Weekend Warriors

Polona Hercog successfully defended her title in Bastad after she defeated Mathilde Johansson in the final 0-6, 6-4, 7-5. Going into the tournament, Polona hadn’t won a match in almost 3 months, her last win came at Estoril last April. A nagging back injury had been bothering her for most of the year but she appears to have turned the corner in Switzerland. Hercog notched good wins over Julia Goerges and Mona Barthel en route to her second career WTA title.

Dominika Cibulkova defeated her good friend Marion Bartoli 6-1, 7-5 in the Carlsbad final to win her 2nd WTA career title. She, of course, did not drop a set en route to the title.

Whenever Pome plays, it is never not mentioned how amazing it is that, at her size, she can hit the cover off a ball. She’s been on Tour for 7 years now yet we all still get shocked at the sight of her pouncing on a ball. So, I have concluded that it will forever be a phenomenon.

Thomaz Bellucci upset world No. 8 and top seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-2 in the Gstaad final to win his 3rd career ATP title. It’s a (good) surprise to see Bella beat a top guy in a final. We all know he can do it on a more regular basis but he’s completely oblivious of that fact. Perhaps this can be the start of… errr, I should know better than to finish this statement.

Bella won his first ever career title at the same tournament 3 years ago when he didn’t have a headband tan line. That was a good look.

After a whole week of hard work in Hamburg, Pico was awarded a few bottles of Coronas to celebrate. Tennis: Doing it right since 2010.

In the most physically unattractive final ever, Juan Monaco defeated Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4 to claim his 3rd ATP title of the year. Pico moves into the Top 10 for the first time in his career with this win.

Andy Roddick says to his fellow Weekend Warriorees: Put all your titles together and it still won’t equal half of how many I got. (I totally made this up.)

Andy won his 32nd ATP career title after he defeated Gilles Muller 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the Atlanta final. Following a terrible start that included a shoulder injury scare, Andy hung tough (as per) and fought his way through the second set to win it in a tiebreak. He then cruised in the deciding set as his opponent went away completely.

Ahem. No one steals a person’s mojo twi… oh.

Images © AP, Getty

Bromance back on?

As you all know, the field here in Indian Wells is the best thing ever. Year after year we see the top guys having fun playing soccer on it. Yesterday, Nole, Rafa, Janko and Feli had a little pick up game to the delight of many onlookers.

After all their battles on the tennis court last year and the subsequent bromance break-up, it’s great to see Nole and Rafa be so relaxed around each other again. Reunited and it feels so good.

I am told the kit Janko was wearing is not Rafa’s favorite. Now I understand why he made this face:

Rafa wants you outta here, dude.

What’s Feli grabbin’ at? Rafa looks like he wants to gouge his eyes out.

Winning looks good on ya

Janko Tipsarevic won his first ever ATP title last Sunday at the Malaysian Open. He defeated Marcos Baghdatis in the final, 6-4, 7-5. Although he had been to four finals prior to this one, Janko was the only player in the Top 20 who had not won a title.

I can’t help but be happy for the guy. He also looks way handsome with the trophy.

Images © SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images

Australian Open 2011: Day 3 wrap

I try not to get too (drunkenly) attached to matches because  they usually end up in heartbreaks and me cursing the sport for life. But I couldn’t help it last night, can we ever help it? Thankfully, it didn’t end up in heartbreaks (unless your name is Janko Tipsarevic) but I still cursed the sport for a little bit.

It all started with Fernando Verdasco and Janko Tipsarevic‘s match. Janko was rolling through the first two sets and Fer couldn’t be bothered to be competitive. Ugh. But he then somehow stole that third set which led to this. The fourth set came along and it looked like Janko was going to win it. After all that hard work and vamos-ing, this? Vamos-ing from Fer, me and other friends in their couches. Boo. Janko served for the match twice and held match points but somehow couldn’t convert. That one forehand passing shot winner from Fer- it’s somehow etched in my brain that he hit it from way up in the air- which saved a match point was the death of Janko’s tennis brain. They played a breaker to decide the fourth and Janko won no points. Neither did he win a single game in the fifth set. A total collapse from him but way to stay in the match for Fer.

