It's very professional and we look to provide the same level of coverage! Check us out!

Podcast!

2011-08-15T15:43:00.001-04:00

We are proud to announce our first podcast! We had some technical difficulties, so it's in two parts, but we hope you enjoy it. To view it click on the RSS Feed link on the right. Thanks!

Off to Cincinnati! Previewing the Women's Tournament

2011-08-14T22:06:00.004-04:00

The Western and Southern Open, commonly referred to as Cincinnati, has always been one of my favorite non-Major tournaments of the tennis year. For most of the top players, it is their last chance to make an impression to the rest of the world heading into the year's last Major, the US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. Heading into the 2011 Western and Southern Open, there is no bigger story than the one and only Serena Williams, who is coming into Cincinnati having won two tournaments in a row, Stanford and Toronto. Before we simply chalk Serena in as the Champion of the 2011 Western and Southern Open, let's look at the draw quarter-by-quarter.

First Quarter
Otherwise known as Caroline Wozniacki's quarter of the draw, this quarter is the most intriguing of the four. While Wozniacki, the No. 1 player in the world, is the obvious favorite to advance to the semifinals, it is worth keeping your eyes on Ana Ivanovic. Once the No. 1 player in the world, Ivanovic has fallen off the map recently. However, a trip to the semifinals in Carlsbad has no doubt given her some confidence, and her draw in Cincinnati is definitely manageable, that is up until a possible third-round match against Wozniacki. While I expect Wozniacki to make it out of this quarter, watch out for Ivanovic, Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova, and up-and-coming German Andrea Petkovic to do well.

Second Quarter
This quarter may be the most competitive of the entire tournament. While Victoria Azarenka is the highest-seeded player in the quarter, Francesca Schiavone, Sabine Lisicki, and newly-rejuvenated Agnieszka Radwanska are lurking. Lisicki, with her offensive game and unbelievable power, is always a threat. A possible third-round match with Azarenka is very intriguing. Radwanska is definitely one of the surprises of the summer on the WTA Tour. Winning Carlsbad was a big confidence-booster, and there seems to be no reason why she cannot make a deep run in Cincinnati. Even though she will most likely face Francesca Schiavone in the third round, I like Radwanska to keep on surprising people en route to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati.

Third Quarter
This quarter is home to the hottest player on tour, Serena Williams. Playing her fifth straight tournament as a non-seeded player, Serena will have to work plenty hard to win her third tournament in a row. Her first challenge will come in the second round, when she has a chance to beat Sam Stosur, whom she dispatched en route to winning the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week. Assuming she makes it through this match, a possible third-round match-up against French Open Champion Li Na awaits. Having struggled to win consistently since her triumph in Paris, Na does not seem to have a much of a chance against Williams. However, she has the type of game to keep up with Williams, so this is a definite match to watch. Even though Williams will most likely have to beat Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals, I do not see how Williams will not make it out of this quarter.

Fourth Quarter
Probably the most open quarter of the tournament, this quarter is sure to be the home of several upsets throughout the week. Vera Zvonareva, the No. 2 seed, is the favorite, but there is no guaranteeing that she will make it out of this quarter. Marion Bartoli is the most obvious threat. Having made it to the finals of Stanford, Bartoli has been playing very well recently and is always a threat because of her unusual strokes and experience. Even with Jelena Jankovic lurking in this quarter, I expect Bartoli to advance to the semifinals from this quarter of the draw.

Predictions:
Semifinals: Caroline Wozniacki def. Agnieska Radwanska, Serena Williams def. Marion Bartoli

Final: Serena Williams def. Carolina Wozniacki

The Tennis World Heads Up North, Eh? Previewing the Men's and Women's Rogers Cup

2011-08-09T16:01:00.000-04:00

With the start of the Rogers Cup, the tennis world begins the push towards to last major of the year, the US Open. All of the top men and women make the trek up north, the men to Montreal and the women to Toronto. For the men, it's all about the Big Three, Andy Murray, and their preparation for the last major of the year. For the women, it's a much more wide open affair, with many players looking to make a statement leading up to the US Open. Serena Williams is looking to show that she really is back, Kim Clijsters that she is fully healed after an injury, and Caroline Wozniacki looking to justify her number one ranking are all storylines on the women's side, but if there's one thing the WTA has shown, it's that anyone with the talent, desire, and the right breaks can make a breakthrough. After the jump we'll look at both events, half by half.
Rogers Cup- Men

First Half
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are in this half, and both look to have a fairly easy draw to the semifinals. On Djokovic's side, the other top seed is Gael Monfils, not known for his hard court play. One player that could give Djokovic trouble is Juan Martin del Potro, who would play Djokovic in the Third Round. Del Potro has the potential to give any top player fits, and, being the 2009 US Open champion, he has the hard court pedigree, but it doesn't quite seem like he's back yet, and as such, Djokovic should handle him. On Federer's side, the other top seed is Nicolas Almagro, a clay court specialist. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the man who beat Federer at Wimbledon, is also there, so that would make for a very intriguing match.

Second Half
This half is where it gets more interesting. In one quarter there is Andy Murray and Mardy Fish, with Wawrinka, Youzhny, and Gulbis lurking. In the other quarter are Nadal, Verdasco, Simon, and Berdych. Nadal should get through, but Murray's task is much more challenging. However, Murray is the two time defending champion, so if he's playing his best, there's no reason to think he can't get out of the quarter. (Update: Murray crashed and burned against Kevin Anderson. The post was written before the events of the day)

Predictions
Semifinals: Djokovic def. Federer, Nadal def. Murray
Finals: Djokovic def. Fish

Rogers Cup- Women
First Half
The entire women's draw is wide open. In the first half you have Wozniacki, Zvonareva, Stosur, Radwanska (who just won Carlsbad), Kvitova, Petkovic, and Li. Wozniacki, for all of her faults at majors, is number one in the world for a reason, and she shines in these types of events. If anyone can stop her it will probably be Zvonareva, who has the ability to hit right through her if she's on and Wozniacki has a bad day. The most interesting player to look for is Petra Kvitova, who's coming off her Wimbledon victory with many more eyes on here wondering if she's going to be a major player on tour.

Second Half
This half is all about two women, Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams. Both are coming off injuries, and they are scheduled to meet in the third round. This tournament should do a lot to show how far each are along in their comebacks. The fourth seed is Victoria Azarenka, and she has a relatively easy draw until a potential quarterfinal berth with Maria Sharapova. That match should be very interesting, if one watches it on mute, of course.

Predictions
Semifinals: Wozniacki def. Zvonareva, Williams def. Azarenka
Finals: Wozniacki def. Williams

Ryan Harrison, Mardy Fish, and the Next Big Thing

2011-08-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

The US Open Series is into the third week, and the two players that have had the best start have been two Americans, Mardy Fish, and Ryan Harrison. Fish, ranked number 9 in the world, won in Atlanta and lost Ernests Gulbis in the final in Los Angeles. Harrison, who was ranked outside the top 100 but is now 82 because of two consecutive semifinal finishes, losing to Mardy Fish both times. In Los Angeles, Fish defeated Harrison in a third set tiebreak, and the match provided an excellent snapshot of two careers, one maximized and one rising. After the jump we'll look at both men's careers up until this point, where they're heading, and the perils of looking for "The Next Big Thing"

Mardy Fish, now the number one American male, has been in the sport of tennis for a long time. He turned professional in 2000, and along with his good friend Andy Roddick, he was viewed as the successor to the generation of American tennis players that included Sampras, Agassi, Chang, and Courier. At first, it appeared as if the onlookers were correct. Andy Roddick won the 2003 US Open, rose to number one in the world, and Mardy Fish was showing tremendous promise. However, with the rise of Roger Federer, Roddick quickly lost that spot. Fish, for his part, had ups and downs, but could never rise to the level that many predicted for him. Injuries cost him a significant portion of his career, and it looked for a long time that he would never reach the top of the game. Then in 2008 he rededicated himself, and with the help of a new diet and increased fitness level, he was able to work his way up to number 8 in the world, a feat that very few tennis observers would have predicted. He did this with almost no hype, no expectations. He played freely, worked hard, and, most importantly, was incredibly consistent. He's still playing at an extremely high level, and no one knows how long he will keep it up. However, no matters what happens next, Fish has nothing to be ashamed about. He's maximized his career, an accomplishment few players truly reach.

