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Off to Cincinnati! Previewing the Women's Tournament

The Western and Southern Open, commonly referred to as Cincinnati, has always been one of my favorite non-Major tournaments of the tennis year. For most of the top players, it is their last chance to make an impression to the rest of the world heading into the year's last Major, the US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York. Heading into the 2011 Western and Southern Open, there is no bigger story than the one and only Serena Williams, who is coming into Cincinnati having won two tournaments in a row, Stanford and Toronto. Before we simply chalk Serena in as the Champion of the 2011 Western and Southern Open, let's look at the draw quarter-by-quarter.

The Tennis World Heads Up North, Eh? Previewing the Men's and Women's Rogers Cup

With the start of the Rogers Cup, the tennis world begins the push towards to last major of the year, the US Open. All of the top men and women make the trek up north, the men to Montreal and the women to Toronto. For the men, it's all about the Big Three, Andy Murray, and their preparation for the last major of the year. For the women, it's a much more wide open affair, with many players looking to make a statement leading up to the US Open. Serena Williams is looking to show that she really is back, Kim Clijsters that she is fully healed after an injury, and Caroline Wozniacki looking to justify her number one ranking are all storylines on the women's side, but if there's one thing the WTA has shown, it's that anyone with the talent, desire, and the right breaks can make a breakthrough. After the jump we'll look at both events, half by half.

Ryan Harrison, Mardy Fish, and the Next Big Thing

The US Open Series is into the third week, and the two players that have had the best start have been two Americans, Mardy Fish, and Ryan Harrison. Fish, ranked number 9 in the world, won in Atlanta and lost Ernests Gulbis in the final in Los Angeles. Harrison, who was ranked outside the top 100 but is now 82 because of two consecutive semifinal finishes, losing to Mardy Fish both times. In Los Angeles, Fish defeated Harrison in a third set tiebreak, and the match provided an excellent snapshot of two careers, one maximized and one rising. After the jump we'll look at both men's careers up until this point, where they're heading, and the perils of looking for "The Next Big Thing"

Serena's Triumph at Stanford: What does it mean?

There are not many times when one minor tourmament seems to mean so much to a multiple-time Major Champion. One of these times was this past week when Serena Williams seemed to cement her comeback to tennis with a victory over Marion Bartoli to win the Bank of the West Classic in Palo Alto, California. Williams showed moments of brilliance in her return to Wimbledon in June, but the tournament as a whole was a major disappointment as she crashed out to Bartoli in straight sets in the fourth round. This past week at Stanford seemed to be a major test for Serena, as a potential quaterfinal match-up with Wimbledon runner-up Maria Sharapova loomed. At points in her fourth round match against Maria Kirilenko, it seemed as if Serena would not get the chance to play Sharapova. After narrowly beating Kirilenko, Williams seemingly put it into high gear. The blockbuster against Sharapova seemed to be anything but that, as Williams was brilliant in an easy straight-set win. This set up a semi-final match-up against very dangerous German Sabine Lisicki. Williams again played brilliantly, dispatching Lisicki while only losing 2 games. The final against Bartoli did not seem to present the challenge that most people were expecting. A straight-set win against Bartoli gave Serena Williams the title at Stanford, seemingly cementing her return to tennis.

For those who watched Serena's dominating performance at the Bank of the West, the next question is whether or not Williams can manintain this high level of play throughout the rest of the US Open Series and eventually the US Open. While the logical answer to this question seems to be that Serena can in fact maintain this level of play, there is definitely cause for concern. Williams will be playing almost every other week, which is the most she has played sincer her return to the game. Saying this, fitness could be an issue. Even with this main cause of concern, tennis fans can only hope that Serena Williams can continue to succeed the rest of the summer leading up to Flushing. How great of a story would it be if Serena Williams can make a deep run at the US Open, her home major?

As for what her impressive run at the Bank of the West means, there seems to be no other explanation except for that she is awfully close to returning to her top form, which is bad news for the rest of the WTA. Serena's next challenge is at the Rogers Cup next week. Because this tournament is sure to be more competitive than the Bank of the West, a deep run next week could definitely prove that Serena is all the way back. Until next week, all we can do is hope for the best from Serena Williams.

The Curious Case of the German Tennis Championships

It is May of 2008. The setting is Hamburg, Germany. The players are Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. They are locked in a tough three-setter, with Roland Garros looming just over a week away and the match having serious implications heading into the tournament. The next year, the final takes place in July and is between Paul-Henry Mathieu and Nikolay Davydenko. The number one seed: Gilles Simon. Fast-forward two years, and the champion, is in fact, Simon. He defeated Nicolas Almagro in the final. The number one seed: Gael Monfils. What happened to the tournament? The case of the German Tennis Championships is a very interesting one, and after the jump we'll take a look at what happened and what it says about the ATP.

All Roads Lead to New York: Previewing the ATP Summer

We are less than one week away from the start of the US Open Series, and oddly enough, we are in the middle of the post-Wimbledon clay court swing, and now is a great opportunity to look at what is to come this summer. For the very top players, the summer consists of three events, Cincinnati, Canada, and the United States Open. For the rest of the ATP World Tour participants, however, the summer takes them from the red clay of Europe to the blue hard courts of North America to the Big Apple for the final major of the year. After the jump, we'll look at the US Open Series and a couple other noteworthy events.

Juan Martin del Potro's Long Road Back

Until the 2009 US Open, Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro was just another promising young player on the ATP Tour. That all changed at Flushing Meadows in 2009, where del Potro became the first ever player to defeat both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the same Major Championship en route to the title. With this first Major under his belt, the immediate future seemed extremely bright for del Potro. The rest of 2009 was a bit of a rollercoaster for the Argentinian, with a string of retirements leading to a spot in the final at the ATP World Tour Finals, which he lost to Nikolay Davydenko.

The 2010 year would prove to be the most difficult of del Potro's life. A wrist injury led to a retirement at the AAMI Kooyong Classic, which is a lead up for the Australian Open. He entered the Australian Open with the wrist injury still ailing him, and he bowed out in the fourth round after a tough five-set loss to Marin Cilic. Del Potro then took an entire month off, hoping this rest would help heal his wrist. This did not prove to be the case, as the wrist injury continued to cripple him. After withdrawing from tournament after tournament, del Potro decided it was time to have surgery, which occurred on May 4, 2010. This was when the Argentinian was a top-5 player in the world.

Del Potro made his return to tennis at the 2010 PTT Thailand Open, which was about nine months after he had played his last competitive tennis match. Juan Martin del Potro was hoping that 2011 would be the year that he, finally healthy, would sour back in the top-10 in the world. This plan did not start out as planned, as a second round exit at the Australian Open left him as the 485th-ranked player in the world. A string of stellar performances and the determination to succeed helped the Major Champion climb back into the top-50 in the world. Del Potro's first ever Round of 16 appearance at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships earned him the World Ranking of 19.

