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ATP & WTA Winners at Eastbourne & 's-Hertogenbosch

's-Hertogenbosch ATP 250 - Men's Final

Q Nicolas Mahut d 2 Stanislas Wawrinka - 63 64

This is the feel good story of the weekend.

At 31 Nicolas is the oldest 1st time ATP winner since 2005.

Before this tourney he had a W/L of 1-2 for the 2013 season.

Post match: It's amazing. I cannot believe I won today.

Eastbourne ATP 250 at - Men's Final

Feliciano Lopez d 2 Gilles Simon - 76(2) 67(5) 60

Feli wins his 3rd title and 1st on grass - and 1st in 3 years.

Post match: I think grass is my best surface,

and to have at least one title on grass is very nice feeling.

***

Interesting to note: both men's winners this weekend are over 30.

WTA Eastbourne - Women's Final

Elena Vesnina d Q Jamie Hampton - 62 61

Elena picks up her 2nd title (both 2013) - Jamie will wait for her 1st.

Post match: But I kept believing in myself. I knew I would win this title.

I knew it was going to happen. It's not self-confidence - I knew if I kept

working hard and believing in myself, it would come. And it did.

WTA 's-Hertogenbosch - Women's Final

Simona Halep d 4 Kirsten Flipkens - 64 62

2 weeks - 2 titles. Last week she won at Nurnberg.

So she's on a nice little 10 match winning streak.

Will she be too tired to do much at Wimbledon?

Post match: I'm really happy. I want to enjoy this evening.

It's a special moment for me.

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.

Rafael Nadal Wins Masters Series 1000 Title at Madrid

Madrid ATP Masters Series 1000 - Men's Final

5 Rafael Nadal d 15 Stanislas Wawrinka - 62 64

Rafa saved his best tennis for Sunday.

This is Rafa's 3rd title at Madrid, 23rd Masters 1000 and 55th overall.

It also moves him to a tie for 2nd most clay titles with Muster with 40.

He needs 6 more to tie Vilas at 46 - which should happen by next year.

This is also the first time he's won Barcelona & Madrid in the same year.

Post match: I'm very happy for everything that has happened.

Forty titles on clay are far more than I ever dreamed of [winning].

***

Rafa will head to Rome as the 5th seed and is in #4 Ferrer's quarter.

So if Rafa takes the title (his 7th at Rome) he will move up to #4.

Meaning the French Open seeding thing will solve itself.

I'm hoping it happens. Nobody wants a Rafa/Nole quarterfinal. Nobody.

***

Rafa is also prominent in the Madrid 2020 Olympic campaign bid:

Stanislas Wawrinka Wins Portugal Open

Portugal Open ATP 250 - Men's Final

2 Stanislas Wawrinka d 1/WC David Ferrer - 61 64

Let's hear it for Stan the Man!

This is only his 4th ATP title and 1st in over 3 years.

Post match: It feels great to have won a title again,

as it was one of my goals at the start of the year.

***

Both boys will now head to the Madrid/Rome double.

They may be tired for deep runs next week so...

Good luck in Rome guys.

Stanislas Wawrinka Upsets Andy Murray in 3rd Round at Monte-Carlo

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - Men's Third Round

13 Stanislas Wawrinka d 2 Andy Murray - 61 62

It's not often Andy loses in under an hour but today Stan wholloped him.

Swiss brotherhood: Stan's win helped Roger get back to #2 next week.

This is his 3rd M-C Qf: 1-1. He'll next play Tsonga - I'll call that 50-50.

Post match: He's an amazing player. He's always tough to beat.

Therefore, to beat Andy that easy was a big surprise, for sure.

I'm playing really good, really strong, really confident with my game.

I know what he's looking for in his game. He's playing slow,

he's playing from the baseline, he's not putting so much pressure.

For me on clay, it's perfect.

Novak Djokovic Wins Epic 5 Setter to Reach Quarterfinals at Australian Open then Rips Off His Shirt

Australian Open - Men's Fourth Round

1 Novak Djokovic d 15 Stanislas Wawrinka - 16 75 64 67(5) 12/10

I don't like to call pre-semifinal matches instant classic but...

I'll surely make an exception with this 5:02 match.

I mean, Nole was a set and 2-5 down before turning things around.

And then he nearly couldn't win the damn thing.

Post match: It was one of the longest, most interesting,

and most exciting matches I played in my career.

