TennisToday

Rafael Nadal Digs Deep to Gain Semifinals at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's Quarterfinal

5 Rafael Nadal d 4 David Ferrer - 46 76(3) 60

Boy this one is gonna sting Ferrer for a while. He so had this one.

But Rafa just refused to lose. And once he got into the 3rd set: lights out.

After the win he helped celebrate Spanish legend Manolo Santana's bday.

Post match: To win matches like today is always important.

For me physically these matches help me [as] these are the kind of

matches that ask the most of you physically. I think I played well.

I had some highs and lows. Some moments I played aggressively.

Jennifer Capriati and Gustavo Kuerten Inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame

JENNIFER CAPRIATI

#1, 14 WTA titles, 3 Slams (Aussie '01-'02 & French '01) & '92 Olympic gold.

4 times Jen lost heartbreakers in the semis at the US Open.

Jen: I still managed to overcome some adversity, win a Gold Medal...

Win some Grand Slams and stand at the podium at the Hall of Fame.

'This is one milestone I thought I'd never achieve.It's been quite a journey

Here, I look back at all those really great things I've accomplished...

And the achievements I've had and those achievements I overcame.

***
GUSTAVO KUERTEN

#1, 20 ATP titles and 3 Slams - all at the Roland Garros: '97, '00-'01.

Guga on his 3 RG titles: I believe it's the surface you have to suffer more.

'You have to be out there for many hours.

You have to use every weapon you can & fight like a warrior. It's fun to try.

Photos: JenCap - AP, Guga - Getty Images

Happy 56th Birthday Bjorn Borg

Bjorn was a 6-times Roland Garros & 5-times Wimbledon champion.

Roland Garros: '74-'75 & '78-'81. Wimbledon: '76-'80.

He could never break through at the USO dispite 4 finals there.

He is tied with Rafa for most RG titles - Rafa is threatening to break that.

Bjorn won the RG-W double 3 times - 3 years running: '78-'80.

And finished the year ranked #1 twice: '79-'80.

Remember: He famously hung up his rackets in his prime at age 26.

The 'rock star' stunned everyone with his sudden retirement.

Who knows how many Slams he might have won had he stuck around?

Top Seed Victoria Azarenka Escapes 1st Round Scare at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's First Round

1 Victoria Azarenka d Alberta Brianti - 67(6) 64 62

Opening round jitters? Well she dug deep to fend off a huge upset.

Post match: Before maybe I would just give up and go home.

I was kind of thinking there was a flight straight to Minsk...

Around 3 o'clock tomorrow, so I could catch that.

But I didn't want to leave too soon.

We're glad you're sticking around.

Photo: At practice with sometime coach Amelie Mauresmo.

Rafael Nadal Poses with Clay Court Legends at Monte-Carlo

Rafa posted this photo on his Facebook page, captioned:

Today at the MC tournament's dinner, a tradition of this special tournament!

Rafa poses with legends: Nicola Pietrangeli, Bjorn Borg and Ilie Nastase.

Rafa is the 7-time defender at Monte-Carlo 2005-2001.

The other 3 are all 3-time winners at M-C themselves:

Nicola ('61, '67-'68), Bjorn ('77, '79-'80) & Ilie ('71-'73).

Kings of Clay: All four are also champions at Roland Garros.

Sorry Tennis Channel but you got it wrong - Steffi Graf is the Greatest Player of All Time

How Steffi finished #3 is beyond me. Let's compare their stats shall we:

Steffi Graf  ***  Roger Federer

Weeks at #1

377  ***  285

Year-End #1 Ranking

8 years  ***  5 years

Grand Slam Titles

22  ***  16

Tour Titles

107  ***  73

Olympic Gold in Singles

Yes, in 1988  ***  No

Calendar Grand Slam

Yes, in 1988  ***  No

Years with at Least 3 Slams

5  ***  3

Steffi has at least 4 titles at every Slam  ***  Roger only 1

And Roger places higher than Steffi? I think not.

And this post was written by someone that NEVER supported Steffi.

Photos: Tennis Channel

Martina Navratilova Set to Goofy-Foot on Season 14 of Dancing With the Stars

Inspired casting would have had Chris Evert on the show as well.

You know - one more H2H in their unmatched (in all sports) rivalry.

***

A little something about the legend that is Martina Navratilova:

Born in Czechoslovakia. Defected to the US in 1975. Out and proud lesbian.

She won 167 singles titles & 177 in doubles - both records for men & women.

In Grand Slam play she ranks 3rd (w Evert) with 18: 3 AO, 2 RG, 9 W, 4 US.