While he will be the first to admit that it has not been easy, Juan Martin del Potro is back. Being away from the game you love for nine months is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, especially for someone whose ceiling seemed so endless. Nevertheless, del Potro's determination to return to where he thinks he belongs has been the driving force in his remarkable comeback. Now at almost full-strength, expect the Aregentinian to be a title contender once again at Flushing Meadows.

Looking at the 2011 ATP Season So Far

With the end of Wimbledon comes the end of the first half of the tennis year. The early Australian swing and brief American hard court few weeks being an ancient memory, the European clay court season being a bit fresher and the very brief English grass court "season" just concluding, it's a great time to look back at the 2011 ATP season so far and evaluate the top players, look at who disappointed, and examine a few breakout stars that began to rise this year. After the jump, we'll look at all of these, and later in the week, we'll have a preview of the  upcoming North American hard court season concluding with the US Open and beyond that.

The WTA: What's Next?

Following Petra Kvitova's stunning victory at Wimbledon, the WTA enters the hard-court season with no clear favorite. No. 1 in the world Caroline Wozniacki has yet to break through at a major, Kvitova will be playing the next few tournaments with a target on her back, and the Williams Sisters are unlikely to play in more than one or two hard-court tournaments leading up to the US Open. Even with no clear favorite, the show must go on and the next few months are sure to be filled with a lot of drama. As for one player on the WTA tour to watch on hard courts, it has to be Maria Sharapova. The 2011 Wimbledon finalist has a game that it is very well-suited on hard-courts, and Flushing Meadows always seems to bring out the best in her. I expect Sharapova and Wozniacki to be in the mix in many of the US Open Series events, which span the months of July and August.

As for the 2011 Wimbledon Champion, Petra Kvitova enters the hard-court season with all the confidence in the world, which can not be an inviting sight for the rest of the WTA. The Czech's game translates very well to the hard courts because of the pace she can put on the ball. I would not be surprised to see Kvitova contend at almost every tournament she enters for the rest of the summer. I would also consider her to be one of the early favorites for the 2011 US Open. Even with the assured parody in the WTA, this summer is sure to be filled with great tennis.

Rafa Dethroned! Novak Djokovic Wins His First Wimbledon Championship

Novak Djokovic walked onto Centre Court at Wimbledon today assured that come Monday, he would be number one on the world. He also knew that had he lost to Rafael Nadal, most observers would consider his ranking to not be an indication of the true state of the men's game. Djokovic stepped onto the court today and dethroned the two time Wimbledon champion, doing it with a relentless attack that took Nadal completely out of his game. If it weren't for that magical day in Paris when Roger Federer broke his streak, we would be looking at a potential grand slam and the best season in the history of tennis. Regardless, Djokovic is clearly number one in the world, and this performance was by far the biggest win of his career, defeating a player who had not lost at Wimbledon since 2007. It wasn't the best tennis these two have produced, but in terms of  drama and importance, this match was captivating. After the jump, we'll look at this match set by set.

Number One vs. Number Two: Previewing the Dream Final

With all due respect to the greatest player of all time, Roger Federer, most tennis pundits were looking forward to a final that pitted current world number one Rafael Nadal and future world number one as of two days from now, Novak Djokovic. This is the match many were anticipating at Roland Garros, but as we all know, Roger Federer ruined those plans. Now they will face off in a major final again, and ironically, Djokovic would probably have had a better shot to dethrone Nadal at Roland Garros. Djokovic's movement on the grass is significantly weaker than his movement on clay and hard courts. That is the main thing to look for. If Djokovic is able to track down Nadal's deep shots, then he can defeat him. If not, then it might be a long and grueling match for Djokovic. After the jump, we'll look at the match-up, stroke by stroke

Kvitova's Major Breakthrough

Petra Kvitova walked onto Centre Court Wimbledon today with absolutely nothing to lose. Playing in her first Grand Slam final, Kvitova was the healthy underdog to former Wimbledon Champion Maria Sharapova. Knowing that Sharapova was the one facing all the pressure, the 21 year-old came out firing in today's Ladies' Championship at Wimbledon. Early nerves led to Sharapova breaking Kvitova's serve in the very first game of the championship match. The Russian could not take advantage of this early break, losing her serve the very next game. This levelled the opening set at 1-1, and the rest of the match would prove to be pretty lopsided in favor of Petra Kvitova.

Kvitova was able to control almost every baseline rally in the first set, and her opponent helped her out by throwing in numerous double faults at very big spots. Kvitova was able to run Sharapova all over the court with her lefty forehand. An error by Sharapova gave Petra Kvitova the first set, 6-3. This was the first set Sharapova had lost in the entire tournament, and it definitely affected the veteran's confidence going into the must-win 2nd set. This 2nd set was an absolute roller-coaster, as the two competitors exchanged numerous breaks. The real turning point in this set was when Kvitova was serving at 4-3. Sharapova had broken Kvitova in her last two service games and knew she would need another break to stay alive. An early advantage in this game was not enough for Sharapova to convert the break, and Kvitova held. putting herself just one game away from the finish line. After an easy hold by Sharapova, Kvitova showed no signs of tensing up as she was serving for the match. This love-hold was capped off by an ace, the Czech's first of the match. There is truly no better way to win Wimbledon in your first trip to a Grand Slam Final.

Kvitova fell to her knees in celebration, no-doubt trying to sink in the entire atmosphere. The sell-out crowd at Centre Court rose to their feet, applauding the remarkable performance by the 21 year-old. With the way she performed on the game's biggest stage today, this could be the first of many Grand Slam titles for Petra Kvitova. As for Maria Sharapova, her service woes finally caught up to her. Multiple times during the match Sharapova faced break points and responded to them by throwing in a double. That just will not cut it in the final of a Major. What makes this all even more surprising is the fact that Maria was the more experienced of the two players, having played in 4 Grand Slam finals prior to Saturday's loss. On the flip side, Kvitova's lack of experience seemed to be her biggest advantage, as she came out with the mentality that she had nothing to lose.

This year's final brings up a lot of interesting questions. Will Maria Sharapova ever win another Major? Will Petra Kvitova carry over this success to Flushing Meadows in September? While no one knows the answers to these questions, we all do know that Petra Kvitova is a Major Champion!

Seven Years Later: Maria Sharapova's Return to the Sport's Biggest Stage

Not many people, men or women, have experienced the adrenaline rush of walking out on to Centre Court Wimbledon ready to play for the most prestigious championship in all of tennis. One of the few people who has felt this rush is Maria Sharapova, who played for the Wimbledon title in 2004. At the time a 17 year-old Russian who had begun to capture the hearts of people all over the world with her stunning looks, Sharapova did the impossible when she made a magical run to the Wimbledon Final as the 13th seed. Not only did she reach the final, but Maria disposed of the tournament's top seed, Serena Williams, to capture her first Grand Slam title. This Saturday marks her return to the game's biggest stage, as she will take Centre Court in search of her second Wimbledon title.

