TennisToday

Rafael Nadal is Seeded 5th for 2013 Wimbledon

The seedings have been released for the coming Championships and...

Rafael Nadal has been placed as the tournaments 5th seed.

Wimbledon ignored giving Rafa a deserving discretionary bump.

Most in the tennis world think he should at least be the 4th seed.

There is one word to use here: dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

Let's see... Rafa is a 2-time champ and 3-time runner-up.

4th seed David Ferrer has been a quarterfinalist exactly once.

Moreover, Rafa has beaten David all 4 times they've played this year.

AND - we don't even need to compare their 2013's. It's no contest.

Well, as payback I hope Rafa gets placed in Murray's quarter...

Only then will Wimby get that they've made a serious blunder.

It's worth repeating: dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb.

***

Photo: Rafa's first practice yesterday at Wimby,

 

Roger Federer MIA at ATP 1000 Monte-Carlo

And the GOAT is practicing ahead of his clay court season.

Looks like his back feels much better.

But he's elected to skip Monte-Carlo next week. He'll see him in Madrid.

And he's jumping into the fire as he'll play there as the defending champ.

He also has Sf showings to defend at Rome and Roland Garros.

He's taken the approach of resting and playing the big ones...

At some point that's gonna start backfiring on him, I would think.

But we are talking about Roger Federer so he'll probably shut me up.

 

Janko Tipsarevic Snaps Losing Streak at Miami

ATP Masters Series 1000 Miami - Men's 3rd Round

7 Janko Tipsarevic d 28 Kevin Anderson - 46 76(5) 60

This is the 1st time he's won back-to-back matches since the Aussie Open.

In fact, since the AO he's lost his 1st match in 4 straight tournies.

Historically Janko has been to the Qf's twice at Miami: '08 & '12.

So he hasn't yet protected his ranking points just yet.

And he'll have a tough one in the 4th round against Gilles Simon.

Simon carries a winning head-to-head into that match - H2H: 6-2/Simon.

If anything Janko must be pleased to snap that losing streak tho.

Adje!

Shirtless Sexy Fernando Verdasco Warm Up at indian Wells

Jus' cuz.

You're welcome ladies and gays.

Rafael Nadal Serve Stop Motion at Indian Wells

I was able to watch front row Rafa's practice session on Saturday.

He wore out his practice partner about half way thru.

Later that night he beat Ryan Harrison 76(3) 62.

It was Rafa's 1st hard court match since the Miami Sf's last March.

He's heading to match #29 with Roger Federer in the quarters.

Bring it.

Andy Murray Cranks Up Quick Win in 1st Round at Australian Open

Australian Open - Men's First Round

3 Andy Murray d Robin Haase - 63 61 63

I can't seem to make up my mind if Novak or Andy is winning this thing.

I do know this... that's the final I want to stay up until dawn to see.

Remember, Andy has been to the finals here twice.

But for now it's one round at a time:

You just got to try and focus and play solid,

not make too many silly mistakes. I did a good job of that today.

It's always nice to get through the first round of any tournament,

but especially here.

Oh and how 'bout some eye-candy for the ladies and gays...

Shirtless Sexy Andy Murray Practices in Melbourne

No other reason to post this except for the gratuitousness.

You're welcome.

Andy is readying for next week's Aussie Open.

Can he win two Slams in-a-row? For sure. Will he? It's a pretty decent bet.

He's played well in Melbourne over the years with a 23-7 W/L, including...

The finals in '10 & '11. And who can forget that Sf loss to Nole last year?!

I see some very late nights in my near future.

Rafael Nadal Wins Opener at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's First Round

2 Rafael Nadal d Simone Bolelli - 62 62 61

Rafa is now 46-1 at RG. This was also his 150th Slam match win.

He moves his W/L on the year to 34-4 with 3 tournament titles.

Playing in his 32nd Slam Rafa has never lost in the 1st round.

Remember: He is looking for a record-breaking 7th title here.

From a presser the other day:

I played fantastic tournaments in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Rome.

That's it. I'm playing well.

I arrived here with positive feelings, and I will try my best to be very...

Competitive and to be in the right level to have my chances.

Photo: From a practice session yesterday.

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 & Janko Tipsarevic Practice in Madrid

 

Janko posted this photo on his Facebook page simply captioned:

Done with first practice on blue clay.

Hmmm, I wonder how I'm gonna feel about this blue clay thing. Anyway.

***

RAFA at Madrid:

Rafa has won this Masters Series event twice: '05 & '10.