This brings us to Ryan Harrison, the 19 year old upstart. He is being touted as a future top player, and for good reason. His forehand is huge, he's quick around the court, and most importantly, he shows determination every time he's out there on the court. That's the upside. The downside is his backhand can be attacked, and his serve is streaky. He has already had some near misses at accomplishing huge upsets at majors. This year, he took two time French open finalist Robin Soderling to four sets in Paris, and at Wimbledon he took David Ferrer to five sets. He's shown that he can bring it in the majors, but what separates a dangerous floater from a top 25 player is consistency. Fish has developed that, and for Harrison to make that jump, he'll have to develop it. To that end, Atlanta and Los Angeles were encouraging for Harrison, reaching the semifinals in both. He'll develop, for sure, but to the end that he's 'The Next Big Thing', only time will tell.

Serena's Triumph at Stanford: What does it mean?

2011-08-02T22:04:00.002-04:00

There are not many times when one minor tourmament seems to mean so much to a multiple-time Major Champion. One of these times was this past week when Serena Williams seemed to cement her comeback to tennis with a victory over Marion Bartoli to win the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto, California. Williams showed moments of brilliance in her return to Wimbledon in June, but the tournament as a whole was a major disappointment as she crashed out to Bartoli in straight sets in the fourth round. This past week at Stanford seemed to be a major test for Serena, as a potential quaterfinal match-up with Wimbledon runner-up Maria Sharapova loomed. At points in her fourth round match against Maria Kirilenko, it seemed as if Serena would not get the chance to play Sharapova. After narrowly beating Kirilenko, Williams seemingly put it into high gear. The blockbuster against Sharapova seemed to be anything but that, as Williams was brilliant in an easy straight-set win. This set up a semi-final match-up against very dangerous German Sabine Lisicki. Williams again played brilliantly, dispatching Lisicki while only losing 2 games. The final against Bartoli did not seem to present the challenge that most people were expecting. A straight-set win against Bartoli gave Serena Williams the title at Stanford, seemingly cementing her return to tennis.

For those who watched Serena's dominating performance at the Bank of the West, the next question is whether or not Williams can manintain this high level of play throughout the rest of the US Open Series and eventually the US Open. While the logical answer to this question seems to be that Serena can in fact maintain this level of play, there is definitely cause for concern. Williams will be playing almost every other week, which is the most she has played sincer her return to the game. Saying this, fitness could be an issue. Even with this main cause of concern, tennis fans can only hope that Serena Williams can continue to succeed the rest of the summer leading up to Flushing. How great of a story would it be if Serena Williams can make a deep run at the US Open, her home major?

As for what her impressive run at the Bank of the West means, there seems to be no other explanation except for that she is awfully close to returning to her top form, which is bad news for the rest of the WTA. Serena's next challenge is at the Rogers Cup next week. Because this tournament is sure to be more competitive than the Bank of the West, a deep run next week could definitely prove that Serena is all the way back. Until next week, all we can do is hope for the best from Serena Williams.

The Curious Case of the German Tennis Championships

2011-07-28T21:51:00.000-04:00

It is May of 2008. The setting is Hamburg, Germany. The players are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They are locked in a tough three-setter, with Roland Garros looming just over a week away and the match having serious implications heading into the tournament. The next year, the final takes place in July and is between Paul-Henry Mathieu and Nikolay Davydenko. The number one seed: Gilles Simon. Fast-forward two years, and the champion, is in fact, Simon. He defeated Nicolas Almagro in the final. The number one seed: Gael Monfils. What happened to the tournament? The case of the German Tennis Championships is a very interesting one, and after the jump we'll take a look at what happened and what it says about the ATP.

In 2008, the Association of Tennis Professionals, the ATP, revamped their entire schedule. With the changes, Hamburg was demoted from being a "1000" level, or former Masters Series, to being a 500 level event. Furthermore, the ATP moved the Madrid Tournament, which had been on hard courts and played in October, to May and to an outdoor red clay surface. The ATP also moved Hamburg from its customary pre-French Open spot to it's current place in July. The organizers then filed a lawsuit against the ATP, trying to keep the tournament where it was and keeping its prestige along with that. The lawsuit was rejected, and the tournament has now become a brief respite for European players before making the treacherous trek over to North America for the hard court season. This year's edition of the tournament did not lack many big names. Gael Monfils, Gilles Simon, Jurgen Melzer, Nicolas Almagro, Mikhail Youzhny, and Fernando Verdasco, all top 30 players, were there, and, generally, it was high quality tennis.

So why does the tournament feel like an afterthought, a fun quirky event that tennis fanatics around the world enjoy but seems to be irrelevant to the grand scheme of the tennis calender? The answer is, of course, proves the adage that timing is everything. The four major, and the World Tour Finals to some degree, are the goal of every player. They are by far the biggest events on the calender, and every tournament's significance is tied to its relation to a major, with the exception of Indian Wells and Miami, which belong in a separate category due to having a 96 player draw. We have the minor lead up to Australia, the European clay court season leading to Roland Garros, the very quick grass court tune-ups to Wimbledon, the US Open Series as the lead in to the US Open, and, to a minor level, Paris and Shanghai as warm-ups to the ATP World Tour Finals. While there are tons of tournaments that fall outside these categories, and great tennis is surely played there, the significance is lost. This means that a tournament won't attract as much attention or as may top players, and when the top players do appear, it is only because they want extra match play and to collect a few ranking points. This is the case of the German Tennis Championships. The players were there, the court was pristine, the history of the tournament was felt, but the energy, the excitement and the anticipation simply were not there.

All Roads Lead to New York: Previewing the ATP Summer

2011-07-18T03:17:00.001-04:00

We are less than one week away from the start of the US Open Series, and oddly enough, we are in the middle of the post-Wimbledon clay court swing, and now is a great opportunity to look at what is to come this summer. For the very top players, the summer consists of three events, Cincinnati, Canada, and the United States Open. For the rest of the ATP World Tour participants, however, the summer takes them from the red clay of Europe to the blue hard courts of North America to the Big Apple for the final major of the year. After the jump, we'll look at the US Open Series and a couple other noteworthy events.

First off, the clay court swing draw a lot of European players, and the biggest one starts on the 18th of July, the German Open. This tournament has a very extensive history, and was once the biggest warmup to the French Open. With the revamping of the schedule a few years ago, it was demoted from a Masters Series/1000 event to a 500 event, a lower spot, and it was forced to move its event to after Wimbledon. This has hurt the tournament a lot, but it still draws many top players who don't quite want to go to the hard courts of North America quite yet. After that tournament, the clay court players go to Gstaad in Switzerland and then to Austria for a brand new event with a considerable purse. That concludes that phase, and the players who would play those move over to North America after collecting those valuable ranking points.

For the American and hard court players, the summer begins tomorrow with the Atlanta tournament, followed by Los Angeles, Washington D.C, and then the two 1000 series events in Montreal and Cincinnati. One of the best moves that the USTA has done in recent years has been the advent of the US Open Series, which connects the aforementioned tournaments and creates a mini-points race with the opportunity to increase their prize money considerably at the US Open. This has created a lot of increased increase in sponsorships, prize moneys at the individual tournaments, and the ability to draw top players consistently. The top four will most likely only play the two 1000 series events, but after that, many top players will participate in the US Open Series.

With television coverage being available on the weekends, we'll have previews up when available. Summer is the sport's last huge push for the year, and we are very much looking forward to it. We are also proud to announce that, barring any unforeseen problems, we will be hosting out very first podcast to preview the tournament in Montreal. Stay tuned, it should be a great summer of tennis

Juan Martin del Potro's Long Road Back

2011-07-14T22:00:00.004-04:00

Until the 2009 US Open, Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro was just another promising young player on the ATP Tour. That all changed at Flushing Meadows in 2009, where del Potro became the first ever player to defeat both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the same Major Championship en route to the title. With this first Major under his belt, the immediate future seemed extremely bright for del Potro. The rest of 2009 was a bit of a rollercoaster for the Argentinian, with a string of retirements leading to a spot in the final at the ATP World Tour Finals, which he lost to Nikolay Davydenko.

