International Business Times

Nadal, Djokovic Battle For French Open Supremacy

Ryan Pastrana — Tue, 28 May 2013 22:54:01 GMT

Roland Garros is a place where Rafa Nadal can presumably hang his hat at the end of every May----he’s only ever lost one match in Paris, and has won 53 matches. He’ll go down as the best of all-time on clay, and in Monday’s first round action he looked disturbingly mortal. A German named Daniel Brands made a solid effort of taking down one of tennis’ giants, but fell short, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 6-3.

The McEnroe Way Bringing the Buzz Back to Tennis Through NYC Academy

gina.antoniello — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:58:53 GMT

John McEnroe is busy training the next group of great American tennis players. In 2010, he launched the John McEnroe Tennis Academy (JMTA) in his hometown of New York City at the SPORTIME Randall's Island Tennis Center in Manhattan. His vision? Bring the buzz back to tennis--starting in his stomping grounds.

Australian Open's Men's Finals Preview And Where To Watch Djokovic vs. Murray Online Live Stream

helyn.edwards — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:31:19 GMT

Serbian Novak Djokovic the defending champ and #1 seed will play Scot Andy Murray, the #3 seed, for the Australian Open's Men's Championship on Sunday, Jan, 27th at 5:30 PM or 1:30 AM EST in the U. S. Djokovic has won 10 of their 17 matches to date with Djokovic having the last two wins in the final two ATP events of 2012. Both are right-handed 25-year-olds, and Murray at 6'3" is an inch taller. This match could go either way depending on who wants it more.

Australian Open Women's Singles Final Preview: Where To Watch Online Live Stream of Victoria Azarenka vs. Li Na

helyn.edwards — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:03:58 GMT

The Australian Open Women's Singles final which will be played at 7:30 PM on Saturday, January 26th in Melbourne (3:30 AM EST in the States) features the defending champion Victoria Azarenka the #1 seed from Belarus against Li Na, the #6 seed from China. Azarenka has beaten Na five out of nine times, but never in a Grand Slam. Azarenka has played consistently well this past year except when her opponent was Serena Williams, and stands a good chance to repeat if her nerves don't get in the way.

Sloane Stephens Shocks Serena Williams in Major Upset

helyn.edwards — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:04:29 GMT

During the US Open there was talk that Sloane Stephens was the next Serena Williams or next great American champ. Wednesday or last night for those in the States at the Australian Open, Stephens pulled off a remarkable upset by beating Serena 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Her talent shown brightly as the 29th seeded player earned a place in her first Grand Slam semi-finals against the #1 seed, Victoria Azarenka who beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1.

What Can The Combined Record of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic And Murray's Opponents Tell Us About Tennis' Greatest Era?

robbie.fergusson — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:01:19 GMT

Having watched Stanislas Wawrinka unexpectedly push Novak Djokovic all the way in the 4th Round of the Australian Open, Federer summarily dispatch two of the game’s next hottest talents in Raonic and Tomic, and watched Andy Murray move to 39 wins and 1 losses against French players in the last few years, I was struck by the notion at how good the top four players in the world – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray, have been at dispatching their nearest competition on a consistent basis.

Women's Australian Open Preview: Victoria Azarenka Returns To Defend Title

helyn.edwards — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:30:45 GMT

With the Australian Open, tennis' first Grand Slam in 2013, taking place from Jan. 14 to 27th, in Melbourne's Melbourne Park, the top female seeds will be: 1) Victoria Azarenka, 2) Maria Sharapova, 3) Serena Williams, 4) Agnieszka Radwanska, and 5) Angelique Kerber, matching the WTA world rankings. Although, seeding based on ranking is all the Slams' policy except Wimbledon, Serena should be the top seed as she is almost a lock to win her sixth Australian Open Women's Singles Title.

Men's Draw For 2013 Australian Open

Ryan Pastrana — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 20:47:49 GMT

Last year's Australian Open saw Novak Djokovic capture the crown over Rafael Nadal in what was one of many iconic showdown's between two of tennis' heavyweights. This year's Open will look much different, with Rafa out with plaguing knee injuries and an aging Roger Federer who is looking to show everyone he still is as good as ever. Djokovic will have the "easier" route to the finals if he were to make it that far. Andy Murray landed in the other half of the draw with Roger Federer and a healthy Juan Martin del Potro.

Men's Australian Open Preview: Federer, Djokovic, And Murray Lead Nadal-less Field

helyn.edwards — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 19:32:49 GMT

The men's seeds of the Australian Open, Jan. 14 to 27th, in Melbourne's Melbourne Park coincide with the ATP rankings: 1) Novak Djokovic (two time defending Australian Open champ), 2) Roger Federer with 4 Aussie Titles, and 3) Andy Murray. Murray the # 3 seed will meet Federer in the semifinals. Realistically if all things including the seeds hold true, the aforementioned three men should be vying for the men's singles title.

Serena And Venus Williams Finish The Year With Wins

helyn.edwards — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 01:55:39 GMT

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova, 6-4, 6-3 in 89 minutes in the WTA Tour Championship this weekend in Istanbul, Turkey, while Venus Williams beat Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-3 last weekend to win her only title this year, the Luxembourg Cup in Luxembourg. Venus winning her 44th singles title puts her second only to her little sister Serena who holds 46, among active players. Serena finishes the year with a world ranking of No. 3 and Venus finishes at No. 24.