This time around, her opponent is 21 year-old Petra Kvitova, the 8th-seed in this year's tournament. This young lefty from the Czech Republic has impressed fans from all over the world with her game. Her ability to generate power off both sides is simply stunning, and her composure in key moments is unusual for someone with her in-experience. Many people believed that Kvitova's memorable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2010 was going to be her first and last hurrah at a major. She has gone on to prove all of those doubters wrong, as she has gotten consistently better since last June, cracking the top-10 in the world. Expectations for her at this year's Wimbledon were not very high, as much of the pre-tournament hype surrounded the return of Venus and Serena Williams. Quietly, the 8th seed cruised into the second week at this year's Championships. After surviving 3-set matches against both Pironkova and Azarenka in the quarters and semis, respectively, the young Czech found herself in her first Grand Slam final. The only thing that stands in her way of making this year's Wimbledon her first Grand Slam title is.....Maria Sharapova.

This final between the 5th seed and the 8th seed is bound to be full of screams, shrieks, impressive winners, and service errors. What else is there to ask for? To get to the actual preview, the underdog Kvitova matches up well against the former champion. Both generate a lot of pace from the baseline, which will make for some very entertaining rallies throughout the match. The key for Sharapova will be to avoid the double faults, which casued her semifinal match to be a lot closer than it should have been. As for Kvitova, she has to try her best to calm the nerves early in the match, simply because she has a great chance to win if her in-experience does not get in the way. As for my prediction: this Ladies's Final will be a high-energy, three-set affair that will end with Maria Sharapova bringing home her second Wimbledon Title.

Dream Gentlemen's Final is Set: Djokovic vs. Nadal, 1 vs 2

The final is set on the Gentlemen's side of the 2011 Championships. It got there in a roundabout sort of way, but it's here. Perhaps the best player not to have been talked about during the fortnight, Novak Djokovic, defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a captivating 4 set match. Rafael Nadal, for his sake, defeated Brit Andy Murray in a less than thrilling four-setter match to reach his second consecutive Wimbledon final. With Djokovic's win, he will become world number one on Monday when the new rankings come out. This will be the first player not named Nadal or Federer to become number one since Andy Roddick in 2003. We'll have more about that in future posts, but after the jump we'll look at each match individually.

A Spaniard, Frenchman, Serb, and a Scot Walk into a Bar: Previewing the Gentlemen's Semifinals

Tomorrow the All England Club will play host to the two best players in the world, the best Brit in the world who's the world number three, and arguably the hottest player in this tournament. Needless to say, it will be a great day of tennis. First up on Centre Court, the player who knocked out six time champion Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tosnga plays Novak Djokovic, world number two who is 42-1 for the year. After that, in the main event, world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal plays top ranked Brit Andy Murray, who is having a great tournament. With the roof, there is no chance that any of these matches will be delayed,and thus, we are guaranteed an amazing day of tennis. After the jump, we'll look at each match and give predictions.

Semis Completed: Sharapova vs. Kvitova in Final

I like women's tennis. I really do. But today's semifinals were, to no one's fault in particular, for lack of a better term, flat. We'll have a post up later that will talk about that more in depth, but the final for the Ladies' Singles Championship is set. Petra Kvitova will face 2004 champion and 3 time major winner Maria Sharapova on Saturday. After the jump, we'll look at each match individually.

Tsonga Shocks Federer in Historic Upset; Semifinals Set

178-0. That was Roger Federer's record coming into today when he has won the first two sets in a major. For two sets, it looked as if he would have no troubles with Jo Wilfried Tsonga, the talented Frenchman who has shown amazing talent but has come up short due to injuries and not quite using the immense talent he has. Federer broke in Tsonga's first service game and won the first set comfortably. The second set proceeded without any breaks, and while Federer won the tiebreak handily, 7-3, the pattern for the rest of the match was set. Tsonga elevated his game while Federer's evened out. Tsonga began to hit the ball much harder, while Federer wasn't matching his increase in intensity. The final three sets were oddly similar, and anti-climactic. Tsonga broke early in all of the three final sets, and Federer never could even get a whiff on the Tsonga serve. For context, Federer had only one break point the entire match, and that was in the first set where he broke Tsonga. In the final four sets, Federer had zero break points, and only a couple of times did he reach 30-all. It was by far the biggest win in Tsonga's career. That wasn't the only exciting match today. After the break, we'll look at the other three quarterfinal matches.

Previewing the Gentlemen's Quarterfinals

After a Maniac Monday that saw dramatic tennis all over the grounds of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, eight gentlemen are left, and after tomorrow the final four will be set. The Big 4, Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray are all left, and they are joined by a cast of characters in their respective quarterfinal berths. The big storyline going into the quarterfinals is whether or not there will be a repeat of Paris, where Nadal played Murray and Federer snapped Djokovic's insane win streak. Also, in Melbourne, 3 out of the four made it to the semifinals and back at last year's US Open, where 3 out of the 4 made it. Joining them are the American Mardy Fish, Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and the most surprising out of all of them, 18 year old Australian Bernard Tomic. After the jump, we'll preview each quarterfinal.

Blow it Up: The Ladies Draw is Wide Open after Deluge of Upsets

For the second straight major tournament, there are none of the top three seeds on the ladies side in the quarterfinals. Not only that, but today, both of the Williams sisters were knocked out today as well. Serena Williams was defeated in two very tight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7) by 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli. Immediately afterwards, her sister Venus was trounced by Tsvetana Pironkova, who defeated her last year as well. To blow the draw up further, Caroline Wozniacki lost to Dominka Cibulkova 7-5 in the third after winning the first 6-1 but losing the second set tiebreaker 7-5. It was a heartbreaking loss for the number one ranked woman. After the jump, we'll look at what else happened today on the ladies side and preview the quarterfinals, which will take place tomorrow.

Big Monday is Upon Us: The Second Best Day in Tennis

The two best days in tennis are by far are Super Saturday at the United States Open with the two men's semifinals and the women's final and Big Monday at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. On this day, all of the gentlemen's and ladies' 4th Round matches. 8 matches are played on the gentlemen's side, 8 on the ladies. It is a tennis fan's dream, with great matches taking place everywhere in the complex. After the jump, we'll look at four matches on each side to watch. We'll also have predictions at the end of the article.

Americans at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships

The absence of Serena and Venus Williams from tennis for the past several months have had a large effect on American tennis, both for the men and the women. It has left this country without any legitimate title contenders in either draw at every major championship. Andy Roddick, the highest-ranked American man, has been able to successfully disappoint all American tennis fans with early exits at the last several majors. This year's Wimbledon was no different, as he bowed out to Feliciano Lopez in the third round in straight sets. Even with this loss, American tennis fans still have hope at this year's Wimbledon: the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish, who are both into the fourth round. This shows the ups and downs of American tennis in a nutshell.