The 2010 year would prove to be the most difficult of del Potro's life. A wrist injury led to a retirement at the AAMI Kooyong Classic, which is a lead up for the Australian Open. He entered the Australian Open with the wrist injury still ailing him, and he bowed out in the fourth round after a tough five-set loss to Marin Cilic. Del Potro then took an entire month off, hoping this rest would help heal his wrist. This did not prove to be the case, as the wrist injury continued to cripple him. After withdrawing from tournament after tournament, del Potro decided it was time to have surgery, which occurred on May 4, 2010. This was when the Argentinian was a top-5 player in the world.

Del Potro made his return to tennis at the 2010 PTT Thailand Open, which was about nine months after he had played his last competitive tennis match. Juan Martin del Potro was hoping that 2011 would be the year that he, finally healthy, would sour back in the top-10 in the world. This plan did not start out as planned, as a second round exit at the Australian Open left him as the 485th-ranked player in the world. A string of stellar performances and the determination to succeed helped the Major Champion climb back into the top-50 in the world. Del Potro's first ever Round of 16 appearance at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships earned him the World Ranking of 19.

While he will be the first to admit that it has not been easy, Juan Martin del Potro is back. Being away from the game you love for nine months is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, especially for someone whose ceiling seemed so endless. Nevertheless, del Potro's determination to return to where he thinks he belongs has been the driving force in his remarkable comeback. Now at almost full-strength, expect the Aregentinian to be a title contender once again at Flushing Meadows.

Looking at the 2011 ATP Season So Far

2011-07-13T00:45:00.000-04:00

With the end of Wimbledon comes the end of the first half of the tennis year. The early Australian swing and brief American hard court few weeks being an ancient memory, the European clay court season being a bit fresher and the very brief English grass court "season" just concluding, it's a great time to look back at the 2011 ATP season so far and evaluate the top players, look at who disappointed, and examine a few breakout stars that began to rise this year. After the jump, we'll look at all of these, and later in the week, we'll have a preview of the upcoming North American hard court season concluding with the US Open and beyond that.

The ATP season by far belonged to Novak Djokovic. with an absurd record of 48-1, he won the Australian Open and the Championships at Wimbledon. His only blemish was a four set loss to Roger Federer at Roland Garros. His total tournament haul for the year included two majors titles, the Australian Open and the Championships at Wimbledon, four 1000-series events at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome. He also won two 250 series events at Dubai and his home tournament at Belgrade.

Rafael Nadal, for his part, won Roland Garros, his sixth title there, but in winning it, did not play Djokovic, who lost to Federer in the semifinal. He also won the 1000 series event at Monte Carlo, where Djokovic did not play. These qualifiers, which might seem unfair to a player of Nadal's caliber, are important because in the five finals this year that Djokovic played Nadal, Djokovic won all five of them. He has forced himself into any tournament discussion, whether or not he played in it or not. That is the extent of Djokovic's dominance this year.

Roger Federer is playing a very unique role in men's tennis right now. Having the most major titles in history, he has been rendered to playing third fiddle, out of the conversation. He was summarily dismissed in the Australian Open semifinal by Djokovic, in three sets. He then did not make any 1000 series final, but at Roland Garros, he did what no one else could do, defeating Djokovic in four sets in the semifinal. This was his signature win of the year, and he followed it up by giving Nadal his toughest match in a Roland Garros final, taking him to four tough sets. At Wimbledon, however, his most successful tournament, he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets after being up two sets to none. It was a devastating loss for Federer, and it will be very interesting to see how he responds to this.

Andy Murray, the fourth of the Big Four, has achieved that title through being one of the most consistent players on tour. He reached the final of the Australian Open, the semfinal at Monte Carlo, Rome, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon, losing to Nadal in the last four events. He also won Queen's Club, the grass court tune-up to Wimbledon. He is the best player not to have won a major, and he is just beneath the top three players. By anyone's standard, he has had a very fine year, but with the three players above him having an absolute stranglehood on majors, he has not been able to break through.
Now, for the awards.

Best Player- Novak Djokovic- See above

Most Improved- Juan Martin del Potro- On the comeback trail after a terrible wrist injury, he won two events, and lost to Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros and Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.

Most Disappointing- Andy Murray- It's tough to call a player who has the results of Murray disappointing, but he hasn't shown any ability to have a huge win at a major against one of the top three.

Match of the Year- Roger Federer def. Novak Djokovic, Roland Garros Semifinal

Runner-up Match of the Year- Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon Final

The WTA: What's Next?

2011-07-07T23:57:00.000-04:00

Following Petra Kvitova's stunning victory at Wimbledon, the WTA enters the hard-court season with no clear favorite. No. 1 in the world Caroline Wozniacki has yet to break through at a major, Kvitova will be playing the next few tournaments with a target on her back, and the Williams Sisters are unlikely to play in more than one or two hard-court tournaments leading up to the US Open. Even with no clear favorite, the show must go on and the next few months are sure to be filled with a lot of drama. As for one player on the WTA tour to watch on hard courts, it has to be Maria Sharapova. The 2011 Wimbledon finalist has a game that it is very well-suited on hard-courts, and Flushing Meadows always seems to bring out the best in her. I expect Sharapova and Wozniacki to be in the mix in many of the US Open Series events, which span the months of July and August.

As for the 2011 Wimbledon Champion, Petra Kvitova enters the hard-court season with all the confidence in the world, which can not be an inviting sight for the rest of the WTA. The Czech's game translates very well to the hard courts because of the pace she can put on the ball. I would not be surprised to see Kvitova contend at almost every tournament she enters for the rest of the summer. I would also consider her to be one of the early favorites for the 2011 US Open. Even with the assured parody in the WTA, this summer is sure to be filled with great tennis.

Rafa Dethroned! Novak Djokovic Wins His First Wimbledon Championship

2011-07-03T12:44:00.000-04:00

Novak Djokovic walked onto Centre Court at Wimbledon today assured that come Monday, he would be number one on the world. He also knew that had he lost to Rafael Nadal, most observers would consider his ranking to not be an indication of the true state of the men's game. Djokovic stepped onto the court today and dethroned the two time Wimbledon champion, doing it with a relentless attack that took Nadal completely out of his game. If it weren't for that magical day in Paris when Roger Federer broke his streak, we would be looking at a potential grand slam and the best season in the history of tennis. Regardless, Djokovic is clearly number one in the world, and this performance was by far the biggest win of his career, defeating a player who had not lost at Wimbledon since 2007. It wasn't the best tennis these two have produced, but in terms of drama and importance, this match was captivating. After the jump, we'll look at this match set by set.

Gentlemen's Singles Championship
Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4

1st Set- Many observes commented that Djokovic might show signs of nerves to begin this match, having never played in a Wimbledon final before. There were no signs of nerves, and this was the best set of tennis in the match. There were many long points, and it was a great sign for Djokovic's chances that he was able to win most of them, something unheard of for a player playing Nadal. Both players' serves were very effective, and there were no break points until Nadal served at 4-5. Djokovic raised his game just a bit while Nadal missed a couple first serves. Djokovic converted his first break point of the match to win the first set.

2nd Set- This set featured the absolute best Djokovic can play. Every shot worked for him, and Nadal looked like a man who didn't know if there was anything he could do to stop Djokovic. It wasn't just the backhand that stymied Nadal. Every shot, the forehand, backhand, and the serve kept Nadal off-balance. Djokovic even volleyed especially well, which is not a part of his game he usually employs. It was over in a hurry, a 6-1 thrashing.

3rd Set- Of course, with a champion like Nadal, you knew he would no go down quietly, and this was the case with this match. Nadal raised his level of play, and his shots began landing deeper with much more pace and depth. Djokovic, for his part, began shanking many balls that were easy for him. Nadal broke Djokovic in his first service game and ran away with the set, winning 6-1. It was at this point that it looked like Djokovic was feeling the pressure for the first time in the match. Going into the fourth set, he would have to raise his energy level and stop the Nadal onslaught.

