TennisToday

Rafael Nadal Wins Historic 7th Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Final

2 Rafael Nadal d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 63 26 75

The case is closed - Rafa is the undisputed best player ever on clay.

He moved past Bjorn Borg with an historic 7th Roland Garros title.

In doing so Rafa started 2 new ties with Bjorn...

Rafa, Bjorn, Roger and Pete have all won Slams in 8 consecutive years.

With 11 Slams he, Borg & Laver are tied at 4th on the all-time Slam list.

Behind Federer (16), Sampras (14) and Emerson (12).

Also historic: No 2 men have ever played 4 successive Slam finals.

Rafa improves his H2H against Nole to 19/14 - winning the last 3.

Rafa post-match: I feel very lucky to have achieved all that I've achieved.

I have great rivals. There have been a lot of important matches...

I've been able to enjoy against fantastic players.

***

As for Novak, he will continue his run at #1.

He will also head to Wimbledon as the defender.

He'll also try to turn his Beijing bronze into London gold just after Wimby.

Novak post-match: Rafa is the best player ever on clay...

And he's one of the best players who have ever played this game.

We are young & hopefully can have many more battles over the next years.

A-hem, I think we may just get Rafa/Nole match #34 in a couple weeks.

Photos: FFT

Maria Sharapova Wins Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Final

2 Maria Sharapova d 21 Sara Errani - 63 62

Maria has completed her career Slam sweep of the 4 Majors.

And as a reward she returns to #1 for the first time in 4 years.

She will head to Wimbledon & the Olympics as a HUGE favorite.

After her win she embraced her fans on Facebook:

I just want to say... thank you! Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for making me better. Thank u for sharing this moment with me.

***

As for Sara - she enters the top 10 for the first time at #9.

Sara (it's hard not to like her) in an apt post-match remark:

I have to not think it's normal for me to reach the final of a grand slam.

I need to keep doing what I always do.

Photos: FFT

Max Mirnyi & Daniel Nestor Win Men's Doubles Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Doubles Final

1 Max Mirnyi & Daniel Nestor d 2 Bryan Bros. - 64 64

As a team this is their 2nd Slam as they defend their RG run from last year.

Max has now won 6 Slams with 4 different partners.

This was Daniel's 8th Slam title pairing with only 3 different players.

This was also a whopping 78th ATP title for Daniel.

He's 39 years old and the #1 doubles player in the world.

There's no end in sight - let's here it for the old guys!

Photo: FFT

Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci Win Women's Doubles Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Doubles Final

4 Errani & Vinci d 7 Kirilenko & Petrova - 46 46 62

I'm glad Sara will go home with at least one Slam title this weekend.

Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi Win Mixed Doubles Title at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Mixed Doubles Final

7 Bhupathi & Mirza d Jans-Ignacik & Giraldo - 76(3) 61

India in the house!

This is Mahesh's 8th mixed doubles Slam title - he has 2 at each.

He also has 4 men's doubles Slam titles.

As for Sania, this is her 2nd mixed doubles Slam title.

Well done guys.

Photo: fft

Rafael Nadal & David Ferrer Set Semifinal Clash at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Quarterfinals

2 Rafael Nadal d 12 Nicolas Almagro - 76(4) 62 63

6 David Ferrer d 4 Andy Murray - 64 67(3) 63 62

Spain will have it's top 2 players battle for a spot in the RG finals.

***

This is Rafa's 7th RG Sf: 6-0 and 19th at a Slam: 15-3.

He becomes the 6th man to notches 50+ match wins at Roland Garros:

Vilas (56), Federer (54), Lendl (53), Agassi (51), Pietrangeli (50).

Post match: The numbers say that I am playing well.

The red clay-court season was great, probably one of the best ...

Very happy.

***

This is David's 1st RG Sf and 3rd at a Slam: 0-2.

Post match: It was a very tough match & I'm happy.

It was in important moments that I played better than him (Murray).

***

2 Rafael Nadal vs 6 David Ferrer - H2H: 15-4/RN

Rafa is 12-1 on clay - David's 1 came back in '04 before Rafa was Rafa.

Interesting to note that David has a 2-1 lead on Rafa in Slam matches.

They have played twice this year and Rafa won them both in straight sets...

Tho 3 of those sets Rafa won with a 7 in the score.

Rafa on David: His game bothers everybody...

He is one of the best players in the world, on every surface.

David on Rafa: (Nadal) is the best player on claycourts in history and...

I will have to fight & play my best tennis to beat him.

And of course living in California NBC will eff this up for me.

Photos: Getty Images

Maria Sharapova & Petra Kvitova to Meet in Semifinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Quarterfinals

2 Maria Sharapova d 23 Kaia Kanepi - 62 63

4 Petra Kvitova d Q Yaroslava Shvedova - 36 62 64

And suddenly we have a rematch of the Wimbledon final from last year.

***

If Maria can make the final she will take over the #1 spot on the WTA.

This is her 3rd trip to the Sf's at RG: 0-2.

Except for that tough 4th round match Maria cruised thru this thing.

Post match: After a tough match in the previous round...

I really wanted to improve some things in this match...

And I'm happy how I did that.