In doubles she won 31 Slams (most with Pam Shriver) & 10 in mixed doubles.

Her 1st & last Slams were both mixed titles: '74 RG & '06 USO.

And in that that span of 32 years she won a grand total of 59 Slam titles.

A perfect set: Martina owns a title in singles, duds & mixed at all 4 Slams.

The Hall of Famer held the year-end #1 ranking 7 times.

***

For Dancing With the Stars Martina is partnered with Tony Dovolani.

In 12 seasons he has made the finals once: 3rd with Melissa Rycroft.

Oops: The last tennis player to dance was Monica Seles. A 1st round loss.

Best of luck Martina. Those bitchy judges better be nice to you.

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Peddles Book in Barcelona

Former #1 Arantxa was in Barcelona to promote her new tell-all.

Broke: In it she blames her parents for blowing her $60 million fortune.

I bet she's pissed. And probable why she's doing commentary.

Arantxa won 4 Slams: RG in '89, '94, '98 & USO in '94.

I still haven't forgiven her for beating Monica Seles in that '98 French final.

I also hated that ball holder she employed at the base of her back.

Blame: She ushered in the era of multi-names when she added the Vicario.

But I loved her grit and tenacity - she got to everything and sent it back.

In winning RG.89 she became the youngest Slam winner at the time and...

Prevented Steffi Graf from winning a 2nd consecutive Grand Slam.

Now 40, Arantxa is on husband #2 raising a boy and girl.

Photos: Getty Images

Roger Federer: Happy 30th Birthday

Roger posted this photo on his Facebook page with thanks for his fans.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on Roger over 30.

Here's what I think...

Yes, he will win another Slam or three. Agassi, Connors & Sampras all did.

No, he will never be #1 again.

Yes, he will continue to dominate lesser ranked players.

No, he will not dominate Rafa & Novak - both ranked above him.

Yes, he will spend another few years in the top 5.

No, he will not retire any time soon.

Yes, he will play the 2012 London Olympic Games.

No, he will not win the singles gold medal. Nor defend the doubles.

Now... I hate all this prediction stuff so take them as you will.

We've witnessed some legendary stuff from this man.

We will continue to as well for many years to come.

To be sure.

Elena Dementieva Marries Maxim Afinogenov

And of course she makes a beautiful bride.

Photo from Alla Kudryavtseva's Twitter page.

Marat Safin Featured in Russia's InStyle Magazine

It took me a couple days to get to this - but I'd say it was worth the wait.

Marat retired in '09. Crushing the hearts of gals & gays worldwide.

As the French Open starts tomorrow - Marat's best run at RG: Sf's in '02.

Photos: Erez Sabag - Thanks for the heads up On the Go Tennis

And the reminder LA Surf Punk

Monica Seles Attends Novak/Andy Sf Match in Rome

Monica is in Rome to receive the Golden Racket as a past champion.

She won the title in '90 over Navratilova & in '00 over Mauresmo.

She also lost in 2 finals - '91 & '92, both to Gabriela Sabatini.

Back in the day I was all about Monica.

At the time my roommate was German and a BIG Steffi Graf nut.

Some of their matches in the early '90's got real loud in our house.

Seeing Mo today sure brought back some great memories.

For International Woman's Day: Martina Navratilova Advocate Magazine Cover Story

What better way to celebrate International Woman's Day than with a real hero of the gender: Martina Navratilova. Andrew Harmon writes a wonderful article for The Advocate. If you have a few minutes why not give it a read - HERE. Further, have you ever seen a better photo of Martina?

An excerpt: "Goodbye 2010," she wrote on her website as the year drew to a close. "If you were a fish, I'd throw you back."

But talking with her today, it seems almost as though the last straw came when the 54-year-old Navratilova was in a hospital bed in Nairobi, Kenya, watching CNN. "They were showing a five-minute segment on World Sport, about Martina Navratilova and the climb, they talked about what happened, and it was very accurate, and I was like, Oh, that was nice," she says.

"Then on the ticker underneath it says, 'Martina Navratilova Quits Her Mount Kilimanjaro Attempt,'" she continues with a wry smile. The emphasis is hers. It's clearly an unpalatable word, even though she relates this story with a heady dose of humor threaded through the exasperation. "I can say that I quit, but nobody else can say that I quit! Because the only option of not quitting was to go up and die. So it was not a good solution. Quitting suggests that you had a choice. I did not have a choice."

And then Samperer (or Fedpras?) take in a Laker Game

The Roger Federer & Pete Sampras bromance continues...

With floor seats. Kobe Bryant. No wives. It's all too much.