Roger Federer Ditched School at 16

anirban.majumder — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:26:21 GMT

There is no autobiography of him. But the millions of Roger Federer fans now can quench their thurst.

Taking time off from his hectic schedule, the world No. 1 takes us to his childhood.

From ditching the books at the age of 16 to how he choose tennis over football, Federer tells everything.

In his column for ‘rogerfedererfans.com’ he writes, “I started playing at the age of three. I was playing soccer at the same time. At like 10 or 12 years old, I had to make a decision what I’m going to do now more than the other one.”

Leander Not to be Blamed: Mahesh

anirban.majumder — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:07:45 GMT

The fire may have extinguished, but the smoke is very much there.Mahesh Bhupathi once again hit back at the AITA, accusing the Indian tennis’ governing body for creating "divide-and-rule" policy and its "dictatorial attitude".Surprisingly the veteran tennis star put his sympathy for Leander Paes, with whom he is at daggers drawn.Taking a u-turn, Bhupathi told the media he does not blame Paes for the London Games fiasco over the selection of the teams.He said, “Leander is not to be blamed for this.

After Connors, Sampras Who?

anirban.majumder — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 19:34:56 GMT

At least there are two representatives in the women's circuit. The Williams sisters. But Andy Roddick's retirement leaves the United States without an active men's Grand Slam champion for the first time in 129 years. With him goes the face of American men's tennis.

There was another 'first' on 4^th August, 2010, when no American turned up in the top 10 of the ATP Ranking. Since 1973, the year when tennis ranking system started, it never happened before.

Andy Murray Finally Wins a Slam!

helyn.edwards — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 02:00:02 GMT

The Scot Andy Murray's countrymen and the rest of the world can get off his back as he wins the 2012 US Open beating Novak Djokovic in the longest men's final of almost 5 hrs., 7-6, 7-5, 2-6, 3-6, 6-2. Murray in his fifth final caps off a golden summer beating Roger Federer in the Olympics with his first Grand Slam title.

US Open News: Serena Williams vs. Victoria Azarenka, "Turn Your Volume Down"

helyn.edwards — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:29:43 GMT

Turn your volume down if you're watching women's tennis this week-end. Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka have played three times this year and each time, after a few games I felt the need to turn my volume down. Nothing was worse than Friday in Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York during the US Open Semi-final match which Azarenka won 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. They out-dueled each other not only in strokes but shrieks, with the third set unbelievably loudest of all. Both could rival rush hour on Wall Street or a 757 landing at LaGuardia Airport. Can you imagine the resounding sound in Ashe Stadium?

Federer Lost to Nadal!

anirban.majumder — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:47:04 GMT

It was almost inevitable. But as the concerned person is Roger Federer, there was slight hope. But he could not win this particular match. His hope that Rafael Nadal will appear for Spain's Davis Cup semi final against United States next week lost.

The Spaniard says his knee injury will keep him out of the court for at least another two months.

This also makes his appearance in the ATP World Tour Finals in London doubtful, effectively ending his 2012 season.

He will get just a little more than a month to prepare for the Australian Open in January.

The Past, Present, and Future U. S. Opens

helyn.edwards — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:46:31 GMT

Some things still seem the same as when I started playing in 1959 trying to emulate Maria Bueno, the national winner that year. My first U. S. Open was in 1971, the 91st year of the event, as a 16 yr. old trying to play on the grass courts of Forest Hills in Queens, NY and be the next Evonne Goolagong. I ran into Althea Gibson figuratively and literally. She was nice as I rambled on giving me the moniker of "Little Girl." Until she died she never called me anything else.

Federer Wants Nadal This Year

anirban.majumder — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 12:13:43 GMT

After John Isner, now it is Roger Federer.

The world number one wants to see Rafael Nadal back on court again this year itself despite the Spaniard is suffering from a career threatening knee injury.

Eleven-time Grand Slam winner Nadal is likely to miss the forthcoming Davis Cup semi-final and even write off the rest of 2012.

"It's obviously not great news but one that was a possibility," said Federer.

"I'm not shocked about the news. I'm still hopeful that he'll be okay for the rest of the year," added the world number one.

Nadal Still Doubtful

anirban.majumder — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:35:03 GMT

Big-serving John Isner wants to see a fully fit Rafael Nadal against him in next month's Davis Cup semi-finals, though the Spaniard is still unsure if he will recover from a nagging knee injury in time to feature against the United States.

The world number three, after a shock second-round Wimbledon defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol in June, has not played yet.

He missed the opportunity to defend his Olympic Gold at London, and was also forced to withdraw from the US Open.

Sloane Stephens As The Next Serena Williams

helyn.edwards — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 22:25:46 GMT

Let's not do a disservice to Sloane Stephens by anointing her the next Serena Williams or next great American champ, even though we need one. Although quite talented, we should let the 44th ranked player in the world, especially when she feels confident, be her own person and not have to shoulder additional expectations. Let's just let her enjoy being 19 and having a good 2012.