Hey guys, wait for me!
If we weren’t so busy here at VANtage Point HQ's stuffing our faces with Easter candy, maybe we would’ve realized the big Monte Carlo event started yesterday. Plus, there was a little bit of a pity party since VP pick Jeremy Chardy didn’t win Houston, which was more reason to eat candy. But Lleyton Hewitt won, so the candy eating was more celebratory. And Juan Carlos Ferrero, an old VANtage Point fave, won over in Casablanca, which called for more (wait for it): candy eating!
So now that all the chocolate has been properly disposed of, it’s time to knock the wrappers and Easter grass off the computer and get to the Point!
A Look Back: Well, at least I got it right on Evgeny Korolev getting to the semis! As mentioned above Chardy didn’t win the U.S. Clay Court Championships, but Hewitt did, a great result for someone months removed from hip surgery. As called here, though, last year’s finalists Marcel Granollers and James Blake both lost early. The tournament got decimated with no seeds making the quarterfinals. Anyway, congrats again to Lleyton for coming through.
This Week’s Spotlight: Even though it didn’t wait for the official VANtage Point send-off, you can’t help but look at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 stop in Monte Carlo this week, the first big clay-court tournament of the year, or as I like to refer to it, “The House of Rafa.” Rafael Nadal has won four titles in a row here, so it’s kind of safe to say he owns the joint. All of his top 10 compadres except Andy Roddick are here to challenge him. Roger Federer almost didn’t make it, but accepted a wild card to lead the contenders.
Players to Watch: I think we all know Rafa’s going to do well here, but he’s definitely one to watch just for pure entertainment’s sake. You want to know who I’m really interested in catching out here, though, and for the rest of the clay-court stretch? Andy Murray. I know he’s been one of the dominant players so far this year. I just want to see how his improved game translates to clay. I think Marin Cilic will get him here in the round of 16. A player I’m kind of high on this year, Tommy Robredo, could have a good run and I think he’ll push Federer in the quarterfinals. For old-school entertainment, check the first-round match between Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin.
The Final Four: I’m going with Nadal over Cilic and Fernando Verdasco (who has a pretty tough quarter to get through) over Federer.
And the Winner Is…: I said last week I was going to pick Nadal for every clay-court tournament he enters, right? Well, that starts here! Just kidding, I won’t pick him every time, but I do see him adding to the Monte Carlo title haul.
Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?
(image via getty)
Monday, April 13, 2009
VANtage Point: Houston hangover, moving on to Monte Carlo
WEEKEND WINNERS: JJ, Wozzi, Lleyton, JC
JJ finally earned her first title of the season and 10th of her career after defeating Carlos Suarez Navarro 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the inaugural Marbella tourney. The former top lady baller had lost her opening round matches at Indian Wells + Miami and struggled through her matches at the Andalucia Tennis Experience but still managed to grab the title.
It seems the clay-court is where JJ can get her confidence as was the case in 2006 when she lost 10-straight matches before making the quarterfinals in Rome. I'd say her season has just begun. But question: is that trophy melting?
The Danish teenager also grabbed her first title of the season and fourth of her career by crushing Canada's Aleksandra Wozniack 6-1, 6-2 at the former Amelia Island tourney. And Wozzi gets a glass jar. WTF is up with these trophies?
The Aussie hothead defeated American Wayne Odesnik 6-2, 7-5 to win his first title in two years and first clay-court championship in ten years. After undergoing hip surgery last season, I thought he'd struggle to even win matches never mind the entire tourney so this is a good sign. Granted, Lleyton didn't face any of the big boys but winning is winning and can only help his confidence. Plus, he gets a real trophy unlike some others we won't mention.
In another surprise, JC won his first title since October 2003 when he defeated Florent Serra 6-4, 7-5 in Casablanca. It was his first trip back to the tourney since his debut as a 19-year old and he made it a good one. Okay JC - can we stop the retirement talk now? Nice trophy too, BTW. Ah, I see - I guess the boys get the good ones while the ladies get screwed. Sweet.
(images via WTA, ATP, andalucia tennis experience, getty)
Monday, April 6, 2009
VANtage Point: Miami flashback, honing in on Houston
Now that the hard part’s over … it’s on to the clay-court season!
Yes, VANtage Point is back and ready for some slip-sliding action on the dirt as both tours start one of the most difficult and physically draining stretches of the year. I figure it won’t be so hard for me, though: Whenever Rafael Nadal’s playing in a tournament, I should pick him for the title. That way, I can get my numbers up! Pretty easy, right?
Anyway, after a week off, let’s knock the dust off VP and get to it.
A Look Back: That was some Sony Ericsson Open, wasn’t it? I think the most impressive feat had to be Victoria Azarenka taking the title over my pick, Serena Williams. Over at my blog, Tennis Talk, Anyone?, my Slam predictions are riddled with Azarenka picks, but she has never come through for me. I guess I should stick with her now!
For the men, I think one word best sums it up: WOW. What can you say about Andy Murray? Is there any doubt he’s the best fast-court player on tour right now? I think he’ll get tripped up a little on the clay, but that’s a discussion for another day. He took out Novak Djokovic in the finals, who made some of the biggest noise in the tournament by beating Roger Federer. Or was that big noise Roger’s racquet being shattered? I can’t believe Fed is saying he’s happy to get off the hard courts: That’s a very bad sign. It wasn’t that bad an event for VANtage Point, either, with six of the eight total semifinalists between both draws picked. But I gotta start getting it right on some champs!
This Week’s Spotlight: Hmmm, where to start? Well, there’s a WTA event in Spain that has Serena Williams as the top seed, but I’m expecting her to drop out any second now and the rest of the draw doesn’t intrigue me. So I’m going with my traditionalist’s side and taking a look at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, one of the oldest stops on the tour. The top seeds are James Blake and Mardy Fish, who won the title in 2006.
Players to Watch: Catch him while you can because I think last-year’s runner-up Blake is going out in the first round to Guillermo “Slick Willy” Canas. There’s three wild cards in the draw whose prospects I’m intrigued by: comeback kid Taylor Dent, John Isner and Tommy Haas. I like Haas to make a good run here. As for the defending champ, Marcel Granollers, I can see him going out early, too. A player I think you should really watch out for, here and during the dirt season, is Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.
The Final Fours: Since I just mentioned him, I’m going with Chardy over Evgeny Korolev and Jurgen Melzer over Tommy Haas.
And the Winner Is: Chardy takes out Haas in a shotmaking fan’s dream. This is my week, I can feel it!
Van Sias writes the blog Tennis Talk, Anyone?
(image via getty)