In '05 it was an indoor hard court fall tournement.

It moved to a spring tourney in '09 and he's been to all three finals since.

Remember last year he lost in straight sets to Novak.

***

Janko at Madrid:

Odd but true: He has play one main draw match - and lost.

Ranked #8 his 1st round bye will automatically get him his best result.

Points!

Roger Federer is Practicing on Clay Y'all...

Roger posted this on his Facebook page today.

Captioned: Great practice session today in Switzerland....

As he heads into the clay season tightly chasing Rafa for #2.

I love the setting of that court. So beautiful.

The court I play on has a lovely view of a Trader Joe's.

 

Rafal Nadal Back on the Practice Courts - Readys for Clay Court Season

After pulling from his Sf match in Miami Rafa is already practicing.

With no tape on those pesky knees.

He'll enter the clay season with plenty to prove & a ton of points to defend.

Remember the 3 titles he won last year came during this stretch:

Monte-Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros.

He was also the runner-up at Madrid and Rome.

He'll need another stellar clay season to keep Federer from over-taking #2.

Next week he'll head to Monte-Carlo as the 7-time defending champ.

Will Rafa be ready to claim an 8th title?

Gulp: Nemesis (and healthy) Novak is entered at Monte-Carlo.

Photo: Merce Valero snagged via Rafaholics

Rafael Nadal has Joined the Conversation on Twitter

Yesterday Rafa thrilled his fans by creating a Twitter page.

Today he tweeted this photo captioned:

Training hard before traveling to Montreal.

US swing defense: Sf in Canada, Qf at Cincy, champion at US Open.

I'm predicting a couple more Novak matches...

Fernando Verdasco Shirtless Sexy Practice in DC

And then this happened to me this morning on Fern's Facebook page.

Fern has Qf points to defend in DC and at the US Open.

However, the US swing in between he only has 145 points to defend.

Let's see if he can get that ranking into the top 16 before New York.

Vamos Fern.

Andy Murray at Wimbledon - Can He Finally Win?

Here we go again. Will the British finally get their a champ?

This will be Andy's 6th attempt at SW19 - he has a W/L of 19-5.

He has been a Sf'ist the last 2 years - losing to the champion Rafa in '10.

This morning, as expected, he was seeded #4.

Grass title: He is coming off of a win last week at the Queen's Club.

Can Andy become the latest man to win the Queen's-Wimbledon double?

The pressure mounts.

Photo: Judy Murray's Twitter

Roger Federer Updates Facebook with a Pic & Video

He captioned the pic: Here is a picture from practice today in Paris...

He's readying for his match tomorrow with Janko Tipsarvic - H2H: 3-0/RF.

And about the fun video below he wrote: Tought you'd enjoy this video...

I did, thanks!

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Practices at Roland Garros

Hey Jo, nice to see ya.

Can you believe this will only be Jo-W's 4th time playing at Roland Garros?

The oft-injured Frenchman retired his 4th R match last year to Youhzny.

Such low numbers: At 26 this will be his 15th Slam: 38-14 W/L.

He'll be seeded #18 - unless Roddick pulls out with that shoulder injury.

His clay season leading into RG was pretty poor: 4-4 - with not a single Qf.

But I still say he's one to watch...

Photo: Jo-W's Facebook

Roger Federer in Practice Session at Roland Garros

Look it's the 2009 champion practicing on Chartrier.

Roger is 43-11 at Roland Garros which includes a Qf loss last year.

He'll come into the event seeded #3 - his lowest seeding since 2004.

He should be one to watch in the coming few weeks.

Photo: From the Roland Garros Twitter page.

Caroline Wozniacki Found Fernando Gonzalez in Miami

Oh, she found Andy Murray as well. But that Gonzo sighting is a happy one!

I hope this means he's on his way back to the tour.

He is currently ranked #255 - his last match was a 1st R loss at the USO.

Caro tweeted: Really nice to see Fernando back on court!

***

As for Andy Murray - he's in a crazy weird slump at the moment.

He reached the Aussie Open final and has lost 4 straight matches.

Richard Gasquet into 4th Round at Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000

Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 - Third Round

18 Richard Gasquet d 10 Jurgen Melzer - 61 63

Richard likes Indian Wells it seems - this is his 4th trip to the 4th round.

But he's 0-3 once he gets there.

I took this photo on Saturday during Richard's practice session...

I was thrilled to see Sebastien Grosjean coaching him!

Remember, he & Arnaud Clement won the doubles title here in '04.