Weekend Tennis Roundup

Rafael Nadal claimed a record 10th Monte Carlo Masters title as he geared up for the French Open with a 6-1 6-3 victory against fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos on Sunday. But the real news was that World No. 1 and 2 Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic still haven't found their form going into summer Slam season. Novak was edged out by David Goffin, while Murray lost in two close sets to Gilles Müller, leaving many fans wondering what's going on with them both. Although Nadal still has his fragile moments -- did you see him against Kyle Edmund? -- it's starting to look like the Spaniard has a real shot at a 10th trophy at Roland Garros.

ICYMI: Dominic Thiem fell to nemesis Goffin, but not before his ass got Justin Gimelstob all WORKED UP.

Grin and bear it, Fed Cup style

Meanwhile, the women's Fed Cup was completely overshadowed by Ilie Nastase -- seriously! -- who was inexplicably chosen to coach the Romanian team. (I suppose if Jim Pierce hadn't just died he'd have been coaching, too?) In addition to being suspended from all International Tennis Federation events for verbally abusing opposing team members (he called Johanna Konta and Anne Keothavong "f**king bitches) and the umpire (to whom he screamed, "It's not the opera, what's your f****** problem?"), he also made British captain Anne Keothavong feel "uncomfortable" by leering at her and asking her for her hotel room number. (She's pregnant and he's married, so it was PERFECT!) But there's more. He also is under investigation by the ITF for commenting about Serena Williams' baby, saying: "Let's see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?"

And speaking of Serena's pregnancy: The real winner from that news is of course Maria Sharapova, whose agent continues to mouth off in the same way once-contrite Maria has since people started to criticize the WTA for giving her wild cards back into tournaments, including this week's in Stuttgart.

"All those 'journeyman' players like Radwanska and Wozniacki who have never won a slam and the next generation passing them. They are smart to try to keep Maria out of Paris," Eisenbud told New York Times tennis writer Ben Rothenberg. "NO Serena [Williams - pregnant], NO Maria, NO Vika [Victoria Azarenka - set to return in July after having a baby], NO Petra [Kvitova], it's their last chance to win a slam." 

As my mother would say: "You don't sound like you're sorry."

UPDATE:

Serena Williams responds to the Nastase controversy.