TennisToday

Novak Djokovic & Brothers Spend a Day at the Beach

Is there a better way to get over a stinging loss like the one in Paris...

Than with your bro's on the beach? (Photo from Novak's Facebook page.)

It's weird how some players can get over a loss faster than their fans.

Hell, I'm still gutted over Monica Seles' loss at the '08 French Open!

And her '02 loss at Wimbledon.

Anyway, Nole next tournament will be Wimbledon.

He's defending a Sf at SW19 - and should easily be able to repeat that.

Unless Wimby farts up a #5 seeding for Rafa and they meet in the Qf's.

Anyway, have fun Nole - you've got some work to do in London.

Roger Federer into Semifinals at Halle

ATP 250 Halle - Men's Quarterfinal

1 Roger Federer d WC Mischa Zverev - 60 60

This was the 2nd time in his career Roger has double bageled someone.

Roger has only played 1 final so far this year - a loss to Rafa at Rome.

He hasn't won a title since Aug. 12 at Cincinnati.

Those are not familiar to Federer fans. It's quite a draught.

In fact, this is the latest he's gone in a season without a title since '99.

Since his last win (of his 5 here) at Halle he's been runner-up twice.

Including his loss last year to Tommy Haas.

Speaking of, Roger will play Tommy in the Sf's tomorrow.

So yea, we'll see.

2013 French Open Champions

Rafael Nadal

Serena Williams

The Bryan Brothers

Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina

Frantisek Cermak & Lucie Hradecka

Rafael Nadal Wins 8th French Open Title

French Open - Men's Final

4 Rafael Nadal d 5 David Ferrer - 63 62 63

8.

Rafa moves up to 3rd with Roy Emerson on the Slam list with 12.

Only Pete Sampras with 14 and Roger Federer with 17 are ahead of him.

He improved his French Open record to 59-1. A sick winning percentage.

Rafa also notched his 20th win over Ferrer and 4th of the 2013 season.

He is also the 1st man to qualify for the season ending tournament.

In a rankings quirk the win actually saw his ranking fall back to #5.

But he is firmly atop the Race to London rankings by a mile.

With 90 points to defend the rest of the year - lookout Nole...

Hi8tory: No man has ever won 8 titles at any one Slam before.

History: And no man has ever won a Slam 9 years running.

Post match: Eight times here is a lot. I never thought about that.

But I will keep practising with the same passion and intensity to bring

my tennis to the highest level possible.

***

Rafa has played 9 tournaments this year and made the finals of all 9.

He's won 7 of them making him the tour leader.

Next up is Wimbledon where he's won it twice: '08 & '10.

It's also the place where he lost early in '12 & left the tour with an injury.

This year plan on Rafa hitting Wimby with a hunger for a big points gobble.

David Ferrer Thru to Final at French Open

French Open - Men's Semifinal

5 David Ferrer d 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 61 76(3) 62

It took 11 years and 42 Slams for David to finally gain his 1st final.

And it's very well deserved.

He had come up empty in his last 5 semifinal attempts.

He takes a massive losing record against Rafa with him - H2H: 19-4/Rafa.

Post match: I'm very, very happy. This tournament is very special for me

and to be the first final of Grand Slam in Roland Garros is amazing.

Now I want to enjoy this moment, to rest tomorrow,

and to try my best in the final.

I know he's the favourite, but I am going to be focused every point.

I will try to do my best.

Rafael Nadal Defeats Novak Djokovic in Epic 5 Set Thriller in Semifinals at the French Open

French Open - Men's Semifinal

4 Rafael Nadal d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 36 61 67(3) 9-7

Halfway thru the 5th set this was getting classified as an instant classic.

This baby was breathtakingly contested at an unreal high level.

And it should have been the final.

Rafa is going for an 8th French Open title.

No man in tennis history has 8 titles at any one given Slam.

A win would also put his Slam total at an amazing 12.

Today he also tied the record for most match wins at the French Open: 58.

Remember: Rafa has lost ONE match in 9 years at Roland Garros.

20's: At Rome a couple weeks ago he reached 20 wins over Federer.

Today he reached the same level over Nole - H2H: 20-15.

A win in Sunday's final would put him at 20 wins over Ferrer.

Post match: You need to love the game. You [need to] appreciate what

you are doing in every moment. I learned during all my career to

enjoy suffering, and these kind of matches are very special.

You don't have the chance to play these kind of matches every day.

So when these kind of matches happen you suffer,

but I really enjoy these moments.

Rafael Nadal Thru to Semifinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinal

3 Rafael Nadal d 9 Stanislas Wawrinka - 62 63 61

Rafa won this match on the 8th anniversary of his 1st title (above).