ESPN2 forced me to watch Venus Williams and Sandra Zahlavova. I’d comment on the shrieking but I have no right. I’d comment on the outfit but I feel bad now. Vee pulled a muscle (psoas?) mid way through the first set tiebreak and lost that breaker. She had to limp off the court afterwards to get it treated and taped. It was kind of a long delay which gave Zahlavovaaaaah a lot to think about. Will her opponent retire? Can she even move? I’m sure Zahlavovaaaaah didn’t get the memo that Vee has never retired in a Grand Slam match before. Vee came back to play on, of course, and it looked like Zahlavovaaaaah didn’t know what hit her in that second set. A bagel is what I saw. The third set was competitive again with Vee just edging it out on one champion’s leg late in the set.

Despite winning in straight sets, my girl was in a lot of trouble in her match against Virginie Razzano. I was a lot of beers in while watching this so I think that made it seem a little bit more dramatic than it actually was. Top that with nerves and anxiety and suddenly the earth is shaking. I checked the news this morning and no earthquake hit Los Angeles around midnight. Anyway! As Maria Sharapova does, she somehow dug herself out of a 0-3, 0-40 hole early in the first set. She had two chances to serve out the first, one with a 40-15 lead but failed. Thankfully, she won the breaker and eventually the match.

Notable Day 3 results:

Roger Federer [2] def Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3
Fernando Verdasco [9] def Janko Tipsarevic 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(0), 6-0
Novak Djokovic [3] def Ivan Dodig 7-5, 6-7(8), 6-0, 6-2
Tommy Robredo def Mardy Fish [16] 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Robin Haase def Juan Monaco [26] 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Viktor Troicki [29] def Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3

Venus Williams [4] def Sandra Zahlavova 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-4
Maria Sharapova [14] def Virginie Razzano 7-6(3), 6-3
Francesca Schiavone [6] def Rebecca Marino 6-3, 5-7, 9-7
Vesna Manasieva def Marion Bartoli [15] 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
Anastasija Sevastova def Yanina Wickmayer [21] 6-4, 6-2

Complete Day 3 results here.

Image via Australian Open / © Ben Solomon

Australian Open 2011: A look ahead to Day 3

A lot of exciting matches on tap for Day 3. And by exciting I mean there will be a lot of pretty people, sweaty pretty people. There are also your usual suspects; Roger Federer, Justine Henin, Andy Roddick, Caroline Wozniacki, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic are all scheduled to play.

So, anyway, about the pretty. In these two matches, they’ll come from both sides of the net.

• Janko Tipsarevic vs Fernando Verdasco [9]
• Robin Haase vs Juan Monaco [26]

And then the rest of them. Some are pretty hot others are just pretty hot messes *cough*BZS & Stan*cough*.

• Jelena Dokic vs Barbora Zahlavova Strycova
  BZS is so painfully entertaining to watch. Let’s see how she’ll handle the Aussie crowd who’ll be behind Jelena.
• Gilles Simon vs Roger Federer [2]
  Roger has never beaten Gilles in two tries. That will most likely change today. Come on, Gilles, channel your inner 2008.
• Caroline Wozniacki [1] vs Vania King
  Get it, Long Beach.
• Virginie Razzano vs Maria Sharapova [14]
  Get it, Manhattan Beach.
• Rebecca Marino vs Francesca Schiavone [6]
  Very interested to see how Rebecca will handle an injured Franny. She can pull the upset if plays like how she did in that US Open first set against Vee.
• Stanislas Wawrinka [19] vs Grigor Dimitrov
  Show him the door, Kid. Can you also somehow take your shirt off in the process?
• Anne Keothavong vs Andrea Petkovic [30]
  I just wanted to say, AKO vs Petko.
• Viktor Troicki [29] vs Nicolas Mahut
  One of the few times where I’ll root for the other guy. But I wish you both a good match. Butreallygovik.

