Thought Dump 4/17 : Monte Carlo, Fed Cup

• When Rafa failed to serve out the match in the second set the Tennis Channel commentators seemed to fall back on the "here we go again he is lacking confidence". It could totally be seen as that since he had a point to go up 4-love earlier in the set. Then Rafa started the game to stay in the set with a double fault before saving a set point he ended up losing the set he once lead by a double break. It would have been great for the match to have been shorter and such. How Rafa started the third set with a break and then digging out of several 0-30 service game deficits and saving a break point. Which do you think would build confidence better closing a match out simply or falling behind and then coming back to close it out how you intended to in the first place. 
• The past two matches seem like Rafa is channeling his inner Claypova with the epic struggles.
• Narrative would say that who ever wins tomorrows Rafa/Novak match would be the "early favorite" for Roland Garros but it won't. 
• Rafa is still building up his confidence. Novak seems unstoppable. This makes me seem like Rafa has "less" to lose than Novak. 
• Twitter is a important part of my tennis viewing experience. Yet this morning I found myself watching from Monte Carlo without also following along on twitter. Usually this happens during early clay season when there is not much to follow such as Charleston or Monte Carlo. It is refreshing to watch a match without the white noise that twitter sometimes becomes when there is only one or two matches happening at the given time. 
• I have been looking forward to this Fed Cup weekend since the match ups have been set. 
• Kivitova/Mladenovic has the ability to be a great match between two hard hitters. There is the question mark of if Petra will be rusty after the time she has taken off or if it will have refreshed her. Petra will also have the home Fed Cup crowd which she is known to thrive in front of and that did not phase Kiki in Italy. Hopefully this is a good kick off for Petra as she heads into her most succcesful part of the season that has just been expanded. 
• Germany/Russia
• Captian Rittner has thrown a curve ball by not calling on Petkovic or newly crowned Charleston champion Kerber in Sochi. Instead the match ups for the first day will be Goreges/Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova Lisicki. These two matches could be glorious examples of hard hitting clay court tennis or beautiful disasters and a two rubbers to zero lead for either team would not suprise me. Most likely is a 1-1 tie going into Sunday with  all to play for. 
• Aga vs Hingis in SINGLES. Also Bacinszky returns for her first match since losing to Serena in Indian Wells in the Poland/Switzerland World Group Playoff. 
• Serena vs Camila Giorgi. On Clay. In Italy. 
• Laura hitting forehands!

  Happy Friday 👀 ps It's a sweatband (not tape) on my wrist.

  A video posted by Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) on Apr 17, 2015 at 8:15am PDT

Thundering Tennis

So the weather in Monte Carlo was surely frightful with numerous rain delays through out the day and when Rafa finally arrived on court he did it to thunder literally.



Reminded me of last years Wimbledon Quarterfinals under the roof between Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli.



Whose reaction do you like better.

Feeling it

The Venus Monologues? 

Got something in your nose Delpo.

Two and a half matches. NBD. 

Hug it out. Get better Sabine.

Captain Swag. USA and France tied 1-1 in Monte Carlo. 

Doubles Fun: Indian Wells

I think that Indian Wells is one of the best events all year for exciting doubles pairings. Everyone seems to be playing and it's fun to see the singles players out playing doubles.


We have the defending Doubles Champions: Alexandr Dolgopolov and Xavier Malisse.

The 2010 Indian Wells Doubles Champions: Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez.

The 2009 Champions: Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish.

Here is the full draw for the men.

Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azerenka are teaming up as a wild card team.

Sam Stosur and Casey Dellacqua

Julia Goerges and Sabine Lisicki

Full Ladies Doubles Draw. 

Fed Cup Fun!

It's time for the first Fed Cup action of the year and the ladies look to be enjoying it. While the bulk of the action takes place this weekend but Great Britain is already off to a winning start in Europe/Africa Group 1. 

Laura Robson, Heather Watson & Judy Murray during doubles against Portugal.

Team GB answer twitter questions. 

Venus is part of the team that will take on Belarus in World Group II action.

Sam Stosur is all smiles in Switzerland for Australia's World Group II tie. 

Germany take on the defending champion Czech Republic in Stuttgart. (On Indoor hard, why did you pick this surface. To crush my dreams.)

Petra is also really good at footie tennis indoors. 

Of course you would Liezel. Serena on the other hand looks disappointed she doesn't have an Eli jersey.  

Maria Sharapova is in Russia to play the World Group tie against Spain in Moscow.  

Fourthly....

Mostly all the quarterfinals are set and while the first week had a few minor upsets. They saved all the drama for the fourth round.

Serena Out.

