Wickmayer, Malisse Attack WADA

This could be fun.

Suspended Belgian tennis players Yanina Wickmayer and Xavier Malisse are launching appeals with European authorities challenging the legality of the whereabouts rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Victory at the European Commission in Brussels and the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights could force WADA to change its rules on when and where athletes can be tested out of competition.

“The indispensable fight against doping is not the issue here. The problem is the lack of proportionality of certain measures,” their lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Read the rest...

Histrionics And Disappearing Acts

Getty

I'm usually thoroughly entertained when watching a final between two players I don't like. For a set and a half today, such was the case. The ascendant player was opening the court with viciously angled forehands and striking winners from everywhere with an illusionist's disguise, a marksman's precision. The player fighting from behind was extending rallies with incredible retrieving and every once in a while stinging his opponent with his own power.

But then Novak Djokovic started the first of his recurring disappearing acts after leading 3-0 in the second set and Gael Monfils started his patented histrionics to get the crowd all revved up and in his opponent's face.

Disappearing acts aren't entertaining and histrionics isn't tennis. When will these two grating personalities figure that out?

When a final-set breaker ends on a double fault from the player who was beating his heart to prove he has one, and the eventual champion follows suit after victory and goes all cave man and shit, I wasn't sure any longer that a tennis match had just unfolded.

More like an experimental piece of performance art between two actors exploring the nuances of fear and false bravado.

Glad it's over.

Good for Djoke for pulling out another victory before a hostile crowd. For finally winning a Masters shield in 2009. For beating the world No.'s 1 & 2 in successive weeks. For closing out a long season as the best best-of-three player on the ATP.

Bercy Final Open Thread

Getty

French Gael Monfils returns to Serbian Novak Djokovic, during their Paris Masters ATP tournament final tennis match on November 15, 2009 at the 'Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy' in Paris.

::

The first big title of 2009 for the world No. 3 or another Bercy title for a native son playing his first Masters final?


Reuters

Rama Yade French Junior Minister for Youth and Sports attends the final of the Paris Masters tennis tournament between Gael Monfils of France and Novak Djokovic of Serbia November 15, 2009.

Face Of The Day

Getty

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on prior to his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during the ATP Masters Series at the Palais Omnisports De Paris-Bercy on November 14, 2009 in Paris, France.

::

Singles - Semifinals
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d [2] R Nadal (ESP) 62 63
[15] G Monfils (FRA) d [13] R Stepanek (CZE) 64 57 64

Doubles - Semifinals
[1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [8] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) 67(2) 64 10-2
M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d [7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) 64 62

::

Two finals in as many weeks when I don't care who wins.

I'm going to enjoy it once more.

Face Of The Day

Getty

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reacts during his quarter final tennis match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the ATP Paris Indoor Master tournament, on November 13, 2009 at the Palais-Omnisport-Paris-Bercy in Paris.

::

Singles - Quarterfinals
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [8] J Tsonga (FRA) 75 75
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d [9] R Soderling (SWE) 64 16 63
[13] R Stepanek (CZE) d [5] J.M. del Potro (ARG) 40 ret. (abdominal strain)
[15] G Monfils (FRA) d [12] M Cilic (CRO) 36 64 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d C Kas (GER) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) 63 76(3)
[7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d [2] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) 64 76(7)
M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) 63 67(3) 10-7

::

Rafa's defeat of Tsonga ensured that Fernando Verdasco has qualified for the final eight in London.

Three out of four isn't bad.

Bercy Drive-By Preview

Reuters

Djoke over Söderling in straights
Jo-Wilfried over Rafa in straights*
Monfils over Cilic in 3
Stepanek over JMDP in 3

Would serve me right if I got all four predictions wrong, but the losers will have to get out of their own ways to end up on the side of victory.

*Tsonga withdrew from doubles citing a wrist injury, so....

::

Singles - Third Round
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [14] T Robredo (ESP) 63 36 75
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d [Q] A Clement (FRA) 62 62
[13] R Stepanek (CZE) d [4] A Murray (GBR) 16 63 64
[5] J Del Potro (ARG) d [10] F Gonzalez (CHI) 67(6) 76(6) ret. (leg) - saved 7 M.P.
[9] R Soderling (SWE) d [6] N Davydenko (RUS) 63 36 64
[12] M Cilic (CRO) d [7] F Verdasco (ESP) 36 63 64
[8] J Tsonga (FRA) d [11] G Simon (FRA) 62 63
[15] G Monfils (FRA) d J Benneteau (FRA) 64 63

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[8] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) d J Kerr (AUS) / T Parrott (USA) 62 64

Doubles - Second Round
[1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d [WC] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) 63 64
[2] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d J Benneteau (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) w/o (Tsonga - wrist)
C Kas (GER) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) d [6] J Knowle (AUT) / A Ram (ISR) 75 64

::

Hard to say who's playing the best tennis. It's a toss up between Stepanek, Djoke, Monfils, and Tsonga at this point. This point. Would make for interesting semifinals as well. But Rafa is still hanging on, lucky his Spanish opponents couldn't close him out. Is he about to turn a corner? If Tsonga is injured, he could get out of jail free once again.

