Face Of The Day

JD Blom

Arnaud Clement of France on a changeover during his qualifying match against American Donald Young at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, on March 21, 2011.

First-Time Champ

John Isner of the U.S. celebrates with the trophy after beating Arnaud Clement of France in their Auckland Open final in Auckland January 16, 2010. Isner won the match 6-3, 5-7, 7-6.

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He saved a match point and notched another victory in a decisive set tiebreak. This time, he wins the whole shebang.

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Doubles - Final
[WC] M Daniell (NZL) / H Tecau (ROU) d M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA) 75 64

WIMBLEDON 2008: Men's Semifinals Preview

by Mad Professah

The 2008 Wimbledon Men' s semifinals are now set. Mad Professah correctly predicted Federer and Schuettler's quarterfinal wins. This Men's semifinal preview (like the Women's Semifinal Preview posted yesterday) are all about inevitability and the Number 3. From the beginning of the tournament I predicted a third all-Williams final and a third Federer-Nadal final. It's inevitiable.

Roger Federer SUI (1) vs. Marat Safin RUS. Federer has played the mercurial Russian ten times before and beaten the 2-time Grand Slam champion eight times. Of course the most famous match the two have played was at the 2005 Australian Open where Safin defeated Federer in a thrilling 5-set semifinal match saving a 4th set match point in the process. Safin used to despise playing on grass and had never played well at Wimbledon before this year. In fact, Safin hasn't been playing well at any tournament since his 2005 win in Melbourne---he hasn't won a single ATP title since and has 15 total. Federer has 55 titles and last played Safin at Wimbledon in last year's 3rd round and won in 3 relatively tight sets 6-1 6-4 7-6(4). Safin (and Federer) are playing better this year, but the result will still be the same, the inevitable third match-up betweek Federer and Nadal in the Wimbledon final. PREDICTION: Federer in 4 sets.

Rainer Schuettler GER vs. Rafael Nadal ESP (2). The "accidental semifinalist" Rainer Schuettler has had a pretty lucky draw since the only seed in his path to this point was a second round showdown with American James Blake in the second round which he won 6-4 in the 5th. Schuettler also had to win a 5-set match again Arnaud Clement in a 5 hour, 12 minute match spread over two days just to reach this semifinal showdown with World #2 Rafael Nadal. Nadal has only dropped one set this tournament, against talented big-serving Ernest Gulbis in the second round, and played 3 tiebreaks, winning all of them. It's unlikely that Schuettler, who is known for being in incredible shape but has no singular weapon, will be able to win as many as 6 games in a set. PREDICTION: Nadal in 3 sets.

Day 9: Strawberries and Cream of the Crop

Look. Here's what's up. Rafael Nadal is playing most exquisite tennis. Marat Safin is playing exquisite tennis. Roger Federer is doing what he does at Wimbledon.

Today, their opponents had no answers for their best tennis on the day.

Arnaud Clement and Rainer Schuettler (his first name an omen) are tied at one set apiece, to finish tomorrow. They're playing solid, bread-and-butter tennis.

So. In the semifinals, we'll have a lunch-bucket player and three elites.

The final will feature two elites. Which two will it be and will one of them make history?



The sisters advanced to the semifinals in doubles.

Men's Quarterfinals: Open Thread

As we wait out the rain delay while ESPN replays the most dramatic parts of the Murray-Gasquet match, you can give us your predictions for today's quarterfinals (weather permitting) and use this thread to discuss the matches as they unfold.

Enjoy.

WIMBLEDON 2008: Men's Quarterfinals Preview

by Mad Professah

The 2008 Wimbledon Men's Quarterfinals have now been set. I don't usually make predictions in Men's tennis, but here goes:

Roger Federer SUI (1) vs Mario Ancic CRO. Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic was the last player to beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon, 39 matches ago. Since then, Federer has become the potential Greatest Of All Time and won 5 consecutive Wimbledon titles and 38 consecutive matches at Wimbledon. Ancic has become a lawyer and helped his country win the Davis Cup. In the previous round he had to come back from 2 sets down against Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco to win 13-11 in the 5th. Ancic has a huge serve and is a good volleyer but has a suspect ground game. Federer will not underestimate the Croat and be prepared to take him out in as few sets as possible in order to save energy for what may turn out to be a tricky semifinal match for the World #1. Mad Professah's Pick: Federer in 3 sets.

Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (13) Marat Safin RUS vs Marcos Baghdatis CYP (10) Feliciano Lopez ESP (31). I really didn't think "Crazy Marat" could continue playing good tennis for so many consecutive rounds (I bet Marat didn't think he could either!) plus I was looking forward to a possible all-Swiss semifinal. I also thought that the excessively talented Marcis Baghdatis would be able to make a break through against the pulchritudinous lefty Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. But Lopez continued his excellent serving and volleying to take out the Cypriot 8-6 in the 5th set. Predicting a winner between Safin and Lopez is difficult. Which Safin will show up? Clearly he has enough talent to beat anyone in the field, if he's on and his opponent is not playing their best. Somehow I suspect that Feliciano will figure out a way to frustrate the mercurial Russian and give himself anothre chance to show that his play at the 2007 U.S. Open against Federer was no fluke. Mad Professah's pick: Lopez in 4 sets.

