RSSTennis
Djokovic Outlasts Nadal in Record-setting Australian Open Final
It took nearly six hours but Novak Djokovic was finally able to beat Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open Final
Nadal To Take Break After Australian Open
Rafael Nadal will be taking a break after he tries to win another Grand slam title at the Australian Open. The second-ranked Spaniard said he will take February off to recover from a shoulder injury
Djokovic Outlasts Murray in Epic Semifinal at Australian Open
Novak Djokovic advanced to the final at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 7-5 victory over Andy Murray
Nadal Powers Spain to Davis Cup Victory
Rafael Nadal overcame a sloppy start to rally past Martin Del Potro 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) Sunday and give Spain its third Davis Cup championship in four years
Djokovic Takes Apart Nadal to Win First-Ever U.S. Open Tennis Championship
Novak Djokovic shook off a balky back and a feisty foe in Rafael Nadal to capture his first-ever U.S. Open title with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 win Monday night in New York City. Djokovic improved his record to a remarkble 64-2 on the year
Rafa Continues Dominance Over Federer
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer highlighted Day 11 of the Australian Open as the two all-time greats renewed what is considered the greatest rivalry in modern tennis
Stosur Dominates U.S. Open Women's Final as Serena Blows Cool
Samantha Stosur shocked Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3 to win the U.S. Open. The 27-year-old Australian powerhouse captured her first-ever Grand Slam title, while Williams blew her cool and didn't play in top form. Serena conceded Stosur outplayed her throughout the match
Revitalized Maria Sharapova Aiming For Second Wimbledon Title
Federer, Nadal Advance to Semifinal Showdown
Roger Federer was victorious in his 1,000th career match at the Australian Open and his reward is an extremely tough showdown in match 1,001
Kvitova Captures Wimbledon Crown
Petra Kvitova, who vanquished semifinal foe Victoria Azarenka (No. 4) in three sets en route to her first Grand Slam finale, relied on her blistering and potent forehand in defeating former No. 1 Russian Sharapova, 6-3, 6-4.
Novak Djokovic Topples Rafael Nadal in Wimbledon Final
Novak Djokovic dispatched Rafael Nadal in the Men's final at Wimbledon without much fuss, winning 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-2. Djokovic's strong court coverage proved to be the difference in the new No. 1 player in the world's win over the defending Wimbledon titlist
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Is the Top Four Beyond His Reach?
The Frenchman caused the biggest shock at Wimbledon 2011, beating Roger Federer 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Tsonga became the first player to defeat Federer in a Grand Slam from two sets down. Coincidentally, the Swiss lost in the same fashion just months later. He led by two sets against Novak Djokovic before losing their U.S. Open semifinal. Having beaten Federer at Wimbledon, Tsonga went on to record an excellent second half to the year, winning Metz and Vienna as well as being a finalist at the World Tour Finals. No one can argue that Tsonga is a talented player. He exudes flair and class, and on his day he can be just as good as anyone. But is it plausible for the Frenchman to break into the top four? Despite his run to the Australian Open final in 2008 and beating Djokovic in the quarterfinal stages of the same Grand Slam in 2010, Tsonga's real emergence in the Top 10 arguably started in 2011. That was his most injury-free and consistent year to date and was spent mostly without a coach. Currently No. 6 in the world, Tsonba returned to the top 10 despite reasonably early five-set losses o Alexandr Dolgpolov at the Australian Open and Stan Wawrinka at the French Open. Tsonga’s most notable performances of 2011 were his comeback against Roger Federer at Wimbledon and making the final of the World Tour Finals in December. However, Tsonga's problem is that he lacks the consistency of the top four. Despite such an excellent 2011, his year only really started after the French Open, when he lost in the final at Queens to Andy Murray, suggesting that his consistency would damage any suggestion of his presence at the very top. Murray, ranked No. 4 in the world, has reached at least the semifinals of a Grand Slam in his last five appearances. Tsonga has been in two Grand Slam semifinals across three years. The Frenchman is a player who can at one moment look absolutely brilliant, but at times rather average. His record against the top four last year was not particularly impressive either. Tsonga lost on10 occasions when he played the top four in 2011, and he will need to improve that record this year. A five-set loss to Kei Nishikori at the Australian Open this year still suggests frailties within his game. He may have won Doha at the start of the year, but you could argue that he may have not won had Federer not pulled out of his semifinal with a bad back. The Frenchman is certainly a player to look out for on the tour and is someone who is capable of pulling off a win over one of the top four on the odd occasion. Sadly, it looks as though he will only be that player. The top four is out of Tsonga's reach. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.com
It was a warm and sunny English afternoon on the grass of centre court when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga announced himself to the tennis world once again.
