There are no major upsets this time around going into the second week at the French Open. The last eight are all seeded players, with defending champion and top seed Roger Federer and last year's Nadal-conqueror and finalist Robin Soderling setting up a blockbuster rematch. A win by Federer assures him of breaking Pete Sampras' record weeks at No. 1 and preserving his Grand Slam semifinal streak (currently at 23).
Here are the quarterfinal match-ups:
Top half:
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [5] R Soderling (SWE)
[11] M Youzhny (RUS) vs [15] T Berdych (CZE)
Bottom half:
[2] R Nadal (ESP) vs [19] N Almagro (ESP)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [22] J Melzer (AUT)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
French Open Preview: Federer Defense or Nadal Sweep?
It's Madrid Masters all over again as the theme for this year's edition of the French Open, with Roger Federer the defending champ and No. 1 seed in the top half of the draw and Rafael Nadal, seeking a perfect season (22-0) on clay, the second seed in the bottom half.
There has not been a repeat champion in a major since the 2008 US Open. Can Federer defend the French, or will Nadal achieve the first-ever "clay slam"? (Monte Carlo-Rome-Madrid-Roland Garros sweep)
Australian Open - Djokovic (2008), Nadal (2009), Federer (2010)
French Open - Nadal (2008), Federer (2009), ????
Wimbledon - Nadal (2008), Federer (2009), ????
US Open - Federer (2008), Del Potro (2009), ????
Here are the potential French Open Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Top half:
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [5] R Soderling (SWE)
[4] A Murray (GBR) vs [8] J Tsonga (FRA)
Bottom half:
[2] R Nadal (ESP) vs [7] F Verdasco (ESP)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [6] A Roddick (USA)
There has not been a repeat champion in a major since the 2008 US Open. Can Federer defend the French, or will Nadal achieve the first-ever "clay slam"? (Monte Carlo-Rome-Madrid-Roland Garros sweep)
Australian Open - Djokovic (2008), Nadal (2009), Federer (2010)
French Open - Nadal (2008), Federer (2009), ????
Wimbledon - Nadal (2008), Federer (2009), ????
US Open - Federer (2008), Del Potro (2009), ????
Here are the potential French Open Quarterfinal Match-ups:
Top half:
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [5] R Soderling (SWE)
[4] A Murray (GBR) vs [8] J Tsonga (FRA)
Bottom half:
[2] R Nadal (ESP) vs [7] F Verdasco (ESP)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [6] A Roddick (USA)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
2010 French Open "Big 4" Ranking Projections
The second Grand Slam tournament of the season is only days away and the draw is due out on Friday! Before then, here's a look at the "Big 4" Ranking projections:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tjmgRPzEY3gxmQAWQGLIW9w&output=html
Highlights:
* World No. 1 Roger Federer will retain his ranking if he reaches the semifinals, regardless of the results of other players
* World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will be the new No. 1 if he wins the French Open and Federer fails to reach the semis
* World No. 3 Novak Djokovic will be the new No. 1 if he wins the French Open and Federer fails to reach the quarterfinals
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=tjmgRPzEY3gxmQAWQGLIW9w&output=html
Highlights:
* World No. 1 Roger Federer will retain his ranking if he reaches the semifinals, regardless of the results of other players
* World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will be the new No. 1 if he wins the French Open and Federer fails to reach the semis
* World No. 3 Novak Djokovic will be the new No. 1 if he wins the French Open and Federer fails to reach the quarterfinals
Monday, May 17, 2010
Vamos, Rafa!
At 23 years and 11 months, World No. 2 Rafael Nadal stands alone with the record for most number of ATP World Tour 1000 (Masters) titles at 18 after winning in Madrid. Andre Agassi previously held the record with 17 shields, winning his last title in 2004. World No. 1 Roger Federer is third on the list with 16 shields.
Nadal breaks Agassi's Masters record less than a year after Federer broke Pete Sampras' Grand Slam singles record. Talk about symmetry!
Rafa achieves the first-ever Monte Carlo-Rome-Madrid clay court "treble" and becomes the first player to win three consecutive ATP World Tour 1000 tournaments irrespective of surface.
Nadal breaks Agassi's Masters record less than a year after Federer broke Pete Sampras' Grand Slam singles record. Talk about symmetry!
Rafa achieves the first-ever Monte Carlo-Rome-Madrid clay court "treble" and becomes the first player to win three consecutive ATP World Tour 1000 tournaments irrespective of surface.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Madrid Masters Preview: Federer Defense or Nadal Sweep?
So here we are at the third and last clay-court Masters 1000 event of the year in Madrid and the top players' final warm-up tournament before the French Open.
On the top half of the draw is defending champion and No. 1 seed Roger Federer who has been struggling to find his form on clay recently. On the bottom half is No. 2 seed and Monte Carlo-Rome winner Rafael Nadal, who will once again be attempting to win an unprecedented three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the same season - something Nadal has been trying to achieve since 2005 (He's gone 2 out of 3 each time).
A rematch of last year's final at La Caja Magica beckons. Hopefully, Roger and Rafa will live up to the expectations.
Fun facts:
If Federer wins in Madrid:
* He will tie Agassi and Nadal for the record of most Masters 1000 titles at 17
* He is assured of breaking Sampras' record for most weeks at #1, even if he skips the French Open
If Nadal wins in Madrid:
* He will be the all-time leader in Masters shields won at 18, sweeping all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the process
* He will regain the #2 ranking, and will be in position to regain #1 if he wins the French and Federer doesn't reach the finals in BOTH Madrid and Roland Garros (the equivalent of earning about 1,000 ranking points)
On the top half of the draw is defending champion and No. 1 seed Roger Federer who has been struggling to find his form on clay recently. On the bottom half is No. 2 seed and Monte Carlo-Rome winner Rafael Nadal, who will once again be attempting to win an unprecedented three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the same season - something Nadal has been trying to achieve since 2005 (He's gone 2 out of 3 each time).
A rematch of last year's final at La Caja Magica beckons. Hopefully, Roger and Rafa will live up to the expectations.
Fun facts:
If Federer wins in Madrid:
* He will tie Agassi and Nadal for the record of most Masters 1000 titles at 17
* He is assured of breaking Sampras' record for most weeks at #1, even if he skips the French Open
If Nadal wins in Madrid:
* He will be the all-time leader in Masters shields won at 18, sweeping all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the process
* He will regain the #2 ranking, and will be in position to regain #1 if he wins the French and Federer doesn't reach the finals in BOTH Madrid and Roland Garros (the equivalent of earning about 1,000 ranking points)
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