4th Set- Djokovic quickly righted the ship. He held, and then broke Nadal right away after a couple uncharacteristic unforced errors. However, the break was short lived, as Nadal broke Djokovic right back. The key game was Djokovic serving at 2-2 after having been broken in his last service game. He tightened up his game, and held. The pattern of holding continued until Nadal served at 3-4. Djokovic hit a couple huge forehands, Nadal a couple errors, and before Nadal could regain his composure, he was broken and Djokovic was serving for the Championship. There were a couple tight points on his serve, and Nadal had it at 30-30 after a weak error. Djokovic was able to close it out with some excellent play, and after Nadal's backhand flew long, he dropped to the ground in celebration. He had dethroned the king and usurped the Nadal-Federer dynasty at Wimbledon.

Number One vs. Number Two: Previewing the Dream Final

2011-07-02T19:45:00.000-04:00

With all due respect to the greatest player of all time, Roger Federer, most tennis pundits were looking forward to a final that pitted current world number one Rafael Nadal and future world number one as of two days from now, Novak Djokovic. This is the match many were anticipating at Roland Garros, but as we all know, Roger Federer ruined those plans. Now they will face off in a major final again, and ironically, Djokovic would probably have had a better shot to dethrone Nadal at Roland Garros. Djokovic's movement on the grass is significantly weaker than his movement on clay and hard courts. That is the main thing to look for. If Djokovic is able to track down Nadal's deep shots, then he can defeat him. If not, then it might be a long and grueling match for Djokovic. After the jump, we'll look at the match-up, stroke by stroke
Gentlemen's Final: Novak Djokovic vs. Rafael Nadal

Forehand: Advantage Nadal
This is Nadal's main weapon, and he used it to it's best effect against Andy Murray in the semifinal. It has been well documented how amazing the shot is, but against Djokovic it's a bit less effective than against other players because of Djokovic's other-worldly backhand. Djokovic's forehand, while incredibly good and much improved, is not on the same level as Nadal's.

Backhand: Advantage Djokovic
Djokovic's backhand is clearly his best shot. He can do whatever he wants with it, and he's able to drive it into Nadal's forehand, which is something no other player in the world can do, and it is the main reason why he is going to become world number one on Monday, regardless of what happens tomorrow. Nadal's backhand is also incredibly solid, but, unlike Nadal's forehand, it can break down.

Serve: Advantage Nadal
Djokovic's serve has improved greatly, but Nadal's serve on grass is surprisingly and deceptively very good. He uses the grass to make his serve very difficult to attack, which Djokovic likes to do so much. On the return game, it doesn't seem as if Djokovic has quite figured out the grass, which will help Nadal. Djokovic's serve is also crucial. If he is winning free points and easy games with it, he can turn the pressure on Nadal, but if it's shaky, all the pressure comes back on him.

Movement/Defense: Advantage Nadal
Nadal's defense is very well documented, and it was on full display against Murray. However, the key to this match will be Djokovic's movement. If he can move with Nadal like he did against him in Madrid and Paris, then there's no reason he can't win. However, it has been his weakest component this fortnight so far, and he'll have to improve on it to win this match.

Predictions
Andrew: Nadal in 5
Brandon: Djokovic in 4

As with many Nadal matches, the first set is very important, but Djokovic has shown he is able to come back. We were split on this one. The main question is over a long and tough match, who does if favor? I believe because of the history these two have this year, Djokovic has gotten stronger as the match went on. Andrew believes that because Nadal has been there before and has beaten Djokovic in every major they have played, then he'll be the one to surge. Regardless, it should be an amazing match.

Kvitova's Major Breakthrough

2011-07-02T12:01:00.002-04:00

Petra Kvitova walked onto Centre Court Wimbledon today with absolutely nothing to lose. Playing in her first Grand Slam final, Kvitova was the healthy underdog to former Wimbledon Champion Maria Sharapova. Knowing that Sharapova was the one facing all the pressure, the 21 year-old came out firing in today's Ladies' Championship at Wimbledon. Early nerves led to Sharapova breaking Kvitova's serve in the very first game of the championship match. The Russian could not take advantage of this early break, losing her serve the very next game. This levelled the opening set at 1-1, and the rest of the match would prove to be pretty lopsided in favor of Petra Kvitova.

Kvitova was able to control almost every baseline rally in the first set, and her opponent helped her out by throwing in numerous double faults at very big spots. Kvitova was able to run Sharapova all over the court with her lefty forehand. An error by Sharapova gave Petra Kvitova the first set, 6-3. This was the first set Sharapova had lost in the entire tournament, and it definitely affected the veteran's confidence going into the must-win 2nd set. This 2nd set was an absolute roller-coaster, as the two competitors exchanged numerous breaks. The real turning point in this set was when Kvitova was serving at 4-3. Sharapova had broken Kvitova in her last two service games and knew she would need another break to stay alive. An early advantage in this game was not enough for Sharapova to convert the break, and Kvitova held. putting herself just one game away from the finish line. After an easy hold by Sharapova, Kvitova showed no signs of tensing up as she was serving for the match. This love-hold was capped off by an ace, the Czech's first of the match. There is truly no better way to win Wimbledon in your first trip to a Grand Slam Final.

Kvitova fell to her knees in celebration, no-doubt trying to sink in the entire atmosphere. The sell-out crowd at Centre Court rose to their feet, applauding the remarkable performance by the 21 year-old. With the way she performed on the game's biggest stage today, this could be the first of many Grand Slam titles for Petra Kvitova. As for Maria Sharapova, her service woes finally caught up to her. Multiple times during the match Sharapova faced break points and responded to them by throwing in a double. That just will not cut it in the final of a Major. What makes this all even more surprising is the fact that Maria was the more experienced of the two players, having played in 4 Grand Slam finals prior to Saturday's loss. On the flip side, Kvitova's lack of experience seemed to be her biggest advantage, as she came out with the mentality that she had nothing to lose.

This year's final brings up a lot of interesting questions. Will Maria Sharapova ever win another Major? Will Petra Kvitova carry over this success to Flushing Meadows in September? While no one knows the answers to these questions, we all do know that Petra Kvitova is a Major Champion!

Seven Years Later: Maria Sharapova's Return to the Sport's Biggest Stage

2011-07-01T17:38:00.002-04:00

Not many people, men or women, have experienced the adrenaline rush of walking out on to Centre Court Wimbledon ready to play for the most prestigious championship in all of tennis. One of the few people who has felt this rush is Maria Sharapova, who played for the Wimbledon title in 2004. At the time a 17 year-old Russian who had begun to capture the hearts of people all over the world with her stunning looks, Sharapova did the impossible when she made a magical run to the Wimbledon Final as the 13th seed. Not only did she reach the final, but Maria disposed of the tournament's top seed, Serena Williams, to capture her first Grand Slam title. This Saturday marks her return to the game's biggest stage, as she will take Centre Court in search of her second Wimbledon title.

This time around, her opponent is 21 year-old Petra Kvitova, the 8th-seed in this year's tournament. This young lefty from the Czech Republic has impressed fans from all over the world with her game. Her ability to generate power off both sides is simply stunning, and her composure in key moments is unusual for someone with her in-experience. Many people believed that Kvitova's memorable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2010 was going to be her first and last hurrah at a major. She has gone on to prove all of those doubters wrong, as she has gotten consistently better since last June, cracking the top-10 in the world. Expectations for her at this year's Wimbledon were not very high, as much of the pre-tournament hype surrounded the return of Venus and Serena Williams. Quietly, the 8th seed cruised into the second week at this year's Championships. After surviving 3-set matches against both Pironkova and Azarenka in the quarters and semis, respectively, the young Czech found herself in her first Grand Slam final. The only thing that stands in her way of making this year's Wimbledon her first Grand Slam title is.....Maria Sharapova.