Faces Of The Day

Reuters

Julien Benneteau of France reacts after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Paris Masters tennis tournament November 11, 2009.

::

Another day, another outstanding performance by a native son.

First time I saw Julien Benneteau strike a ball was back in 2004. He was beating the crap out of eventual runner-up Guillermo Coria in the third set of their round of 16 at Miami. He had all the shots and was using them viciously.

And then he choked.

Since then he hasn't done anything significant except upset a top player at this or that event. But he's got the weaponry and if he's inspired, he's more than dangerous.

Today was Roger Federer's turn to feel the sting of the French underachiever. And the world No. 1 didn't play poorly. He seemed a bit shell shocked with a tendency toward tentative, but he wasn't flailing like he does when's he's completely disinterested or befuddled.

He wanted to win this match.

But Bennetau let the crowd lift him over the finish line, just as his compatriot the day before. He served brilliantly, retrieved like a backboard, and outsmarted Raja when it mattered most. He wept after victory. Sat down in his chair, cradled his face in his hands.

And wept.

::

I'm still trying to decide if the all-Spanish affair that took more than three hours to complete was the worst match I've seen on the ATP in 2009.

Rafal Nadal played like an amateur. Nicolas Almagro choked like a headcase:

Five. Match. Points.

I don't think I've seen anything like it.

::

Reuters

Marat Safin of Russia reacts during his match against Juan Martín Del Potro of Argentina in the Paris Masters tennis tournament November 11, 2009.

::

The Mercurial One bid tennis farewell. The newly crowned US Open champion ended his idol's career.

Poetry.

::

Singles - Second Round
J Benneteau (FRA) d [1] R Federer (SUI) 36 76(4) 64
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d N Almagro (ESP) 36 76(2) 75 - Saved 5 M.P.
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d J Monaco (ARG) 63 75
[4] A Murray (GBR) d J Blake (USA) 62 67(3) 76(4)
[5] J Del Potro (ARG) d [WC] M Safin (RUS) 64 57 64
[9] R Soderling (SWE) d I Karlovic (CRO) 64 76(6)
[10] F Gonzalez (CHI) d J Isner (USA) 75 76(3)
[12] M Cilic (CRO) d [Q] L Kubot (POL) 67(3) 64 62
[13] R Stepanek (CZE) d V Troicki (SRB) 64 60
[14] T Robredo (ESP) d T Berdych (CZE) 64 64
[15] G Monfils (FRA) d [Q] D Guez (FRA) 64 75
[Q] A Clement (FRA) d [16] T Haas (GER) 57 63 76(8) - Saved 1 M.P.

Doubles - Second Round
S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) d [3] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) 64 67(6) 10-7
[8] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) d B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) 63 64
J Kerr (AUS) / T Parrott (USA) d [4] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) 67(5) 64 10-5
M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d [5] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) 64 75
[7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) 64 76(5)

Paging Freud

"You know what they say about a man with big feet, don't you?"

"Big shoes?"

"He'll never fall down." Pause. "What are you, about seven-and-a-half max?"

Silence.

::

No, that wasn't an exchange between two men in a bar. That was tennis commentary from Jason Goodall (who posed the first question) and Robbie Koenig during the Andy Murray - James Blake bore.

Seriously.

It came right on the heels of discussing Max Mirnyi's new baby.

Face Of The Day

Getty

Juan Monaco of Argentina gestures during to a match against Jeremy Chardy of France during the ATP Paris Masters tennis tournament on November 10, 2009.

