USTA Roland Garros Wildcard race: Current standings

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

One-time leader and people's choice, Wayne Odesnik, now out of contention

Rather than holding a separate tournament, this year the USTA will award its Roland Garros wildcard to the player who accumulates the most points at the Sarasota and Savannah Challenger events.

With his victory in Sarasota, Sam Querrey technically leads the standings but his ranking of 99 on the April 16 cut-off was enough to secure a place in the Paris main draw anyway.

After of the Savannah quarter-finals, three players remain in contention. Here are the current standings: Continue reading →

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2012 Davis Cup: World Group round one preview

Posted on February 10, 2012 by

Davis Cup is back and with it the tedious debates about the competition’s format.

Should it be every second year? Played at a single location a la the football World Cup? Left the hell alone?

Who knows? And right now who even cares? For now just kick back for the weekend and enjoy the action.

Spain v Kazakhstan – Oviedo, Indoor clay Continue reading →

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Rules are made to be broken and other thoughts from quarter-final day one

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Rules are made to be broken

I’ll probably come across as a complete curmudgeon for focussing on the negatives after such an enjoyable match, but Rafael Nadal’s four set victory over Tomas Berdych once again proved what a joke basic rule enforcement in tennis has become.

Both players regularly took over 40 seconds between points yet neither received a single warning. Continue reading →

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Shankwatch Ireland – Week 3

Posted on January 24, 2012 by

Amy Bowtell (© Tennis Ireland)

Wicklow teenager Amy Bowtell started her season in style by reaching the final of the $10k ITF event in Sutton, England.

The unseeded world number 561 faced a higher ranked opponent in every round but fought her way through to a final where she came up short against top seed Richel Hogenkamp (#303) 6-3, 6-2. Continue reading →

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The future is now: Australian Open day five

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Nine days into the Australian Open and I’ve officially succumbed to time-zone induced ADD.

Last night, five set matches were just too much for me. I delved in and out of several and by the time I found one captivating enough to watch in full I was beaten by the clock – retiring to bed at around 10am with Aleksandr Dolgopolov and Bernard Tomic poised at one set all. Continue reading →

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Real deal Ducky and other reflections on day four

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

James Duckworth

Real deal Duckworth?

Several young Australian players have generated a lot of hype in recent years but until this week, James Duckworth hasn’t been one of them.

Maybe he has and I just missed out on it but based on his performances in Melbourne he looks a real prospect. Continue reading →

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Incompetent Kader, demented Dave and breaking with Baggy: Reflections on a crazy day 3

Posted on January 18, 2012 by

Incompetent Kader and Demented Dave

I think I need therapy. As a long-time Davd Nalbandian fan you’d think I’d be used to him blowing matches he has no right to lose but it doesn’t get any easier.

That disgusting officiating played such a significant part in his marathon 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 8-10 defeat John Isner makes it all the more difficult to swallow.

They say a good referee should be invisible but Kader Nouni was anything but with two horrific calls in the space of a minute at 8-8 and deuce in the fifth set. Continue reading →

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Shankwatch Ireland 2012 – Week 2

Posted on January 15, 2012 by

No slam hat-trick for Conor Niland

There wasn’t a whole lot to cheer about for the Irish contingent in week two.

At the Australian Open, Conor Niland failed to make it three slams on the bounce when he lost to Switzerland’s Stephane Bohli in the first round of qualifiers.

The Limerick man broke his opponent in the opening game of their rain-interrupted match but handed the initiative right back before eventually succumbing 6-3 in a marathon 71 minute set. Continue reading →

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“Miracle Matteo” and other thoughts from the Australian Open qualifiers

Posted on January 14, 2012 by

Matteo "Lazarus" Viola

Miracle Matteo

When Matteo Viola trailed Dusan Lajovic 5-0 and 40-0* in the third set of his first round qualifying match in Melbourne, a place in the main draw must have seemed light years away.

With seemingly no way back, he dug out a hold, saving a total of five match points in that game. Continue reading →

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Australian Open 2012: Thoughts on the qualifying draw

Posted on January 10, 2012 by

Retire?

The slumming slam finalists

Eleven years ago, Frenchman Arnaud Clement came back from the dead to beat compatriot Sebastien Grosjean in five sets and reach his lone slam final. He was destroyed by Andre Agassi in straight sets but it remains the biggest result of his career.

Two years later, Rainer Schuettler upset Andy Roddick in the semi-finals to record what was also his only appearance in a major decider. He suffered a similar fate to Clement, getting blown away by an inspired Agassi.

The two veterans have put in a lot of miles since then but both deserve credit for sticking around this long to slum it out in the qualies. Continue reading →

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