http://www.gototennisblog.com Tennis blog. Tennis news. Tennis gossip. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:41:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/01/13/atp-pits-world-cup-tennis-proposal-vs-itf-davis-cup/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/01/13/atp-pits-world-cup-tennis-proposal-vs-itf-davis-cup/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:13:58 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=15334
With Andy Roddick and James Blake leaving Davis Cup off their 2010 calendars and Roger Federer pulling out of a much anticipated first round tie against Spain, I’ve been wondering about the future of Davis Cup as an elite, world-class event. It seems the players have been, too. Members of the ATP players’ council, which includes [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/01/13/atp-pits-world-cup-tennis-proposal-vs-itf-davis-cup/feed/ 7 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/12/18/tiger-woods-vs-roger-federer-for-ap-athlete-of-the-decade/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/12/18/tiger-woods-vs-roger-federer-for-ap-athlete-of-the-decade/#comments Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:00:35 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=14764
I love Jon Wertheim’s quip from his excellent tennis awards post this week: “apparently the off season falls on a Tuesday this year.” Agreed that the off season is too short, but at the same time, what the heck are we going to talk about? Well Tiger Woods, of course! I was hoping Tiger Woods’s self-exile would [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/12/18/tiger-woods-vs-roger-federer-for-ap-athlete-of-the-decade/feed/ 20 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/10/19/read-the-leaves-what-lies-ahead-for-rafael-nadal/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/10/19/read-the-leaves-what-lies-ahead-for-rafael-nadal/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:21:35 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=13397
I said I would refrain from reading Rafael Nadal’s tealeaves until next season, but Peter Bodo at tennis.com offered this provocative analysis after this weekend’s Shanghai final: So the real issue, looking to Nadal’s future, is: To what degree can he recapture the form and aura he enjoyed until a few weeks after the Australian Open?  [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/10/19/read-the-leaves-what-lies-ahead-for-rafael-nadal/feed/ 17 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/all-aboard-riding-the-roger-federer-express/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/all-aboard-riding-the-roger-federer-express/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:48:32 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=11702
With Roger’s big win(s) in Cincinnati this weekend, it’s getting crowded on the Federer Express. Next stop, US Open. Here are some choice quotes: Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated sums it up: Was it really about three months ago that the Fed Express appeared to be sputtering, as the eponym was lacking a single title in 2009, [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/all-aboard-riding-the-roger-federer-express/feed/ 17 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/video-is-mohamed-lahani-the-world-no-1-chair-umpire/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/video-is-mohamed-lahani-the-world-no-1-chair-umpire/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:00:09 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=11695
Robin Soderling has competition – Chair Umpire Mohamed Lahyani may be the best thing going in Swedish tennis right now. Tennis nuts have often remarked on Mo’s cheerful, yet decisive, style: he’s charming with the players and shows no fear on the overrules. Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill of ESPN have started calling him “Number [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/24/video-is-mohamed-lahani-the-world-no-1-chair-umpire/feed/ 7 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/15/strip-sliding-away-what-is-wrong-with-novak-djokovic/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/15/strip-sliding-away-what-is-wrong-with-novak-djokovic/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:01:22 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=11389
Friday was quarterfinals day in Montreal, with Andy Murray advancing over Nikolay Davydenko,  del Potro showing Rafael Nadal the door and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga winning a game of choking chicken against Roger Federer. Sure, Roger’s loss was a shocker, but the result that really struck me was Andy Roddick’s straight set win over Novak Djokovic: 6-4, [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/15/strip-sliding-away-what-is-wrong-with-novak-djokovic/feed/ 9 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/02/tommy-haas-loses-to-sam-querrey-and-the-no-class-samurai/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/02/tommy-haas-loses-to-sam-querrey-and-the-no-class-samurai/#comments Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:35:17 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=10892
Sam Querrey beat Tommy Haas on Saturday evening at the LA Tennis Open, 6-3, 7-5. The towering American was surprisingly fleet of foot, hit serves consistently in the 130s and rushed the net when he could. It was a great win for Sam, who is now in his third straight ATP final, having played Sundays [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/08/02/tommy-haas-loses-to-sam-querrey-and-the-no-class-samurai/feed/ 26 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/07/15/pete-sampras-thinks-roger-federer-is-the-greatest-maybe/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/07/15/pete-sampras-thinks-roger-federer-is-the-greatest-maybe/#comments Wed, 15 Jul 2009 09:00:48 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=10369
It’s not easy choosing the G.O.A.T. Like American Lit exams, it’s more essay question than multiple choice. And even if you’re tennis’s answer to Mark Twain, those snarky Sartre-types can always blow smoke in your eyes and snarl: “What a futile exercise. It’s obvious that the G.O.A.T. is a media construct and not reality.” Can you [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/07/15/pete-sampras-thinks-roger-federer-is-the-greatest-maybe/feed/ 26 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/03/12/volley-freaking-maria-sharapova/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/03/12/volley-freaking-maria-sharapova/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:30:53 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=3426
Maria Sharapova made an all-too-brief return to the WTA tour today at Indian Wells after a seven month injury layoff. She and Russian partner, Elena Vesnina, lost their first round doubles match: 6-2, 4-6, 10-7 to Ekaterina Makarova and Tatiana Poutchek. The upcoming Miami tournament is likely NOT on her schedule, at least for singles [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/03/12/volley-freaking-maria-sharapova/feed/ 4 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/27/beyond-federer-vs-sampras-and-the-billy-jean-king-cup/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/27/beyond-federer-vs-sampras-and-the-billy-jean-king-cup/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:29:08 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=2350