However, there have been other positives at this Wimbledon for American tennis that do not involve the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish. Ryan Harrison, the 19 year-old who is known for his competitiveness on the court, made it through to the second round, only to lose a tough five-set match to the seventh-seeded David Ferrer. 28 year-old Alex Bogomolov Jr. made it throught to the third round, only to lose to Thomas Berdych, Mardy Fish's next opponent. The positives were not as easy to find on the women's side, where no American made it past the second round with the exception of Venus and Serena Williams.

The negatives for American tennis at this year's Championships have centered around Andy Roddick. The three-time Wimbledon finalist looked extremely solid in his first two wins. Knowing that his third-round opponent was Feliciano Lopez, Roddick knew he would have to play really well to advance. He played well enough to push each of the first two sets to tie-breaks, both of which he lost. With the match just about over, Roddick was broken late in the third set, and Lopez held serve to win the match 7-6 7-6 6-4. This was not the first disappointment Roddick has had since his last trip to the final at Wimbledon, which was two years ago. He has failed to make it past the quaterfinals at any major since he lost to Roger Federer in the 2009 final.

Now that we approach the second week at this year's Wimbledon Championships, it is not a surprise that the only Americans left are the Williams sisters and Mardy Fish. Both Serena and Venus are likely to at least reach the semifinals, which would put them both one win away from facing each other in the final. Fish, however, is set to face sixth-seeded Thomas Berdych, last year's finalist, in the fourth round on Monday. The tenth-seeded American knows what he has to do to win, but knows that it will be no easy task. Meanwhile, all American tennis fans are hoping Fish, Serena, and Venus all something left to make deep runs in the second week of this tournament, which would no doubt make most fans forget about the otherwise-disappointing first week at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships for American tennis players.

Comparing the Championships and Roland Garros

Every year on the tennis calender, after Roland Garros, the players make a radical shift away from the dirt of Spain, Italy, and France and onto the regal lawns of England. A comparison between the two seasons and the two major events that cap off the respective seasons naturally arises. The differences are striking. The red clay and the green grass. The striking colors of the players' attire matched against the deep red of the court and the simple, all-white dress code that blend in with the green grass. All of these are magnified in each of their respective majors. Roland Garros and the Championships at Wimbledon. After the jump, we'll compare the two majors.

Previewing the 3rd Round: Matches to Watch

The second round of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships was much more exciting than expected, and a few matches are left to be decided. However, with the third round beginning tomorrow, here are three matches on both the ladies and gentlemen's sides that are very much worth watching.

Day 4 Recap: A Day Full of Surprises

When most fans saw the schedule for Day 4 of the Championships at Wimbledon, they were surprised to see that the first match on Centre Court would not be Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams, or Roger Federer. Instead, it would be Robin Soderling, the very engimatic top-5 player who seems to struggle on grass, versus Lleyton Hewitt, the wily veteran who won the Wimbledon Championship in 2002. Many fans still questioned whether this match deserved to be played on Centre Court. The two players quickly silenced the doubters. Throughout the first two sets, Hewitt looked like the top-5 player, as he simply took the Swede out of his game. Soderling would not go down without a fight, as he came back to win the 4-hour match 6-4 in the fifth set. Many wonder if this was the 30 year-old Aussie's last Wimbledon, but with the show he put on today, let us hope that it was not.

As for the rest of the gentlemen's field, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic easily moved on to the third round, as did Juan Martin del Potro, Marcos Baghdatis, David Nalbandian, Mikhail Youzhny, Michael Llodra, and Fernando Gonzalez. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nicolas Almagro also advanced in tough 4-set matches. Three seeds went down, as number 26 seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, number 20 seed Florian Mayer, and number 13 seed Victor Troicki all lost.

The second match on Centre Court today was Li Na, the number 3 seed, and Sabine Lisicki, the 21 year-old German with tremendous upside who is trying to fight back after major and scary injuries. Na took the first set but the hard-serving German would just not go away, taking the second set. After twice failing to serve out the match, the French Open Champion was broken and Lisicki held to take the match. Lisicki let her emotions flow after the victory, the biggest of her career. As for the rest of the ladies' field, Serena Williams survived a tough 3-set match, her second in a row at Wimbledon. Among others, seeds Ana Ivanovic, Francesca Schiavone, Svetlana Kiznetsova, Julia Georges, Maria Kirilenko, and Yanina Wickmayer also reached the third round. Li Na was the victim of the biggest upset of the day, but number 31 seed Lucie Safarova, number 14 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and number 13 seed Agnieszka Radwanska also fell to un-seeded opponents.

As for a quick American update, John Isner and Christina McHale went down, as Serena Williams moved on to the third round. 19 year-old Ryan Harrison was also on the court today, as he took a 2 set to 1 lead against number 7 seed David Ferrer. Ferrer broke early in the fourth set, but the match was postponed due to darkness as the Spainard was up 4-2 in the fourth set, down a set to the young American.

In conclusion, day 4 at Wimbledon proved to be one of the more exciting days of the tournament so far. With that being said, the next few days are sure to be filled with even more fantastic tennis.

Previewing the Gentlemen's Second Round

The first round is just a few matches short of being complete, and now the second round will begin. For the top seeds, there aren't too many possible upsets that look plausible, but looking past them there are a few intriguing match-ups. After the jump, we'll look at four matches to watch on the gentlemen's side.

Looking at Round One

128 men and women started play on Monday at the 125th edition of the Championships, and now only 64 of each remain. Well, a bit more than that are left, because of rain on Monday, but the second round will begin tomorrow, and all of the key first round matches are finished. It was a rather uneventful first round on the gentlemen's side, with all of the top seeds advancing rather easily. The only slight hiccup was Robin Soderling, the 5th seed, needing four sets to defeat Halle runner-up Phillip Petzschner and Andy Murray losing the first set before taking the next three 6-4, 6-0, 6-0. On the ladies's side, there was much more drama. Serena Williams, defending champion here, and Vera Zvonareva, the second seed, both needed three sets to advance into the second round. Francesca Schiavone also needed three sets to advance. There were no memorable matches like last year's 70-68 match, and the weather made it difficult for the best tennis to come through, but things are set up nicely for the second round, which we'll preview in a later post.

The Big 3 and the Brit: The Preview of the 2011 Gentleman Singles Championships at Wimbledon

All eyes at Wimbledon will be on the top 4 seeds, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Rafael Nadal is the defending champion at SW19, and him and Roger Federer have combined to win all of the titles since Federer won in 2003. Those two have to be the clear favorites, especially because they both reached the final at Roland Garros. The two other contenders are very fascinating, with Novak Djokovic being the hottest player on tour, beating Nadal four times this spring and beating Federer twice. He was felled by Federer in French Open semifinals, but he's still incredibly dangerous. Finally, the fourth seed, Andy Murray, is the highest ranked player from Great Britain and by far the best chance to win a major on either side. He is carrying the flag, so to speak and for further analysis of Murray, check out this post. Nevertheless, it should be a fantastic Championships, with many other dangerous top players lurking right below the top 4 seeds. Tomas Berdych, who is the defending champion, Robin Soderling, former quarterfinalist here, and Andy Roddick, three time finalist are all players who have the pedigree to make a run and potentially give a huge scare to the top guys. After the jump, we'll look at the draw, quarter by quarter, and we'll have predictions.