French Open 2012: 12 Bold Predictions for the Next Grand Slam
The French Open has been dominated by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer since 2005. Despite Novak Djokovic's recent coronation as the best active player, the two have denied him the chance even to appear in a final. This is the only Slam he has yet to win, and he would make a huge statement by getting it under his belt. On the other hand, Roger Federer and Andy Murray have been playing sublime tennis since the end of last year. Can Rafa continue his eternal run at Roland Garros? Will Roger, Andy, or Novak grant him his second loss ever? Or can somebody else step up to the plate? Here are 12 bold predictions for the French event.
Dr. Robert Johnson: An African-American Physician and Tennis Pioneer
However, not too long ago it was unheard of for an African-American to even attend a tennis match, let alone take the court as a contender. Pioneers like Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson broke down many a barrier, introducing African-Americans to the game of tennis and introducing the tennis world to the African-American community. Even before Ashe and Gibson there were strong men and women in the African-American community who blazed the trail on which these tennis greats walked upon, achieving historical milestones not only in tennis, but society itself. One of those pioneers was Dr. Robert Johnson, the man responsible for mentoring both Ashe and Gibson. Dr. Johnson was born in Virginia during a time when segregation was at its peak. Yet, Virginia's deeply rooted segregation did not hinder his desire to pursue his life's mission. Dr. Johnson was a physician in Lynchburg, Virginia and was the first minority physician to attain practice rights at Lynchburg General Hospital. He founded the Junior Development Program of the American Tennis Association in the 1950s—a fee-free tennis camp funded with his own money. He taught and nurtured aspiring African-American tennis players. According to historians, not only did Johnson teach his students the physical skills to be formidable contenders on the court, he taught them mental prowess in sportsmanship and the discipline to overcome the racial obstacles they were sure to face. Though Dr. Johnson was assisting in making great strides in tennis, his plight to empower and assist the African-American community did not stop there. His home served as a makeshift hotel for famous African-Americans who did not have access to the regular hotel accommodations because of the color of their skin. The great musician Duke Ellington and famed baseball great Jackie Robinson are two famous persons purported to have been house guests of Dr. Johnson. Dr. Johnson's home and tennis court were officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Sports and society in general have come a long way in race relations. However, there's still much work to be done. But with us all working together, regardless of our skin color, we can continue progressing. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.comIt's common to see Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Gael Monfils or Sloane Stephens playing at the Australian Open, Wimbledon or the US Open.
Roger Federer Existing Inside the "Thirty-Something" Syndrome...
Turning thirty can be traumatic for any normal human being. Some stepping over that threshold suffer overwhelming angst, knowing that Bob Dylan once swore you could not trust anybody over thirty. Seriously—at one point in the recent past, Dylan was akin to God in certain circles, causing some recently turned thirty-somethings to weep copiously over lost youth, sensing all was lost. On the other hand, Dylan is now over 65—so surely he has learned to trust himself despite living well beyond those prophetic 30 years. For a tennis pro today, however, reaching thirty presents a true turning point—not simply a psychological marker. The legs grow heavier and the foot, a step slower. Unerring instinct now takes a second longer to kick into gear. For most tennis players having played for over a decade brings steady decline if not resignation, ending in retirement. Time seemingly has expired requiring shelving or recycling for the majority. That was not always the case in men's professional tennis. There were some notable exceptions from bygone days when tennis players were not millionaires and fame was hard to come by. Think of Bill Tilden who played professional tennis well into his forties. During the 1920s we can safely attest, however, that the competition taking the court against Big Bill was hardly the same caliber as today’s players. Still, Tilden helped Americanize the game, altering its path from strenuous past time to highly competitive sport. The great and enigmatic Pauncho Gonzalez seemed unbeatable in his thirties, playing top-notch tennis well into his forties. Consider, too, that Rod Laver won his second grand slam while age 31 in 1969—at the beginning of the Open Era in men’s tennis. Other men have been successful, winning slams after age 30 like Roy Emerson, who won the 1967 French Open title, or like John Newcombe, who won the 1975 Australian Open having turned 30 years of age in 1974. Renowned Arthur Ashe won his 1975 Wimbledon title at age 32. But that was then and this is now. What does being "thirty-something" mean today, as world No. 3 Roger Federer turns 31 in August of this year? The great tennis maestro has not won a major since the 2010 Australian Open when he was 28 years of age. To date, Federer has 16 grand slam trophies on his mantle. You can rest assured that the Swiss wants to add a couple more. The motivation seems intact. At age 22, Federer first climbed to world No. 1 February 2, 2004 after securing his first Australian Open title. He took the top spot from American Andy Roddick who ended 2003 as the the No. 1 player in the world. Federer’s ascension was eight