Pro Tennis Blog Posts

Whats next for Andy Roddick

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:57:19 EDT

Roger Federer collected his record-breaking 15th Grand Slam title today in a spectacular Wimbledon final that will not be easily forgotten by any of us who saw it. Major congratulations to the man who most pundits feel comfortable calling the Greatest Tennis Player of All Time.

On the downside, Sunday's four and a half hour final will be hard for Andy Roddick to forget also. Roddick, a major underdog who had lost to Federer 18 times in 20 meetings, looked poised to pull off the huge upset. He took the first set. He had four set points in the second that he failed to convert. He took the fourth set which launched a thrilling fifth set that would contain 30 games. Throughout, Roddick had been rock solid on his serve, never allowing Federer to break him...until the very last game of the match. It was a heartbreaker for a man who had worked so hard to get to that point.

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A-Rod Disgracing Baseball or Saving American Tennis

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:01:18 EDT

Sunday, the many lives of A-Rod increased by one.

While the more famous -- or infamous -- A-Rod, a.k.a. Alex Rodriguez, was enjoying a day off while his New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 for their 10th win in 11 outings, his moniker received a huge boost in a different sport played on grass overseas.

A rejuvenated Andy Roddick nearly pulled off the unthinkable -- preventing Roger Federer from claiming an unprecedented 15th Grand Slam title. At Wimbledon, of all places.

Alas, Federer was too much Federer in the end of an epic 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 victory in the Wimbledon final. So a tell-all book on this A-Rod will have to wait.

Federer, the Swiss Army of One, endured the longest fifth set in Wimbledon finals history en route to his sixth trophy in England, one short of Pete Sampras and William Renshaw.

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Federer vs Roddick in the finals is at least intriguing right

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:46:31 EDT

If I had bet on every sporting event in which I just knew in my gut what the outcome was going to be, I would be even more broke than I am now. We all know that Roddick is 2-15 against Federer lifetime and that Roger is playing some tennis right now that could be better than I have ever seen him play. That is why sports are so entertaining! Especially those decided by one game or match as opposed to a "best of" series. On any day, at any time, there is an opportunity for an upset. That's why the Confederation Cup final was even slightly exciting to me. I knew Brazil had a much better team, but on any given day..... I knew that the Patriots were going to clobber the Giants and finish a historic season 19-0. I knew that Tyson was going to knock out Buster Douglas and continue his tear through anyone who got in his way. And without a doubt, I KNEW that my Florida Gators were going to destroy a Michigan team that had lost to a division II school earlier in the year. And Sunday... I will be watching a cheering for the American Andy Roddick, even though I KNOW that Federer is going to win..............................

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Grumblings of a Senseless Insomniac Breaking Down Wimbledon

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:09:10 EDT

There's been a less-than-pleasant bed bug infestation at the humble chateau de Bisbee/Duah. It began, as these things so often do, as a minor disturbance, a hole in the screen we thought, undoubtedly allowing in some pesky mosquitos. My negligence to nip the problem at the bud resulted in the realization of great bed bug civilizations, though, and a few nights ago I was roundly bludgeoned into a schizophrenic mess. I've remained this way since, basically-- sleeping on the living room floor while visions of human-sized arthropods and Hanley Ramirez dance through my head...

Anyway, forgive me if I write in a somewhat more-scatterbrained-than-usual fashion today. I've gotten enough sleep over the past three nights to be legally admitted into an asylum. This being said, here are some thoughts that, God-willing, might have something to do with tennis.

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Wimbledon Womens Quarters Fizzle

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:03:51 EDT

The women took center stage at Wimbledon today as all four quarterfinals took to the lawns of Centre Court and Court 1. Unfortunately, the clashes of the last eight women failed to provide much in the way of compelling tennis matches.

Each match-up featured one of the top four seeds. In each case, the higher seeded woman advanced to Thursday's semifinals. Three of the matches were routes as Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva continued their romps through the tournament. None of these three were really tested in their matches which was a little surprising since Serena was up against Victoria Azarenka who has emerged as the most exciting new star of 2009. Venus dispatched Agnieszka Radwanska while Dementieva straight-setted Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone.