Complete Day 3 schedule here.

Image via Getty

Australian Open 2011: Gentlemen

Rafael Nadal is the top seed at this year’s Australian Open. He’s going for his fourth consecutive major and second Australian Open title. According to Rafa, he’ll be very happy if he wins this event because it’s the Australian Open and not because it will be his fourth consecutive major. And I believe him. He’s going to face a few tests mid-tournament. A potential fourth round clash with Marin Cilic [15] or John Isner [20] and then he has fellow Spaniard, David Ferrer [7], in his quarter. David has Mikhail Youzhny [10] in the fourth round.

Possible draw ruiners:

• Isner is ranked and seeded lower than Cilic but I think he’ll come through that group, beating Cilic in the process, to face Rafa in the fourth round.
• The most interesting first round match on the men’s side, Lleyton Hewitt against David Nalbandian [27]. Whoever comes through that match will have a chance to upset Ferrer in the third round.

Thanks to his title win in Brisbane last week, Robin Soderling will come in as the tournament’s 4th seed. This is the only major where Sod has not gotten past the second round… ever. He’ll surely look to improve that this year. He has a relatively easy first week. Then, a potential fourth round match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga [13]. Andy Murray [5] anchors Sod’s quarter with Jurgen Melzer [11] (huh?!) in his 16.

I think the seeds will hold up in this section. Go Muzz!

3rd seed and former Australian Open champion, Novak Djokovic, will try to get to a major final for the second straight time. He doesn’t have an easy quarters but he should be able to come through it. A potential fourth round against Nicolas Almagro [14] then Tomas Berdych [6] in the quarters. Berd has Fernando Verdasco [9] in the fourth round.

Potential draw ruiners:

• You can’t count out a big server in the first week and Ivan Ljubicic [17] will be tough test for Nico in the third round.
• Janko Tipsarevic is going to give Fernando all sorts of problem in the second round.

2nd seed and defending champion, Roger Federer, has been in good form since last  year’s WTFs. He won the warm-up tournament in Doha a week ago and is looking the best out of all the top guys. He has my man, Andy Roddick [8], in his quarter… of course. Andy will face Gael Monfils [12] in the fourth round and Roger has Mardy Fish [16]. Because life is fair.

Possible draw ruiners:

• Sam Querrey [18] in the 3rd round will be a test for Mardy, who, by the way, I haven’t seen in a second. Sam’s never been to the second week down under so this will be a good chance for him. Not that I care about either of them.
• Unfortunately, Stanislas Wawrinka [19], looked pretty good during his title win in India. He has a date with an injured Gael in the 3rd round.

US Open 2010: Day 6 preview

Frazzle day!

• Jelena Jankovic [4] vs Kaia Kanepi [31]
  Kaia’s always been a tough opponent to anyone and JJ hasn’t really been impressive lately so an upset wouldn’t surprise me.
• Beatrice Capra vs Maria Sharapova [14]
  We are so not thinking about last year. Masha’s in a different place in her career compared to last year’s nightmare so I expect her to come out of this 3rd round alive. Please, tennis gods?
• James Blake vs Novak Djokovic [3]
  Do it for nicely fitted clothes, Nole.
• Svetlana Kuzentsova [11] vs Maria Kirilenko [23]
  Eeeeks! Probably the most interesting 3rd round match on the women’s side. Kiri’s been playing some good ball (minus half of her previous round match) and Sveta’s been showing signs of consistent play this summer. It should be a good one!
• Gael Monfils [17] vs Janko Tipsarevic
  I’ll take self-inflicted pain over whining any day.

Off to ice my eye some more. See you in the morning!

Image via Getty