This final between the 5th seed and the 8th seed is bound to be full of screams, shrieks, impressive winners, and service errors. What else is there to ask for? To get to the actual preview, the underdog Kvitova matches up well against the former champion. Both generate a lot of pace from the baseline, which will make for some very entertaining rallies throughout the match. The key for Sharapova will be to avoid the double faults, which casued her semifinal match to be a lot closer than it should have been. As for Kvitova, she has to try her best to calm the nerves early in the match, simply because she has a great chance to win if her in-experience does not get in the way. As for my prediction: this Ladies's Final will be a high-energy, three-set affair that will end with Maria Sharapova bringing home her second Wimbledon Title.

Dream Gentlemen's Final is Set: Djokovic vs. Nadal, 1 vs 2

2011-07-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

The final is set on the Gentlemen's side of the 2011 Championships. It got there in a roundabout sort of way, but it's here. Perhaps the best player not to have been talked about during the fortnight, Novak Djokovic, defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a captivating 4 set match. Rafael Nadal, for his sake, defeated Brit Andy Murray in a less than thrilling four-setter match to reach his second consecutive Wimbledon final. With Djokovic's win, he will become world number one on Monday when the new rankings come out. This will be the first player not named Nadal or Federer to become number one since Andy Roddick in 2003. We'll have more about that in future posts, but after the jump we'll look at each match individually.

Rafael Nadal def. Andy Murray 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4
In the preview, I wrote that the first set would be crucial for Andy Murray's chances to win this match. For a set and three games, I looked like a blogging genius and, more importantly, Andy Murray looked like man possessed. He was moving Nadal around the court, punishing him, hitting winners, and not allowing Nadal to get his rhythm. It was all holds until Nadal got broken at 5-6 to end the set, and for the first three games of the second set, Murray continued on this hot streak. Nadal was serving at 1-2, 15-30, and Murray had an easy forehand putaway right near the net. He hit it well long and from that point on, his confidence looked shattered. His level of play dropped sharply, and Nadal seemed to raise his a bit. Nadal didn't start playing exceptionally better right away, but from that moment on, the outcome was never in doubt. Nadal ran away with the second and third sets, winning both by a score of 6-2. The fourth set was routine, with Nadal breaking Murray in his first service game and holding every game after that. It is quite remarkable that at the highest level of tennis, only a slight difference in play can make all the difference. For the final three sets, Murray started missing quite often, and instead of his shots landing near the baseline with pace, they landed short. Nadal was able to begin to push Murray around, and from that point on, Murray had no answer.

Novak Djokovic def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6 (4) 6-2, 6-7 (9), 6-3
This match was first on Centre Court, and for the first two games, Djokovic looked like he hadn't quite woken up yet. He got broken immediately by Tsonga, and Tsonga used his excellent serve to take it to 5-4. Unfortunately for Tsonga, Djokovic raised his game and broke Tsonga. In the tiebreaker, Djokovic again raised his game and won two points off Tsonga's serve, winning the tiebreaker 7-4. You could see Tsonga's composure drop immediately afterwards, and Djokovic surged to a 6-2 set win. It looked like this match would be over, especially when Djokovic served at 4-3 in the third. Tsonga would no go quitely, however, and broke his serve. The tiebreak was an instant classic, with Tsonga winning 11-9 after some incredible tennis from both players. As seemed to be the pattern, however, Djokovic broke Tsonga right away and this time, Tsonga couldn't break back. The match was over and Tsonga's incredible run ended. I had noted in the write-up about the previous match how little things make all the difference at the highest level, and this match proved that to win the majors, you have to play consistently at the highest level possible. Tsonga couldn't do that today, as noted by his ups and downs in the match. He produced some amazing tennis, and he certainly got Djokovic flustered at times, but Djokovic's play remained too high and too consistent for Tsonga. For his part, the Frenchman noted this himself after the match. Nevertheless, it was very dramatic, and a great display of athleticism, shot-making, and heart. Djokovic now becomes world number one on Monday regardless of the outcome on Sunday, but before that he plays Nadal in the final, the first since he began this incredible run.

A Spaniard, Frenchman, Serb, and a Scot Walk into a Bar: Previewing the Gentlemen's Semifinals

2011-06-30T22:18:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow the All England Club will play host to the two best players in the world, the best Brit in the world who's the world number three, and arguably the hottest player in this tournament. Needless to say, it will be a great day of tennis. First up on Centre Court, the player who knocked out six time champion Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tosnga plays Novak Djokovic, world number two who is 42-1 for the year. After that, in the main event, world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal plays top ranked Brit Andy Murray, who is having a great tournament. With the roof, there is no chance that any of these matches will be delayed,and thus, we are guaranteed an amazing day of tennis. After the jump, we'll look at each match and give predictions.
Gentlemen's Semifinals

Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs. Novak Djokovic
Tsonga is coming off the biggest win of his career, defeating Federer after being down two sets to none. Better for Tsonga is the fact that the match only took three hours, leaving him rather fresh for his match against Djokovic. For his part, Djokovic is coming off a four set win against 18 year old Bernard Tomic, who was able to frustrate and anger the world number two. This should be a match of first strikes. If Tsonga can impose his will early and often with his serve and forehand, then he has a real shot to win this. Djokovic's movement on grass is much worse than his movement on hard courts or clay courts, and Tsonga will have to exploit this. Djokovic has to go backhand to backhand with Tsonga, as Tsonga's backhand is much worse than his forehand. If Djokovic can dictate with his groundstrokes and make Tsonga move around the court, he can dominate this matchup. It will be fascinating to see who can impose their game on the other, and with Tsonga and Djokovic, you will get excitement and drama.

Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Murray
The world number one and defending champion has had a somewhat controversial run so far, being accused of faking injury in the fourth round against Juan Martin del Potro and taking a controversial medical timeout before the first set tiebreak. In the semifinals he faces the hope of Great Britain, Andy Murray. The Scotsman has had an up and down tournament, but overall he is playing much better than he did at Roland Garros. All of Great Britain is anticipating this match, a rematch of last year's semifinal, which Nadal won in straights. Murray is playing much better this tournament, and this is a great opportunity for him to break through and reach the final of his home slam. The first set will be crucial. All of Nadal's opponents have so far lost the first set, and that makes the mountain almost impossible to climb. Murray has to come out firing and cannot lose the first set. If he wins it, all bets are off and he can win this. If not, the nagging minor hip injury might come into play, but if he wins the first set, his confidence will grow. Murray's serve and backhand will be crucial. If he can dictate play with those two strokes, he has a shot. But, if Nadal can dictate play and push Murray around, it will be a long day for the Brit and his fans.

Predictions
Djokovic vs. Tsonga
Andrew: Djokovic in 4
Brandon: Djokovic in 5
Tsonga will push Djokovic to the limit, but Djokovic's backhand is on another planet compared to Federer's, and that will be the difference. His return game is also much better, and Tsonga won't get the insane amount of free points that he got in the quarterfinal.

Nadal vs. Murray
Andrew: Nadal in 5
Brandon: Nadal in 4
Murray has a history of being a slow starter, and Nadal looks to come out of the gates firing. Murray will probably win either the second or third set, but Nadal will be too much for Murray and win going away, disappointing all of the British fans.

Semis Completed: Sharapova vs. Kvitova in Final

2011-06-30T17:53:00.001-04:00

I like women's tennis. I really do. But today's semifinals were, to no one's fault in particular, for lack of a better term, flat. We'll have a post up later that will talk about that more in depth, but the final for the Ladies' Singles Championship is set. Petra Kvitova will face 2004 champion and 3 time major winner Maria Sharapova on Saturday. After the jump, we'll look at each match individually.
Ladies' Semifinals

Petra Kvitova def Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
In the preview that never actually got published (Thanks Blogger!), I noted that Kvitova's serve would be crucial and whoever took the initiative in each rally would be the winner. That was clearly Kvitova's match today, and she played extremely well. The first set was an absolute rout, and it seemed that Azarenka was pulling a disappearing act in front of 14,000 people in the grandest stage in tennis. She woke up a bit in the second set, and was able to win 6-3, despite only hitting one winner. Kvitova's level of play dropped, but watching it, you had the feeling that if she could tighten up her game a bit, the third set was hers. Azarenka simply didn't have her best stuff today, and Kvitova raced out to a 4-1 lead in the third. it did get tricky, as Kvitova did get broken, but then she righted herself immediately and put Azarenka away. This is a great opportunity for Kvitova to win her first major.