::

Singles - Second Round
[6] N Davydenko (RUS) d B Becker (GER) 62 61
[7] F Verdasco (ESP) d A Seppi (ITA) 67(3) 64 64
[8] J Tsonga (FRA) d A Montanes (ESP) 61 75
[11] G Simon (FRA) d I Ljubicic (CRO) 63 36 76(4)

Singles - First Round
N Almagro (ESP) d M Chiudinelli (SUI) 62 64
[Q] D Guez (FRA) d S Wawrinka (SUI) 63 64
J Monaco (ARG) d J Chardy (FRA) 76(6) 75
J Benneteau (FRA) d P Petzschner (GER) 46 75 63
[Q] A Clement (FRA) d F Lopez (ESP) 63 61

Doubles - First Round
B Soares (BRA) / K Ullyett (ZIM) d P Cuevas (URU) / O Marach (AUT) 61 76(6)
M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d J Del Potro (ARG) / F Gonzalez (CHI) 76(2) 62
C Kas (GER) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) d J Monaco (ARG) / R Nadal (ESP) 46 75 15-13 - saved 2 M.P
J Kerr (AUS) / T Parrott (USA) d M Damm (CZE) / J Erlich (ISR) 63 64
J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) d [WC] S Grosjean (FRA) / F Santoro (FRA) 63 36 10-5

The roaring crowd lifted him over the finish line.

Say what you will about Gilles Simon but, on one leg, he gutted out a victory over Ivan Ljubicic who, after the battle, couldn't get out of there fast enough.

It's tough losing a tight match in a final-set breaker to a player on one leg. Especially when you actually have a serve.

Despite his frail frame and wisp of weaponry, Simon has gonads.

::

It was shocking to see how Arnaud Clement tore Feliciano Lopez a new hole.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the defending champ, got through, Julien Benneteau outlasted a choking Philipp Petzschner, and David Guez, a homegrown qualifier, upset Stanislas Wawrinka.

Not a bad day for France, Jeremy Chardy the only casualty.

::

Paris Masters Open Thread

Getty

French Sebastien Grosjean jumps to smash a ball against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic during their ATP Paris Indoor Master Tournament tennis match on November 9, 2009 at the Palais Omnisport de Bercy in Paris.

MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER, 2009

Singles - First Round
[Q] L Kubot (POL) d A Beck (GER) 64 36 64
A Seppi (ITA) d P Kohlschreiber (GER) 63 63
V Troicki (SRB) d P Mathieu (FRA) 76(4) 30 ret. (right calf)
J Isner (USA) d [Q] A Falla (COL) 46 76(10) 75 - saved 3 M.P.
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d [Q] T Ascione (FRA) 64 46 76(3) - saved 3 M.P.
I Karlovic (CRO) d P Cuevas (URU) 76(3) 64
A Montanes (ESP) d V Hanescu (ROU) 36 63 76(3)
I Ljubicic (CRO) d [WC] S Grosjean (FRA) 76(2) 64
T Berdych (CZE) d [Q] V Millot (FRA) 63 76(4)

Doubles - First Round
[WC] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d J Levinsky (CZE) / F Polasek (SVK) 36 61 10-4
S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) d J Chardy (FRA) / G Simon (FRA) 64 36 10-7
J Benneteau (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) d J Coetzee (RSA) / M Melo (BRA) 63 64


Getty

French national football team captain Thierry Henry (L) and a team mate attend the Paris Bercy Indoor Masters ATP tennis tournament, on November 9, 2009 in Paris.

::


Getty

French Gunther Low, 'air guitar' world champion, performs before the start of the ATP Paris Indoor Master Tournament first round tennis match, on November 8, 2009.

::

Even though it's way late on the ATP calendar, this has been one of my favorite tournaments over the years. Fast indoor carpet. (Oops. That was changed to a hard court recently.) Enthusiastic fans. Nightclub/rock concert atmosphere. Some great mini-classics contested over the years.

The Top 4 are entered and, if there are no last-minute withdrawals, all can face some trouble before the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal has drawn defending championg Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarters, but may have to face nemesis Tomas Berdych in the third round. Roger Federer won't be troubled by Fernando Verdasco in the quarters, but he could get all he can handle from Gael Monfils in the third round. Will be interested to see how he recovers from losing his home crown to Novak Djokovic, who could have a challenge from Feliciano Lopez in the third round, before facing Nikolay Davydenko in the quarters. Andy Murray draw the toughest quarter and could cruise or lose at any point before facing Juan Martín del Potro in the quarters.

It should be interesting to see which top players still have the physical and mental drive to stand tall on Sunday, or will a new champion be crowned?

Italy Wins Second Fed Cup

Getty

Team Italy (left Corrado Barazzutti, Francesca Schiavone, Roberta Vinci, Sara Errani, Flavia Pennetta) lift the trophy after the final match of the Fed Cup World Group between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 8, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.

::

Twas a clean sweep.