He will face 5 Tomas Berdych in the Qf's: 11-1 for Novak.

I know I can recover. I know I have it in me.

I wasn't worried too much about the physical part. I was ready for it.

I was ready to go the distance, and I've done so.

Hopefully I can take that day off tomorrow and recover for the quarters.

I don't mind these epic Nole matches when the result is that shirt strip.

Andy Murray into 2nd Round at Olympics

Olympics - Men's First Round

3 Andy Murray d Stanislas Wawrinka - 63 63

Many wondered how Andy would return after the Wimby loss.

I think he showed us he's fine and ready for a medal run.

Post match: I’m really up for the tournament.

I want to be involved in this event for as long as possible.

I’m going to give it my best shot.

With the dismal weather forecast he may just be there forever!

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

Stanislas Wawrinka Wins 1st 5-Setter at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's First Round

18 Stanislas Wawrinka d Flavio Cipolla - 63 63 46 36 62

Stan dug deep to pull this one out.

Stan has been to the 4th round here the last 2 years.

He will next play Pablo Andujar (who also won a 5-setter) - H2H: 2-0/SW.

They are in the Djokovic/Tsonga quarter.

Photo: Getty Images

Roger Federer Meets Bradley Cooper after Moving into Quarterfinals at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Fourth Round

3 Roger Federer d 14 Stanislas Wawrinka - 63 62 75

Awe, Roger gave Bradley his hat just after he gave it to Stan.

Brad is obvs in Paris to promote The Hangover 2.

This is the third time this year Fed has whipped his friend & dubs partner.

He moves in his 28 consecutive Slam Qf - breaking the tie with Connors.

Silent but deadly: Nobody is talking about Fed but he has yet to drop a set...

OMG stat: Roger now has at least 50 match wins at all 4 Slams.

He will next face the winner of Ferrer/Monfils - either will be fun.

Oh and... who knew Bradley Cooper was so tall?

Photo: ATP Twitter page

Stanislas Wawrinka & Janko Tipsarevic Enjoy a Day Off

Both tweeted very enviable photos today.

Stan is having fun paintballing with friends.

I tweeted Stan: Try wearing that at Wimbledon!

Janko taunted Novak say he was practicing & gunning for him on the links.

I tweeted Janko: Novak is too busy winning - at tennis!

Neither replied.

Intimidated by my overuse of the exclamation point I assume.

My plans for the day you ask? Aside from the nap I'll take a little later - nada.

When Men's Singles Took Over Men's Doubles...

So 9 of the top 10 men's singles players decided to play doubles at IW.

The result? Not a single seeded 'regular' tour team made the Qf's.

NOT ONE.

Roger/Stan (above) & Rafa/Marc (below) beat the #2/#4 seeds in the 1st R.

The top seeded Bryan Bros. went out to Dolgopolov/Malisse last night.

There are 7 seeded singles players in the doubles Qf's.

In fact, defenders Rafa and Marc have already advanced to the Sf's.

Rub your eyes: We could easily see a singles oddity in the doubles Sf's...

We are 3 matches away from: Rafa vs Roger and Novak vs Andy M.

What on earth does this say about the ATP doubles tour?

Photos taken Saturday, March 12, 2011.

A Gold Medal Pair Practice at Indian Wells

Stan tweeted this photo captioned: Good practice with my partner.....

Stan and Roger, the Beijing champions, are playing together again at IW.

Ya think these two have an eye on defending at London 2012?

You better believe it!

Tennis Twitter Photos

I have to confess that since the Aussie Open I've dropped out.

I haven't even looked at any scores this week.

I'll catch up later and look at the draws for next week.

I'm always exhasted after a Slam.

But that doesn't mean I haven't been following my players on Twitter.

Here are a few fun photo's from some of my faves to follow.

Kim tweeted this from Fed Cup this week.

That's Kim with Kristen Flipken (middle) and An-Sophie Mestach (right).

As you know Kim won the AO title.

What you may not know: An-Sophie won the junior titles in singles & doubles.

Here we have Janko Tipsarevic playing with a baby lion in Johannesburg.

Careful there Tipsy you may need that finger.

Then of course we have Stan Wawrinka having his Homer fun in the gym.