years ago, but like a Swiss St. Bernard, it must seem to Federer—and to the average tennis fan—about 56 years ago. From 2004 through 2007, Federer dominated the men’s tour, winning virtually everything except the French Open which, starting in 2005, seemed to be owned by Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal. But beginning in 2008, hindered by a siege of mononucleosis during the Australian Open, Federer’s star began to wane. This happened as Nadal continued to improve, winning his first non-clay major at Wimbledon. The top two players in the world engaged in an epic five-set final on Centre Court in 2008 that included everything from torrential rain, long delays off court and descending darkness. Federer wept losing Wimbledon after five straight championships. Nadal’s sheer will to win, overtaking Federer at the finish line, hit home hard for the world No. 1 that day. Shortly thereafter, the Swiss lost the No. 1 ranking to Nadal on August 18, 2008. Federer dropped back to No. 2. You have to remember that Federer captured majors three at a clip in 2004, 2006 and 2007—failing to win the Australian Open in 2005. In stark contrast in 2008, Federer only won the US Open. In 2009 with Nadal sent home early, Federer won the French Open and Wimbledon, losing the US Open to Juan Martin del Potro. He also resumed the No. 1 ranking for almost another year. After winning the Australian Open in 2010, however, Federer has remained shut out at majors, stuck on 16 grand slam titles. Pete Sampras Federer’s brief contemporary, Pete Sampras, was born on August 12, 1971—almost ten years to the day before baby boy Federer arrived on the world stage. The American Sampras played professional tennis for 14 years, first rising to the No. 1 ranking in 1993. In 2002 Sampras unofficially retired from professional tennis after winning his fourteenth grand slam title at the US Open. At that time Sampras was sure that 14 titles would be a record that would hold for years to come. Even though Sampras dominated the tour from 1993-1997, in 1998 the Sampras game began to show cracks in its veneer. The American ended 1998 as the No. 1 player but his dominance had begun to weaken. Chilean Marcelo Rios barked at his heels throughout 1998. In 1999, at 28 years of age, saddled with a bad back and a resurgent Andre Agassi, Sampras lost his No. 1 ranking after the US Open, ending the year ranked world No. 3. Pistol Pete never again regained the top spot or dominated men’s tennis. Sampras was 31 years of age when he stopped playing professional tennis, having won 14 grand slam singles titles, 64 singles titles overall, and having spent a record 286 weeks at No. 1 throughout his career. It should be noted that Sampras won a single grand slam tournament after age thirty—the 2002 US Open. Andre Agassi Sampras’ chief rival, Andre Agassi, played well past thirty years of age in his long professional tennis career. The young man from Las Vegas played his first professional tennis match at age 16 and his last at age 36 completing a life in tennis that stretched over 20 years. Agassi won eight grand slam singles titles throughout his career, appearing in 15 major finals. The American won a career grand slam, which meant Agassi won a title at each grand slam venue. He also won an Olympic gold medal in men’s singles in 1996. Agassi rose to the No. 1 ranking first in 1995 at age 24. His last turn at No. 1 ended in August of 2003 at age 33. Agassi thrived on outlasting opponents with his superb physical fitness. He won two grand slam titles after age 30—both in Melbourne at the Australian Open in 2001 and 2003, the year Agassi retired. Agassi was the last man past age 30 to win a major. That was nine years ago. Roger Federer's Future? The question remains—will Agassi continue to be the last man standing or will Roger Federer manage to find a way through the next major draw and into another final without having to face Nadal? Last year the Swiss made it to the French Open final where he met Nadal once again. Federer lost to Nadal at Stade Roland Garros for the fifth time—four times in French Open finals. Staying relevant in the game and winning after reaching age 30 is much more difficult today. With new technology, the game has evolved, requiring more speed, more power, more torque and much more endurance, physically and mentally. The pace of the tour means that players are hurt more often and burn out more quickly. But Federer seems to have risen above the predictable path to arrive relatively unscathed at age 30. His legion of fans believe that the Swiss Maestro has more big wins ahead of him. We have grown to expect Federer to win, to reach major finals, to thrill crowds with his athletic, effortless movements around the court. But now fans wait with bated breath hoping the great man is "on" this day, that his serve is clicking and that the opponent’s play is not what it could be. Most of all they hope Federer does not have to play Nadal before reaching the final. Much as Pete Sampras waited to win No. 14, Federer will be patient, waiting for his moment to shine again on center court during a major final, joining Agassi as the next man to win a slam over age thirty during 2012. Will it be the French Open? Wimbledon? or maybe the US Open? Stay tuned... Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.com
10 Most Colorful Celebrations at 2012 Australian Open
Novak Djokovic's celebration at the end of the 2012 Australian Open final was sensational. The No.1 player, as we all saw it, ripped his shirt off after the slug-fest with the No.2 Rafael Nadal. Novak has been a showman with his celebrations and on-field antics. After playing one of the greatest finals, the gesture was not totally unexpected from the Serb. Let us see how other players have celebrated their victories (or losses) in a colorful manner
Andy Murray: The Greatest Tennis Player Never to Win a Grand Slam?
