Posts Tagged ‘french open’
Sunday, April 21st, 2013
Novak Djokovic (Wikimedia Commons)
Novak Djokovic has put an end to Rafael Nadal’s remarkable winning streak in Monte Carlo.
This morning, Djokovic, the number one player in the world, defeated Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6.
What is remarkable is that prior to Nadal’s loss in Monte Carlo today, he had not lost at the tournament since losing to Argentina’s Guillermo Coria in 2003. Nadal won the event eight consecutive years from 2005-2012.
Djokovic dominated the first set after it was postponed because of a rain delay. The second set was significantly closer as Djokovic and Nadal broke each other twice to force a tiebreak, which was completely dominated by Djokovic.
Djokovic, the reigning Australian Open champion, won easily 7-1. Another major reason for Djokovic’s victory is that he won 60% of points on his second service, while Nadal only won 31% of the possible points.
The Monte Carlo Masters is the first of three Masters Series events on clay leading up to the French Open. There are significant events scheduled still for Madrid and Rome.
Tags: french open, guillermo coria, monte carlo masters, novak djokovic, RAFAEL NADAL
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Monday, June 11th, 2012
Rafael Nadal (Vinod Divakaran, Wikimedia Commons)
For the seventh time in his career, Rafael Nadal has won the French Open.
Today in Roland Garros, Nadal beat Novak Djokovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5.
For Nadal, he has now won seven times on clay throughout his remarkable career at the French Open, only losing once to Sweden’s Robin Soderling in the forth round of the 2009 French Open.
It was also the first time he has beaten Djokovic in the final of the French Open. Djokovic had beaten Nadal at the 2011 Wimbledon and United Stats Open and 2012 Australian Open.
Nadal was up two sets to one and was down a break 2-1, when play was suspended in the fourth set on Sunday due to rain. At one point yesterday Nadal actually lost eight consecutive games to Djokovic, and was not pleased with the tournament official for having him and Djokovic play in the rain as long as they did.
Today, Nadal won six of the nine games, and broke Djokovic right back in their opening game.
Tags: french open, novak djokovic, RAFAEL NADAL
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Saturday, June 9th, 2012
Maria Sharapova (Wikimedia Commons)
Maria Sharapova has won the career grand slam.
On Saturday morning, Sharapova, now the world number one ranked player in the world, defeated Italian Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 in the women’s final.
Sharapova joins Americans Maureen Connolly, Doris Hart, Shirley Fry, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Serena Williams, German Steffi Graf, Australian Margaret Court and Czechoslovakia’s Martina Navratilova as the ten players in history to win Grand Slam titles.
Sharapova became number one in the world with her 6-3, 6-3 victory over Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic on Thursday.
She won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon by defeating Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 in 2004. Sharapova followed that win with a victory at the 2006 U.S. Open over Belgium’s Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 and a victory at the 2008 Australian Open with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.
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Tags: billie jean king, chris evert, doris hart, french open, margaret court, maria sharapova, martina navratilova, maureen connolly, sara errani, serena williams, shirley fry, steffi graf
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Drew Doughty (Wikimedia Commons)
The Los Angeles Kings are one win away from capturing their very first Stanley Cup. On Saturday night the Kings will play the New Jersey Devils (CBC, 6pm) leading the Finals 3-1.
The Devils meanwhile are taking a game-by-game approach according to all-star goaltender Martin Brodeur. In game four, the Devils had a solid third period and stayed alive with a 3-1 win. For the Devils to make the Stanley Cup Finals interesting, they will need a solid performance from Ilya Kovalchuk, who only has one goal in four games so far, and that one went into an empty net.
The Kings are getting great production from Drew Doughty, who leads all blueliners with 14 playof points.
One player though nobody is talking about is New Jersey’s defenceman Bryce Salvador who has 13 points. Just how unexpected has Salvador’s point production been? Well his NHL regular season career high came in 2009 when he had 16 points in 76 games!