***

Petra's match was a mess - a major mess. But a win is a win.

This is her maiden RG Sf and her 4th Sf at a Slam: 1-2.

Post match: I expected it to be a tough match. She started well.

I was nervous from the beginning. Made easy mistakes. Games were close.

***

2 Maria Sharapova vs 4 Petra Kvitova - H2H: 3-2/MS

Maria has won both matches this year - Petra won their 2 last year.

This is their 3rd Slam meeting: 1-1.

Petra won their Wimbledon final and Maria won their Aussie Sf.

Petra: I played against Maria (before) and it's tough matches.

We have good rallies. I hope it will be the same tomorrow.

If you're betting tho... I'd bet the house on Maria.

Photos: Maria from Getty Images - Petra from FFT

Novak Djokovic & Roger Federer Set Up Blockbuster Semifinal Showdown at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Quarterfinals

1 Novak Djokovic d 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 61 57 57 76(6) 61

3 Roger Federer d 9 Juan Martin Del Potro - 36 67(4) 62 60 63

Both champs were down 2-sets-to-1. Both dug deep. Both won in thrillers.

And it was all happening at the same time. INSANE.

They've set up a rematch of last years Sf which Rog won.

***

Novak actually saved 4 match points in that 4th set.

This is his 4th RG Sf: 0-3 and 15th at a Slam: 7-7.

Post match: As a tennis player, this is what you live for.

This is what you practise for all these years, to be part of...

An incredible performance, incredible match encounter here...

In Roland Garros with the home players.

I'm really glad that I could win today.

***

This is only the 3rd time Roger's come back from 2-sets-to-love at RG.

This marks Rog's 7th RG Sf: 5-1 and 31st at a Slam: 23-7.

In fact, 31 ties Roger with Jimmy Connors' record of most Slam Sf's.

Post match: I have been struggling to find my rhythm.

I did feel it in the first set, even though he was up two sets.

I was finding a way back and starting to feel better.

***

1 Novak Djokovic vs 3 Roger Federer - H2H: 14-11/RF

Novak has won the last 2 and 5 of the last 6.

They last played a couple weeks ago in Rome & it was Nole in straights.

This is their 9th meeting at a Slam: 5-4/RF - 1 final, 7 Sf's and 1 4th R.

Blockbuster: It really doesn't get much better than this.

Photos: Getty Images

Samantha Stosur & Sara Errani to Meet in Semifinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Quarterfinals

6 Samantha Stosur d 15 Dominika Cibulkova - 64 61

21 Sara Errani d 10 Angelique Kerber - 63 76(2)

This is Sam's 3rd trip to the RG Sf's: 1-1. She was runner-up in 2010.

Stat of the match: Sam hit 30 winners to 13 errors.

She is looking for her 2nd Slam following her triumph at the USO last year.

***

This was Sara's 1st win against a top 10 player in 29 tries.

Her reward is to play in her 1st Slam semifinal.

She will also become the top ranked Italian in the rankings Monday.

***

This will be the 6th meeting between Sam and Sara - H2H: 5-0/SS.

Truth be told...

Sam must be considered an overwhelming favorite to gain her 2nd final.

Photos: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

1 Rafael Nadal d 13 Juan Monaco - 62 60 60

Two games. And Juan is a clay court specialist in the top 20. Yikes.

That's not a very nice way to treat a friend!

Post match: It's hard to dominate a friend so easily.

But you can't let your guard down.

Playing your best is the best way to respect him.

Rafa improves his RG W/L to a staggering 49-1.

He has not lost a set on RED clay this year - that's 42 sets folks.

And thru the 1st 4 rounds he's lost the fewest games in all his title runs:

2005 - 38, 2006 - 49, 2007 - 33, 2008 - 22, 2010 - 34, 2011- 53, 2012 - 19.

He is 33-1 on clay against the 3 players left in his half of the draw.

Sheesh, it's hard to see Rafa not gaining an historic Roland Garros title #7.

Photos: top from the FFT, bottom from Reuters.

Nicolas Almagro into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

12 Nicolas Almagro d 8 Janko Tipsarevic - 64 64 64

This is Nico's 3rd trip to the RG quarterfinals: 0-2.

Interestinly, Nico has yet to drop a set at this tournament.

With a 1st round loss last year he may sneak into the top 10 next week.

Post match: I'm very happy. I think I played great tennis today.

The day was a little bit cloudy, but now it's really sunny for me.

[The] win is one of the best moments of my career and I want to enjoy [it].

He will probably face Rafa next who is up a set as I write this.

Tough task.

Photo: FFT

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 18 Stanislas Wawrinka - 64 76(6) 36 36 64

This is the furthest Jo-W has gone at RG.

Oddly enough this is only his 5th appearance at RG. W/L: 12-4.

He is trying to become the 1st French man to win since Noah in '83.

This match was held-over from yesterday owing to darkness.

Post match: Today, I came on the court [in] good spirits.

I had a good night. I slept well. I was ready to play again.

He will face Novak in the quarters - H2H: 5-5. Hmmmmmm.