As it stands right now, however, this has to be the case. He has reached three Grand Slam finals, but has yet to even win a single set in any of them. Murray's first finals defeat came at the 2008 US Open, where the Scotsman was trounced by Roger Federer, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2. In fairness to Murray (who was 21 years of age at the time), the tennis world was convinced that he would most definitely have his day in the near future, meaning that the defeat was regarded more as an achievement than as a failure. In overall terms, Murray had a better year in 2009. He reached the finals of three ATP Masters 1000 events, while winning in Miami and Montreal. Murray also enjoyed wins in Qatar, Rotterdam, Queens and Valencia, but ultimately failed to reach a Grand Slam final. The best he managed was a semi-final at Wimbledon. Murray's second Grand Slam final came in the 2010 Australian Open where, once again, he went down in straight sets to Roger Federer. This time around, the critics began to suggest that maybe Murray lacked the necessary mindset to get to the very top of the tennis world. The final of the 2011 Australian Open was also reached by Murray and he went into that match with many suggesting that this was his time to join the elite. However, he came up short against his longtime rival and friend, Novak Djokovic. Murray still won five titles in 2011, including two Masters 1000s, bringing his career total to 22. If his career record is to be compared to that of Tim Henman, another player regarded as one of the best to never have won a Grand Slam, then Murray stands head and shoulders above him. Henman only won eleven career titles and only one at the Masters 1000 level. He never even reached a Grand Slam final, although he did manage to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon four times and at the French and US Opens one time each. Similar to the problem Murray has now, contesting for the sport's biggest prizes alongside guys like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, Henman always had the Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi factor working against him. In my opinion, both Djokovic and Nadal would need to be injured at the same time to give Andy Murray a genuine chance of redressing the inevitable. Until then, he is destined to become the greatest men's tennis player never to win a Grand Slam title. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.comIt is almost wrong to suggest that at 24 years old, Andy Murray is already the greatest men's tennis player in the "Open Era" never to have won a Grand Slam event.
Australian Open 2012: 10 Best Matches of the Year's First Grand Slam
What a fantastic way to start the year! The first Grand Slam of 2012 ended with a memorable match between the top two seeds in probably the best Grand Slam final of all time. That there could be only one winner is the unfortunate aspect of sports, not just tennis. The TV channels were recording the activities of both the players—the numbers were outstanding. Both of them had run the equivalent of 45-50 miles by the end of the match. Surprisingly, Djokovic had run more than his rival, and that reflected in the end result as well. This has to be the BEST match of the entire year, not just this Grand Slam. If it does not qualify to be one, the tennis community will feel blessed to have more of such top-notch matches. Let us look at the other memorable matches in this year's Australian Open
6 Active Legends on Men's Tour Are a Boon for Tennis Fans
After doing the post on players on the WTA tour who have been ranked No. 1, the question comes to mind about the same set of players on the ATP tour. There aren't as many such players, but their pedigree far eclipses the women. It is not just the troika of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic who have been No.1, though they have laid claim to the throne for the last eight years. There are few surprises on the list. Let's see who they are.
Tomas Berdych: Can He Make It to the Top Five in the Rankings?