They're Back! The Williams Sisters Return to Wimbledon: Looking at the Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Draw

The 2011 Championships start on Monday, and all eyes on the Ladies' side will be focused on Serena and Venus Williams. Combined winners of 9 of the last 11 Championships played, they by far have the most pedigree of any women's player on tour by a large margin. However, big questions are lingering over them entering this tournament. Serena is playing her second tournament since winning last year, and the first one was last week in Eastbourne, where she lost to last year's finalist Vera Zvonareva in a tight 3 set match in which she was serving for the match in the second set. Venus is only playing her second tournament since she had to withdraw from the third round of the 2011 Australian Open. Their history tells us a run is possible, but their lack of match play due to injury suggests they will have to struggle to make it through this tournament. Either way, they will command all of the attention on the ladies' side, and this overshadows the fact that this is a wide open draw. As many as 8 ladies have a legitimate shot at winning, and, in direct comparison to 2011 Roland Garros, no one is talking about the world's number one, Caroline Wozniacki. After the jump, we'll have the full preview of the draw, quarter by quarter.

The Supremacy of Grass

Next Monday, the 125th edition of the Championships at Wimbledon will begin. It is a tournament unlike any other on the tennis calendar. There are currently six grass court sanctioned tournaments on the ATP and WTA circuit, and they all fall within a five week period, starting with the end of the French Open and concluding with the Cambell's Hall of Fame Championships, a low level event held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Rhode Island. The biggest, the oldest, and of course, the grandest one is held at Wimbledon. The "Big W" is the one tournament that most players dream of winning. After the jump, we'll look at three reasons why grass courts, and specifically those at Wimbledon are the best surface for playing tennis.

England's Last Hope?

Andy Murray does not need anyone to remind him that every time he steps onto Centre Court at Wimbledon, he is carrying the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders. It has been 75 years since an Englishman last won Wimbledon, and ever since Andy Murray broke into the Top-10 in the world, he has been pinned as the next great chance for England. Everytime he walks out on Centre Court at Wimbledon, Andy Murray is not just playing for himself; he is playing for the entire country of England, which has been let down year after year for 75 years. Murray would be the first to tell you that he does not feel any extra pressure playing in front of his home crowd at Wimbledon. However, if you were to somehow go inside his brain, there is no doubt in my mind that Andy Murray feels the weight of the entire country of England on his shoulders everytime he plays a match at Wimbledon.

Most people would say that Andy Murray has a great chance to make a deep run at Wimbledon this year. I completely agree. After winning a grass-court tournament at Queen's Club last week, Murray's confidence on grass has got to be at an all-time high. Even with his recent successes on grass, I would have to put Murray as the 4th favorite at Wimbledon, behind Nadal, Djokovic, and Federer. While that definitely does not mean Murray cannot win, it will not be easy. The best case for the Scot would be to cruise throught the first couple of rounds, both gaining confidence and support from the home crowd. This should be a real advantage for Murray if he makes it to the quarterfinals or beyond. The support of everyone in the crowd is always a positive thing, especially for a player like Murray. However, if Murray fails to win Wimbledon this year, it will cause a familiar feeling throughout the country of England: the feeling of disappointment and being let down. We can only hope that England has to deal with these feelings for only a few more years.

The Transformation of Grass Courts

Once upon a time, grass courts, which used to be the fastest courts used on the pro circuit, were where serve-and-volley players flourished. A typical point by a dominant grass court player used to be a slice serve, followed by a sprint to the net to put away a volley to end the point. This is how players like John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova were so successful on the surface. Recently, however, grass courts have become a entirely new surface, especially at Wimbledon, the most famous grass-court tournament in the world. Due to the changes made to the grass and soil at Wimbledon in the year 2001, grass courts now play like a whole new surface. The ball bounces higher and the courts have become a lot slower. These changes have led to grass courts favoring dominant base-line players like Roger Federer and the Williams sisters. This dramatic change in grass courts have been met with mixed responses. Players like Tim Henman, who was one of the few 21st century serve-and-volley players, did not react favorably to this grass-court transformation, while players like Roger Federer have seen the former haven for serve-and-volley players become their favorite surface.

While we cannot go back and time and undo the changes done to grass courts, we can dwell on what might of been if grass courts were still the fastest courts on the pro circuit. Would players like Venus Williams and Roger Federer, who have owned Wimbledon for the past 7-8 years, have recorded the same successes? Nobody knows. Who would be winning all the grass court titles if this service still played faster than hard court and clay? While it is impossible not to think about what could have been if not for this massive transformation, all we can really do is look forward to the grass court season of 2011, which is sure to bring plenty of drama and memorable moments.

The King of Clay Reigns Again: Looking at Rafael Nadal's 6th French Open Title

In the best match these two all time greats have played at Roland Garros, Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6 (2), 5-7, 6-1. Roger Federer played the best he has ever played against Nadal at Paris, but Nadal proved again why he is the King Of Clay. This is Nadal's 10 major title and increases his head to head against Federer to 17-8. After the jump, we'll look at the match, set by set

Previewing Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal: The Men's Final

It's finally here. When Roland Garros started, there were two finals that everyone was looking forward to. It was either Nadal-Djokovic or Nadal-Federer. Well, the latter is here, after Roger Federer's dramatic 4 set win over Djokovic that many consider to be the best match since the 2008 Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer. This is the fifth match at Roland Garros between the two of them, with Nadal winning all four. This is their first meeting at a major since the 2009 Australian Open final, with Nadal winning an epic 5 set match. Federer is coming into this match at a much different point than all of his previous French Open finals, beating Djokovic in the aforementioned instant classic. After the jump, we'll look at each area of this match.

Previewing the Women's Final: Li Na vs. Francesca Schiavone

126 women have been eliminated, and only two remain. Li Na and Francesca Schiavone have each won six matches, but they both are looking to make that seven and claim the title. Schiavone has been here before, winning last year, while Li Na is playing in her second straight Major final, having lost to Kim Clijsters in the 2011 Australian Open Final. After the jump, we'll break down each aspect of each player's game.

Men's Semifinals Recap: Nadal wins, Federer beats Djokovic in instant classic

The men's semifinals are finished, and wow, what a day of tennis. Fortunately, after much doubt, it was completed today, and the final is set. Rafael Nadal will meet Roger Federer for the fifth time here in Paris, the fourth in the final. We'll have the women's preview up later, but after the jump we'll take an in depth look at each match.

Men's Semifinals Preview

It's finally time. The four men remaining in the tournament will be whittled down to two. These are two dream semis, with the top 4 seeds being in the final four. This is only the 12th time in history this has happened at a major. First up on Phillip Chatrier, Rafael Nadal plays Andy Murray, and the second match up is Novak Djokovic vs. Roger Federer. After the jump we'll take a look at each match-up and give predictions.