Maria Sharapova def. Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-3
Things looked extremely promising for Lisicki early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and had a break point for 4-0. As quickly as that lead was achieved, it was even more quickly dissolved. Sharapova found her range and Lisicki's level of play dropped a bit, and Sharapova won 6 of the last 7 games in the first set. To make matter worse for Lisicki, Sharapova increased her level of play an extra bit and jumped out to a 4-0 and then 5-1 lead in the third. It looked, for all intents and purposes as if this match was over, but Lisicki, to her credit, fought bravely and broke Sharapova, making her serve for the match at 5-3. Sharapova did, and closed out the match. This was an excellent match for Sharapova for a few reasons. First, her serve, while shaky at times, was very effective today. After those first three games, she also dominated the baseline rallies, not allowing Lisicki to take charge of many points. her backhand was especially on today, and when she sensed Lisicki's level drop, she pounced on it, running away with the first set and controlling the second set thoroughly. Having been here before, having won 3 majors already, and playing the best tennis she has played in a long time, she has to be the favorite in the final on Saturday.

Tsonga Shocks Federer in Historic Upset; Semifinals Set

2011-06-29T14:29:00.000-04:00

178-0. That was Roger Federer's record coming into today when he has won the first two sets in a major. For two sets, it looked as if he would have no troubles with Jo Wilfried Tsonga, the talented Frenchman who has shown amazing talent but has come up short due to injuries and not quite using the immense talent he has. Federer broke in Tsonga's first service game and won the first set comfortably. The second set proceeded without any breaks, and while Federer won the tiebreak handily, 7-3, the pattern for the rest of the match was set. Tsonga elevated his game while Federer's evened out. Tsonga began to hit the ball much harder, while Federer wasn't matching his increase in intensity. The final three sets were oddly similar, and anti-climactic. Tsonga broke early in all of the three final sets, and Federer never could even get a whiff on the Tsonga serve. For context, Federer had only one break point the entire match, and that was in the first set where he broke Tsonga. In the final four sets, Federer had zero break points, and only a couple of times did he reach 30-all. It was by far the biggest win in Tsonga's career. That wasn't the only exciting match today. After the break, we'll look at the other three quarterfinal matches.

Gentlemen's Quarterfinals

Novak Djokovic def. Bernard Tomic 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
For the first set, Djokovic looked like the world beater he has been for the vast majority of the 2011 season. He could do no wrong, pushing Tomic around and making him look like the inexperienced 18 year old he is. Then, something funny happened. Tomic began to make Djokovic play the way Tomic wanted him to play. The "funkiness" of Tomic frustrated Djokovic greatly, and Djokovic showed his anger throughout the set. Tomic was able to take it 6-3 and then got up a quick break in the third. The wheels fell off the wagon when Tomic was serving at 3-2, and he lost 4 straight games to lose the third 6-3. Djokovic wen up a quick break in the fourth, but Tomic fought back, got a break, and took it to 5-5. Djokovic then raised his game enough to break Tomic and then serve out the match successfully. It was not by any standard the best of Djokovic matches, but it was a solid win for him and now, with Federer out, he has to be happy about facing Tsonga in the semifinals. It will be a dangerous opponent for him, but it won't be Federer and Djokovic is a far superior returner than Federer.

Andy Murray def. Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
After the dramatic Tsonga-Federer match, the Centre Court crowd experienced a bit of a letdown, and against a different opponent, Murray could have been rattled. However, Lopez, after battling back from a 2 sets to none against Kubot in the Round of 16, had nothing for Murray today. Each set was a standard affair. Murray broke Lopez once in each set, and that was all he needed. The only break poins Lopez had were in the third set, but two missed returns and his opportunity was gone. it was a comprehensive victory for Murray, and it was a perfect set up for Nadal in the semifinals.

Rafael Nadal def Mardy Fish 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
Mardy Fish looked like a man happy to be out there the first two sets, not putting up any sort of fight for Rafael Nadal. Nadal ran away with the first two sets 6-3, 6-3, and was up an early break in the third. Then, Fish decided he wanted to fight, breaking back early and then breaking back at 5-6 to win the third set. He promptly came back down to Earth, getting broken in the fourth set and losing 6-4. The only way that Fish could possibly win this match was through his serve, and that failed him miserably. He got in less than 50% of his first serves, and got broken 6 times during the match. His return game was decent, but couldn't come through when it counted. For Nadal, it was a typical match, and he looks forward to his semifinal berth against Andy Murray.

Previewing the Gentlemen's Quarterfinals

2011-06-28T21:37:00.000-04:00

After a Maniac Monday that saw dramatic tennis all over the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, eight gentlemen are left, and after tomorrow the final four will be set. The Big 4, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray are all left, and they are joined by a cast of characters in their respective quarterfinal berths. The big storyline going into the quarterfinals is whether or not there will be a repeat of Paris, where Nadal played Murray and Federer snapped Djokovic's insane win streak. Also, in Melbourne, 3 out of the four made it to the semifinals and back at last year's US Open, where 3 out of the 4 made it. Joining them are the American Mardy Fish, Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and the most surprising out of all of them, 18 year old Australian Bernard Tomic. After the jump, we'll preview each quarterfinal.

Gentlemen's Quarterfinals

Rafael Nadal vs. Mardy Fish
Mardy Fish is the last American remaining in the draw, and he is coming off of the best win of his career, defeating 2010 finalist Tomas Berdych in straight sets in the quarterfinal. He is also playing the best tennis of his career, ascending to be the top ranked American in the world. His movement has been excellent, his serve outstanding, and yet there is no conceivable way, other than an injury, that he wins this match against Nadal. Nadal is a better mover, hits a bit harder, and Fish just doesn't have the weapons to threaten Nadal. Fish is a really good player, but he's just not Nadal. Now, there is always the possibility of injury. Nadal appeared to have hurt his foot, but to the degree that was just Nadal being, in Patrick McEnroe's words, a "hypochondriac". Nadal has had injury problems in the past however, but to the extent that he made them up or exaggerated, we'll never know.

Andy Murray vs. Feliciano Lopez
The humorous subplot in this is that Andy Murray's mother, Judy, has been calling Lopez "Deliciano" and making other humorous and slightly odd comments about the handsome Spaniard. The actual plot involves Murray quest to be the first British male to win the Championships since Fred Perry in 1936 and Lopez making a career run, beating Andy Roddick, a three time finalist, and coming back from two sets to none down against Pole Lucaz Kubot. He has the game that can give any top player fits, with his huge serve and flat strokes. Murray will have the support, and the weight of an entire nation. The support can lift him over the top, but the weight can crush him. That's the most interesting facet of this quarterfinal, and as far as the tennis goes, Murray was very right when he himself said his return will be the most important factor here.

Roger Federer vs. Jo Wilfried Tsonga
This is the biggest quarterfinal of the four. Roger Federer, six time champion here, faces the surging Frenchman Tsonga. Tsonga has been on a tear during the fortnight, electrifying the crowd with his outstanding play. Federer, on the other hand, has not really kicked it into second gear, winning all of his matches comfortably but never reaching the heights he has previously. He will have to find his best game tomorrow, as Tsonga forces his opponents to play their best against him. Tsonga's serve and forehand are his two main weapons, and Federer will have to find his backhand if he wants to avoid falling in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

Novak Djokovic vs. Bernard Tomic
This is a very intriguing match, not necessarily for the tennis aspect, but for the fact that Australia has not has a prospect for a very long time. Tomic is 18 years old and is in his first quarterfinal in a major. He's got an unorthodox game, and while no one expects him to win, it will be very interesting to see how he responds to being in a major quarterfinal. Djokovic, for his part, needs to play his game and avoid being dragged into a war, because his next opponent would be either Federer or Tsonga, two very dangerous opponents

Predictions
Andrew: Nadal, Murray, Federer, Djokvoic
Brandon: Nadal, Murray, Federer, Djokovic

The consensus was that while Tsonga, Lopez, and Fish have the ability to make life difficult for the top players, no one seems able to dethrone these four players, at least not right now. The closest and most fun match should be Federer's, and it will be a true test to see where he still stands.