Rafa is into his 8th French Open Sf: 7-0.

He'll face his main rival these days, Novak Djokovic - H2H 19-15/Rafa.

On clay: 12-3/Rafa. At the French Open: 4-0/Rafa. In finals: 8-8.

However... Since 2011 their H2H is 8-3/Nole.

And they've played once this year. On clay. Monte-Carlo final. Nole won.

So I'm going to say that Rafa is a bit of an underdog in this one.

Post match: So now I am in semi-finals, three matches in a row without

losing a set. The last two matches, I only lost one [game on] serve.

That's starting to be very positive numbers. Only numbers, but most

important thing at the end is the feeling, and the feeling is

completely different.  If I was not happy five days ago about my level,

today I say I am happy that I am in semi-finals.

Novak Djokovic Thru to Semifinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinal

1 Novak Djokovic d 12 Tommy Haas - 63 76(5) 75

Nole has stated that this is the title he wants this year.

He is 2 wins away.

And it's kind of fitting that he'll have to go thru Rafa to get it too.

Seems tragically unfiiting that it's at the semifinal stage.

Post match: Now I have a big challenge in front of me & I'm ready for it.

I have been playing well. I know that this is the biggest challenge for me

in Roland Garros, no question about it,

and I'm sure that it's going to be quite a good match.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Upsets Roger Federer in Quarterfinals of the French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinals

6 Jo-WIlfried Tsonga d 2 Roger Federer - 75 63 63

I'm not sure I want to call this an upset.

I think most hardcore tennis fans kind of saw this one coming.

I know I did.

If Jo-W can win his Sf he'll be the 1st Frenchman into the final in 25 years.

He'll have a tough one against David Ferrer who has a 2-1 lead on Jo-W.

So yea, no pressure there!

Post match: Everybody's been expecting a lot from me since the beginning

of this tournament. Not only this tournament, but every day.

So I'm used to it. Now what is important, is to stay focused, to think about

my next match. Because it will be extremely tough against a player who

didn't lose a single set and won with a very striking score in the Qf's.

David Ferrer Thru to Semifinals at the French Open

French Open - Men's Quarterfinal

4 David Ferrer d 32 Tommy Robredo - 62 61 61

Well. This was a no brainer. Poor Tommy must've been extremely pooped.

This is David's 3rd straight Slam Sf and 6th over all. He is 0-5.

Boy, if ever he had a shot at a final - this would be it.

And if that weren't enough - he is the only man not to drop a set.

David next faces Jo-Willy in the Sf's and has a 2-1 H2H against him.

Post match: I think it's quite normal [that] the crowd is going to be

supporting Jo. He's French and I am very happy he's made it that far.

I'll do everything I can to make it to the final. I have to remain focused.

Old Man Tommy Haas Reaches Quarterfinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Fourth Round

12 Tommy Haas d 29 Mikhail Youzhny - 61 61 63

At 35 Tommy is the oldest Qf-ist at the FO since 1971.

It also took him 12 attempts in Paris to reach his 1st Qf at the FO.

He'll get Novak next - H2H: 4-3/Novak.

Remember: Tommy just beat Novak (in straight sets) at Miami in March.

So, who knows. This Qf could be very in-ter-est-ing.

Post match: It is one of the biggest challenges in tennis,

if not the biggest one right now, playing against the No. 1 player.

[He is] somebody that's very, very eager to win this title –

[the] one that's missing in his collection.

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.

Roger Federer Wins Historic 5 Setter to Gain Quarterfinals at the French Open

French Open - Men's Fourth Round

2 Roger Federer d 15 Gilles Simon - 61 46 26 62 63

Roger's 35 match quarterfinal streak was in jeopardy for a sec there.

But Roger being Roger dug deep and powered thru the last 2 sets.

There was also an injury scare as Rog rolled over his ankle a in the 2nd.

The victory also marked the GOAT's milestone 900th ATP match win.

He is only the 4th player to reach 900.

Post match: I knew 900 was on the line. I'm just happy I have been able

to win a lot of matches throughout my career, [giving] myself an

opportunity over and over again. I love this game.

Every time you turn around he's breaking records.

A Qf win over Tsonga and he'll own the record for most FO match wins.

He loves those records.

Tommy Robredo Continues His Improbable Run into the Quarterfinals at French Open

French Open - Men's Fourth Round

32 Tommy Robredo d 11 Nicolas Almagro - 67(5) 36 64 64 64

Tommy has sooooooooooo earned those tears of joy.

I mean. How on earth is he into the quarters?

This was his 3rd straight match coming back from 2 set to none.

The last man to win 3 straight 0-2's was Cochet at Wimby back in 1927.