Women's Semifinal Recap

The semifinals are completed on the women's side and the two finalists are set. Na Li will play Francesca Schiavone for the Women's Championship.

Semifinal Number One

What Happened: Na Li def. Maria Sharapova 6-4. 7-5 to reach her second Major final, both in 2011.

Why it Happened: Sharapova's serve completely failed her today, getting broken at 4-3 in the second set with a double fault and later at match point down. She had 10 double faults for the match. Li also played very well, using her defense to blunt Sharapova's attacks. Her return game was also on, and that put more pressure on Sharapova's already struggling service game. The gusty conditions also helped Li, as she had much more margin on her shots.

What's Next: After already becoming the first Chinese woman to make it into the finals of a major at the 2011 Australian Open, Li is looking to become the first to win one.

Semifinal Number Two

What Happened: Francesca Schiavone def. Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-3

Why it Happened: Schiavone beat Bartoli in every aspect of this game. Her serve, forehand, and backhand were simply better. It also appeared that Schiavone handled the wind much better, putting much more margin on her shots. Bartoli did have a 2-0 lead in the second, but she was quickly broken.

What's Next: Schiavone will attempt to defend her title on Saturday.

Women's Semifinal Preview

The women's semifinals are here. In the absence of the top three seeds, one might fear that the semifinals would be lacking in drama, but the four women who remain all have compelling stories and any one of them can win it. After the jump, we'll preview each match.

Previewing Nadal vs. Soderling

When the semifinals are set we'll have a preview of each individually, but this quarterfinal between Robin Soderling, two time finalist here, and Rafael Nadal, five time champion, is too good not to take an in-depth look. After the jump, we'll look at who has the advantage in each facet of the game and who should come out on top.

Quarterfinals Preview

It's Quarterfinal time at the 2011 French Open! 8 players remain in both the men's and women's draws, and over the next two days, that number will be down to 4. Actually, one player has already gained a berth in the semifinals. Fabio Fognini withdrew from Roland Garros, and thus his opponent, Novak Djokovic, automatically is into the semis. Also, and a bit more misleading, one Round of 16 match still must be completed. A hobbled Andy Murray lost the first two sets to Viktor Troicki, but he fought back and won two in a row, setting up one set for the right to advance to the semifinal. After the jump, we're going to take a look at all of the quarterfinals currently set up, and when the Murray-Troicki match is finalized, we'll have a preview up for that one.

Day 7 Preview

Day 7 is the last day of the first part of the tournament. After tomorrow, the third round will be completed, leaving 16 men and 16 women still alive in their quest to win this tournament. This is where the fun pretenders give way to the real contenders. We're still in that first stage, however, and there's still some weeding out to do. On the men's side, Mardy Fish looks to be the only American to make it to the Round of 16, Nadal and Murray look to make it there again, and of course, there will be a conclusion to the del Potro-Djokovic match. That is the biggest match of the day, and, with the score being tied at one set apiece, it looks to be a race to the finish.  On the women's side, the major players look to avoid the upset bug, as Sharapova, Azarenka, Li, and Petkovic are all in action. With the unpredictability of the women's game in general and of these players' respective forms, anything is possible.

Main Event of the Day: Djokovic vs. del Potro
Undercard Match Worth Watching: Mardy Fish vs. Gilles Simon. The Frenchman has made some unsavory comments about the French Tennis Federation and American tennis, and this will be an interesting match as both are trying to make to their first Round of 16 at the French Open. Fish carries the hope of American tennis, and with Tsonga going out today, there's only Gasquet, Monfils, and Simon left as threats.
Upset Possibilities: del Potro over Djokovic, Cirstea over Li.

Day 6 Results: Huge Upsets, Big Comebacks, Djokovic vs. del Potro to be finished Friday

Day 6 brought the most shocking upset of the tournament, with women's world number one Caroline Wozniacki losing to Daniela Hantuchova, the 28th seed. What was shocking was not the loss, but the way in which Wozniacki was so soundly defeated. It was a 6-1. 6-3 beatdown. Wozniacki never looked to be in the match. The other big upset of the day was Samantha Stosur being taken down by Argentian Gisela Dulko. On the men's side, in the biggest match of the day, there was no conclusion. Due to every match of Chatrier going the distance, they had to move the match to the Lenglen court. They only were able to get two sets in, and surprisingly, del Potro was able to take the second set from Novak Djokovic. They will continue the match tomorrow. On the comeback side, Stanislas Wawrinka was down two sets to love to Jo Wilfried Tsonga on Chatrier. With a very partisan crowd in his favor, Tsonga looked to be on his way to a comfortable victory. Wawrinka, however, never gave up, winning a third set tiebreak and winning the final two sets, 6-2, 6-4. All in all, it was a very exciting day of tennis.

Day 6 Preview: What to Look For

Day 6 looks to be a great day of tennis. There are a lot of great matchups as the third round gets underway. The biggest match of the day by far is Novak Djokovic vs. Juan Martin del Potro. When the draw was made, this match was immediately pointed out. Del Potro, the 2009 U.S. Open champion, is on his way back from a wrist injury that took him out for all of 2010. He's on the comeback trail now, and this will be very interesting to see how far he has come. In other matches, Roger Federer plays Janko Tipsarevic, which is a really good test of Federer's form. Before Djokovic and del Potro take the court, Stanislas Wawrinka takes on Jo Wilfried Tsonga, which should be a hard hitting affair. Another Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, plays Thomaz Bellucci, who is on an absolute tear right now. On the women's side, Samantha Stosur plays Gisela Dulko, a tough Argentinian. Francesca Schiavone takes on Shuai Peng, in what should be a competitive match. And finally on the women's side, Caroline Wozniacki plays Daniela Hantuchova, and Wozniacki looked shaky against Wozniak, so this should be very interesting.

Main Event of the Day: Novak Djokovic vs. Juan Martin del Potro

Undercard Matches Worth Watching: Wozniacki vs. Hantuchova, Wawrinka vs Tsonga

Upset Possibility of the Day: Bellucci over Gasquet. Gasquet has the pressure of a nation on him, and Bellucci is playing out of his mind. It seems Bellucci has a great opportunity to win this one.

Day 5 Results: Clijsters, Melzer, Other top seeds challenged

2011 Roland Garros finally came to life today. In the opening match of the day, Aranxta Rus shocked the tennis world by defeating Kim Clijsters, the number 2 seed. Clijsters had two match points in the second set but collapsed and lost 6-1 in the third. The other shocker of the day came when Jurgen Melzer, the defending semifinalist, lost to Lukas Rosol, a qualifier from the Czech Republic. Elsewhere, there was much drama. Maria Sharapova was down a set and 4-1 to a French wild card player, but she was able to come back. Rafael Nadal also looked...well, normal. He won in straight sets, but his forehand was misfiring greatly. On the American side, Sam Querrey was beaten in straight sets by Ivan Lubicic, but Vania King and Mardy Fish were able to advance.