In one of the worst serving performances by Serena in recent memory with six double faults and being broken five times her movement was clearly hampered. Makarova is now in her first Slam quarterfinal she held her nerve and played an amazing match going for her shots especially down the line. I am disappointed Serena lost but thinking that a year ago she was in a cast and ten months ago she had a life threatening medical condition that she still has to keep under control it is remarkable that she is playing tennis again and I appreciate that she will be able to play in a few weeks for Fed Cup.

Boo Berds
I will let the videos do the talking and let you decide for yourselves. I think its part of the game that you do. Fake it even but to just not do it after you ended up winning the match just makes you look like a bad winner.

The Rematch

The fourth round meeting of Kim Clijsters and Li Na was a repeat of the 2011 final in Melbourne. After breaks being traded for the first half of the first set the drama really started when Kim rolled over on her left ankle. Li then broke to take the first set and broke early in the second. Kim then broke back and the set climaxed in a tiebreaker down four match points at 5-6 in the breaker Kim pulled out a drop shot lob combo that had Li frozen like a tennis version of the terra cotta soliders. In the third set Kim quickly went up two breaks and even though she got broken serving for the match on her first attempt she closed it out in her next service game. It was a great display of heart and fight from Kim in what is expected to be her final Australian Open.

Controlled Aggression: Sharapova vs. Lisicki 

Maria got out of the gates fast going up 3-0 with two breaks in the first set against but then in a blitzkrieg of winners to win six straight games to take the first set. Maria fight won her the match as well as Sabine's inability to convert on the big points. But both ladies have a lot to take from this match and both improved their Australian Open performances from a year ago.

Kei Nishikori upset Tsonga in five sets to become the first Japanesse man to reach the Australian Open quarterfinals in 80 years. 

Thanks Lleyton for you fighting spirt and determination hope you have a healthy season. You are inspiring. 

What I noticed Day 6

• Maria Kirlenko retired to Petra Kvitova after calling the down 0-5 in the first set she then only played two more games. Through the seven games played Petra had 23 winners and 2 errors to say that she was zoning is a understatement. 
• Maria Sharapova defeated Angelique Kerber in straights sets with this clearly being the most hard fought match so far for the Russian. She said she was aware of Kerber's experience on big courts after making it the the semifinals of the US Open last year. I laughed realizing how obserd it was that the semifinal match was actually on Grandstand. 
• Sabine Lisicki came back from a shaky start to defeat Svetlana Kuznetsova in 3 sets. She was very happy to have reached the second week of the Australian Open for the first time.
• It was Nicholas Mahut's birthday he won two games of Novak Djokovic. 
• Andy Murray and Michael Llodra played a fun match there was, smiling, joking, hitting flying forehands. Murray advanced in straight sets. 
• Gael Monfils....I don't know what to say about this. It was something kinda comparable to a train wreck. 
• Serena texts Venus about boys and tennis. She also defeated Greta Arn in straight sets to set up a fourth round meeting with Makarova who seems to be the Pironkova of the Australian Open. 

What I am watching Day 6

Day 6 is upon us which means we are almost half way through the tournement. Today also brings the start of Olympic Qualifying for the USWNT Soccer team you can watch that here at 10:30 EST. Now on to the tennis.


Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est) 
  Match 1: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Maria Kirilenko(RUS)[27] vs. Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]
 
  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Angelique Kerber(GER)[30]vs. Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 7 PM (3 AM est)

 Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Greta Arn(HUN) vs.Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

  Match 2: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Vania King(USA)vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

  Match 3: Women's Singles - 3rd Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14]vs.  Svetlana Kuznetsova(RUS)[18]

7 PM

  Men's Singles - 3rd Round: Andy Murray(GBR)[4]vs. Michael Llodra(FRA)

What I am Watching: Day 2

Day 2 has the bottom half of the Women's draw and the top half of the Men's draw take the court.

Rod Laver Arena 11 AM (7 PM est)

  Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Vera Dushevina(RUS) vs.  Petra Kvitova(CZE)[2]

 Match 3: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Samantha Stosur(AUS)[6] vs.  Sorana Cirstea(ROU)

Rod Laver Arena 7 PM (3 AM est)
  Men's Singles - 1st Round : Cedrik-Marcel Stebe(GER) vs.  Lleyton Hewitt(AUS)
 
  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Tamira Paszek(AUT) vs.  Serena Williams(USA)[12]

Hisense Arena 11 AM

 Match 2:  Women's Singles - 1st Round : Gisela Dulko(ARG) vs.  Maria Sharapova(RUS)[4]

 

 Match 3: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Andy Murray(GBR)[4] vs.  Ryan Harrison(USA)

 

 Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Robin Haase(NED) vs.  Andy Roddick(USA)[15]

 

Margret Court Arena 11 AM

Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round : Rui Machado(POR) vs.  David Ferrer(ESP)[5]