Blow it Up: The Ladies Draw is Wide Open after Deluge of Upsets

2011-06-28T00:37:00.000-04:00

For the second straight major tournament, there are none of the top three seeds on the ladies side in the quarterfinals. Not only that, but today, both of the Williams sisters were knocked out today as well. Serena Williams was defeated in two very tight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7) by 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli. Immediately afterwards, her sister Venus was trounced by Tsvetana Pironkova, who defeated her last year as well. To blow the draw up further, Caroline Wozniacki lost to Dominka Cibulkova 7-5 in the third after winning the first 6-1 but losing the second set tiebreaker 7-5. It was a heartbreaking loss for the number one ranked woman. After the jump, we'll look at what else happened today on the ladies side and preview the quarterfinals, which will take place tomorrow.

In other action, big favorites Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka won their respective matches rather easily. They are the two highest remaining seeds remaining at number 8 and 4. Bartoli, for her sake, is number 9. Also, Sabine Lisicki, who defeated Li Na in her third round match, defeated Petra Cetkovska 7-6, 6-1. Maria Sharapova, the 5 seed, also won very easily.

Ladies Quarterfinals

Maria Sharapova vs. Dominka Cibulkova
Cibulkova is coming off the biggest win of her career, defeating Caroline Wozniacki in a three set thriller. However, she faces an even tougher test in Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion here with a much larger grass court pedigree. This will be tough for Cibulkova, especially because she is coming off of two extremely tough and taxing three setters. Sharapova, on the other hand, has rolled through this tournament so far.
Prediction: Sharapova in 2

Sabine Lisicki vs. Marion Bartoli
This is the most intriguing match-up on paper, as "Boom-Boom" Lisicki has been on a roll so far this tournament, and Bartoli is coming off arguably the biggest win of her career against Serena Williams. Lisicki has tons of power, but Bartoli has the all around game that on grass can give anyone problems. She is also the smarter player, and this should help her figure Lisicki out.
Prediction: Bartoli in 3

Tamira Paszek vs. Victoria Azarenka.
Paszek has had a great run during the 2011 Championships, but now she is thrown into the very deep end, facing the number 4 see Azarenka. Azarenka has been playing extremely well, and with the absence of the WIlliams sisters, and Wozniacki, many are looking at Azarenka to break through and win her first major. The pressure might be her biggest opponent in this match, as on paper, this looks like she should win comfortably, but with Azraenka, you never know.
Prediction: Azarenka in 2

Petra Kvitova vs. Tsvetana Pironkova
This is the other very intriguing match on the lineup tomorrow. Pironkova is a veritable grass court specialist, defeating Venus Williams twice in the past two years here and backing up her semifinal appearance last year with a quarterfinal run this year. Kvitova, however, is a huge obstacle. She hits hard, serves big, and is a lefty, something you don't seem much on the WTA Tour. Her game is suited for grass as well, and like Azarenka, people are waiting for her to break through and win a major. This is, like Azarenka, the best time for her to do so.
Prediction: Kvitova in 3

Big Monday is Upon Us: The Second Best Day in Tennis

2011-06-26T21:47:00.000-04:00

The two best days in tennis are by far are Super Saturday at the United States Open with the two men's semifinals and the women's final and Big Monday at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. On this day, all of the gentlemen's and ladies' 4th Round matches. 8 matches are played on the gentlemen's side, 8 on the ladies. It is a tennis fan's dream, with great matches taking place everywhere in the complex. After the jump, we'll look at four matches on each side to watch. We'll also have predictions at the end of the article.

Gentlemen's Singles Round of 16 Matches to Watch

Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin del Potro
This one is the blockbuster fourth round at the Championships. Del Potro is the only player not named Nadal, Federer, or Djokovic to win a major since 2005 when he demolished Nadal in the semifinals then defeated Federer in the final. His injury woes have been well documented, but this is by far the biggest match of the second act of his career. His game matches up well with Nadal, but Nadal's tenacity is the equalizing factor. This is a match worthy of a semifinal or a major, and it should be very fun to watch.

Mardy Fish vs. Tomas Berdych
Tomas Berdych had one good tournament and one amazing tournament last year. He lost to Robin Soderling in the French Open semifinals and then in his best performance ever, beat Roger Federer and then Novak Djokovic in the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. He then lost to Rafael Nadal in a lackluster performance. After those two tournaments his results dropped sharply, and hasn't been the same since. He plays Mardy Fish, who is having a two year resurgence and is now at his highest ranking. Put simply, this is Fish's best chance to reach a quarterfinals. Berdych hits very hard, but his movement is rather weak for a top level player. Fitness and defense are Fish's calling card, and it's a good match-up for him. He's also been known for coming up short in big matches, so it will be very interesting to see what happens.

Andy Murray vs. Richard Gasquet
In terms of comparing records and accomplishments, this one shouldn't be close. Murray has had far more success than Gasquet has had during their respective careers. However, Gasquet is playing great tennis right now, and on his best day can give any top player a tough time. The pressure is a big equalizer though. Murray is Great Britain's only hope, and the fans' fanatic support of Murray can be a huge help but also can be stifling. The last time these two met here, Murray came back down from two sets to none down to win in an epic. This is a different and much improved Murray however.

David Ferrer vs. Jo Wilfried Tsonga
Ferrer had a career best performance at the 2011 Australian Open, defeating Nadal in the quarterfinals. His results have been decent since that, but in this match he's running up against arguably the hottest player in this tournament, Tsonga. Tsonga's serve and forehand have been on fire this tournament, and he has the game to hit through Ferrer. Ferrer, for his part, has not quite had the same success this tournament, being taken to five sets by Ryan Harrison, the young American. This should be a high quality affair, and there's no way he'll give up.

Ladies Singles Round of 16 Matches to Watch

Caroline Wozniacki vs. Dominika Cibulkova
No one is talking about Wozniacki, and that's the best thing to happen to Wozniacki. All of the attention is on the Williams sisters, and this has allowed Wozniacki to walk through her relatively easy draw without a three setter. This will be a tough test for her, as Cibulkova hits hard and can pose a challenge to the world's number one.

Marion Bartoli vs. Serena Williams
This is Serena's second tournament since last year's Championships, and the fact that she is in the Round of 16 is nothing short of amazing. Each match she has shown improvement and more comfort, and that should strike fear in her opponents. Bartoli, herself a finalist in 2007, has quite the story of her own. Struggling in the last match, she told her parents to leave the court, and she went on the win. She has a huge task now in Serena, but if Serena has an off day, there's a real chance Bartoli can win. However, if Serena is playing well, her attacking style poses challenges for Bartoli, who relies on defense.

Petra Kvitova vs. Yanina Wickmayer
Kvitova has long been talked about as a potential major winner, and her lefty, attacking style seems to be a perfect fit for the grass. She will take a huge step in facing Wickmayer, a tough Belgian. Wickmayer has shown the ability to pull off shocking upsets, and this certainly would be shocking, but Kvitova still needs to show that she can actually win a major, and this'll be a test.

Venus Williams vs. Tsvetana Pironkova
Pironkova is the closest tennis will get to a true grass court specialist, as she only does well at Wimbledon. This is a rematch of last year's quarterfinals, where Pironkova pulled off the stunning upset, and it wasn't close at all. She won 2 and 3 going away, and Venus, having been injured most of this year, seems ripe for an upset. She is still Venus Williams though, and she still loves the grass. This is by far the most intriguing 4th Round match on the ladies' side, mainly because of the rematch factor.

