JJ and the Giant Umbrella

It’s always something with Jelena. She never does anything quietly, does she?

Filed under: Jankovic, Vids, jelena jankovic, rogers cup, sports, Tennis

This Girl is the Real Deal

There. I said it. Michelle Larcher de Brito is the real deal. I was reluctant before with all the hype surrounding her, but due to her recent play, it’s apparent that she has game. The 15 year-old Portugese phenom reached the third round at Montreal, falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova, but took her to 6-4 in the third. Earlier this month in Carson, Michelle had Serena Williams a set and a break down. She also already has two Top 20 wins, over Agnieszka Radwanska and Flavia Pennetta. If she can just beef up her serve, she’ll a dangerous player. She just needs to tone down the grunts.

Filed under: Larcher de Brito, michelle larcher de brito, rogers cup, sports, Tennis

It’s Time for a Reassessment

I think it’s about time Maria Sharapova reassesses the severity and long term effects of that shoulder injury of hers. It was a dumb decision to even come to Montreal if she knew she was playing “below 50%”. But, going out there and grinding through a three hour match was probably even dumber. In typical Sharapova fighting style, she won the match 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, but she needed the trainer’s assistance twice. Now, she needs to go back to California and do whatever she needs to do to get healthy, even if it means pulling out of the Olympics and the Open. But, do I think she is really going to do it? No. She may pull out of the Olympics, but I highly doubt she won’t be in New York for the U.S. Open. Maria, you really need to grow some foresight and see that if you don’t do something about it now, this could end up being really tragic. I don’t want to see you retiring at 23, I really don’t.

Filed under: Sharapova, injuries, maria sharapova, rogers cup, sports, Tennis

Still Feeling It

Playing in his first match back since his defeat at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the epic Wimbledon final, Roger Federer looked as if he was still feeling it. Fed went down to Indy champion, Gilles Simon, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6. Perhaps even worse than losing the match are the ranking points he is going to lose from this. The defending finalist will lose about 350 points, while No. 2, Nadal, has semifinal points to defend. Roger said after the match that he caught a cold, but is that really the reason? Or could this really be the beginning of the end of Roger Federer? It’s been said a lot since the Aussie Open, but I always thought Fed would get himself together at Wimbledon. Now he’s got one shot left at the U.S. Open. Federer’s performance there will tell us a lot about the future.

Filed under: Federer, gilles simon, roger federer, rogers cup, sports, Tennis

Novak Djokovic Gets It Wrong

In more ways than one. As a celebratory gesture after his win over Frank Dancevic, Novak Djokovic raised one finger into the air. Really, though he should be holding three fingers in the air because last time I checked, he was the third ranked player in the world. It’s the little things, Novak, that make people dislike you. This haughty arrogance just irks most people. And that orange shirt really doesn’t help either.

Filed under: Djokovic, frank dancevic, novak djokovic, rogers cup, sports, Tennis

The Week Ahead

The U.S. Open Series continues during the week of July 21, 2008.

ATP

Rogers Cup. Toronto, Canada. Surface: Hard court. Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic. Champion’s Points: 500 + U.S. Open Series points. Notables: All top 10 players.

WTA

East West Bank Classic. Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. Surface: Hard court. Tier II, $600,000. Defending Champion: Ana Ivanovic. Notables: Jelena Jankovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Serena Williams. Side Note: Jankovic can become #1 if she wins the title here.

Banka Koper Slovenia Open. Portoroz, Slovenia. Surface: Hard court. Tier IV, $145,000. Defending Champion: Tatiana Golovin. Notables: Maria Kirilenko, Caroline Wozniacki.

ON TV:

Rogers Cup: Mon-Thurs Early Rounds 11:00 am Tennis Channel

July 25 1:00 ESPN2, July 26 8:00 ESPN2, July 27 3:00 ESPN2

East West Bank Classic: July 25 3:00 Tennis Channel, July 26 3:30 Tennis Channel, July 27 5:00 ESPN2

Filed under: The Week Ahead, east west bank classic, rogers cup, sports, Tennis