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The Best Day of Tennis You Wont Get to See

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:09:20 EDT

The second Monday of Wimbledon is traditionally hyped as one of the best single days of tennis each year. That reputation is warranted as the day usually features all of the final 16 men and 16 women slugging it out for spots in the quarterfinals. For tennis fans, it's a great day to plop down in front of the TV and wallow in all the grasscourt greatness.

Unfortunately, many of us won't get to see much of what transpired on the lawns of Wimbledon today. The networks, in their infinite wisdom, have decided that tennis fans really don't need to see live tennis on this, the best single day of tennis. Go figure.

To be fair, ESPN2 has done a good job with their Wimbledon coverage throughout the first week. I wasn't too enthusiastic about their French Open coverage a few weeks ago, but they have been handling the Big W quite nicely. They have been beginning their live coverage at the crack of dawn--actually before dawn for those of us on the West Coast--and have continued right up through the end of play each day. What more could you want?

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Hollow Victory for Roger Federer

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:05:05 EDT

Some claim that Roger Federer's clay conquest was a hollow victory since he did not beat Rafael Nadal.

As soon as Roger Federer dried his last tear of joy, the backlash began. Reporters and columnists quickly started dismissing his championship in the French Open because of something Roger could not control. Federer had no part in determining who he played in the final at Roland Garros. He simply did what he had done 13 times before- win a Grand Slam.

It isn't as if Rafael Nadal wasn't in the field. He was there. The number one seed in fact. It was his tournament to lose and he did. Federer made it through the draw he was given as the two seed. In the final Federer beat Robin Soderling in straight sets. Soderling defeated Nadal in four sets earlier in the tournament.

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Flextennis Summer 2009 League

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:58:38 EDT

If you have one opportunity to seize everything you've ever wanted - something like TENNIS - would you go for it? Guess what? You better try because one shot may be all you get! The Spring 2009 season is now underway! Players are now competing for citywide championship at their level!

Flex-E Sports / Flextennis is now open for registration for the Summer 2009 League. I am sure you don't want to miss the fun and excitement. This is the kind of league that works for someone as busy like you! You get to play on your neighborhood, you don't have to go too far. It's so easy to join. Just visit the website www.flextennis.com and see what's waiting for you.

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Oh The Times They Arent A - Changin

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:57:24 EST

In the interest of Black History Month, Tiger Woods is teaching us all a lesson.

The lesson? Golf stinks without him. Sorry Fuzzy Zoeller, but it’s true.

If you’re a sports fan like me, you’ll watch just about any game or event if it’s on TV. I watch as much sports as my girlfriend can stomach, and since I’ve been known to occasionally watch bowling on Sunday, she can be pretty tolerant.

In fact, when the NFL doesn’t rule our Sundays, my favorite thing to watch on TV is golf. There is no greater stress relief then kicking back in your recliner with a Reuben and a cold glass of iced tea and watching the final round of any tournament that’s on. I started watching golf years ago in high school. I’d get too stressed about Monday to enjoy my Sunday, so I found watching golf to be a very soothing Sunday activity.

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Iran competes in 2009 Fed Cup click here see photos below

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:15:54 EST

Iranian women competed in tennis for the first time since 1972, 7 years prior to the revolution.They played a tie with Hong Kong at a neutral site in Australia. Since Iranian law requires all women to be covered from head to toe in public, the players wore their hijab on the courts where the temperature was near 100 degrees fahrenheit. If I wore a sweatsuit on a 100 degree day I'd be sweating befoe I even started playing. They lost bad.

Hong Kong defeated Iran 3-0 in Australia.

R1 Z Yang (HKG) def S TABATABAEI (IRI) 6-0 6-0

R2 L Zhand (HKG) def G Torkaman (IRI) 6-0 6-0

R3 P Sher/ H Wu (HKG) def M Najarian/ S Tabatabaei (IRI) 6-2 7-5

The media commened the Iranian effort and made them feel how it was an honor and historical day for their country . I say you gotta be in it to win it. They should have put up a better fight. And I love the players name tabataba. If Jamaica had a bobsled team, Iran should have a womens tennis team. For the recored, this wasn't the most lobsided win in womens tennis. In 1999, Israel beat Iceland 6-0 6-0, 6-0 6-0, and 6-0 6-0. That's what you call a can of ass wippin'. In tennis terms, Iceland got hexabagled. Israel put 'em on ice. (See pictures below)

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