Homer Simpson Photo-Bombing Stanislas Wawrinka's Twitter - Meanwhile Stan Advances at Aussie Open

Australian Open - Men's Fourth Round

19 Stanislas Wawrinka d 8 Andy Roddick - 63 64 64

On the surface that looks like an upset but in reality - it really wasn't.

Stan advances to his 2nd Slam Qf. And 2nd in a row following the US Open.

Now he has the pleasure of playing good friend Roger Federer - H2H: 6-1/RF.

Homer Simpson has been photo-bombing Stan's Twitter page. And I love it.

Photos: Stan's Twitter page.

Top 8 Seeds in Action Tomorrow at Paris Masters 1000

All 8 are in action in the 3rd round tomorrow in Paris.

1 Roger Federer vs Radek Stepanek - H2H: 9-2

2 Novak Djokovic (above) vs Michael Llodra - H2H: 1-0

3 Andy Murray vs 13 Marin Cilic - H2H: 4-1

4 Robin Soderling vs Stanislas Wawrinka - H2H: 1-2

5 Tomas Berdych vs 10 Nikolay Davydenko - H2H: 1-8

6 Fernando Verdasco vs 12 Gael Monfils - H2H: 0-1

7 David Ferrer vs Jurgen Melzer - H2H: 3-1

8 Andy Roddick vs Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 2-0

5 of the 8 are playing for 3 spots in London. All could be settled tomorrow.

DVR set. Gonna be a long day tomorrow!

Photo: Getty Images

Top 6 Men's Players in Action Tomorrow in Shanghai

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 - Men's Second Round

1 Rafael Nadal vs Stanislas Wawrinks - H2H: 6-0

Stan has never taken a set from Rafa.

2 Novak Djokovic vs Ivan Ljubicic - H2H: 6-2

They are 2-1 for Novak on 2010.

3 Roger Federer vs John Isner - H2H: 1-0

Easily the match of the day.

4 Andy Murray vs Yan Bai - H2H: 0-0

Bai is ranked #465.

5 Robin Soderling vs Janko Tipsarevic - H2H: 1-0

They played once in 2006.

6 Nikolay Davydenko vs Mischa Zverev - H2H: 0-0

Nikolay is the defending champ.

***

There are some potential great matches on tap tomorrow.

Damn good day to have a ticket.

Mikhail Youzhny Scrapes into Semifinal at US Open

US Open - Men's Quarterfinal

12 Mikhail Youzhny d Stanislas Wawrinka - 36 67(7) 36 63 63

Wow, I can't believe I forgot to add this yesterday. My bad.

And I watched the entire match too - from start to salute.

Mikhail's been to 4 Slam Qf's - he's now won two of them. Both at the Open.

He made the Sf's in '06 beating Rafael Nadal along the way.

Guess who he's playing in tomorrow's Sf? Yep, that would be Rafa.

Their head-to-head is closer than you might think: 7-4 to Rafa.

Can Mikhail be the 3rd man in-a-row to upset Rafa in the Open Sf's?

I'm betting nyet.

Photo: Getty Images

Stanislas Wawrinka Debuts his Daughter on Twitter

"I introduce my daughter Alexia."

So cute.

Follow Stan on Twitter.

Mikhail Youzhny & Stanislas Wawrinka Set Up Quarterfinal Match at US Open

US Open - Men's Fourth Round

12 Mikhail Youzhny d Tommy Robredo - 75 62 46 64

This is Mikhail's 2nd trip to the Open Qf's - he got to the Sf's in '04.

Been saying this all year: Mikhail has put together a solid winning season.

He'll be in the top 10 before you know it - maybe even next Monday.

Confession: That salute thing he does after a win really bugs me.

***

25 Stanislas Wawrinka d 20 Sam Querrey - 76(9) 67(5) 75 46 64

Stan earns his way into his 1st Slam Qf. Long time coming.

All this talk about the US quartet of Fish, Isner, Querrey and Roddick...

Not a single one is through to the quarterfinals.

Sam got really close tho. This loss might sting for a bit.

***

12 Mikhail Youzhny vs 25 Stanislas Wawrinka - H2H: 2-2

Mikhail won their last match in Miami this year in a very close 3-setter.

This will be their 3rd meeting on hard courts - Mikhail won the other two.

Stan has dropped 3 sets to this stage - Mikhail has dropped 4.

Hard to call: This a major opportunity for one to make the Sf's of a Slam.

Photos: Reuters