Shouldn't one of them be feeding the other one popcorn?

Just kidding folks... Calm down.

Roger Federer & Pete Sampras Practice Together Today in Los Angeles

You're looking at a whopping 30 Grand Slam titles right there.

In fact, Rog & Pete combined have won 13 of the last 18 Wimbledon titles.

They played once on the ATP tour - Rog won: 4th Round at Wimby in 2001.

Of course Roger is in Southern California heading to Indian Wells next week.

Roger will be seeded #2 and is a 3-time champ in the desert: '04-'06.

Since his last title run he has a 9-4 record, including 2 Sf runs.

Last season he lost in the 3rd R to Marcos Baghdatis - 7-6(4) in the 3rd set.

Meaning - Roger is in a great position to add some ranking points in IW.

But should he faulter Novak is in position to steal his #2 ranking.

Fun for fans: The #2 battle will heat up this month in IW and Miami.

Photos: I got it from the ATP Twitter page

Petra Kvitova Upsets Kim Clijsters to Win Paris Title

Paris WTA - Final

4 Petra Kvitova d 1 Kim Clijsters - 64 63

Petra overpowered Kim - plain and simple. She is the real deal.

Both 20: With Caroline Wozniacki they are the 2 best under 21-year-olds.

This is Petra's 3rd WTA title & 2nd of the year - already.

She is currently ranked #18 but I think that will be rising quickly.

This was her 6th win over a top 10 player & 2nd over a #1 (Safina).

Well kind of: Technically Kim doesn't become #1 until tomorrow.

As for Kim, I think it's time to get home and relax. She has played a lot.

In '11 so far she has played 3 finals (1-2) and Fed Cup. Next: Indian Wells.

No Lemon: Also this week Kim learned that Alec Baldwin has a crush on her.

Lastly: Always lovely to see you Amelie. You are missed.

Photo: Getty Images

4 Tennis Legends Make L.A. Times List in "A Guide to Cool: 50 Southern California Athletes Who Rate"

Chris Dufresne writes a clever article on the 50 'coolest' athletes from Southern California. Strange that he omits Serena Williams but he does have 4 other tennis legends on his list. The highest ranked among being Billy Jean King at #5. Who is #1 you wonder... that honor belongs to Dodger Sandy Koufax. You can view his article HERE.

Here is what he had to say about his tennis four:

#5 Billy Jean King: A man raised in the feminist 1970s with four sisters could ill afford to keep King off this list. The Long Beach native didn't seem so cool then with her cat-rimmed glasses and all that jabbering about ERA (wasn't that "earned-run average?"). Her 1973 tennis match against huckster Bobby Riggs turned our house into the Korean border, but her straight-sets victory pretty much set everyone straight. King became cooler with age, especially when we later found out Elton John's song, "Philadelphia Freedom," was dedicated not to the Liberty Bell but to King. Equal rights for women, it turned out, were cool. Billie Jean, royalty on the courts, served society with a brazen openness that turned perspiration into inspiration.

#11 Jack Kramer: Rose out of Montebello High to win Wimbledon in 1947 and become tennis' Arnold Palmer. What a racket.

#16 Arthur Ashe: He ate cool for breakfast and was way more than a tennis star out of UCLA.

#49 Tracy Austin: Won U.S. (tennis) Open in Palos Verdes pigtails but scored her most important victories in charity work.

Photo: Michael Cole/HBO

Monica Seles Attends Laureus World Sports Awards

Legendary tennis star Monica Seles attended the Laureus World Sports Awards last night in Abu Dhabi. The 9-time Grand Slam champion is an Academy Member. You think she voted for Rafa?

Three female tennis players were nominated for Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki. They all lost to skier Lindsay Vonn.

Serena didn't attend of course - she was too busy having a blast in the Gatorade box at the Super Bowl.

Funny that Monica would pop up on my radar today... Just a week ago I mentioned to a friend about Serena returning to tennis, "Ya know, Monica Seles was forced from the game with a foot injury too."

Not that I am in any way predicting Serena will never be back but I wouldn't have predicted that for Monica in the mid-90's either. Just saying.

And now for something completely awful: why was the first thing I thought of when I saw these pics was if you could see the scar?

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

Anastasia Myskina on Russian Dancing with the Stars

Um, chick-chickee-wow.

Thanks to Matt Cronin for tweeting this classic.

Henri LeConte is Killing Ryan Harrison in Adelaide

Yea. Evidently Henri is the Jerry Lewis of the legends tour.

***

I hear young Ryan may pull from AO11 cuz his sides have split.

Photos: Getty Images