http://www.gototennisblog.com Tennis blog. Tennis news. Tennis gossip. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:09:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/16/roger-federer-a-member-of-the-roger-vs-rafa-appreciation-society/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/16/roger-federer-a-member-of-the-roger-vs-rafa-appreciation-society/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:05:20 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17394 “This rivalry is intense!” Roger Federer joked at Indian Wells on Friday night, after Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi engaged in some verbal (and in Pete’s case, non-verbal) crossfire during their Hit for Haiti charity doubles match. It was a valiant attempt to break the tension and a subtle reference to the more mellow relationship [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/16/roger-federer-a-member-of-the-roger-vs-rafa-appreciation-society/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-report-day-6-clijsters-klubbed-djokovic-star-struck-nadal-ponders-ugly-shorts/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-report-day-6-clijsters-klubbed-djokovic-star-struck-nadal-ponders-ugly-shorts/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:47:15 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17393 WTA stars continue to drop in the desert like beads of sweat from Rafa’s furrowed brow (or the deluge from Kleybanova’s ponytail). Sharapova, Henin, Ivanovic and Kuznetsova disappeared during the first week. On Monday 3rd-seeded Victoria Azarenka was bounced by 28-seed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez. No. 17 Shahar Peer took out No. 9 Flavia Pennetta. No. [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-report-day-6-clijsters-klubbed-djokovic-star-struck-nadal-ponders-ugly-shorts/feed/ 2 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-day-5-nadal-wins-doubles-sharapova-panic-federer-fights-jinx/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-day-5-nadal-wins-doubles-sharapova-panic-federer-fights-jinx/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:08:19 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17337 Learning our lesson from Saturday’s standing room only Roddick/Blake vs. Murray/Hutchins doubles match, we camped out early on Stadium 2 on Sunday to catch wild card entrants Rafael Nadal/Marc Lopez vs. the third-seeded doubles team of Lukas Dlouhy/Leander Paes.  The wild cards won: 6-4, 3-6, 10-6. The result made me pity the doubles specialists of [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/indian-wells-day-5-nadal-wins-doubles-sharapova-panic-federer-fights-jinx/feed/ 10 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/video-federer-murray-nadal-roddick-practice-sessions/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/video-federer-murray-nadal-roddick-practice-sessions/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:07:40 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17359
Here’s a nice video from the ATP showing Roger Federer, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick in action on the Indian Wells practice courts. It provides some insight into their autograph techniques as well. Love the banner! (Click here for Roger Federer Banner-rama!) ]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/15/video-federer-murray-nadal-roddick-practice-sessions/feed/ 3 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/photos-backstage-at-hit-for-haiti/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/photos-backstage-at-hit-for-haiti/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:00:59 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17327 Some nice behind the scenes photos from Hit for Haiti. I’m guessing that these were all taken before the guys played their match on Friday. I’m basing this on Rafa’s t-shirt, which he changed once he was on court. Also, everyone seems to be getting along! “I know my fabrics, Rafa, and this is not 100% [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/photos-backstage-at-hit-for-haiti/feed/ 6 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/indian-wells-report-day-4-ivanovic-out-of-the-top-50-blake-and-roddick-pack-em-in/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/indian-wells-report-day-4-ivanovic-out-of-the-top-50-blake-and-roddick-pack-em-in/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:54:57 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17293 Saturday was a very busy day at Indian Wells – the sold out day session, the overflow parking situation and the epic bathroom lines were just the start of it. It felt like the entire population of Tennis Landia was trying to get inside Stadium 2 to watch Andy Murray/Ross Hutchins vs. James Blake/Andy Roddick [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/indian-wells-report-day-4-ivanovic-out-of-the-top-50-blake-and-roddick-pack-em-in/feed/ 7 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/video-roger-federer-happy-to-be-back-on-top-waiting-for-nadal/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/video-roger-federer-happy-to-be-back-on-top-waiting-for-nadal/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:43:52 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17294
Roger Federer talks to the ATP about Indian Wells. Interesting stuff from him on being “back on top” of the game and on Rafael Nadal’s recent struggles. This puts me in the mood for a Nadal vs. Federer final next weekend! Am I going to get my wish? ]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/14/video-roger-federer-happy-to-be-back-on-top-waiting-for-nadal/feed/ 5 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/fan-file-the-roger-federer-genius-at-work-banner-rama/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/fan-file-the-roger-federer-genius-at-work-banner-rama/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:54:21 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17279
Photo by Krist at rogerfederer.com Federer Fan (and self-diagnosed “Rogerholic”), Kathy Woodward contributed this piece on the now-famous “Genius at Work” banner that follows her man around the world. Enjoy! An Ingenious Idea by Kathy Woodward “Shhh!!! Quiet! Genius at Work”, has requested hush and silence over Federer matches for four years now. The slogan was inspired by a [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/fan-file-the-roger-federer-genius-at-work-banner-rama/feed/ 11 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/indian-wells-report-day-3-justine-bounced-andre-agassi-bombs-at-hit-for-haiti/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/indian-wells-report-day-3-justine-bounced-andre-agassi-bombs-at-hit-for-haiti/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:26:00 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17234 I thought I was witnessing the most awkward part of Day Three at Indian Wells when Maria Sharapova went down 1-5 in the first set to Vera Dushevina on Stadium 2. The crowd was groaning and wincing as she hit serve after serve into the bottom of the net. But then I heard a collective [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/13/indian-wells-report-day-3-justine-bounced-andre-agassi-bombs-at-hit-for-haiti/feed/ 48 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/indian-wells-report-day-2-roger-federer-and-justine-henin-conference-on-awesome/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/indian-wells-report-day-2-roger-federer-and-justine-henin-conference-on-awesome/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:28:47 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17161 Okay – first of all, Rafael Nadal is not keeping the kinds of hours I’d expect of a Spaniard. Meaning, I totally missed it when he and Kim and Roger and Ana were all together on the practice courts on Thursday morning. I was still eating my breakfast! Thank goodness there are other crazed tennis [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/indian-wells-report-day-2-roger-federer-and-justine-henin-conference-on-awesome/feed/ 23 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-indian-wells-shirtless-bonus/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-indian-wells-shirtless-bonus/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:01:44 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17167
We snapped a couple shots of the always-elusive Roger Federer shirt change. The photos in the gallery are from two separate Roger Federer practice sessions at Indian Wells on Thursday. The morning session (gray RF shirt) included Ivan Ljubicic. Justine Henin practiced next door. Roger glanced over to observe JuJu’s strokes a few times during his [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/12/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-indian-wells-shirtless-bonus/feed/ 9 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/11/indian-wells-report-day-1/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/11/indian-wells-report-day-1/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:00:12 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17080 Fritters and I made it out to Indian Wells for Day 1 action – at least the WTA main draw started today. Justine Henin was the only major star on the schedule today thanks to lame first round byes for every seed. Glad she made it through Magdalena Rybarikova, at least. But who needs real, competitive [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/11/indian-wells-report-day-1/feed/ 24 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-2010-indian-wells/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-2010-indian-wells/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:09:28 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17084
Whoa, it’s the Roger-lode! We scored a primo perch for Roger Federer’s Wednesday practice session at Indian Wells. He practiced for almost two hours, hitting around and playing games with a young (American?) guy with a huge serve and a one-handed backhand.  (I’ll be forever grateful to the reader who identifies his practice partner.) Despite the [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/photos-roger-federer-practices-at-2010-indian-wells/feed/ 34 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/serena-clijsters-win-laureus-awards-bolt-beats-federer/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/serena-clijsters-win-laureus-awards-bolt-beats-federer/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:11:18 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17081 (Amazing that Kim went back to Abu Dhabi to accept the Laureus award on Wednesday. Does Southwest fly direct from Abu Dhabi to Palm Springs?) The Laureus World Sports Awards winners were announced today and both Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams got the nod (via Laureus.com): US tennis star Serena Williams has won her second Laureus World [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/10/serena-clijsters-win-laureus-awards-bolt-beats-federer/feed/ 5 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/09/indian-wells-atp-draw-and-preview-a-federer-nadal-final/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/09/indian-wells-atp-draw-and-preview-a-federer-nadal-final/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:11:31 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=17054 What Ho! The Indian Wells Masters draw is out earlier than expected! (Click here) With Rafael Nadal at No. 3, he and Roger Federer are suddenly the Williams Sisters of the ATP tour. Everyone’s first question when the draw comes out: are they on opposite sides of the draw? They are. Okay, moving on to the second question. [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/09/indian-wells-atp-draw-and-preview-a-federer-nadal-final/feed/ 11 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/05/photo-roger-federer-practicing-at-indian-wells/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/05/photo-roger-federer-practicing-at-indian-wells/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:28:23 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=16952
Whoo hoo! Roger Federer is now 130.86 miles (give or take) from my apartment! Via Facebook: Something tells me he will be playing Indian Wells next week. See you on Wednesday, Rog! ]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/05/photo-roger-federer-practicing-at-indian-wells/feed/ 31 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/04/roger-federer-photos-more-from-ethiopia/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/04/roger-federer-photos-more-from-ethiopia/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:54:29 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=16888
Hey Fed Fanatics! Here are a couple new photos from Roger Federer’s recent trip to Ethiopia, via Swiss magazine Schweizer Illustrierte. There’s also a lengthy article – not in English – click here to check it out (and feel free to leave your translation, below*!) *UPDATE* Huge thanks to reader Hetty for taking the time to translate [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/04/roger-federer-photos-more-from-ethiopia/feed/ 12 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/yes-andor-no-more-speculation-on-roger-federer-at-indian-wells/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/yes-andor-no-more-speculation-on-roger-federer-at-indian-wells/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:25:33 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=16847
I know, I know, yet another inconclusive update. But it’s starting to get fun! Roger Federer 10 minutes ago on Facebook: Posted earlier today on Tennis.com: Although there has been no official confirmation, reliable sources have told Peter Bodo, Senior Editor for TENNIS magazine, that Roger Federer will pull out of the Indian Wells tournament because of his [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/yes-andor-no-more-speculation-on-roger-federer-at-indian-wells/feed/ 15 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/required-reading-the-untouchable-mirka-federer/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/required-reading-the-untouchable-mirka-federer/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:27:45 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=16842
We’ve often chatted here at GTT about Mirka – her cardigans, her stamina in the players’ box, her addiction to chewing gum. Today it was The Oregonian’s Douglas Perry, author of quite a few recent pieces on Roger Federer, who decided to take up the GOAT’s better half.  He correctly points out that she’s a [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/02/required-reading-the-untouchable-mirka-federer/feed/ 31 http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/01/roger-federer-back-in-switzerland-on-track-for-indian-wells/ http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/01/roger-federer-back-in-switzerland-on-track-for-indian-wells/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:54:10 +0000 freakyfrites http://www.gototennisblog.com/?p=16804
Because we’re all awaiting any Roger Federer lung infection updates with baited breath: Via IOL.com.za: An ATP official in close contact with the world number one said Sunday that the Swiss, while still taking medication for the infection he appears to have picked up several weeks ago during training at his base in Dubai, also says his [...]]]> http://www.gototennisblog.com/2010/03/01/roger-federer-back-in-switzerland-on-track-for-indian-wells/feed/ 7