TennisToday

Fabio Fognini & Calros Berloqc Win Maiden titles at Stuttgart & Bastad - Mahut Takes Title at Newport

Stuttgart ATP 250 - Men's Final

5 Fabio Fognini d 2 Philipp Kohlschreiber - 57 64 64

Post match: Finally, after two finals, I have won. I played great,

great tennis this week. I am really happy to have won the final.

Awww. I like this cat.

Bastad ATP 250 - Men's Final

Carlos Berloqc d 8 Fernando Verdasco - 75 61

Carlos becomes the 9th over-30 tourney winner this season.

***

Newport ATP 250 - Men's Final

WC Nicolas Mahut d Lleyton Hewitt - 57 75 63

Post match: When you want to win a final, everything can happen.

I just can’t believe it’s true.

It's his 2nd career title - the 1st was last month at s'Hertogenbosch.

Nico partnered with Roger-Vasselin to take the doubles title.

And *surprise surprise* Nico's part of the over-30 crowd.

Marion Bartoli & Sabine Lisicki to Meet in Wimbledon Final

Wimbledon - Women's Semifinals

15 Marion Bartoli d 20 Kirsten Flipkens - 61 62 (Above)

23 Sabine Lisicki (below) d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 64 26 9-7

15 Marion Bartoli VS 23 Sabine Lisicki - H2H: 3-1/Sabine

***

If you had these two as your finalists please report to the prize office.

There waits for you a million dollar payout!

***

Marion post match: I just enjoy my time this year so much at Wimby

obviously. [I'm] having a lot of fun outside the court as well and

really carry[ing] on this great spirit with a smile.

Such a great character. It's really hard for me not to like her. A lot.

I even told her so at Indian Wells a couple years ago. Long story.

***

Sabine post match: I am overwhelmed, so happy. Steffi Graf texted

me good luck before the match. She told me to go for it.

I fought my heart out for every single point, and believed I could

still win no matter what the score was. In the third set when I was

3-0 down I told myself I had come back against Serena and

I could do it again. It gave me so much confidence.

Well now it makes sense - she had Steffi blowin' up her phone!

***

Both gals have certainly earned their places in the final...

But my Breakfast at Wimbledon will find me cheering for Bartoli.

I sure hope Bond shows up Saturday.

Sabine Lisicki Upsets Serena Williams at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Fourth Round

23 Sabine Lisicki d 1 Serena Williams - 62 16 64

Add another big upset victim to this 2013 version of Wimbledon.

I mean, it's been one big-ass shock after another.

Nobody on this planet thought Serena would not take this title.

BUT... Sabine owns reigning French Open champs at Wimby.

Make it 4 years running: Fran in '10, Li Na in '11, and Maria last year.

Post match: Of course it gave me a little more energy knowing she won

the French Open and I've beaten the French Open champion three times

in a row in my last three appearances. It was a good omen.

They always happen to be on the side of the draw I'm on.

Maria Sharapova Upset in 2nd Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Second Round

Larcher De Brito d 3 Maria Sharapova - 63 64

It was a very whacky Wednesday at Wimbledon. VERY.

And Maria fell victim to to the day joining a list of upsets & retirements.

And when the hell has one seen her slip on court that many times?

Post match: I don't think I've ever fallen three times in a match before

in my career so that was a little strange, but that's certainly not an excuse.

I think today I've seen a lot of players fall and take a few hits and

a few injuries. I think that's just part of the game, part of what we

have to deal with as tennis players.

Roger Federer Upset in 2nd Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's Second Round

Sergiy Stakhovsky d 3 Roger Federer - 67(5) 76(5) 75 76(5)

Roger likes his records so maybe he wanted to take worst loss ever too.

Debatable of course but he is the GOAT and GOAT on grass.

Not to mention 7-times champ including last year.

So yea, I think this eclipses both of Rafa's losses the last two years.

Sergiy post match: You're playing the guy and then you're playing his legend,

which is following him because he won it seven times. He's holding all

possible career records here, I think, winning matches and everything.

You're playing two of them. When you're beating one, you still have the

other one who is pressing you.