Day 5 Preview: What to Look For

We're not quite at the meaty part of the tournament yet, but don't worry, it's coming. The big names will be playing the big names soon enough (Friday is Djokovic vs. del Potro) but this is the part of the tournament where you can enjoy some quality tennis between two people you probably never heard of. To this effect, Xavier Malisse plays Fernando Verdasco in the Bullring (Court 1) and Jeremy Chardy vs. Gilles Simon on Chatrier. For those fans who follow the Americans, Mardy Fish, the highest ranked male, plays Robin Hasse, a tough Dutchman, but Fish should be able to win and advance to his first third round appearance here in Paris. Vania King plays Elena Baltacha in a match that pits two countries who desperately want more success, the U.S. and Great Britain. Elsewhere on the American side, Sam Querrey plays Ivan Lubicic in a very tough match for the American. While Lubicic is ranked lower that Querrey, he is always a tough match-up, but Querrey had a great win against Phillip Kohlschreiber in the first round, so perhaps Querrey's fortunes here will turn. If you're one of those people who only follow the big names, that's fine too. Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Andy Murray, and Robin Soderling are all in action as well

Day 4 Results: No Upsets, Player Carried Out on Stretcher

So Day 4 of the French Open was going pretty straightforwardly, with Federer going on court at 11 and seemingly off by noon. Djokovic, by all appearances, didn't break sweat today. The same went for the women. Caroline Wozniacki had her customary close second set, but other than that, the two finalists from last year, Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur both gave up a combined 4 games. Then Vera Zvonareva happened. As the third seed and the defending Wimbledon and U.S. Open Finalist, she has a lot of expectations going into this tournament. She was playing Sabine Lisicki, the 121st ranked German who, after many injuries, is attempting to make a career resurgence. Lisicki took the first set from Zvonareva 6-4, but the third seed was able to take the second in a grueling 7-5 set. Then it's when it started to get interesting. Lisicki was able to take a 5-2 lead in the third with Zvonareva serving. She even had a match point at 30-40, but Zvonareva was able to hold. It was all downhill from there for the German. She got broken at 30 and asked for the trainer. After the trainer looked at her, they called a doctor to attend to her as well. In a surreal sight, they took her blood pressure on the bench. After a while she continued to play. Zvonareva held easily, and watching it, is was painfully obvious that Lisicki was done. Her grunts weren't normal grunts, but almost pain shrieks. She got broken at 5-6 to end the match, and immediately afterwards the medical team came out and got a stretcher for her. The early word was that it was cramps, and hopefully it wasn't much more. The takeaway is that Zvonareva won, and so all of the top seeds advanced, but there was drama in the Bullring today on an otherwise routine day at the Stade Roland Garros.

Day 4 Preview: What to Look For

After the dramatic five setter today on court Phillipe Chatrier, we now move to the second round. Tomorrow looks to be a bit more calm, but there are a few matches worth watching. Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are both in action, but they are playing relative unknowns who shouldn't pose much of a threat, so tomorrow is a perfect day to check out some other matches. Espn3.com and Tennischannel.com are two great sites that stream many courts (legally too!). After the break, some matches to watch.

Day 3 Results: Almagro out; Other Near-Upsets

Day three at Roland Garros featured the first matches for Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, and several other top seeds both on the men's and women's side. Nadal's match with former Georgia Bulldog John Isner, which was the most highly anticipated match of the day, did not disappoint. Just when it seemed like Nadal, who was up a set and break, was going to run away with the match, Isner heated up. The American won both the second and third sets in tiebreaks, and all of a sudden, the King of Clay was six games from being defeated in the first round. Nadal easily took set four, which meant that he would be playing his first ever five-set match at Roland Garros to get out of the first round. An early break in the fifth set proved to be all the Spainard needed, as he took the fifth and final set 6-4, ending a nearly four-hour epic. The rest of the results are after the jump.

WTA Tour: No True Number 1, No True Favorite

You have heard it from everybody- experts, players, coaches, and fans: This is the most wide-open the women's draw has been for a major championship in the last 50 years. Why? Because there seems to be no legitimate worldNo. 1 in women's tennis at the moment. Caroline Wozniacki, who is ranked No 1 at the moment, plays almost every week but has not won a major yet. Serena and Venus Williams do not play in enough tournaments to be ranked no. 1, and Kim Clijsters seems to only play her best at Major Championships, which will not earn her the number 1 ranking. Back to Roland Garros; with the absence of the Williams sisters and Justine Henin, who "retired" again, Caroline Wozniacki and Kim Clijsters seem to be the "favorites." However, one can make a case for all top ten seeds. For example, Li Na has been playing her best ternnis in the early stages of 2o11, Victoria Azarenka has looked like a legitimate top-5 player in the world, and Maria Sharapova is coming to Roland Garros after her biggest win on clay at the Italian Open.

Many people would say that the lack of a legitimate No. 1, which leads to a lack of a favorite at Roland Garros, makes this tournament extremely exciting. Others say that it makes it boring because there is not one player who everyone else is gunning for. Either way, the French Open should serve as a preview of things to come on the WTA tour. Experts will be saying the same sort of thing about there being no real favorite on the women's side at Wimbledon and the US Open. This should make for an extremely exciting summer of women's tennis, with lesser-name players breaking through on the biggest stages. Will Caroline Wozniacki be one of these players to break through and cement her No. 1 ranking? Nobody knows. What we do know is that the lack of a real No. 1 player on the WTA tour is great for the game. The days when Serena and Venus Williams won every tournament were not as exciting as the days when players are coming out of nowhere to appear on the game's biggest stage. If only the men's game could be the same way....

Day 3 Preview: What to Look for

There is almost no way that any player could replicate the feat that Stephane Robert accomplished today by beating word number 7 Tomas Berdych. It should be a fun day tomorrow though. In the match everyone's looking forward to, Rafael Nadal begins his defense of his title against American John Isner, he of 70-68 fame. With the new lighter balls that no one likes, it seems as if Isner had a classic puncher's chance. If he can hold his serve and if his forehand is on, he can threaten Nadal. There is precedence for a big hitter defeating Nadal early at Roland Garros. In 2009, Robin Soderling blasted the ball straight through him, and beat him in 4. Could that happen here? We'll find out tomorrow, but this is Isner's best chance, early in a major and conditions favoring a heavy hitter. That being said, I think Nadal will win, but it should be a fun ride.

Main Event of the Day: Nadal vs. Isner, see above
Undercard Match Worth Watching: Ryan Harrison vs. Robin Soderling. Harrison got in as a lucky loser when Soderling's original opponent, Benjamin Becker, withdrew. Harrison, while not as talented, always brings the fight, and this should be a fun scrap.
Upset Possibility of the Day: Besides Isner vs. Nadal, Juan Monaco over Fernando Verdasco. The emotional Spaniard Verdasco, has seen his ranking plummet, and Monaco is the type of player that can capitalize on that and keep it going down. Look for this upset.