And this is a guy that started the season outside the top 100.

And if that weren't enought - he's over 30.

I did say improbable, didn't I. Beret's off to you Tommy.

This is Tommy's 4th trip to the RG quarters: 0-3.

Post match: I think that being in the quarter-finals again, it's amazing,

and also with three comebacks the way I did. I just need to enjoy it

because I think that in tennis, we need to enjoy it when we do great

things and keep focused. Because if it's possible, why not? [I could be]

one time in the semi-finals here.

***

Who has the nerve to doubt him now?

But Tommy faces a tall test next against Ferrer - H2H: 6-2/Ferrer.

But didn't we all say that about his match today?

Exactly.

Novak Djokovic Thru to 4th Round at French Open as He Notches 500th ATP Match

French Open - Men's Third Round

1 Novak Djokovic d 26 Grigor Dimitrov - 62 62 63

I think everybody thought this one would be a closer contest.

Remember, Grigor beat Nole just a few weeks ago at Madrid.

In the process Nole became the 40th player to join the 500 club.

Nole certainly is looking unbeatable at this edition of RG.

But his next opponent is Philipp Kohlschreiber - H2H: 2-1/Nole.

The loss? A 3rd round straight set loss here at the French in 2009.

Yea, I'm not seeing a repeat of that on Monday.

Not happening.

Rafael Nadal Thru to 4th Round at French Open

French Open - Men's Third Round

3 Rafael Nadal d 27 Fabio Fognini - 76(5) 64 64

Rafa got his own Pocoyo doll - I have no idea what that means. LOL.

One thing I do know: Rafa needs to up his level to get an 8th title at RG.

Ain't no way he's getting past Nole with what he's bringing now.

Rafa agrees: I have to play better. If I want to have any chance,

I really need to play better. But it is always the same story.

When you win without playing your best, you have the chance to

play better. If you don't fight when you have tough days or

negative days, then you don't have all the chances for the future.

So it's important to stay humble these kind of days, stay with

the right mentality, be positive, and accept in every moment all the

difficulties that comes and try to win.

***

And that's his own analysis of his game after a straight set win.

And he's right.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Thru to 4th Round at French Open

French Open - Men's Third Round

6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d Jeremy Chardy - 61 62 75

Interesting to note that this is only his 6th time playing at Roland-Garros.

His W/L on the red dirt of Paris is 15-5.

If he can get past Federer in a possible Qf he may just give France a champ.

Post match: A few years back nobody believed in me and now people

believe in me much more. So I hope I will do them justice.

Roger Federer Thru to 4th Round at French Open

French Open - Men's Third Round

2 Roger Federer d Julian Benneteau - 63 64 75

Rog joined Twitter a week ago and already has almost 300k followers.

Yesterday he tweeted this photo from the iconic Eiffel Tower captioned:

I really enjoyed going on top of the Eiffel Tower

for the first time in my life today.

He's also enjoying a romp thru the draw as he's won 9 straight sets.

This is the GOAT's 46th trip to the 4th round of a Slam: 39-6.

And he's looking to get into his 37th consecutive Slam Qf.

Yea, that's building on a ridiculous streak - and record.

Rafael Nadal Thru to 3rd Round at French Open

French Open - Men's Second Round

3 Rafael Nadal d Martin Klizan - 46 63 63 63

This is the 2nd straight match Rafa's lost the 1st set and won in 4.

Overcast and damp are famously not the conditions Rafa likes.

And he was too thrilled about the schedule: Yesterday the supervisor

made a big mistake with me because my opponent already played

yesterday... And so it is something in my opinion that is not fair.

Seriously... A 2nd round match played on the 1st Friday?

When this Slam has an extra day on the opening Sunday? Kinda ridiculous.

Rafa will turn-around and face Fabio Fognini tomorrow.

I'm thinking Rafa will get his first straight-setter tomorrow.

Shopping cures the blues perhaps?

 

Janko Tipsarevic Thru to 2nd Round at French Open

French Open - Men's First Round

8 Janko Tipsarevic d Nicolas Mahut - 62 76(4) 61

Hey lookie here, Janko snapped a 3 match losing streak.

Post match: A straight set victory against any Frenchman is a

big victory in my book, especially at Roland Garros.

That's a true story.

Janko put his season into the positive with a W/L of 12-11.

As a result he fell out of the top 10 last week after a long stay.

And Janko has 4th round points to defend in Paris.

He next plays fellow former top 10er Verdasco - H2H: 4-2/Janko.

He's seeded to face his friend and fellow Serb Nole in the Qf's.

I'm not sure he'll get there but ya never know.

Tommy Haas seems like the better bet.