Can he keep up the pace and challenge for a career-high spot in the rankings? Berdych is coming off a run to the quarterfinals at the year's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, where he pushed world No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the round of eight before losing in four tough sets. Overall though, Australia was successful for Berdych, who before the main event in Melbourne was part of the Hopman Cup-winning team with countrywoman Petra Kvitova. Berdych went undefeated in singles play in that event, winning all four of his matches. Now, his hot start to the year continues in France, where he's the top seed in the tournament and at this point, has a solid chance to take home the title. Berdych is one of the best players in the men's game when it comes to playing under fast conditions. He's won tournaments on grass, carpet and hard courts—indoors and out. While those conditions suit his powerful game, Berdych has also shown the patience necessary to succeed on clay courts, winning the first tournament of his career on the dirt, as well as reaching he semifinals of the French Open in 2010. That run to the semifinals in Paris was followed by the biggest Grand Slam achievement of his career a few weeks later, when he made it to the finals of Wimbledon, defeating none other than six-time Wimby champion Roger Federer along the way. Berdych is in the shortlist of players expected to win one of the game's biggest events at some point in their career, but hasn't met those expectations yet. At this point in the year, though, he looks dangerous and if he continues to play like this, he could surpass his career-high ranking of No. 6. Winning a Grand Slam would be a much tougher task, but form like this could make that goal a possibility. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.comTop-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic has advanced to the semifinals of this week's ATP World Tour event held in Montpellier, France. This continues one of the best starts to a season in his career.
20 Worst Outfits in Tennis History
Over the years, the game of tennis has evolved relative to the surfaces played upon, the tools used and the fashion worn. In the early years, the outfits (both men and women) were seemingly conservative. When looking at early photos one may ask the question as to how could men and women have played tennis in those outfits? But the bottom line was he or she made whatever adaptations were necessary and became used to them when they hit the court. As tennis moved into the Open Era, the outfits (both men and women) started to become less conservative. The fashion gurus of tennis began to think outside of the conservative fashion box. Innovation is a good thing. However, there are those times that innovation does not necessarily result in a fashion piece becoming couture to the average tennis fan. Here we will take a look at some fashion ideas that went terribly wrong. As you go through the slides, you will find that there are several tennis stars who were represented multiple times as they reached the height and beyond of a fashion misstep. Have fun and do feel free to comment. Disclaimer: Much respect is given to each of the tennis players represented in this slideshow. No disrespect is meant to their on-court performances and skill set. Photo: Can you guess who these socks belong to? Hint: She makes quite a few fashion missteps.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal: Australian Open Signals a Riveting Rivalry
The Rod Laver Arena is no longer the paradise it was for Nadal in 2009. Djokovic lives there now. He won his third Australian Open, beating Rafael Nadal in five sets (5-7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–7, 7–5.) The more defeats Nadal suffers at his hands, the further he walks from this paradise. It's been a long time since Nadal could shrug off doubts about his ability to maintain a style of play that weakened his knees and forced him to take time off from the tennis circuit. Nadal has long been tennis's most vivid and irresistible metaphor for power, force, aggression, and machismo. But losses to Djokovic—seven in a row and 10 in their last 13 contests—steadily undermined his confidence and brought about a frenetic reflectiveness his team was unaccustomed to. Physical fitness vs. mental An endless stream of articles hit the internet when Djokovic took his shirt off and roared his heart out to celebrate his victory. A majority of them focused on the physicality of the match, the intensity of the rallies and how Djokovic fell flat on his back after a 31-shot rally in the fifth set. Was the match decided by fitness alone? If so, Nadal should have won hands down. Djokovic had just one day off after his marathon semifinal against Andy Murray. He appeared exhausted as the final dragged on. On the contrary, Nadal had an extra day off and looked rejuvenated after his win over Roger Federer. That victory may have meant more to him mentally. Federer beat him in straight sets in their previous match. Nadal strutted in the final set again Djokovic as if the five-hour tug-of-war