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Tags: arjen robben, atlanta braves, beezie madden, bob bryan, boston celtics, bryce salvador, cristiano ronaldo, daniel nestor, daniele de rossi, david silva, drew doughty, eric lamaze, fernndo torres, french open, ian millar, ilya kovalchuk, inbee park, jason heyward, john mcenroe, LeBron James, los angeles kings, lpga championship, maria sharapov, martin brodeur, max mirnyi, Miami Heat, mika miyazato, mike bryan, new jersey devils, nicklas bendtner, novak djokovic, paula creamer, RAFAEL NADAL, rajon rondo, rich fellers, robbie keane, sandra gal, sara errani, se ri pak, spruce meadows, stanley cup finals, toronto blue jays, wesley sneijder
Posted in Amateur Sports, ATP World Tour, Ladies Professional Golfers Association, MLB, More, NBA, NHL, Soccer |
Friday, June 8th, 2012
Rafael Nadal (Vinod Divakaran, Wikimedia Commons)
The men’s final is set for the 2012 French Open Final.
On Friday, Rafael Nadal, the six-time French Open champion defeated David Ferrer, the world’s no.6 seed 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in a dominant performance interrupted by rain midway through the second set with Nadal leading 4-1.
Just how dominant was Nadal? Nadal won 83 points to Ferrer’s 48, and had 19 fewer unforced errors. He also converted 70% of his break point opportunities.
With a win in Sunday’s final, Nadal will have passed Bjorn Borg into second place all-time in French Open wins with seven. He would only trail Max Decugis of France who has eight. But Decugis win at a time when the Open was only available to French club players.
Novak Djokovic, who is looking to hold not only a career slam, but be the current winner of each Grand Slam championship, beat Roger Federer in dominant fashion 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Federer lost despite breaking Djokovic three times in the second set.
Nadal is the favourite Sunday for two reasons– a) he is so comfortable on clay, it is amazing and b) he beat Djokovic comfortably on clay in Italy and Monaco already this spring.
Tags: french open, max decugis, novak djokovic, RAFAEL NADAL
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Thursday, June 7th, 2012
Maria Sharapova (Wikimedia Commons)
It was a big win for Maria Sharapova on Thursday.
By defeating Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3, she not only advanced to her first French Open final of her career, but she also passed Belarussian Victoria Azarenka into number one in the world.
Sharapova last was ranked no.1 in the world in 2008. The three-time Grand Slam winner (2004 Wimbledon, 2006 U.S. Open and 2008 Australian Open champion) will also win the career grand slam with a victory on Saturday.
Sharapova’s opponent will be no.21 ranked Sara Errani of Italy, who upset no.6 seeded Samantha Stosur 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in a topsy-turvy match. Errani won despite having 24 fewer winners than Stosur.
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Tags: bob bryan, daniel nestor, french open, maria kirilenko, maria sharapova, max mirnyi, mike bryan, nadia petrova, petra kvitova, roberta vinci, samantha stosur, sara errani, victoria azarenka
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012
Petra Kvitova (Pavel Lebeda, Wikimedia Commons)
With all the talk surrounding Maria Sharapova being the player to beat at the 2012 French Open, it was Petra Kvitova’s play in the fourth round that impressed me more.
Kvitova, the defending Wimbledon champion, only had seven winners against yesterday in an impressive 6-2, 6-1 win over unseeded American Varvara Lepchenko, who was born in Uzbekistan and only recently became an American citizen.
Kvitova is ranked fourth in the world, but everybody in the tennis world is projecting Sharapova as the clear cut favourite. I’m sorry, but the last time I checked Sharapova hasn’t won a major since 2008.
Meanwhile on the men’s side Tuesday there were two terrific five setters. Both Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer won, but were pushed to the limit.
Djokovic, the top seed, is looking to be the reigning champion in all four majors at the same time since Rod Laver of Australia accomplished the feat in 1969. Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-1, 5-7, 5-7, 7-6, 6-1.
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Tags: french open, jo-wilfried tsonga, juan martin del potro, novak djokovic, petra kvitova, rod laver, ROGER FEDERER
Posted in Home |
Sunday, June 3rd, 2012
Dominika Cibulkova (Christian Mesiano, Wikimedia Commons)
Victoria Azarenka’s attempt to duplicate her outstanding performance at the Australian Open at Roland Garros this week came to an abrupt end in the fourth round today.
Azarenka lost to Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 7-6 in the fourth round today. Despite only having a first serve percentage of 47%, Cibulkova had more winners and less unforced errors than the world number one.