Photos: Getty Images

Juan Martin Del Potro into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

9 Juan Martin Del Potro d 7 Tomas Berdych - 76(6) 16 63 75

This is Juan's 6th trip to a Slam Qf: 2-3 and 2nd time at RG: 1-0.

Remember: He was a semifinalist here in 2009.

That was a memorable 5 set classic loss to Roger Federer.

Post match: I'm really glad to go through, to play [the] quarter-finals again.

I want to play the best I can. I'm looking forward to the next match.

And he will face 3 Roger Federer again next: 11-2/RF.

This'll be their 5th meeting this year - Roger has won them all in straights.

Juan has beaten Rog twice, both times in 2009 including the USO final.

Can he turn the tables and grab a 3rd win over the GOAT tomorrow?

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer Overcomes Lucky Loser to Gain Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

3 Roger Federer d LL David Goffin - 57 75 62 64

This marks Roger's 32nd straight Qf showing at a Slam.

That dates back to his 3rd round loss here at RG in 2003.

Props: That is an amazing stat.

After the match he hinted that Madrid was poor prep for Roland Garros.

Confirming my point. How does blue clay prepare anyone for RG?

I cautioned Fed fans when he won Madrid not to read anything into it.

Anyway, I'll stop beating up on Madrid.

Rog will next face the winner of Del Potro/Berdych.

He's owned them both of late but we'll see...

***

In a cute post match quip Goffin offered:

I won't hide from you that I had posters of Roger everywhere in my room.

Photo: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic Comes Back from 2 Sets Down to Advance to Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

1 Novak Djokovic d 22 Andreas Seppi - 46 67(5) 63 75 63

This is only the 3rd time Novak has come back from 2-sets-to-love down.

Nole has reached at least the Qf's in 13 straight Slams & 20 overall: 14-5.

Remember: Nole is looking to hold all 4 of the Slam titles at once.

He is currently riding a 25-match winning streak at the Slams.

Nole will play the winner of Tsonga/Wawrinka.

He was lucky to escape today but will definitely need to pick up his play.

Both Tsonga and Wawrinka would have handed it to him today.

Post match: I could not get into the rhythm.

I was fighting and I think it's because of this fight that I won.

Photo: Getty Images

Dominika Cibulkova Stuns Victoria Azarenka in 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Fourth Round

15 Dominika Cibulkova d 1 Victoria Azarenka - 62 76(4)

Like today Domi had a massive lead on Vika in Miami...

The difference? Today she didn't lose and closed the match out.

As Vika was clawing back Domi confessed to flashing back to that match.

Remember: Domi was a Sf-ist here 2009 so she's in familiar territory.

In all this will be her 4th Slam Qf: 1-2.

She will play the winner of Stosur/Sloane. Wager a guess who she's for?

Well done, Domi.

***

An annoyed Vika in the post-match presser:

I'm gonna kill myself... I'm just gonna go practice.

Photo: FFT

Happy 26th Birthday Rafael Nadal!

Paris is always the city Rafa celebrates his birthday in.

And in 6 of the last 7 years he's givin himself quite a present: the RG trophy.

He looks in great shape to do it again.

Rafa has yet to lose a set on red clay this season - let me repeat, red clay.

And he's only given up 17 games in his first 3 matches.

He'll next play 13 Juan Monaco - H2H: 3-1/RN. The 1 was by retirement.

Don't eat too much cake Rafa, you still have a lot of work to do.

David Ferrer into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

6 David Ferrer d 27 Mikhail Youzhny - 60 62 62

Talk about flying under the radar and this is the #6 seed.

But if we're telling the truth he's the 3rd or 4th best player on clay.

He has matched his result from last year & is looking for a 3rd Qf here.

David will next face countryman 20 Marcel Granollers - H2H: 3-0/DF.

Post match: I think I managed to keep my focus throughout the match.

It was very important to start well, and I had to start attacking and...

Play very high balls. I managed to keep my focus throughout the match...

All the points were good for me. I'm very satisfied.

And we are not mad at a little tummy porn.

Photo: FFT

Janko Tipsarevic & Nicolas Almagro to Meet in the 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

8 Janko Tipsarevic d 29 Julien Benneteau - 63 75 64

12 Nicolas Almagro d Leonardo Mayer - 64 61 62

This is Janko's 1st trip to the 4th R at RG.

And in his 33rd Slam this is only his 4th time to a 4th R: 1-2.

This is Nico's 3rd trip to the 4th R at RG: 2-0.

And in his 31st Slam this is his 6th time to a 4th R: 2-3.

Janko and Nico have never played.

Nico has yet to drop a set. Janko lost a set to Querrey in the 1st round.

Also noteworthy: The Serb now has a 7 match winning streak on clay.

This has all the makings of a great encounter.

Sloane Stevens into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Women's Third Round

Sloane Stevens d Mathilde Johansson - 63 62

Who says American women's tennis is dead?

She is in a rankings race with King & Lepchenko for the last Olympic spot.

She will next face US Open champ Samantha Stosur - their first meeting.

New territory: This is Sloane's first trip to a Slam round of 16.

Post match: I always feel really comfortable here at Roland Garros.

I really like it here. I was like...

'I know if I just do the right things, the good things will happen.'