didn't mean a thing to him. Nadal had fought hard. He was quick, deadly and menacing. His midair celebrations and clenched fist could have unnerved any other opponent. Whenever he finds himself down, Nadal waits for a toehold to worm his way back into the contest. He got one in the fourth set when Djokovic failed to convert on a string of breakpoints. This pepped Nadal up. Down 2-1, he fought back even though the second and the third sets had been one-sided. He found his rhythm. His serve got sharper. He attacked Djokovic's forehand. Momentum followed Nadal into the deciding set, like a dog following his master. Djokovic's belaboured body language suggested he was having a mental meltdown. Nadal broke the Serb and went up 4-2. All he needed to do was hold his serve for a 5-2 lead. Self-belief, a weapon Nadal didn't have… But Djokovic's self-belief broke through once again. He refused to be intimidated by long rallies—Nadal's bread and butter. Djokovic outhit his opponent. He went for winners only when he was sure he had constructed the point well. Djokovic is no stranger to Nadal's love of condemning his opponents to relentless rallies. He's beaten Nadal with his singular ability to hit punishing returns during those rallies and a far superior serve and backhand. As long as Djokovic can maintain these elements of play--returns, serves, and backhands--he doesn't mind losing a few points or a break here and there. He plays on without losing confidence. One thing is sure: Djokovic looked drained when he was broken in the decider, but not beaten. Moments like that test the character of one's mental strength. You live from shot to shot, moment to moment. The game has built you to react that way. If you fail to catch up to the tension and find a way turn it into your favour, a fighter like Nadal will tame you into submission in no time. Djokovic knew this and it helped him subdue the last robust burst of energy from Nadal and slam the door shut. He is now living the moment, savoring it, elevated by it. All's not lost for Nadal The ghost of Djokovic has likely pitched a tent in every crevice of Nadal's mind. He can't let it sulk there for long or else the same turmoil will unfold each time he faces his resourceful adversary. There is hopelessness, but there is also, just as irrefutably, succour. In this defeat, Nadal came closer to winning than he had in recent memory by using every trick in his kit. Djokovic knew his weak points had been exposed when Nadal began refusing to play to his backhand and denied him down-the-line winners in the second half of the fourth set. In the future, Djokovic's team will know how to devise counterpunches and help him keep riding the wave. That's why this rivalry will get more engrossing than ever before. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.com It rained confetti at the trophy presentation for the 100th Australian Open. Rafael Nadal stood next to Novak Djokovic. He faced floodlights of despair, looking lost but still holding on gracefully. Underneath his grace was the look of a stranger in a strange land.
Serena Williams: Is the Tennis Star Courting Fellow Player Grigor Dimitrov?
Holy guacamole, you guys—Serena Williams was spotted having lunch and walking around the streets of Paris with fellow tennis player Grigor Dimitrov! How exciting! Here's the "inside scoop" from the New York Post's Page Six: The former women's No. 1 was spotted out in Paris on Monday with Bulgarian tennis pro Grigor Dimitrov. A spy tells us the pair had lunch at hip restaurant L'Avenue, and then left together for a romantic stroll on the streets of Paris, where Williams has an apartment. They were also spotted visiting the Eiffel Tower. Despite the age gap — Dimitrov is 20 and Williams 30 — the spy said, "They were laughing and seemed to really enjoy each other's company. It looked like a first date." What makes a stroll a romantic stroll? Was Serena flipping her hair around and giggling flirtatiously at Dimitrov's jokes? Was Dimitrov guiding Serena through doors by gently resting his hand on the small of her back? And I love how seriously The Post writes these stories. They don't have sources, they have spies. Imagine if this was as big a deal as they make it sound in this article. I'm trying to imagine how Anderson Cooper might report this on CNN: "Hold on, I'm receiving word that Serena and Dimitrov were overheard talking about their favorite colors, and each said they loved blue. Wow, if that's the case, these two are really hitting it off." Suddenly the camera cuts to Wolf Blitzer at that interactive screen thing they use, and he starts pointing out which states are said to favor the two dating, and which aren't that fond of the situation. Let's flip channels over to Jon Stewart at The Daily Show, who starts reading this news before literally exploding into a giant ball of fire that consumes the entire set. And I'm spent. Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets are chicken soup for the Internet soul. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.com
Novak Djokovic: How Much Longer Before We Consider Him One of the Best Ever?