On the men’s side, Milos Raonic lost in five grueling sets yesterday to Argentina’s Juan Monaco.
But there was a particular instance where Raonic needs to be applauded for sportsmanship. Early in the fifth set, the ball that Monaco hit was counted out, but Raonic told the umpire that Monaco’s shot was indeed in. High praise needs to go to Raonic!
In other action today, two key fourth round matches have been suspended until tomorrow. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, the fifth seed, leads Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, the 18th seed, 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 3-6, 4-2 in the fifth set, and Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina, the ninth seed, leads the seventh seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6, 1-6, 6-3.
Tags: dominika cibulkova, french open, jo-wilfried tsonga, juan martin del potro, juan monaco, milos raonic, stanislas wawrinka, tomas berdych, victoria azarenka
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Saturday, June 2nd, 2012
Dylan Armstrong (Wilson Wong, Wikimedia Commons)
This weekend is a big tuneup for Canadian Olympic medal hopeful Dylan Armstrong of Kamloops, British Columbia. The reigning Diamond League Champion is set to compete in the 2012 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon (Saturday, NBC, 1pm) , a major track and field event in Armstrong’s preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Armstrong will also be competing this weekend against a very deep field–reigning Olympic Gold medallist Tomasz Majewski of Poland, and Americans Ryan Whiting (World Indoor Champion), Christian Cantwell (2009 World Champion) and Reese Hoffa (2007 World Champion). Hoffa has the seasonal best throw of 21.73m.
Here are the other events I’ll be watching this weekend:
Saturday–ATP–French Open Tennis– Men’s Third Round–(13) Juan Monaco–ARG vs. (19) Milos Raonic–CAN–9am–TSN–For the first time in his career, Canadian Milos Raonic has advanced past the first round of the French Open. In his win Thursday, Raonic defeated American Jesse Levine 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. Levine, a native of Ottawa, has publicly stated he considers himself 100% American, making him a present day Greg Rusedski (represented Great Britain despite being born in Montreal), as a player that turned away completely from his Canadian roots. Monaco will be the slight favourite due to his experience on the clay. He has been on the ATP Tour now since 2004 and the clay is his best surface.
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Tags: boston celtics, christian cantwell, dario franchitti, dylan armstrong, french open, james hinchcliffe, jonathan quick, juan martin del potro, juan monaco, kevin garnett, los angeles kings, martin brodeur, Miami Heat, milos raonic, new jersey devils, novak djokovic, prefontaine classic, rajon rondo, resse hoffa, ROGER FEDERER, ryan whiting, tomas berdych, tomasz majewski, will power
Posted in Amateur Sports, ATP World Tour, Indy Racing League, More, NBA, NHL |
Wednesday, May 30th, 2012
Aleksandra Wozniak (Wikimedia Commons)
Montreal’s Aleksandra Wozniak had a very dominant performance in the second round of the French Open. But the bad news is she will have to be spectacular to advance to round four.
On Wednesday, Wozniak defeated Jie Zheng of China in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. Wozniak played a nearly perfect first set of tennis. She only committed five unforced errors.
In the second set the play was quite even until Zheng injured her foot and was not running on the court at full speed thereafter.
Zheng was a formidable opponent for Wozniak, as seeded 31st in the world, has been to two grand slam semi-finals.
But now Wozniak has to play the Australian Open champion and world no.1 ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. You know, the one that has spent time in Nikolai Khabibulin’s basement.
Azarenka is 35-3 to date with her only losses coming to Marion Bartoli of France in the quarterfinals in Miami, Maria Sharapova of Russia in the final of Stuttgart and Serena Williams of the United States in the final of Madrid.
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Tags: agnieszka radwanska, aleksandra wozniak, french open, jie zheng, maria sharapova, marion bartoli, nikolai khabibulin, petra martic, serena williams, victoria azarenka
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Tuesday, May 29th, 2012
Seren Williams (Fergal Carr, Wikimedia Commons)
The first round of the 2012 French Open is now concluded and the most intriguing match was actually thee final one scheduled.
