TennisToday

Rafael Nadal Celebrates 27th Birthday with $th Round Win at French Open

French Open - Men's Fourth Round

3 Rafael Nadal d 13 Kei Nishikori - 64 61 63

Rafa finally got a comfortable win in his 4 matches at Roland-Garros.

Rafa: Today I played a bit better than in the previous days.

He'll still needs to improve his level if he's to bite an 8th trophy.

Anyway after the match the tourney presented him a towering cake...

As the crowd serenaded him with a French version of Happy Birthday.

He is 5-0 on his actual birthday and improves his RG record to 56-1.

Rafa'll face Wawrinka in the Qf's - Stan hasn't won a set in 9 matches.

He is on course to play Novak in a blockbuster Sf match on Friday.

Most agree that the winner of that match will likely take the title.

Few Sf's have ever been so weighty - but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Rafa and Nole still have another match to win to get us there.

But they will. Of that I have no doubt.

Pablo Andujar Gains Semifinal at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's Quarterfinal

W/C Pablo Andujar d 14 Kei Nishikori - 63 75

Pablo's improbable run continued today.

He has only won 5 matches this year and none were back-to-back.

Here in Madrid he's on a 4 match winning streak!

His reward? He get Rafa in the Sf's tomorrow.

But Pablo is happy enough just to be there: I'm very happy.

Very happy for being able to reach my first [Masters 1000] semi-finals

in my career, especially here in Madrid. 

I think that I cannot ask for anything else.

Sure you can. How about the final?

Kei Nishikori Upsets Roger Federer in 3rd Round at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's 3rd Round

14 Kei Nishikori d 2 Roger Federer - 64 16 62

The boy beats his idol.

He was my idol. Actually, to beat him, that was one of my goals

for my tennis career. It happens on clay and it's amazing.

It's not really my favourite surface.

I wasn't really expecting this. 6-2 in the third, that's not easy against him.

I played well. I was a little bit tight of course, but he didn't make many

first serves in the third set and I was able to attack his second.

I was even more aggressive in the third set.

I'm pretty happy the way I played.

David Ferrer Thru to Quarterfinals at Miami

ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - Men's 4th Round

3 David Ferrer d 13 Kei Nishikori - 64 62

Remember back in olden times when 30 was old in tennis?

David will be 31 next week and he's playing like he's in his early 20's.

I'm liking this longevity thing happening in tennis.

I mean, the 'old guy' completely dismantled his young foe today.

This is David's 3rd straight Miami Qf - he's lost the last 2 years.

But he has been a Sf-ist here twice before: '05 & '06.

And with Roger and Rafa not playing he should make it 3 Sf's.

He will next play the Juergen Melzer - H2H: 6-2/Ferrer.

A battle of over-30 year olds. Get use to it y'all.

***

Photo: David and girlfriend at the Miami players party.

David Ferrer Thru to Quarterfinals at Australian Open

Australian Open - Men's Fourth Round

4 David Ferrer d 16 Kei Nishikori - 62 61 64

David moves into his 3rd straight AO Qf and 4th overall: 1-2.

This is also the 5th consecutive Slam into the Qf's: 2-2.

He will face countryman 10 Nicolas Almagro - he's own him: 12-0.

His reward is that he'll pass Rafael Nadal and move to #4 in the rankings.

One must consider him a decent threat to win a Slam:

It is very difficult to win a Grand Slam because there are the Top 4.

In this moment, the last three or four years,

they are better than the other players.

But I am not thinking about if I have the chance to win a Grand Slam.

I am only focused with every match I will play.

Screw the humble crap - go get it.

David Ferrer winning the Aussie Open is a-ok with me.

Rafael Nadal & Kei Nishikori Promote the Barcelona ATP Stop with Exo at the Sagrada Familia

I love these promotions.

Rafa enters Barcelona having won it the last 6 times he's played here.

He won 5 straight titles then skipped it in '10 and the won again last year.

He opens against Garcia-Lopez and drew (5) Tipsarevic in his quarter.

If on form his Sf opponent will be (8) Nishikori or '10 champ (9) Verdasco.

This is the time of year Rafa fans relish...

1 down (Monte-Carlo) - 4 to go (Barcelona, Madrid, Rome & Roland Garros).

As they hashtag all over my Twitter feed: #VamosRafa!

Rafael Nadal into 4th Round at Miami

ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - Third Round

2 Rafael Nadal d 25 Radek Stepanek - 62 62

Is that a halo? Well, his fan do think he's rather godlike.

After 2 matches Rafa has given up a mere 6 games.

He will next face 16 Nishikori - how many will he give up to Kei?

We'll see. Their H2H is 3-0 to Rafa. They last met here in the same round.

The score was 64 64 - I'm going to say it'll look about the same tomorrow.

***

BTW, there is a scenario where Roger steals #2 away from Rafa next week.

Photo: Reuters

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for April 10, 2011

The ATP saw Pablo Andujar & Ryan Sweeting win their 1st tour titles today.

***

Marbella WTA: 1 Victoria Azarenka d Q Irina-Camelia Gebu - 63 62

Vika makes it 2-in-a-row after winning at Miami last week.

Welcome to the top 5 girl!

Casablanca: Pablo Andujar d 5 Potito Starace - 61 62

Pablo is currently ranked #69. He is the 12th ranked Spaniard.

After today's win he should be up to #9 in Spain.

Charleston: 1 Caroline Wozniacki d Elena Vesnina - 62 63

This is Caro's 3rd title of 2011. And, yes, solidifies her #1 ranking.

Jet lag: She is playing an exo in Monte-Carlo tomorrow at 3. Phew.

Houston: WC Ryan Sweeting d 6 Kei Nishikori - 64 76(3)

Title #1 was accompanied with a jump in the River Oaks pool.

Ryan will see his ranking jump to just outside the top 50.

Quallies are gonna be a thing of the past.

Photos: AP/Reuters

Ryan Sweeting Reaches 1st ATP Final - At Houston

Houston ATP 250 - Semifinal

WC Ryan Sweeting d Q Ivo Karlovic - 76(3) 63

Big props to Ryan on getting to his very first ATP final.

A win tomorrow will bump his ranking from #93 to about #53.

A loss would get him up to about #73. Yea, nothing but smiles indeed.

He'll play Kei Nishikori in the final - H2H: 1-0/KN.

They have also played three times at the challenger level - 3-0/KN.

Hmmm, Ryan is playing the role of underdog tomorrow.

Much as he did today against an extremely exhausted Dr. Ivo.

9 American's started the tournament including...

Mardy Fish, John Isner, Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison & James Blake.

I'm sure it feels good for him to be the last one standing.