You're saying, ‘Am I about to beat him? Is it possible?

***

And Roger sounds a little crabby in his post: I still have plans to play for

many more years to come. It's normal that after all of a sudden losing

early after being in the quarters 36 times, people feel it's different.

You guys hyped it up so much: me playing Rafa, and we're both out.

So there's a letdown clearly. Maybe it's also somewhat a bit disrespectful

to the other opponents who are in the draw still. I think it sends a

message to you guys as well that maybe

you shouldn't do that so often next time around.

Rafael Nadal Upset in 1st Round at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Men's First Round

Steve Darcis d 5 Rafael Nadal - 76(4) 76(8) 64

Well, Rafa had to come back to earth at some point.

But crashing down this bad was not something anybody expected.

I mean, who throught he could actually LOSE points after this fortnght???

This is his first loss at a Slam in the 1st round.

This was only Rafa's 3rd loss this year AND Steve's 2nd 2013 match win.

This loss may have also hurt Rafa's shot at year-end #1.

It's tough to finish on top of the pile with no points from 2 Slams.

Was it the knee? He refused to mention it in his presser. So probably.

UGH.

Post match: Two weeks ago I was in a fantastic situation,

winning a fantastic tournament [at Roland Garros]. Two weeks later,

I lost here in the first round. That's the positive and the negative

thing about this sport. It is tough losing in the first round.

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.

Jamie Hampton Gains Her 1st Ever WTA Final - At Eastbourne

WTA Eastbourne - Women's Semifinal

Q Jamie Hampton d 5 Caroline Wozniacki - 67(8) 75 63

Jamie beat Caro once in the juniors now she can boast an official WTA win.

The win will push Jamie to new heights - the top 30.

Her qualifying days will now be a thing of the past.

And hello American hopeful pressure.

Poat match: I didn't come just to play the qualifying. I try to enter every

tournament & think to get deep in the tournament, & look to win the title.

So coming off my Roland Garros run I had a good amount of confidence,

and I was hoping to get deep into this tournament this week too.

***

US hopeful vs US hopeful: Jamie just drew Sloane in Wimby 1st round.

So there's that bummer US hopeful news from London today.

Lleyton Hewitt Thru to Semifinals at Queen's Club

ATP 250 Queen's Club - Men's Quarterfinal

Lleyton Hewitt d 3 Juan Martin Del Potro - 62 26 62

Someone is busy turning back the clock to his glory years.

Remember: Lleyton is a 4-time champion here: '00-'02 & '06.

At 32 he's looking to become the tournies oldest winner as well.

He'll next face the defender 5 Marin Cilic in the Sf's - H2H: 1-0/Lleyton.

The only time they played was last year at the London Games.

So Lleyton's gotta feel good about his match tomorrow...

Post match: Cilic is going to be another tough one, very similar to my

match against [Sam] Querrey yesterday and against del Potro today.

In terms of that, I have had good preparation for playing him,

but, he's the defending champ here.

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.

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.

Francesca Schiavone Thru to 4th Round at French Open

French Open - Women's Third Round

Francesca Schiavone d 13 Marion Bartoli - 62 61

The 2010 champion is thru to her 6th RG 4th round: 2-3.

She'll next play Vika who is famously uncomfortable on the clay in Paris.

Am I calling an upset alert. Mmmm. Maybe I am.

Marion on Fran's chances moving forward:

Francesca, when she starts winning matches and gets more confident,

she's very dangerous. Maybe she can trouble Azarenka.

And if she makes the quarterfinals, who knows?

My thoughts exactly. Well except that 'who knows?' part.

I think we all do know. It's spelled S-E-R-E-N-A.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands Upsets Former Champ Li Na at French Open

French Open - Women's Second Round

Bethanie Mattek-Sands d 6 Li Na - 57 63 62

The tattoo lady is having a lovely stay in Paris.

Remember: Li Na was the 2011 French Open champ.

The French Open is the first tourney she's gotten directly in this year.

She's qualified for 5 and was given wildcards into another 3.

The points she's earned here will certainly change her season.

Post match: I’m confident in my game now and every week

I’ve been improving. That goes back to building momentum which

I haven’t had in a couple of years. In this match I was spanking returns.

