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2010 Year-end Rankings

December 25, 2010 by Nate Thomas

Happy Holidays. As a point of reference here are the final 2010 year-end tennis rankings in both the ATP men and WTA women.

ATP Rankings
1 Rafael Nadal
2 Roger Federer
3 Novak Djokovic
4 Andy Murray
5 Robin Soderling
6 Tomas Berdych
7 David Ferrer
8 Andy Roddick
9 Fernando Verdasco
10 Mikhail Youzhny 

WTA Rankings
1 Caroline Wozniacki
2 Vera Zvonareva
3 Kim Clijsters
4 Serena Williams
5 Venus Williams
6 Samantha Stosur
7 Francesca Schiavone
8 Jelena Jankovic
9 Elena Dementieva
10 Victoria Azarenka

The standings for the men is the fourth straight year that the top four are the same. Wozniacki for the women is the first year-end No. 1 to have never reached a Slam final during the season. Two amazing stats.
Merry X-Mas!

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Federer is Back!

October 16, 2010 by Nate Thomas

I didn’t think Roger Federer could make such a rousing return to the ATP tennis circuit but he sure has done so this week. Today he handily beat up on Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 and in the final he’ll take on Andy Murray, a straight set victor over Juan Monaco.

Federer’s played brilliantly all week in this his first tournament since that US Open semifinal loss to Novak, got revenge on the Serb today.

Again Murray, though, he’s done 5-7 in the rivalry and Murray beat him in Toronto 5 and 5.

It should be a great final and I’m glad to see Roger back and in form so quickly!

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Andy Roddick is Bald!

July 24, 2010 by Nate Thomas

Oh my, what happened to the head of Andy Roddick? The man has shaved off all his hair and it looks like he was on the brink of baldness anyway.

Point is, Roddick still isn’t winning any matches. Ok, he has the girl. Wife Brooklyn Decker is a super model, but Roddick hasn’t won a title since Miami and today he lost to his friend Mardy Fish.

Did I mention he’s bald? Amazing. I guess he’s hoping to channel Andre Agassi. Roddick did use his former coach, Brad Gilbert, he did marry a celebrity and now the two have the same cut.

Plus, Roddick is playing more like a baseliner these days, getting enough balls back in hopes the other guy makes an error.

Oh well, hair is overrated. But he looked damn bald on TV tonight!

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Tennis Hall of Fame Inductions Today

July 10, 2010 by Nate Thomas

The International Tennis Hall of Fame will add seven new members later today in Newport, Rhode Island.

Among the top names getting in this class of 2010 are two popular doubles teams, the Woodies – Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde – and the team of Natasha Zvereva and Gigi Fernandez.

Also inducted are 12-time Grand Slam winner Owen Davidson, wheelchair tennis pioneer Brad Parks and former British LTA chairman Derek Hardwick.

The Woodies of Australia teamed to win 61 career ATP doubles titles including 11 Grand Slams.

Fernandez/Zvereva won 38 career WTA titles which included 14 Majors.

Congrats to all the inductees.

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Nadal Beats Up on Federer, Again

May 17, 2010 by Nate Thomas

When will Roger Federer get a real win over Rafael Nadal?
Federer beat Nadal a year ago on clay right in Madrid. But most would say Nadal would wiped out from a 4-hour victory the day before.

Federer also beat Nadal on clay in Hamburg a few years ago. But again, Nadal was exhausted from all the tournaments he played and he had that precious 81-match win streak hanging over his head.

So Federer again lost to Nadal in Madrid when Rafa was feeling good. The match wasn’t the best the two have played, far from it, but it was entertaining to see the two legends mix it up again.

Looking at the French, Nadal’s win makes his the runaway favorite to win his fifth Roland Garros title. Federer’s back but he could revert to his poor play at any moment and get bounced.

The results do shape up for a good French Open. I just wish players like Juan Martin Del Potro, Nikolay Davydenko and David Nalbandian were playing. Too bad.