Novak Djokovic has proved that he has what it takes to beat the Spanish champion and his long-time Swiss rival, so is it time that we can throw him into the discussion of the greatest players the game has ever seen? Sorry, Djoker fans; it's still much too early for that. However, that doesn't mean it's not something likely for the future. Novak's name is already set to go down in history because of his accomplishments in 2011, which can definitely be ranked as one of the best individual seasons in tennis history. With a staggering record of 70-6, including six victories over Nadal and three Grand Slam titles, his year won't be one that is soon forgotten. Having said that, I don't think it would be sensible to call him one of the greatest players of all time until he builds a strong career, rather than just one phenomenal season. A few specific accomplishments would speed the process up and put him in a class with the greats. For one thing, if he continues to exhibit more 2011-style domination in the coming years, he will at the very least be defining the early 2010s as the Djokovic era. That would have to consist of no less than two Grand Slam titles per year for the next three or four seasons. A title in the 2012 French Open would also boost his status as a potential legend. Not only would a victory at Roland Garros clinch the career Grand Slam for the Serb; it would also be the completion of what is already being termed a Djoker Slam (four consecutive slams), a feat that is just one small step below the Calendar Slam. Finally, there is little to be said in denial of the fact that winning the coveted Calendar Slam would instantly place Djokovic in the ring with the legends. With the rarity of this accomplishment, and the competition that he is currently facing, a 2012 Calendar Slam would be right up there as one of the best achievements in sports history. Without a doubt, calling Novak Djokovic one of the all-time greats at this point would be premature. With the way he's been playing, though, it is definitely possible that he will earn his place among the legends in just a few short years. Only time will tell whether or not the Serb proves himself as a prominent figure in tennis history. Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.comIn the past several years, the world of tennis has seen an era that featured two of the all-time greats, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, at the top. It's quite different now, though, as a new man has taken the throne.
Australian Open 2012 Proves That Equal Pay Must Mean Equal Play
This is not just another one of those articles written by another one of those chauvinist guys who thinks that if women aren't running around in tight skirts and grunting in every point, then they don't deserve equality. Trust me, that's not where I'm coming from and that's not at all what I'm trying to say. What I am trying to say, however, is that the 2012 Australian Open proves once again that equal pay must mean equal playing time. Is Victoria Azarenka to blame for the fact that her final was finished faster than one of the sets in the Djokovic-Nadal final? Not in the slightest. But she shouldn't be allowed to benefit from it either. Novak Djokovic played a total of 26 sets in the Australian Open. On average his sets went for 48.1 minutes, and he racked up more than 20 hours of playing time during the tournament—over double the playing time than that of his female counterpart. Throughout the tournament, Azarenka played a total of 16 sets, and chalked up 634 minutes on court; averaging 39.6 minutes per set. But putting this in context—Azarenka's entire tournament was shorted than Novak Djokovic's semi-final match against Andy Murray and his final against Rafael Nadal. Now of course we all know that the Djokovic-Nadal final was well-publicized as being the longest final in history—going for just under six hours of play. However, when you compare that to the women's final where Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova in just under an hour and a half. the gap seems a little more evident. I understand that neither Djokovic or Azarenka deserves to be penalized for the strength (or lack of strength) of opposition they are up against. Yet at the end of the day, in the age of equality, men and women should be on an equal playing field in all aspects of life—including the tennis court. Think about it. If Azarenka is that dominant over Sharapova, chances are she would take her in a third set if they had to reach three, and not two, to win. We're not asking her to play five sets every time she plays, and we're not asking women's bodies to be able to be as strong and as fit as that of men—science proves that it's not always possible. It's simply the truth that equal pay—receiving the same winning cheque for playing significantly less minutes over the span of the tournament—doesn't sound right. Will it ever be changed? Maybe not, but I'm sure that's what people said about women's rights in the first place. The world has come such a significant way that it seems only fair that for men and women to compete on the same stage, with the same factors at hand, they should have to achieve the same goal to receive the same prize. Equal pay must mean equal play. It's not sexist, and it's not bigotry—it's just common sense prevailing in an age-old debate. Read more articles by Dan here or follow him on Twitter: @dantalintyre Read more Tennis news on BleacherReport.comI am not being sexist—I promise.
Is the No.1 Status on WTA Tour Really Worth the Hype?
Victoria Azarenka became No.1 after winning the Australian Open crown. Any of the semifinalists could have become the top-ranked player if they had managed to do the feat that Azarenka managed. Alex on B/R had an interesting comment on my earlier post about Azarenka's reign as the No.1. I looked up the number of active players who have been ranked No.1. Surprisingly, the number of women in this short list is quite high—eight in fact. This probably has never happened earlier with so many top-ranked women. Is the No.1 position then worth the hype? Has it become just another number that any player can aim to achieve? Though the men's tour is much more competitive—any player in the Top 100 has the capability to beat the top players—the No.1 ranking has changed hands between only three players in the last eight years (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic). Let us look at the eight women who have been No.1 already.
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