A recent Newsday article (click here) about the upcoming BNP Paribas Showdown for the Billie Jean King Cup in Madison Square Garden had some intriguing news about the growing interest in exhibition tennis as a marketing tool for our sport. Jerry Solomon – organizer of the BJK Cup and last year’s Sampras vs. Federer exo [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/27/beyond-federer-vs-sampras-and-the-billy-jean-king-cup/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/19/volley-are-serena-and-venus-williams-the-best/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/19/volley-are-serena-and-venus-williams-the-best/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:57:46 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=1975
Serena beat Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter finals of Dubai today, setting up a semi final match with her sister Venus Williams. This is what she had to say about the all-Williams match-up: “We are both the best players on the tour right now.” I wish Serena was right  – that would mean that [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/02/19/volley-are-serena-and-venus-williams-the-best/feed/ 0 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/31/volley-should-womens-finals-be-best-of-five-sets/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/31/volley-should-womens-finals-be-best-of-five-sets/#comments Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:59:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2009/01/31/volley-should-womens-finals-be-best-of-five-sets/
I felt a little sorry for the poor suckers in the crowd last night who paid good money to watch the sublime Serena dismantle Safina 6-0. 6-3 in the championship match of the Australian Open. It probably took everyone present about twice as long to take the tram to Rod Laver arena, buy a coldie [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/31/volley-should-womens-finals-be-best-of-five-sets/feed/ 1 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/29/volley-is-roger-back-in-form/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/29/volley-is-roger-back-in-form/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:02:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2009/01/29/volley-is-roger-back-in-form/
I say yes, hallelujah! Roger Federer is back to his old self. By that I mean his pre-mono, pre-2008 self. His No. 1 self, to be exact. This is not something I say without deep consideration. Mark, an insightful commenter, asked me today why I hadn’t gone apesh*t over Rog’s double bagel win over del Potro [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2009/01/29/volley-is-roger-back-in-form/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/25/volley-did-alberto-mancini-drop-the-ball/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/25/volley-did-alberto-mancini-drop-the-ball/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:16:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/11/25/volley-did-alberto-mancini-drop-the-ball/
There’s been some buzz that Argentine Davis Cup Captain, Alberto Mancini, made some serious blunders during the Davis Cup final against Spain and showed a lack of leadership. After all, without Nadal on the Spanish team, the Argentines playing at home were considered favorites for the Cup. Knowing that hindsight is always 20/20, I’m wondering [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/25/volley-did-alberto-mancini-drop-the-ball/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/11/volley-tsonga-vs-del-potro/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/11/volley-tsonga-vs-del-potro/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:02:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/11/11/volley-tsonga-vs-del-potro/
Even though these two talented players are lumped together in the ever-expanding “young guns” category, there isn’t anything too similar about their tennis. Tsonga is the flashy big man with a humongous game and a touch of French flair at the net, while del Potro is more of a gangly giant with a grinding mentality [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/11/volley-tsonga-vs-del-potro/feed/ 1 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/01/volley-is-it-better-to-withdraw-or-retire/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/01/volley-is-it-better-to-withdraw-or-retire/#comments Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:26:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/11/01/volley-is-it-better-to-withdraw-or-retire/
Well, there goes my whole theory about Bercy being the new Roland Garros. Roger Federer withdrew from the tournament with a stiff back just minutes before his quarterfinal against James Blake, and Rafael Nadal retired with a sore knee after losing the first set of his match against Nikolay Davydenko. Neither of these players retire or [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/11/01/volley-is-it-better-to-withdraw-or-retire/feed/ 5 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/25/volley-is-donald-young-on-the-cusp-of-greatness/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/25/volley-is-donald-young-on-the-cusp-of-greatness/#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:56:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/08/25/volley-is-donald-young-on-the-cusp-of-greatness/
Who watched Young vs. Blake? What started out as a ritual slaughter of the first round sacrificial lamb (i.e. Coco Vandeweghe), turned into a five-set thriller under the lights! Midway through the fifth set, it looked like a full reversal of hunter vs. hunted, with James wobbling at the knees and the crowd roaring for [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/25/volley-is-donald-young-on-the-cusp-of-greatness/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/19/volley-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-world-order/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/19/volley-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-world-order/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:05:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/08/19/volley-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-world-order/
We witnessed another torch changing hands during this Olympics (without the security or bloodied protesters) – as of yesterday, Rafa’s the new No. 1 and Roger’s now No. 2 (possibly No. 3 by the end of the year.) Click here for a fact-filled tribute to both players from the ATP and be sure to check [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/08/19/volley-what-do-you-think-of-the-new-world-order/feed/ 5 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-federer-burnt-out/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-federer-burnt-out/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 03:41:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/07/23/volley-is-federer-burnt-out/
Didn’t we all see this coming? I know I’m still recovering from a gut-twisting Wimbledon hangover, so it’s really no surprise to me that Roger is, too. But all credit to Gilles Simon, last week’s Indy champ, who beat Federer in Toronto today in three tough sets – these French guys just keep wowing us, [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-federer-burnt-out/feed/ 9 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-the-battle-of-the-sexes-sexy/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-the-battle-of-the-sexes-sexy/#comments Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:24:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennis.org/2008/07/23/volley-is-the-battle-of-the-sexes-sexy/
Tennis Channel founder, Steve Bellamy, is busy promoting his latest venture – a mixed gender tournament where everyone serves underhand. Here’s the scoop: Imagine Roger Federer playing one of the Williams sisters. Or Rafael Nadal facing Maria Sharapova. Tennis promoter Steve Bellamy envisions such matchups one day, although he’ll go with less dynamic pairings for now. On [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2008/07/23/volley-is-the-battle-of-the-sexes-sexy/feed/ 4