She wasn't going to give it to me.

Caroline Wozniacki Suffers 4th Straight Opening Match Loss - This Time at Brussels

Brussels WTA - Second Round

Jie Zheng d 1/WC Caroline Wozniacki - 62 64

Caro has yet to win a match on European clay this season.

And 3 of those 4 matches have been in straight sets.

Ouch.

So's who has her winning in Paris in a couple weeks?

And... Who's thinking Rory is to blame?

 

Tomas Berdych Upsets Novak Djokovic in Quarterfinals at Rome Masters 1000

Rome Masters Series 1000 - Men's Quarterfinal

6 Tomas Berdych d 1 Novak Djokovic - 26 75 64

This was Tomas' 4th trip to the Qf's at Rome.

And it was nearly his 4th loss - he was down 26 25 before hotted-up.

In the process Tomas snapped an 11 match losing streak to Nole.

Post match: One day you have to break [the run] and

I am happy that it was today. It was a great game and I am happy.

I was trying to stay positive from the beginning.

He didn't give me a single chance. I was trying to stay there and

there are matches when you don't get a single chance,

but then if you get one, then you are ready. Then everything could

turn the other way and this is what happened.

Next up he plays Rafa. And he has a 12-match losing streak in this H2H.

Andy Murray & Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Both Upset in 2nd Round at Rome

Rome Masters Series 1000 - Men's 2nd Round

Marcel Ganollers d 3 Andy Murray - 63 67(5) 00 Ret'd

Jerzy Janowicz d 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 64 76(5)

Well they arrived at Rome together they may as well leave together.

I mean, they should both be heading to Paris and prep for Roland Garros.

So why not keep flying together?

May I suggest a different form of transport tho...

They were both seeded in Roger Federer's half of the draw.

I wonder if Roger put something in the Fed Force One cabin air?

And really? Fed Force One? Major eye-roll over here.

Jerzy Janowicz has Epic Shirt-Rip After He Upsets Jo-wilfried Tsonga at Rome

Rome Masters Series 1000 - Men's 2nd Round

Jerzy Janowicz d 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 64 76(5)

Hey Jerzy, you do realize this was just a second round match right?

I mean, even Nole saves this stuff for big matches like Grand Slam wins.

But thanks for the peek.

Pablo Andujar Gains Semifinal at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's Quarterfinal

W/C Pablo Andujar d 14 Kei Nishikori - 63 75

Pablo's improbable run continued today.

He has only won 5 matches this year and none were back-to-back.

Here in Madrid he's on a 4 match winning streak!

His reward? He get Rafa in the Sf's tomorrow.

But Pablo is happy enough just to be there: I'm very happy.

Very happy for being able to reach my first [Masters 1000] semi-finals

in my career, especially here in Madrid. 

I think that I cannot ask for anything else.

Sure you can. How about the final?

Kei Nishikori Upsets Roger Federer in 3rd Round at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's 3rd Round

14 Kei Nishikori d 2 Roger Federer - 64 16 62

The boy beats his idol.

He was my idol. Actually, to beat him, that was one of my goals

for my tennis career. It happens on clay and it's amazing.

It's not really my favourite surface.

I wasn't really expecting this. 6-2 in the third, that's not easy against him.

I played well. I was a little bit tight of course, but he didn't make many

first serves in the third set and I was able to attack his second.

I was even more aggressive in the third set.

I'm pretty happy the way I played.

Grigor Dimitrov Upsets Novak Djokovic in an Epic 2nd Round Match at Madrid

Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Men's 2nd Round

Grigor Dimitrov d 1 Novak Djokovic - 76(6) 67(8) 63

Welcome to the big time G! It's been a long time coming.

His #28 ranking will already be getting a nice bump on Monday.

Maybe even a big bump if he keeps going thru the draw.

Post match: It's a great win for me. Good day at the office.

I know it's a big thing, of course. But you got to stay on the ground.

Hopefully you're going to face these guys for years.

You never know how it's going to be next time...

You got to be ready and try to work at it every day and

see it as just another test to do and something exciting to look forward.