Sunday Champions

Getty

Novak Djokovic of Serbia kisses the trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the final during Day Seven of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Tennis at St Jakobshalle on November 8, 2009 in Basel, Switzerland.

::

This was the only match I watched. The most interesting part of it was the 23-minute game that closed out the first set. That passage of play encapsulated their entire rivalry and demonstrates why I have a hard time watching these two play each other. It's like Raja can't positively channel his dislike of Djoke and Djoke, it seems, keeps waiting for Fed to do just that and starts falling apart himself.

It's become a rivalry that produces ugly tennis.

Still, to watch Raja dismantled in front of his hometown crowd at an event he's won three years running against a player he really doesn't like and respects even less was quite a spectacle.

Will be interesting to see where they go from here.

Reuters

Andy Murray of Britain poses with the Valencia Open Throphy after defeating Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in the Valencia Open final tennis match in Valencia November 8, 2009.

Fernandez and Farina Receive Fed Cup Award

Mary Joe Fernandez and Silvia Farina Honored with 2009 Fed Cup Award of Excellence


Silvia Farina (Elia)

NEWPORT, R.I., U.S.A., November 7, 2009 - The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) have announced that Mary Joe Fernandez, USA Fed Cup Captain, and Silvia Farina, the player with the most Fed Cup wins in Italy's history, are the recipients of the 2009 Fed Cup Award of Excellence. Presentation of the Fed Cup Award of Excellence will be made on Sunday, November 8 in Reggio Calabria, Italy during the Fed Cup World Group Final presented by BNP Paribas and contested between USA and Italy.

Presenting the award will be ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and Jane Brown Grimes, president emerita of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum.

"Mary Joe and Silvia have played an important role in the history and growth of the Fed Cup, with Mary Joe leading Team USA to their first final in nine years and Silvia posting such tremendous results for Italy over the years," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti. "They have both been active contributors to the Fed Cup and we are honored today to present them with the 2009 Fed Cup Award of Excellence."

The Fed Cup Award of Excellence was inaugurated by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation in 2001. The Fed Cup Award of Excellence is presented to a person who represents the ideals and spirit of the Fed Cup competition and must be a member of a past or present Fed Cup team.

Current Team USA Captain Mary Joe Fernandez was a member of the 1996 winning Fed Cup team. During her career, Fernandez had seven WTA singles victories, 17 doubles titles and was ranked as high as No. #4 in the world. Fernandez captured two Grand Slam doubles victories (1996 French Open with Lindsay Davenport and 1991 Australian Open with Patty Fendick). In addition, she was the runner-up in three Grand Slam singles tournaments. Fernandez has two Olympic gold medals, won in partnership with Gigi Fernández. Fernandez retired in 2000 and is currently a commentator for ESPN.

Italy's Silvia Farina reached a career high world ranking of No. 11 in 2002. She captured three singles victories and 11 doubles victories during her career. In addition, she represented Italy on nine Fed Cup teams and three Olympic teams. Farina has a record 23 Fed Cup victories, more than any other Italian player in Fed Cup history.

Past recipients of the Fed Cup Award of Excellence are Spain's Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez in 2001; Great Britain's Virginia Wade in 2002; Larisa Savchenko of Latvia in 2003; Olga Morozova of Russia in 2004; Françoise "Frankie" Dürr of France in 2005; Sabine Appelmans of Belgium in 2006; Lea Pericoli of Italy in 2007; and Miguel Margets of Spain in 2008.

The 2009 World Group Fed Cup Final presented by BNP Paribas will be contested in Calabria, Italy between USA and Italy on November 7 - 8. The tournament will be streamed live on www.fedcup.tv

Fed Cup Final Open Thread

Getty

USA team during the national anthems at the Final of the Fed Cup World Group between Italy and the USA at Circolo Tennis Rocco Polimeni on November 7, 2009 in Reggio Calabria, Italy.

::

Italy leads USA 1-0. I haven't checked the scores, but that would mean Flavia Pennetta had her way with Alexa Glatch. Melanie Oudin just broke Francesca Schiavone in the fourth game of the second rubber.

Quote For The Day

"It's in the hands of the Grand Slam administrator, who I believe has now completed his investigation and will be making a ruling within the next two weeks. That's what we have been told -- that Serena would hear, we would hear. We really have not gone down that path of making a judgment as to what would be right or wrong at this point. She was defaulted out of the singles and she has apologized sincerely. So we'll just have to see what the Grand Slam administrator comes to the Grand Slam committee chairs with. I think Serena is very anxious to hear." --Lucy Garvin, USTA President