One day after the euphoria of beating world #3 Roger Federer, American Andy Roddick tasted the dregs of defeat in losing to Juan Monaco.
Roddick didn’t just lose – he got smoked 7-6, 6-0. Apparently he wasn’t yet fit after coming back from injury. Funny – he looked pretty good against Federer.
Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic avoided the Federer stumble and are through to the next round.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, Screamin’ Serena Williams’ string of convincing wins came to an end against former world #1 Caroline Wozniacki. Ever-petulant Serena mumbled post-match woe-is-me comments about how everyone she plays always comes up with their biggest match, and how she herself “only played at about 20%.”
Caroline now moves on to a semi-final against Maria Sharapova, a match that will set a new record for tall, willowy blondness.
Watching from the sidelines will be Serena. But for lessons in grace under pressure, she need look no further than big sis Venus, whose win over another former world #1, Ana Ivanovic, now puts her in the surprising position of a semi-final matchup against Radwanska. “Surprising” because prior to this tournament, 31-year-old Venus had not played a single tennis match in 2012 and had spent much of her time receiving treatment for an autoimmune disease…not exactly the way you prep for top-flight tennis in the south Florida heat.
Tagged as:
Andy Roddick,
Caroline Wozniacki,
Maria Sharapova,
Novak Djokovic,
Rafael Nadal,
Roger Federer,
Serena Williams,
Venus Willliams
"OUT" - no, wait - not really
“OUT!” No, wait – not really.
Roger Federer was well on his way to a two-set dismantling of American Ryan Harrison when he heard the line judge call one of Harrison’s shots out. Federer checked his backhand and watched the ball go by – inside the line.
Turns out the call came not from the line judge but from a fan. It was an important point, allowing Harrison a service break. Federer shook his head and sat down heavily in his chair. The rules of tennis dictate no replay, no review in a case like this, when a player stops playing for whatever reason. (The rules don’t say how many lashes the fan gets with the cat ‘o nine tails out back behind the stadium – but we’re sure it’s at least 39.)
Here’s Roger, post-match, on the incident: “”It completely threw me off. I didn’t know what to think of it, because I was like, ‘That’s it? That’s the break point? That’s how it’s going to happen? OK.’ … It’s my mistake at the end of the day.”
Harrison felt bad about it and apologized to Federer afterward. And although the American went on to push the World #3 much more in Game 2 (7-6) than in Game 1 (6-2), he ultimately wasn’t up to the challenge of beating the hottest player on the planet since last year’s US Open.
Next up for Roger is World #34 Andy Roddick. Andy can’t be feeling too good about the matchup: Federer now has 77 straight wins against anyone ranked outside the top 20.
Tagged as:
Roger Federer
Sports Illustrated’s tennis blogger, the smart & savvy Courtney Nguyen, sketches out how the Miami Sony Ericsson Open might play out in the latest installment of Beyond the Baseline.
Courtney predicts a Federer-Djokovic semifinal on one side – with high-flying Federer coming out on top. (He’s been red-hot since the U.S. Open.) On the other side, Nadal defeats Thomas Berdych, and then goes on to beat Federer in the final. Key Biscayne would love that match-up. Federer has inherited the much-loved elder-statesman sentimental-fave mantle worldwide, while Nadal revitalized his standing with fans with his valiant six-hour Aussie Open final loss to Djokovic.
The women? This tourney will see Venus Williams returning to action, though she’s unlikely to make it far enough to face her petulant sister Serena, who’s in the other half of the draw. Courtney sees Serena defeating Maria Sharapova in one semi, but losing to world #1 Victoria Azarenka in the final.
Tagged as:
Rafael Nadal,
Roger Federer,
Serena Williams,
Victoria Azarenka
Roger Federer beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to win his record sixth title in the ATP World Tour Finals.
The Fed Express won his 70th title with today’s victory – in his 100th final. And at 30, he is the oldest player to win this title since “Nasty” Ilie Nastase did it in 1975.
We’re expecting Federer to have a great 2012. Watch out Novak.
Tagged as:
Roger Federer
The Swiss Maestro reached the 100th final of his career Saturday by beating Spain’s David Ferrer 7-5, 6-3. And if he beats Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in Sunday’s final of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, he’ll capture his 70th title.
Just that stat alone is interesting: Federer has reached 100 finals and won 70% of them. What other athletes have that kind of record? A few of Federer’s predecessors, during their best years – Borg and Sampras come to mind. Top boxers over the years: Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler. Sprinters like Carl Lewis and now Usain Bolt. The list is short.
With his wins in London, Federer moves back up to #3 in the world, behind Djokovic and the badly spiraling Rafa Nadal. It isn’t out of the question that next year, at 31, Fed takes another serious run at regaining the #1 spot.
Tagged as:
Roger Federer
