Beijing/Tokyo: Sayonara Dinara.

Yes Dina, I’m a terrible person:
 

 
Cheers erupted on Centre Court in Beijing as Zhang Shuai (not to be confused with Peng Shuai) took out the “Real World No 1″ Dinara Safina 75 76.
Zhang, ranked 226 in the world, has never won a match in the second round of a main draw [...]

Davis Cup Picspam: We got spirit yes we do!

FACT: Homelessness is a huge problem on the ATP tour. 
 

 
The Davis Cup semifinals and World Group play-offs are underway this weekend across 3 continents. What we love about the DC is that it’s filled with manhugs, bromances, and Swiss campfires. It all comes down to having “the spirit”.
What we hate about DC is that no [...]

USO Day 7: Tears and Fears.

REUTERS/Shaun Best
 
As bummed as I am about Venus getting booted out so early in the tournament, I must admit Kim got to me with her sincere reactions to the 6-0 0-6 6-4 victory. 
How can you not want to reserve your seat on the Comeback Train after this? 
 
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
 
Tennis-wise, it wasn’t fantastic until [...]

Montreal Day 4: the Fabulous 8.

For the first time ever, the top 8 of the ATP tour are through to the quarterfinals. Clap clap, well done guys.
 
Federer def Wawrinka 6-3 7-6 (5).
Vintage Federer in the first set, 2009-hard-court Feduruh in the second.
Credit to Stan though for some massive serving towards the business end of the second set – I have no [...]

Montreal Day 3: the importance of being ironic.

 
In a match that was supposed to be all about Rafa’s knees, it was Ferrer who ended up limping off the court at 3-4. Sorry Rafa fans, after two months of thirst, the 7 games that Rafa and Ferrer played probably did nothing to quench your desperation. 
Rafa was understandably rusty, but it’s hard to tell [...]

Washington Tidbits: Hair God Potential.

HOYA! Behold the Ninja-ness of Jo-Willy’s new ‘do. 
And try not to behold the less awesome scoreline of  4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4). First to Karlovic at Wimbledon, and now to Isner in Washington, Tsonga’s not having a terribly good time with the big servers is he? 
It’s forgivable I suppose. You get stuck in a tiebreak with the [...]

Wrap-up Mosaics: the Many Expressions of Nikolay Dadyvenko

1) Here I was thinking that I’d rather sharpen pencils than have a conversation with Nikolay Davydenko, lo and behold, he proves to be mildly theatrical.
Normalcy in my tennis universe is now threatening to crash down on me.
 

 
Here’s the paradox with Koyla. Every time I watch him play, I am oh-so impressed with his dynamic [...]

Weekly Mosaics: Sexbomb Sexbomb. You’re my Sexbomb

Here’s looking at you, Radek Stepanek, in all your mutant sexbomb glory. (Czech def Argentina 3-2)
 

 
Oh yeth, it’s the Davis Cup again. Whose smart idea was it to play Davis Cup the week  after Wimbledon? 3 best of five set tournaments in 7 weeks, talk about an overkill. 
 
Spain def Germany 3-2.
 
Fact # 1: Feliciano Lopez [...]

Manic Monday Tidbits: Andymonium.

1) I had a bizarre moment when I fell asleep during the rain delay in Momo v Dina, woke up early morning in Melbourne and saw that the Murray v Wawrinka match was still going. Whaaaaaaa? 
 
It’s only a matter of time before we screw tradition and bring
in the night matches.  
 
It sounded like a magical match, [...]

Wimbledon Day 6 Tidbits: Time, Truth and Heart.

1) I never cease to marvel at the “orderliness” at Wimbledon. For a tournament of rules and traditions, it has a strange protective effect over the top seeds, it shields them from freak upsets in the first week. It also has the ability to realise pre-tournament predictions, be it an ultimate Federer/Nadal-Roddick showdown, or a [...]