TennisToday

Hey fact-checker over at ESPN - you effed up...

Can you spot what's wrong here:

Rafa lost in the quarterfinals in Australia.

I'm really baffled at how Patrick McEnroe & Chris Fowler didn't catch it.

And they mention it on more than one occassion.

Hmmm. Maybe I should have called these matches.

Hey ESPN - If You Can't Show Live Tennis Matches...

THEN GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE GAME.

DVR ALERT: ESPN's 30 for 30 'Unmatched' Airs Tonight

Just when you thought the tennis was over for now...

This film documents the Chris Evert/Martina Navratilova rivalry.

Nothing in individual sport touches this rivalry as they played 80 times.

Not to be missed. Here is a little peak:

 

Fernando Verdasco Moves into US Open Quarterfinal on an Amazing Match Point in 5th Set Tie-Break

US Open - Men's Fourth Round

8 Fernando Verdasco d 10 David Ferrer - 57 67(8) 63 63 76(4)

Easily the best match on the men's side at the Open so far.

Shame ESPN couldn't give it more airtime. I streamed it, hope you did too.

This is the 2nd time Fern has come back from 2-sets down to win.

Spare a thought for David - the USO 4th round will haunt him (and Querrey).

Fern showed some real heart in making it 2 Qf's in a row at the Open.

This was his 12th Slam 4th round - he's now made it past in 3 of them.

And this match wasn't without its far share of drama...

Check out this unbelievable match point - which was ESPN's shot of the day:

Photos: Getty Images

Maria Sharapova Visits Her Family Home in Chernobyl

If you have a spare 12 minutes please watch this brief doc from ESPN.

WONDERFUL STUFF...

A Banana has its Moment on ESPN at ATP Cincinnati

Dude, in that Cincy heat?

Some people'll do anything for a little attention...

I actually saw a guy in a banana suit run the LA Marathon too.

Photo: My TV

I've heard there are a lot of bugs in Atlanta but...

This wasp popped up during the Isner/Russell match a few minutes ago.

I guess it wanted a closer look at what that Wimbledon fuss was all about.

I'm surprised the cameraman didn't shriek. I would have.

Photo: ESPN2 on my TV

Brooklyn Decker at the ESPY's: Va-Va-Va-Voom!

I have long considered her to be the lucky one in that marriage.

Not after last night. Zounds! What mounds!

Hubby Andy Roddick couldn't attend the event...

So tennis buddy Justin Gimelstob filled in - he Tweeted:

AND, I adhered 2 almost every rule of Andy Roddick,

1 time there was some incidental contact,

but 99% of the time I kept the 2 feet cushion!

Photo: AP

John Isner & Nicolas Mahut Win ESPY for Record-Breaking Performance

A bizarre one-off match trumps Federer's breaking Sampras' Slam record?

Taking nothing away from these boys and their incredible effort, I think not.

Roger Federer & Serena Williams won for Best Male & Females Tennis Players.

Kim Clijsters won Comeback Player in a non-tennis specific field of nominees.

James Blake Yells at Pam Shriver During his Loss Today at Wimbledon

Apparently Pam's commentating above Court 5 was bugging him so he yelled to her, "It's amazing you played tennis I can still hear you..." She reported what he said on ESPN and then he continued, "You wanna be an ass about it, and act like I'm at fault?" Ewwww, scandal.

Wimbledon: ESPNs Experts Pick the Winners

Nice to see Andy Roddick getting a little love.

The tally, an interesting one, shakes out as follows:

Rafael Nadal - 4, Roger Federer - 3, Andy Roddick - 2.

Serena WIlliams - 4, Venus Williams - 3, Kim Clijsters - 2.

ESPN Promises to Carry ALL Wimbledon Matches LIVE

This from ESPN's VP of Programming Len DeLuca, "Tennis fans demand Wimbledon and all the Grand Slams live, and when anyone tries not to deliver the action live and hold it back for whatever business reasons, it's a disservice to the fans and definitely not 21st century tennis."

Well, that's great. But the bigger problem is NBC. Can someone bitch-slap the decision makers over there? It's already been posted that the semifinals for both the women and the men will be tape delayed in the west.

So why even bother NBC? A crazed tennis fan (like myself) is just going to stream it and not watch the broadcast anyway. Why doesn't NBC just let ESPN air it live until the finals weekend and then they can have their annual Breakfast at Wimbledon? How hard is that to figure out? This way you won't upset tennis fans and Martha-Bonnie-Ellen fans all at the same time.

Lookie here, I'm already pissed & the semis are still two weeks off.

Jurgen Melzer Upset Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros but with the SUCKY ESPN Coverage You Wouldn't Know It

22 Jurgen Melzer d 3 Novak Djokovic - 36 26 62 76(3) 64

I forgot to post this yesterday - my bad.

Probably because I didnt see but 3 games of it. Thanks ESPN.

After the Nadal match ESPN made us watch the Williams Sisters...

AND didn't think that this match was way more important.

I know, I know - since we're Americans we only care about Americans. UGH.

Even after the Sisters won they stuck around for an on-court interview.

Oh yea, "Let's get over to Lenglen guys. Great match happening."

Ya think?

And dont think you're getting live tennis tomorrow on the west coast either.

NBC is delaying the telecast until 11am - long after both matches have ended.

Couldn't just keep it on ESPN one more day? I hate this shit.

Jelena Jankovic Moves into Semifinal at Roland Garros

 

4 Jelena Jankovic d Yaroslava Shvedova - 75 64

Between Tennis Channel & ESPN2 I haven't seen Jelena hit a single ball live.

At least I'm guaranteed some Jankovic tomorrow.

She moved into her 3rd Roland Garros semi today and 6th in a Slam (1-4).

And it should get her ranking up to #3 on Monday.

For her part Shvedova will move up nicely from her current #36.

Photo: Getty images

Rafael Nadal: ESPN In-Studio Post 2nd Round Interview at Roland Garros

This is a wonderful interview with ESPN's Chris Fowler.

It's not complete, when I find the entire video I'll get it on here.

It's missing his assessment of Spain vs Switzerland in World Cup play!

ESPN's French Open Tennis Coverage SUCKS

So ESPN2 goes on the air at 9am (I'm in L.A.) with French Open coverage.

In doing so they make Tennis Channel sign off mid-day in Paris.

So what does ESPN2 show us? The Serena match that ended HOURS AGO.

Ok, I get that. But if you're gonna do that then why oh why oh why oh why -

CAN'T THEY JUST LET THE TENNIS CHANNEL KEEP GOING????

There are great matches being played RIGHT NOW.

Yes stupid people at ESPN2 I would like to see Tsonga/De Bakker.

ESPN SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS.