Posts Tagged ‘French Open’
Roland Garros: Sharapova Survives Scare
Russian Advances With Come-From-Behind 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 Win Over Frenchwoman Garcia
PARIS — It could have been historic. It should have been momentous. It would have been shocking if Maria Sharapova, the former No. 1 and the No. 7 seed at the French Open, had lost to Caroline Garcia, an unknown, untested teen ranked No. 188.
Life, Healing and the Sport of Tennis
Roland Garros Buzz: Day 4
PARIS — Tennis is cruel. After her divorce this April from Aussie Samuel Groth, some suggested Jamila Gajdosova had migrated to Australia for the sake of citizenship. Tennis is redemptive. Mirjana Lucic used the game to overcome a debilitating history of paternal abuse. And tennis, for all its frustrations, can also be comforting. France’s Virgine [...]
American Dead Men (and Women) Walking
For One Shining Moment American Tennis Dazzled in Paris
PARIS — Let’s face it, of late, times have been miserable for American tennis. No Serena, no Venus, no Slams, no glory. No kidding. But for one shining moment for the U.S., the 21st century seemed to be the American century, well at least for a nano-second or two. And this wasn’t Wimbledon, where the grass [...]
Roland Garros Buzz: Day 2
McHale and Melanie Melt, Coco Crumbles, Fish Floats On
PARIS — It hasn’t been an upbeat start for the French Open. Lovers of tradition and intimacy were saddened by the news that the fabled “Bullring” (Court 1) and the quirky, intimate Court 2 would be bulldozed as part of Roland Garros’ re-structuring, which includes many a change, including a roof by 2016. Plus, the [...]
Roland Garros Draw Analysis: The Men
New World Order: Will Nole Leave Paris As the New No. 1?
TOP HALF 1st QUARTER Is it just cruel fate that Andy Roddick was a last-minute pullout (shoulder) and that four of the top U.S. hopefuls — Mardy Fish (the only American currently in the top 10), Sam Querrey, John Isner and Michael Russell — all landed in the same quarter of the draw, one that [...]
Agassi: Don’t Get Too Caught Up In the Numbers
There's a whole lot more to Federer's magic number than 14.
Fourteen is an awfully big number. At least when it comes to tennis. It’s the equivalent of Joe DiMaggio’s 56, Wilt Chamberlain’s 100, Brett Favre’s 464. And when Roger Federer matched Pete Sampras’ hallowed mark of 14 career Grand Slam titles earlier this month at Roland Garros, it further fanned the flames of the GOAT [...]
Nadal Pulls Out of Wimbledon
Opening Top Half for Murray, Roddick, Del Potro
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 – Defending champ Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Wimbledon with a knee injury, opening the door for Andy Murray and Andy Roddick to reach the final in the top half of the draw. Nadal has developed a serious case of tendinitis in both quadriceps tendons, and is said to be carrying [...]
The Buzz – July Edition
Is the Glatch Half Empty or is the Glatch Half Full?
NO KIDDING: After getting his clock cleaned by Roger Federer, Gael Monfils said Roger’s “game is a pain in the ass.” SAGE OF THE SEASON: Just before Sweden’s last Grand Slam champion, Thomas Johansson, left home to come to Paris, he wrote, “[I] won’t be blogging tomorrow because I’m going to Paris to see Robin [...]
The Quest
Federer’s Long & Winding Road To Immortality
He was just another kid with a forehand and a haircut. A decent enough prospect from a land known more for its high mountains than its high rankings. But, truth be told, not a single soul in tennis suspected that this long haired lad — so soft spoken in the locker room, so silky smooth [...]
Parlez Vous Loss?
King Nadal Usurped at Roland Garros
PARIS – Scores of anxious men charged at Rafael Nadal before Sweden’s Robin Soderling at the French Open, but none of them had the willpower to suffocate the Spaniard. Not even the great Roger Federer could face down the Mallorcan Mauler on his favored clay, in his cherished Philippe Chatrier stadium, which Nadal considered his [...]