Day 2 Results: Berdych out; Rest of top seeds advance

Day 2 of the French Open belonged to Stephane Robert, the Frenchman who is ranked number 140 in the world. Yes, 140. He made it through qualifiers, and as the prize, he drew Tomas Berdych, the number 7 seed and defending semifinalist. Through the first two sets, it appeared to be going according to script. Berdych won the first two sets rather comfortably, 6-3, 6-3. Then everything went awry for the tall Czech player. Robert (the "t" is silent) began finding the magic he needed. Hitting winners, and especially backhand down the line winners, turned the tide in his favor, winning the next two sets 6-2, 6-2. The fifth set was an instant classic, and Berdych had a match point on Robert's serve at 6-7. Robert hit perhaps his biggest serve of the match, and at 7-7, he broke Berdych. He then coolly served out the match to win it 9-7, earning himself the biggest win of his career and sending Berdych hurdling out of the top 10. After the jump, the rest of the results.

Day 2 Preview: What to Look For

Day 2 of the 2011 French Open is upon us. And, unlike Day 1, the stars are out in full force. On Court Phillip Chatrier, defending champion on the women's side, Francesca Schaivone takes on American Melanie Oudin, Novak Djokovic plays Thiemo De Bakker, and then Roger Federer plays the man who almost beat him two weeks ago, Feliciano Lopez. Later in the day world's number one, Caroline Wozniacki plays Kimiko Date Krumm. That won't be the most exciting match, but there is a 21 year age difference between the two, so that might be worth watching for the novelty factor.

Main Event of the Day: Federer vs. Lopez
Upset Possibility: Ivo Karlovic over Juan Martin del Potro
Undercard Match Worth Watching: Oudin vs. Schiavone

Day 1 Results

Day 1 of the 2011 French Open was a quiet day. This is the only major tournament that starts on a Sunday, but since they've began starting on the Sunday, they haven't had any marquee names. Thus, the highest seed that played today was number 7, David Ferrer, who won handily. The only major upset of the day was Marin Cilic, the 19 seed, losing. Other than that, there were mostly one-sided matches. One not so one-sided match was Bethanie Mattek-Sands facing Aranxta Parra Santonja. Mattek-Sands, who has been picked by some to go far, lost the first set 6-2 and was pushed to a second set tiebreaker, which she won 7-5. She won the third set and lived to fight another day. Another American woman was successful today, as Varvara Lepchenko upset Flavia Pennetta 6-3 in the third set. This sets up an all-American second round match, which is quite unusual for American women at Roland Garros. Later today, a preview for Day 2 will be up. Day 2 looks to be the real start of the tournament.

The Streak, The King of Clay, and TMF: The Men's Draw

2011 Roland Garros on the men's side could not be more exciting. Novak Djokovic is 37-0 this season, winning the Australian Open, Dubai, Belgrade, and the four Masters 1000 events he played in, Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, and Rome. This is longest winning streak to start a season since John McEnroe's 42 match win streak in 1984. This streak is all the more remarkable when you consider that Djokovic started the year ranked number 3 in the world, and has beaten Roger Federer (The Mighty Federer, TMF for short), the consensus greatest player of all time, four times, and Rafael Nadal, the current world number one, in four consecutive Masters 1000 series finals. What is even more remarkable is that two of those wins came on Nadal's favorite surface, clay. Nadal has rightly been caled the King of Clay for his five Roland Garros titles and his absurd records at the other clay court tournaments. In any other year, Nadal would be the clear favorite, having won Barcelona and reaching the finals of the two 1000 series clay court events, but with Djokovic's surge, some are putting Nadal as the slight underdog.

That would certaintly be the clear dream final, but there are a few other men who would love nothing more than to stop that final. The afforementioned TMF, as the third seed and all time Grand Slam leader, is always a threat to win, and having won in 2009, has a great shot as well. Robin Soderling, the Swede, had accomplished the historic feat of defeating Nadal in the 2009 French Open and then Federer in 2010, reaching the final both years. He is in Nadal's section of the draw, and that would make a blockbuster quarterfinal. Andy Murray, the 4 seed, reached the final in Australia but fell to Djokovic. He has been the closest this year to ending Djokovic's streak, taking him to a third set tiebreaker in Rome, so he's made himself into a threat. Finally, David Ferrer, who defeated Nadal in the 2011 Australian Open, is always a threat at the French. After the jump, we're going to look at the draw, quarter by quarter.

The Caroline Wozniacki Show: Breaking Down the Women's Draw

Make no mistake about it, this tournament a one woman show. Caroline Wozniacki, the world number one on the women's side, is attempting to win her first major title. Questions about her legitimitacy as the number one player have dogged her since attaining the ranking, and to her credit, she has not shrunk from the pressure like many of her predecessors have. Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic, two major-less former number ones are two names that immediately come to mind when the topic is brought up. Ana Ivanovic, even though she did win Roland Garros in 2008 and rose to number one with that win, very quickly dropped off and never came close to reaching that height again. Wozniacki has not done this, and has even seemed to enjoy being number one. But the questions remain, and this is why all eyes will be on Wozniacki.

There are some very interesting bit players in this show, however. Kim Clijsters is returning from injury and is attempting to win her first Roland Garros title. Rust might be a factor, but that didn't stop her from winning the 2009 U.S. Open in her third tournament back from retirement. She has to be a factor here. Li Na (or Na Li, I never can figure it out) is coming off her improbable and captivating run in the 2011 Australian Open. Samantha Stosur, the number 6 seed, is returning to Paris after making the final last year. Her form dropped sharply over the course of last year, but she reached the final in Rome, and is looking to make a run. Maria Sharapova, who is never considered a favorite on clay, won in Rome, beating Stosur, and all of a sudden is playing well enough to win. There are numerous other women who have the ability to make a deep charge thorugh this tournament. After the jump, we're going to go through the draw, quarter by quarter.

Roland Garros!!

It's that time of year again! The tennis world descends on Paris for two weeks at the Stade Roland Garros. For those who don't know, Roland Garros is one of the four major tournaments in the tennis calendar. It is the only major played on clay.

If you watch enough television or read enough sports websites, you'll probably see the term French Open and Roland Garros used. They are, for all practical purposes, interchangeable. The French call their tournament Roland Garros, but the name French Open has also been used. We'll try to keep it consistent and call it Roland Garros. For some background information, Roland Garros was a French pilot and aviator during the Great War. His heroism was celebrated by naming the tennis center where he attended after him, and later the tournament followed suit.

Well, that's it for the background info. We'll have a full set of predictions up soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to In The Tramlines! We're very glad you're visiting our blog. My name is Brandon and I will be one of the bloggers here. Our goal here is not to be your main source of tennis news and information but to provide valuable insight and analysis into sport of tennis, from the Professional Tours to the amateurs. We also hope to provide tips as to how to improve your game. Thanks for visiting and we hope you return!