French Open men’s preview: Who else … Rafa!
From Roland Garros – THE FAVORITE Rafa Nadal has won nine titles here but faltered since 2014. Without a doubt, over the past two months, he has finally been more aggressive and more consistent. Can he win it again when in the past three -, his body was sore and pretty weak? He is finally and […]
Notes on a draw sheet: Clay court season heats up
Hola, Madrid. Serious clay courts here now. The clay courts are really starting now. Yes, it was important in Monte Carlo and Barcelona (the guys), and Stuttgart and Prague (the girls). But coming soon are three gigantic events: Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. Roland Garros is in five weeks and whoever wins on clay, they will […]
Notes on a Draw Sheet: Nadal rising
Nadal is recovering well, but can he beat other excellent players? Rafa Nadal won another clay tournament. Just like in Monte Carlo, his victory in Barcelona gives him 10 titles in two clay events. In the final, he crushed Dominic Thiem. As the Belgian said, there was no way he could win when the Spaniard […]
This week’s top 5 women: Younger players are rising
Daria Kasatkina The 19-year-old Russian Kasatkina won Charleston, and she looked extremely confident, smoking Jelena Ostapenko in the final. She didn’t have to best the top-20 players, but at the very least, she was very steady and precise. Will she crack the top 10 at the end of the year? Maybe not, but she is […]
The amazing Federer wins again, Konta wins her first huge event
THE TOP 10, April 3 PLUS: Nadal, Nick, Caro, Venus & more Roger Federer Yes, the 35-year-old put together his best performance to win the 2017 Aussie Open, Indian Wells and Miami. At the start of the year, no one thought that he could go back-to-back-to-back when he was aging. But he did, and now, […]
The women: Who can actually win the women’s RG trophy?
NOTE: Before we printed here, we decided to hold off until Sunday night, assuming most of them top players will win anyway. Some did not. The No. 1 Angie Kerber lost, as did Roberta Vinci. Within seconds, everything change. 1st quarter How about Petra Kvitova? She has won two Slams, but at the end of […]
Sharapova returns but WTA players are not all pleased
Notes on A Draw Sheet Also: Nadal, Goffin, Konya and more Maria Sharapova is back—finally. It has been 15 months since she was suspended for testing positive for meldonium. But, it is over. While there are some people who never want her to walk on the court again, she stayed away, she didn’t yell, or […]
Serena won’t play this year, so who will be No. 1?
Kerber, Pliskova, Cibulkova, Halep and more The great Serena Williams is pregnant now, and she will not play this year. Or the beginning of 2018. Or never. We won’t find out until the 35-year-old decides if she will want to stay at home, or get on the court to wrap up her career. But that […]
Davis Cup: The heroes, the young guys and the veterans
The top 5 from the Davis Cup quarterfinals Nick Kyrgios The 20-year-old led Australia in beating the US, knocking out the vets John Isner and Sam Querrey. He is much more comfortable in the Davis Cup than on the ATP World Tour, being aggressive and smart. The Aussies could actually win it all this year, […]
Roger Federer vs Rafa Nadal in Miami final; Konta wins title
Roger Federer vs Rafa Nadal It is pretty stunning that this year, Federer walked on court, stared at his backhand and said, “It is time.” The 18-time champ knew that the only way he was going to consistent knock down the other top players (Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic) is to go more forward, […]
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