John Isner won the Campbell's Hall of Fame Championship in Newport against veteran Olivier Rochus. This is the first time the #1 seed has won the tournament since it started in 1976. Isner will move up 10 rankings to #36 in the world going into the US Open Series coming up next week. This also marks the end of the grass court season - so sad to see it over already, but that's where the US Open Series comes in!
Isner had an excellent year last year, and he made the final at the Atlanta Tennis Championship (coming up next week) where he lost to Mardy Fish.
In other news, Andre Agassi was inducted into to the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Sunday. For those of you that grew up watching Agassi, he was a phenomenal returner and a clean ball-striker. In a lot of ways he was one of the people to usher in the modern baseline game by countering the serve & volley style of the likes of Pete Sampras.
Agassi also won the Career Golden Slam, meaning he won each of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and an Olympic Gold Medal. He is only the second player in the history of tennis to do that (alongside his wife, of course, Steffi Graf). Rafael Nadal is currently the only active player to have the same resume as Agassi for a Career Golden Slam (of course he has 10 majors to Agassi's 7).
Keep checking back for regular updates! This week the last of the clay court tournaments in Europe will wrap up at Båstad, Sweden, and Stuttgart, Germany. I'll keep you updated on those!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Campbell's Hall of Fame Championship in Newport - Grass Tournament
Wimbledon may be over but here in Rhode Island, USA, where the International Tennis Hall of Fame is located, a grass tournament is underway. At the top of the seed, American John Isner is in the main draw along with fellow Americans Ryan Harrison, #72 Alex Bogomolov Jr, Donald Young, #69 Ryan Sweeting, qualifier Michael Yani, and wildcard Dennis Hudla.
John Isner will of course be the heavy favorite but the draw has up and coming talents like Grigor Dimitrov and veterans like Olivier Rochus, so it won't be without challenge along the way. Today, Young and Bogomolov Jr advanced to the second round.
Keep visiting for updates on ongoing tournaments and news on the American players as the US Open series rolls around!
John Isner will of course be the heavy favorite but the draw has up and coming talents like Grigor Dimitrov and veterans like Olivier Rochus, so it won't be without challenge along the way. Today, Young and Bogomolov Jr advanced to the second round.
Keep visiting for updates on ongoing tournaments and news on the American players as the US Open series rolls around!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Novak Djokovic Wins Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic, to ascend to World #1 tomorrow, claimed the Wimbledon crown in formidable fashion. It was definitely an upset for Rafael Nadal, who won in 2008 and 2010. Nadal did not play his best tennis, but more important, Novak raised his own game to such a high level. I have not seen Rafa Nadal get outplayed by someone like that before in a Grand Slam match. Novak did to Nadal what Nadal does to everyone else, and that rightfully earned him the Gentlemen's 2011 Wimbledon trophy.
Courtesy NBC Sports
He's 48-1 on the year now, which is awfully similar to John McEnroe's record when McEnroe started the year with 42 straight wins (I believe he went 49-1 after winning Wimbledon). Some historic tennis being played by Djokovic - look for him to be the top contender at US Open this year (he lost to Nadal in the 2010 final).
This last two weeks at Wimbledon have certainly been special for Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova. Petra was not even close to the favorite, yet she took out the overwhelming favorite Maria Sharapova on Saturady. Today, the match was expected to be tight between Novak and Rafa, but Novak raised his level to do what he needed to win Wimbledon. The next couple months leading to the US Open will surely bring more exciting tennis by the top players!
Till then, I'll keep updating on tennis news and the smaller tournaments going. I went to the Atlanta Tennis Championship last year, which is coming up in 2 weeks, and I look forward to that again this year!
He's 48-1 on the year now, which is awfully similar to John McEnroe's record when McEnroe started the year with 42 straight wins (I believe he went 49-1 after winning Wimbledon). Some historic tennis being played by Djokovic - look for him to be the top contender at US Open this year (he lost to Nadal in the 2010 final).
This last two weeks at Wimbledon have certainly been special for Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova. Petra was not even close to the favorite, yet she took out the overwhelming favorite Maria Sharapova on Saturady. Today, the match was expected to be tight between Novak and Rafa, but Novak raised his level to do what he needed to win Wimbledon. The next couple months leading to the US Open will surely bring more exciting tennis by the top players!
Till then, I'll keep updating on tennis news and the smaller tournaments going. I went to the Atlanta Tennis Championship last year, which is coming up in 2 weeks, and I look forward to that again this year!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Ladies Final
I woke up today thinking that Maria Sharapova had this match in the bag and then I see Petra Kvitova, the world #8, win it in straight sets! Sharapova had a lot of nerves going in, and it showed as Kvitova capitalized on that. Great win for Kvitova, always nice to have your first Grand Slam win at Wimbledon!
Courtesy Reuters
I'll be on the edge of my seat for the Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic match tomorrow. Remember, Novak is now the world #1 thanks to his phenomenal year (47 wins to just 1 loss!), and this is his first Wimbledon final. It has been his dream to win it, so will the pressure be too much and the veteran Rafa will take care of Novak? Or will Novak finally fulfill his dream? Can't wait!
I'll be on the edge of my seat for the Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic match tomorrow. Remember, Novak is now the world #1 thanks to his phenomenal year (47 wins to just 1 loss!), and this is his first Wimbledon final. It has been his dream to win it, so will the pressure be too much and the veteran Rafa will take care of Novak? Or will Novak finally fulfill his dream? Can't wait!
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