Showing posts with label italian open. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian open. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Roman Holiday


The Italian Open sure is shaping up nicely. Although Carlos Alcaraz was upset by Fabian Marozsan, the young Hungarian did prove he wasn't a complete fluke, having beaten four other players before losing to Borna Coric in three tight sets today. And dreamy Yannick Hanfmann shocked Andrey Rublev to reach the quarters, following up on his win over Taylor Fritz last week. (Now if only Musetti had beaten Stefanos.) Am eager to see who comes out on top here: Of note: Alexander Medvedev's career seems to be kaput if he can't even challenge Medvedev on clay.


Who wins?

Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 9:17 PM 0 comments

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Monday, September 21, 2020

Weekend Tennis Diary

 

Novak Djokovic won 12 of the last 14 points of the match, beating Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 to win the Italian Open for the fifth time. It's his 81st singles title, 36th Masters 1000 title (a record) and fifth title of the year.


Earlier, Simona Halep won her first Rome crown after Karolina Pliskova -- the Czech Madison Keys -- retired injured in the second set. The final score: 6-0, 2-1.


Simona tweeted: I always dreamed of holding this trophy. Thank you to the tournament @InteBNLdItalia for a fantastic week and also big thanks to my team. I love you Roma! 


Was cute to hear Diego give a shout-out to fellow Argentine Ulises Badio, Novak's physio since 2017. You may recall Uli gave Nole a quarantine haircut not long ago.


I must say, Mikhail Youzhny was looking fit (and bloodless) scouting matching for protégé Denis Shapovalov


Germany's Dominik Koepfer and his hot body had a great run to the quarters, even taking a set off Novak


Vasek Pospisil and coach Frank Dancevic gratuitously showed off their fish




Christian Harrison was in fine form qualifying for the Challenger in Italy before losing to Cameron Norrie


Patient Zero caused a stink in Rome by barely trying


Johnny Millman: Was it a hotness test?


Marco Cecchinato's curly locks caught my crotch's attention


Jan-Mike's view of the world


See those eyes


Was Karen shamed into getting a haircut?!


Mirko Martinez enjoyed practicing with countryman Stan Wawrinka, who looked wobbly in his loss to 18-year-old Lorenzo Musetti


Matteo's got flex appeal, but fell was in for a Ruud awakening


Filip and Novak in Rome


Borna's new watch


The Croatian cutie enjoyed some time at home


Karen expressions in emojis


Flex for fantasy


A Paris: Tommy Robredo


Let's hope Andrea Vavassori is giving Andreas Seppi some "relief" from fatherhood


Birthday boy Franko Skugor


Name that player



J.J. Wolf and Marcos Giron are accepting applications


Carlos Taberner captured the Concord Iasi Open Challenger, his maiden title




This Denis Shapovalov/ Corentin Moutet pairing is an actual thing


Sexy Corentin Moutet and his embarrassing rap career go on


17-year-old Holger Rune won the ITF event in Switzerland, his first pro title


Michael Venus for the win!

Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 3:28 PM 3 comments

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Monday, May 20, 2019

Weekend Tennis Roundup


As I suspected slash feared, Rafael Nadal finally found his game in the final tune-up to the French Open, essentially demolishing Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-1 -- if you don't count a momentary hiccup where Nole was able to get in his head long enough to eek out the second set, 6-4. 


Nadal is older now and coming back from yet another injury. But unlike 2015, his belief is still there. So even after losses to Tsitsipas, Thiemi and Fognini, it felt like it was just a matter of time before he returned to top form -- and did he ever. Comme d'habitude, he's the clear favorite going into Roland Garros. 


The women's side saw more instability. Terminally injured Karolina Pliskova won her second title of the season beating terminally injured Johanna Konta 6-3, 6-4. They're both power players, so neither is known for her claycourt game -- yet here we are. 


Doubt either will be much a a threat in Paris. 



But with Osaka, Halep, Serena, Muguruza, Sabalenka, Keys and so on all either injured or flaking out, it's anyone's guess who will rise to the occasion. (Kiki Bertens, god forbid?) 


Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah rallied to defend their doubles crown in Rome. 


The Colombians were down 2/7 in the match tiebreak during their quarter-final against Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan, but saved four match points to reach the semifinals. On Saturday evening, the longtime pairing lost the first set 6-2 after only 29 minutes against top seeds Lukasz Kubot/Marcelo Melo, yet recovered to prevail in another Match Tie-break. On Sunday, however, Cabal/Farah skipped the heroics, beating Raven Klaasen/Michael Venus 6-1, 6-3 in only 59 minutes.


I'm sure it wasn't the outcome the HOT DADDY was hoping for. But a nice start to his comeback.


As as you probably heard, Wimbledon royalty -- past and present -- turned out for he unveiling of the new Court 1, complete with retractable roof. 



One need only watch this point to remember why Martina Navratilova is the undisputed Queen of Grass.



What a great turnout: In addition to Martina, five-time champ Venus Williams, Pat Cash, Jamie Murray, Kim Clijsters, Goran Ivanisevic, Lleyton Hewitt and Jamie Murray helped celebrate the rollout. Would have loved to have attended!



Watch Venus give it to Johnny Mac!

P.S.


Did anyone else noticed this going on inside Novak's box?



And congrats to Filip Krajinovic, who picked up his 10th Challenger title in Heilbronn, Germany.

(With wire services)

Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 1:39 PM 0 comments

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Monday, May 21, 2018

Weekend Tennis Roundup


A year after Alexander Zverev announced his arrival in the big time by crushing Novak Djokovic to win the Italian Open, the young German held his own but not his crown as Rafael Nadal used a rain delay to regain momentum Sunday, winning his eighth title on the Foro Italico's Campo Centrale, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in two hours and nine minutes. If someone were to beat Rafa in Paris it would rank as one of the biggest upsets of all time.


Meanwhile, Simona Halep made a further mockery of the women's game, losing 6-0, 6-4 in the final to Elina Svitolina. Halep has just ONE title to her name -- and it's a rinky-dink 250! -- yet still retains the No. 1 ranking. Damian quickly reminded me of when the world was beside itself that Dinara Safina was No. 1 without winning a major -- only she had captured Rome and Madrid (both premier mandatory events) as well as a hardcourt title in Slovenia, and made the final in Melbourne and Paris as we;; as the semis at Wimbledon. (Her third-round loss at the U.S. Open was to Petra Kvitova!) I guess like many things in life, the bar has been moved so low that this now seems brilliant in retrospect. Perhaps the most noteworthy thing from the women's side is that Maria Sharapova finally had a pretty good tournament. 


In the eye candy department: Robert Farah and Juan "Can Pass for Hot With a Hat On" Cabal claimed their first Masters 1000 title in Rome, with a 3-6, 6-4, 10-4 win over Pablo Carreno Busta and João Sousa.


(Anything to keep Farah in the news!) 


This was one of the week's funnier moments ...

Posted by Kenneth M. Walsh at 1:44 PM 1 comments

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