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Djokovic Done and Dusted by Ljubicic

March 17, 2010 by Nate Thomas

A mild surprise today from the Indian Wells desert when former champion and current World No. 2 Novak Djokovic was beaten in straight sets by Ivan Ljubicic.

Djokovic had been the hottest player on the ATP circuit after a Dubai title, two Davis Cup wins and two more wins in the desert, but that 9-match win streak all went to pot today against the big-serving Croatian veteren.

Djokovic will now rest – he allegedly had some allergy problems and felt the affects of all that tennis – for a few days and get ready for the Miami Sony event which begins a week from today.

Rafael Nadal also won in three sets beating back the Big Tree, John Isner. Nadal was in control for most of the match until a poor service game when the 4-time French champion hit consecutive double faults and then made a careless unforced error to give Isner a break in the second set.

But Nadal broke Isner in the third and cruised to the win. Nadal won the title at Indian Wells last year.

Marcos Baghdatis, a surprise winner over Roger Federer, had no left emotionally in a three set loss to Tommy Robredo.

Andy Roddick and Andy Murray play later on tonight.

Robin Soderling also won trouncing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

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Novak Djokovic Moves Up to No. 2

February 5, 2010 by Nate Thomas

I forget to mention. Amid off the post-Australian Open hubbub, Serb Novak Djokovic leaped to a new career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world.

Djokovic last a tough match in the quarterfinals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but he did play well for much of the Australian Open until that fateful showdown with the Frenchman. I just hope Novak and his team can take care of whatever ailments he had as No. 1 is now within reach.

Roger Federer was the big winner beating Andy Murray. Poor Rafael Nadal who had to retire in the quarterfinals to the Scot with another case of bad knees. Like Novak, I hope that the Spaniard can get his health right once and for all.

Congrats also to Serena Williams for her win over Justine Henin. Serena’s looking really fit and good this year. I wonder if Justine will beat her!

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Federer, Nadal Near Collision in Doha

January 6, 2010 by Nate Thomas

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal appear to be on a much-anticipated early-season collision course in Doha this week as players begin their Australian Open preperation.

The two titans of tennis have rolled through the first two rounds of an otherwise top-heavy Doha draw. But things should get more interesting in the latter rounds as Federer now faces Ernests Gulbis and then maybe Nikolay Davydenko.

Nadal should have easier time with Steve Darcis tomorrow. But all eyes will be on a potential showdown come Saturday. What a match that would be to begin the new season.

In Brisbane, Andy Roddick is still alive but the real story is the return of one Justin Henin. The 27-year-old Henin has enjoyed two straight sets wins in her comeback – one over Top 10 Nadia Petrova – and all bets are she’ll meet her Belgian countrywoman Kim Clijsters in the finale. At least that’s what I think.

So right off the bat we may very have a couple compelling finales to begin this new decade!

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Tennis Season Begins in Week; Federer, Nadal Holding Court in Middle East

December 26, 2009 by Nate Thomas

Can you believe, the 2010 pro tennis season is starting in just about a week. The year kicks off with events in Abu Dhabi – an exo! – plus the Hopman Cup, Brisbane, Doha and I’m sure I left another out.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will play in Abu Dhabi. I know Andy Roddick, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters are signed up for Brisbane, so that should be quite the event.

As for the off season, I guess not much of one if you are a top tennis player. Unlike his peers, Roddick actually had a few months off. I know he banged up his left knee in Shanghai, but consider the guy’s season ended in mid-October so he should be fresh for the upcoming New Year.

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Wickmayer, Malisse still fighting for Australian Open

December 15, 2009 by Nate Thomas

Belgians Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse are still under the gun of the ITF despite a court in their homeland overturning a previous one-year bans.

Both players were suspended for one-year on November 5 after the ITF ruled that each had missed three testing dates during the year.

Under the rules players are required to be tested at random points throughout the year, but in this case the players failed to make an appearance three times warranting such a suspension.

Now, however, that a Belgian court suspended the ITF”s decision, the players are now trying to get the ITF to allow them to compete in the Australian Open which is run by the ITF!

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