Predictions for the Gentlemen's 4th Round Matches to Watch
Andrew: Nadal, Fish, Murray, Tsonga
Brandon: Nadal, Fish, Murray, Ferrer

For the Ladies' 4th Round Matches to Watch
Andrew: Wozniacki, Serena, Kvitova, Venus
Brandon: Wozniacki, Serena, Kvitova, Venus

Americans at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships

2011-06-26T17:11:00.002-04:00

The absence of Serena and Venus Williams from tennis for the past several months have had a large effect on American tennis, both for the men and the women. It has left this country without any legitimate title contenders in either draw at every major championship. Andy Roddick, the highest-ranked American man, has been able to successfully disappoint all American tennis fans with early exits at the last several majors. This year's Wimbledon was no different, as he bowed out to Feliciano Lopez in the third round in straight sets. Even with this loss, American tennis fans still have hope at this year's Wimbledon: the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish, who are both into the fourth round. This shows the ups and downs of American tennis in a nutshell.

However, there have been other positives at this Wimbledon for American tennis that do not involve the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish. Ryan Harrison, the 19 year-old who is known for his competitiveness on the court, made it through to the second round, only to lose a tough five-set match to the seventh-seeded David Ferrer. 28 year-old Alex Bogomolov Jr. made it throught to the third round, only to lose to Thomas Berdych, Mardy Fish's next opponent. The positives were not as easy to find on the women's side, where no American made it past the second round with the exception of Venus and Serena Williams.

The negatives for American tennis at this year's Championships have centered around Andy Roddick. The three-time Wimbledon finalist looked extremely solid in his first two wins. Knowing that his third-round opponent was Feliciano Lopez, Roddick knew he would have to play really well to advance. He played well enough to push each of the first two sets to tie-breaks, both of which he lost. With the match just about over, Roddick was broken late in the third set, and Lopez held serve to win the match 7-6 7-6 6-4. This was not the first disappointment Roddick has had since his last trip to the final at Wimbledon, which was two years ago. He has failed to make it past the quaterfinals at any major since he lost to Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

Now that we approach the second week at this year's Wimbledon Championships, it is not a surprise that the only Americans left are the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish. Both Serena and Venus are likely to at least reach the semifinals, which would put them both one win away from facing each other in the final. Fish, however, is set to face sixth-seeded Thomas Berdych, last year's finalist, in the fourth round on Monday. The tenth-seeded American knows what he has to do to win, but knows that it will be no easy task. Meanwhile, all American tennis fans are hoping Fish, Serena, and Venus all something left to make deep runs in the second week of this tournament, which would no doubt make most fans forget about the otherwise-disappointing first week at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships for American tennis players.

Comparing the Championships and Roland Garros

2011-06-26T00:09:00.000-04:00

Every year on the tennis calender, after Roland Garros, the players make a radical shift away from the dirt of Spain, Italy, and France and onto the regal lawns of England. A comparison between the two seasons and the two major events that cap off the respective seasons naturally arises. The differences are striking. The red clay and the green grass. The striking colors of the players' attire matched against the deep red of the court and the simple, all-white dress code that blend in with the green grass. All of these are magnified in each of their respective majors. Roland Garros and the Championships at Wimbledon. After the jump, we'll compare the two majors.

The all-white dress code of the All England Lawn Tennis Club strikes many as odd, out-dated, and backwards. However, to others, it is a powerful symbol of the traditions and history of tennis. Also, the way the white blends in with the grass is quite visually appealing. The clay courts, with their non-existent dress code, simply cannot match it. Another unique aspect of Wimbledon is their lack of sponsors around the courts, except for an IBM logo on the scoreboard and a barely noticeable Slazenger logo on the back wall. Roland Garros, on the other hand, and for that matter, all of the other tournaments in the world, are littered with sponsors. At Stade Roland Garros, it's BNP Paribas and a host of other sponsors. Simply put, it's the eye test. There is also something thoroughly undignified about a chair umpire leaving his chair and inspecting a mark on a court. At Wimbledon, even before the challenge system, you simply wouldn't have that. Tennis on grass, and especially at Wimbledon, looks "right". In Paris, it looks "dirty".

There is of course the audio aspect of each tournament, and in this writer's opinion, it's clear that the All England Lawn Tennis Club has their counterparts in Paris beat. The French crowd is irritable, late arriving, and early leaving. They are quick to hiss at any player that questions a mark. The crowds at Wimbledon can be very loud, but this only adds to the experience. One moment that stuck out during the first week at the 2011 Championships was Andy Murray's match against Ivan Ljubicic. They were clearly pro-Murray, but after Ljubicic hit some great shots, they applauded him. In Paris, that is a very rare reaction to have. Another recent addition to the sounds of Wimbledon has been the construction of the retractable roof over Centre Court. The sounds that the players make under the roof are very different than those under the London sky, but, rather than cheapening the effect of the "Cathedral of Tennis", as Centre Court is nicknamed, it enhances the sound.

There is something audacious about calling your tournament "The Championships" and naming your main show courts "Centre Court", Court 1, and the like, not putting sponsors on the courts, and forcing your players to wear all white. The tradition and history that flows through the grounds of the All England Club make all of these things not only tolerable but expected. Roland Garros cannot match that history, class, or dignity. This is not to say that Roland Garros is a bad tournament. Some may certainly prefer the rabble and clamor of the Parisian masses to the British, and many people consider Paris to be more appealing than London, but there is a reason why the Championships have remained the premier tennis tournament in the world. You can see my earlier post, "The Supremacy of Grass" to see how the grass court game is really the best in terms of determining the best player. In addition to that, the tradition, pageantry, and serenity of Wimbledon makes it the best tennis tournament in the world.

Previewing the 3rd Round: Matches to Watch

2011-06-23T17:05:00.000-04:00

The second round of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships was much more exciting than expected, and a few matches are left to be decided. However, with the third round beginning tomorrow, here are three matches on both the ladies and gentlemen's sides that are very much worth watching.
Gentlemen's Third Round Matches to Watch
Juan Martin del Potro vs. Gilles Simon
Del Potro is on the comeback trail after a wrist injury that kept him out for an entire year, grass isn't his best surface, he had a hip problem a few weeks back, but yet he still keeps rising. He faces Gilles Simon, the extremely tough Frenchman who's seeded 15 here at the AELTC. This is a huge test to see how far del Potro has come, and both of these players are capable of fantastic baseline rallies. The winner gets either Nadal or Muller (Hint: Nadal), and if del Potro is there, it'll be a blockbuster fourth round.

Andy Murray vs. Ivan Ljubicic
Andy Murray is carrying the hopes of Great Britain, and thus far he hasn't shown any strain of the pressure. He will probably feel some train against Ivan Ljubicic, the huge serving Croatian who has flustered many a top player. Murray will have to be at his best on the return game to defeat Ljubicic, and if the Croatian takes an early set, expect the British faithful, and perhaps Murray himself, to tense up.

Roger Federer vs. David Nalbandian
The 6 time champion has cruised so far, so perhaps it's surprising to see his name here. However, his opponent has had historically some of the biggest success against him. David Nalbandian, a one time finalist here, is one of the few players who has had consistent success against Federer, albeit very early in his career. These two were early rivals in their career, except Federer took off and Nalbandian couldn't quite keep up. Federer is the clear favorite, but Nalbandian has the style of play that could really frustrate Federer. It should be interesting.

Ladies Third Round Matches to Watch

Dominika Cibulkova vs. Julia Georges
Georges has long been touted as a potential major winner, and her game seems suited for grass. However, Cibulkova is a hard hitter herself, and it will be fascinating so see if Georges can live up to the hype and defeat a tough opponent

Serena Williams vs. Maria Kirilenko
Once touted as a hot prospect herself, Kirilenko has struggled a bit, but she remains very difficult to play. Serena is, of course, always a must see player, but especially now because of her injury, many questions swirl around her. She has had two three setters so far, so this will be a good indication of how far she can go. If she wins this, her chances of winning the whole thing should look up.

Victoria Azarenka vs. Daniela Hantuchova
Hantuchova, like many other women's players, once looked like she could rise to the top of the game. Injuries derailed her, but these last few months have been a career resurgence for her. This is her best shot to take out a top player and continue her rise. However, Azarenka is a very hard hitter, and she has been on the steady rise for awhile now, being number 4 in the world, but has been unable to take that last step and win a major.