Home-country favourite Virgine Razzano of France delivered a remarkable comeback and then needed every shot available she had at her disposal to upset Serena Williams of the United States 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.
Williams was leading Razzano at one time 5-1 in the second set tie-break, before she lost the next six points.
There are a couple of remarkable statistics from the match. This is the first time in 47 Grand Slams that Serena Williams lost in the first round. Also, only two of 11 Americans lost in the first round, with the other being Jamie Hampton, who lost 6-4, 4-3 before retiring to young Dutch tennis sensation Arantxa Rus.
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Tags: aleksandra wozniak, arantxa rus, french open, heidi el tabakh, jamie hampton, jie zheng, milos raonic, serena williams, virgine razzano
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
James Hinchcliffe (Wikimedia Commons)
The 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 runs this weekend (Sunday, ABC, 9am) with Australian Ryan Briscoe on the pole.
But the big news for Canadian sports fans is who will be driving second. James Hinchcliffe of Oakville, Ontario will be starting in the second position for Andretti Autosport. Meanwhile Alex Tagliani of Montreal will be riding 11th.
Not at the 2012 Indianapolis 500 are the defending champion, Dan Wheldon, who died at a race in Las Vegas and Danica Patrick who is in NASCAR.
However there are three ladies in the race. Brazilian Ana Beatriz is driving in the 13th position, England’s Katherine Legge is 30th and Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro is 32nd.
Australian Will Power who leads the IndyCar point standings so far this season will start fifth.
Here are the other events I’ll be watching this weekend:
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Tags: albert montanes, alex tagliani, ana beatriz, boston celtics, brandon gormley, dan wheldon, french open, indianapolis 500, james hinchcliffe, juan martin del potro, katherine legge, loik poudrier, london knights, michael chaput, philadelphia 76ers, ryan briscoe, shawinigan cataractes, simona de silvestro, texas rangers, toronto blue jays, will power
Posted in Amateur Sports, ATP World Tour, Indy Racing League, MLB, More, NBA |
Sunday, June 5th, 2011
Rafael Nadal (Yann Caradec, Wikimedia Commons)
Rafael Nadal has now entered double digits in Grand Slam titles.
This morning in Roland Garros, Spain, Nadal defeated Roger Federer 7-5, 7-6, 5-7, 6-1 to win his sixth French Open and tenth grand slam title.
Nadal now only trails Federer (16), Pete Sampras (14), Roy Emerson (12), Bjorn Borg (11), and Rod Laver (11) for the most grand slam championships of all time.
Nadal also tied Borg for the most French Open titles in tennis history with six.
It is also the fourth time that Nadal has beaten Federer in the final at the French Open. He also beat Federer in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
This may not have been Nadal’s best French Open of his career. He got off to a sluggish start after losing two sets in his first round match to American John Isner.
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Tags: bjorn borg, french open, john isner, novak djokovic, pete sampras, RAFAEL NADAL, rod laver, ROGER FEDERER, roy emerson
Posted in ATP World Tour, More |
Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Daniel Nestor (Wikimedia Commons)
Daniel Nestor of Toronto won his tenth Grand Slam title on Saturday.
Nestor and partner Max Mirnyi of Belarus, seeded second, defeated the unseeded pair of Juan Sebastian Cabal of Colombia and Eduardo Schwank of Argentina 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.
It was Nestor’s third French Open championship, as he previously won in 2007 with Mark Knowles of the Bahamas and in 2010 with Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.
This is the first time that Nestor and Mirnyi have teamed up to win a Grand Slam title.
Mirnyi has now won five Grand Slam titles. Like Nestor, he has won the French Open three times. Mirnyi has also won the U.S. Open twice.
Nestor was significantly better than his Belarussian teammate on Saturday, who struggled at times while at the net. When Nestor and Mirnyi secured the victory, Mirnyi gave Nestor a playful celebratory spank.
The match was very even throughout, with not a lot of break points. Actually, there was only two in all. Cabal and Schwank had one early in the second set to go up 2-0, while Mirnyi and Nestor had one in the tenth game of the third set to close out the match.
Tags: daniel nestor, eduardo schwank, french open, juan sebastian cabal, mark knowles, max mirnyi, nenad zimonjic, u.s. open
Posted in ATP World Tour |
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