Show Court 2 11 AM

 Match 1: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Andreas Seppi(ITA) vs.  Richard Gasquet(FRA)[17]

 

 Match 4:  Women's Singles - 1st Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino(ESP) vs.  Ana Ivanovic(SRB)[21]

 

 Show Court 3 11 AM

 Match 1: Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sabine Lisicki(GER)[14] vs.  Stefanie Voegele(SUI)

 

 Match 4: Men's Singles - 1st Round: Gilles Simon(FRA)[12] vs.  Danai Udomchoke(THA)

 

Non Watchable matches of interest from 11 AM:

Court 5: Match 3:   Women's Singles - 1st Round: Sloane Stephens(USA) vs.  Silvia Soler-Espinosa(ESP)

Court 7: Match 4:  Men's Singles - 1st Round: Julien Benneteau(FRA) vs.  Karol Beck(SVK)

Passing Shots

• Stosur meets Schiavone on Australian soil for the second time since their French Open final in the first round of Sydney. 
• The WTA number one ranking is a stake in Sydney. 
• Kaia Kanepi tops off her stellar week with the title in Brisbane.
• Raonic advances to the final in Chennai.  
• The organizer of the 1980 Winter Olympics dies.  
• Tsonga defeats Monfils in a foggy Doha final. 
• The Czech Republic wins Hopman Cup Final over France. 
• Zheng Jie won the delayed by rain then forced indoors by more rain Auckland final over Penetta when Flavia retired down a break in the third set. 
• Ivanovic lost to Safarova in the first round of Sydney. 
• Sabine Lisicki withdraws from Sydney. 
• Madrid's bid for the 2020 Olympics gain support from the Spanish Committee of Representatives of Persons with Disabilities. 

Passing Shots

• Sycronized Swimming tickets were double sold for  London. Yikes. 
• The number one British Elena Baltatcha women does not think that tennis at the Olympics will suffer because of its close proximity in the calendar to Wimbledon. Neither do I even the Wimbledon Finalists will have two entire weeks in between events. 
• Andy Murray did it the hard way again defeating Gilles Muller in 3 sets. 
• Serena won her match. But as she was serving for the match she sprained her ankle and had to withdrawal from the tournament. Hope she heals up and is ready to go in Melbourne. 
• Seeds fall in Auckland but top-seed Lisicki advances to the Quarterfinals.
• A torch used in the 1996 Atlanta Games was stolen the sold to a pawn shop. 

Passing Shots

• Sabine Lisicki, Flavia Panetta and other advance in Auckland. 
• Rafa is working hard but apparently unprepared in the adjustment to his new racket specifications. 
• Serena claims she "never actually liked sports" and prefers shopping. 
• When pop culture and the Olympic meet. The stand for Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy who was a Olympic Fencer died. 
• Record attendance at the Brisbane International. 
• Schedule of games for US Women's National Soccer team Olympic qualifying tournament. 

WTA Wish List: Part 1

The Germans: As a group I hope they win the Fed Cup.

Sabine Lisicki: Her year end ranking was 15 after a semifinal run at Wimbledon and titles in Birmingham and Dallas. She has minimal points to defend until the American hard court season this spring losing in the round of 16 of Auckland and falling in qualifying for the Australian Open last year. Would like to see her reach the top ten and the second week at the Slams. Most important is for her to stay healthy after battling injuries.

Andrea Petkovic: After a 2011 that landed her in the top ten she should hope to start the year strong to back up her Australian accomplishments of a year ago which included making the final in Brisbane losing to Kvitova. Then following it up with a quarter final appearance at the Australian Open upsetting Sharapova in the fourth round before losing to eventual finalist Li Na. I expect her to live up to her seeding in bigger events and possibly win two or more smaller events. 

Julia Goerges: To call Julia's 2011 to be a roller coaster would be putting it lightly. After a relatively slow start of the year she really hit the peak of her season on the Clay defeating Wozniack in the finals of Stuttgart for her only title and reaching the semi-finals in Madrid. But she then failed to make a semi final until her last event in Luxembourg. Ranked at 21 to end the year, breaking into the top 20 and becoming more constant. 


And a Brit:

Laura Robson: Last year started with a lot of promise as she was to play Hopman Cup with Andy Murray then attempt to qualify for the Australian Open. But after suffering a leg/hip injury that sidelined her for two months during Hopman Cup the start of her season was put on hold. Upon her return to the ITF circuit but once again suffered a injury that needed a three week recovery time. So her season really began on the grass of 's-Hertogenbosch and Wimbledon. She next took on the American hard courts where she qualified for the US Open. My wishes for Laura is that she is doesn't suffer anymore injuries so that she can gain a constancy to break the top-100 by mid year.