Janko Tipsarevic SRB Rainer Schuettler GER vs Marin Cilic CRO Arnaud Clement FRA. Does anyone care? Somehow youth was not served in the round of 16, with the Serbian and the Croat both going out to the wily veterans. The Powers That Be have scheduled this match on Court 1 at the same time as the Nadal-Murray Gotterdamerung on Center Court. There's not much between these two players, They both have won 4 career titles. They both have reached one major final (Clement Australian Open in 2001, Schuettler the Australian Open in 2003). It's doubtful that anyone will be watching. However although both of these veterans are playing well, Schuettler leads their rivalry 4-1 and I suspect the German will win this battle of the Europeans. Mad Professah's pick: Schuettler in 4 sets.

Richard Gasquet FRA (8) Andy Murray GBR (12) vs Rafael Nadal ESP (2). Yes, Murray has never beaten Nadal in 3 tries. And yes, Nadal is playing bat-shit crazy good tennis this year---probably the best of everyone in the field. But still I think Nadal is likely to lose this match. Murray does have the game to beat both Federer and Nadal, and after Monday's heroics versus Richard Gasquet he now has the good will of the entire British Empire behind him. Whomever wins this match basically gets a walk into the 2008 Wimbledon Men's Final. Can an audience lift a player over a superior opponent? We will see on Wednesday. Mad Professah's pick: Murray in 5 sets.

Hopman Cup Day 5: Serbia d. France

Session 8 - Chinese Taipei 3 d Argentina 0
Hsieh Su-Wei d Gisela Dulko 3-6, 7-6(7/2), 7-5
Lu Yen-Hsun d Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 6-4
Hsieh/Lu d Dulko/Chela 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(10/4)

CHINESE Taipei pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis tournament at Perth’s Burswood Dome when they defeated Argentina and put them out of contention for this year’s major prize.

After winning the Asian Hopman Cup qualifying event in Bangkok in November, the Chinese Taipei came to Perth as the $200 outsiders and now retain a faint hope of making Friday night’s Final, needing to beat France and hope other results go their way.

The upset started with Su-Wei Hsieh downing Gisela Dulko in three sets and her partner Yen-Hsuin Lu backed up with a straight-sets victory over Juan Ignacio Chela, with a rankings difference of 90 places on the ATP list.

Lu’s 6-3, 6-4 scorecard came about with a strong service game and he did not offer Chela one break point in either set.

Hsieh overcame a nervous start before claiming the second-set tie-breaker seven points to two and then breaking service at the end of the third to finish with a 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 scorecard.

Hseih, ranked 120 points below the No. 37 of Gisela Dulko, had 13 break points on her rival’s service, converting five of them, while the Argentine had six breaks from nine chances. At one stage Dulko led 3-1 in the second set and served for the match at 5-3.

Thursday’s session will see two double-headers involving six teams still alive in the battle to top the two Groups and claim places in Friday night’s Final. The morning session will decide Group B, with Australia tackling the USA and India meeting the Czech Republic. The evening session sees the Group A teams battle it out, with Serbia and Argentina clashing and France and Chinese Taipei in the other match.

Session 7 - Serbia 2 d France 1
Jelena Jankovic lost to Tatiana Golovin 1-6, 0-6 retired
Novak Djokovic d Arnaud Clement 6-3, 6-3
Jankovic/Djokovic d Golovin/Clement 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(10/4)

Despite Jelena Jankovic retiring injured in her singles match with Tatiana Golovin, Serbia has pulled off a remarkable victory over France to remain undefeated with one tie to go at Hyundai Hopman Cup XX.

Jankovic suffered a strained muscle in her buttock after just one game in the singles to hand Golovin the win, but Novak Djokovic rebounded with a solid 6-3, 6-3 win over Arnaud Clement.

After scans cleared Jankovic of any serious damage, she came out for the doubles and after losing the first set, Serbia claimed the second and the third in a match tie-break.

Serbia now only needs to defeat Argentina on Thursday night to be assured a place in the final, but will still remain alive even with a loss.

It is far from time for the French team to pack up and go home, though.

After a strong win over Argentina on Sunday night, victory for Golovin and Clement over Chinese Taipei on Thursday night will keep them alive if Serbia loses.

The women’s match between the world No. 3 and 13, loomed as the best of the Hyundai Hopman Cup, but disappointingly Jankovic suffered an injury at the top of her hamstring during the long first game.

Jankovic broke Golovin’s serve in an eight-minute game to start proceedings, but it also ended them as the Serbian suffered the injury overstretching on her backhand side.

She went off for treatment and tried to come back, won the opening two points on serve before surrendering.

Unfazed by Jankovic suffering her injury, Djokovic quickly raced to a 4-1 lead in the opening set against Clement. He wrapped up the set 6-3 in 33 minutes.

The world No. 3 then continued his dominance in the second set. He advanced to a 5-2 lead and wrapped up the match 6-3.

The scans revealed Jankovic didn’t suffer a tear, so she gave the mixed doubles a try. The Serbians then got the first break, on Clement’s serve, to go up 3-2. However, the French broke straight back on Djokovic’s serve.

A break on Jankovic’s serve in the last game of the set was enough for France take it 7-5.

Jankovic went to get re-strapped just before the end of the first set, but her and Djokovic rebounded strongly with the tie on the line in the second.

The Serbians went to a 5-3 lead and Djokovic served it out to take it to a match tie-break.

Djokovic and Jankovic dominated, winning 10 points to four to record a remarkable win after Jankovic’s earlier withdrawal.

Serbia plays Argentina, with France taking on Chinese Taipei in Thursday night’s session, the last before Friday’s final.

Source