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Quarters for Your Thoughts: 2013 Australian Open Men's Draw Preview

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Will we see this man with this trophy again in two weeks?

Looking for a jumbo preview of the Australian Open men’s draw that breaks down each section of the brackets?  Look no further.  We take one quarter at a time in tracing the route of each leading contender, locating the most intriguing matches, projecting the semifinalists, and identifying one notable player to watch in each section.
First quarter:  Seeking the first men’s three-peat Down Under of the Open era, Djokovic will want to conserve his energy during the first week and probably will.  Although rising American star Ryan Harrison could threaten briefly in the second round, he lacks the experience to test the Serb in a best-of-five format, while potential third-round opponent Stepanek lacks the consistency to do so as his career wanes.  Among the other figures of note in this vicinity are two resurgent Americans in Querrey and Baker, destined to meet in the second round.  The winner may fancy his chances against Wawrinka, more comfortable on clay, and Querrey in particular could bring confidence from his upset of Djokovic in Paris to another clash with the Serb when the second week starts.
The quarter’s lower section features several men who share Wawrinka’s affinity for clay, such as Monaco and Verdasco.  While the Spaniard’s career has sagged over the past year or two, the Argentine enjoyed his best season to date in 2012 as he reached the top ten for the first time.  His reward lies in a  clear route to the second week and an appointment with the enigmatic Berdych.  Always susceptible to ebbs and flows, the world #6 ended last season optimistically with a semifinal at the US Open, where he upset Federer.  But then Berdych started this season miserably by falling in Chennai to an opponent outside the top 50.  He has won just one of his twelve career meetings with Djokovic, although the only victory came in one of their most important matches:  a Wimbledon semifinal.  While Berdych’s route to the quarterfinals looks comfortable, then, only a superb serving performance can shield him from the Serb’s more balanced array of weapons when he arrives there.
Semifinalist:  Djokovic
Player to watch:  Querrey
Second quarter:  The only section without a clear favorite proliferates with question marks but also with talent and intriguing narratives.  In the draw’s most notable first-round match, Hewitt will open his 17th Australian Open campaign against the eighth-seeded Tipsarevic.  A mismatch on paper, this encounter could develop into one of the late-night thrillers that have become a Melbourne tradition, and the home crowd might lift their Aussie to an improbable victory over an opponent less untouchable than those ranked above him.  Other storylines include the apparent emergence of Grigor Dimitrov, previously familiar only for his facsimile of Federer’s playing style but now a Brisbane finalist.  While the Bulgarian never has reached the third round of a major, his recent accomplishments and his desire to impress romantic interest Maria Sharapova might inspire him.  He faces a challenging initial test against Benneteau, who fell just short of his second straight Sydney final.
Awarded his first seed in the main draw of a major, Jerzy Janowicz looks to continue his momentum from last fall when he reached the final at the Paris Masters 1000 tournament.  Unlike Dimitrov, his route through the first round or two looks clear, and projected third-round opponent Almagro does not pose an insurmountable obstacle.  Unless Janowicz improves upon his January efforts so far, however, Almagro can look ahead to the second week and perhaps even a quarterfinal against compatriot Ferrer.  The highest seed in this section, the latter Spaniard will reach the top four after the tournament no matter his result.  His fitness should carry him past erratic opponents like Baghdatis or Youzhny, although the titanic serve of Karlovic has troubled him before and merits watching in their second-round match.  Having recorded multiple victories over Ferrer on marquee stages, Nishikori poses his most convincing pre-quarterfinal threat.  But he has struggled with injury recently and may prove no better able to grind past the Spaniard in the heat than Almagro, who never has defeated him.  If Tipsarevic reaches the quarterfinals, on the other hand, he will aim to reverse the outcome of their US Open quarterfinal last year, which he lost to Ferrer in a fifth-set tiebreak.
Semifinalist:  Ferrer
Player to watch:  Dimitrov
Third quarter:  Never has a man won his second major immediately after winning his first.  Never, however, in the Open era had a British man won any major at all, so this bit of history should not intimidate the reigning US Open champion.  Murray will start his campaign by reprising an odd encounter with Robin Haase at the 2011 US Open, which he rallied to win in five sets after losing the first two.  The lanky Dutchman behind him, he will face nobody over the next few rounds with the firepower to discomfit him over this extended format.  Throughout his section lie counterpunchers like Simon or Robredo or tactically limited players like Mayer and Stakhovsky.  The two exceptions who could threaten Murray will meet in the first round.  Reviving his career with solid results in Doha and Auckland, Monfils will pit his momentum against fellow showman Dolgopolov in a match likely to showcase plenty of electrifying shot-making.
Perhaps of more interest is the route traced by Del Potro, the most likely title contender outside the top three seeds.  In the second round, the Tower of Tandil could meet surprising Slovakian Aljaz Bedene, who reached the Chennai semifinals to start the year and nearly upset Tipsarevic there.  Owning more than enough weapons to dispatch the passive baseliner Granollers afterwards, Del Potro would open the second week against Marin Cilic.  The Croat developed around the same time as the Argentine and honed a similar playing style to complement his similar physique.  But Cilic has disappointed those who anointed him a future major champion and top-10 fixture, appearing to content himself with a lesser level of accomplishment.  He must brace himself for an opening battle against home hope Marinko Matosevic, who took him to five sets in New York last fall.  If Del Potro can reverse his 2009 loss to Cilic in that projected fourth-round encounter, he also must halt his winless hard-court record against Murray.  The task does not loom as large as it might appear, for he has won sets in all four of those matches.
Semifinalist:  Murray
Player to watch:  Del Potro
Fourth quarter:  What a pity that leading Aussie hope Bernard Tomic can play only two rounds before descending into the maw of the GOAT, as he did in the fourth round here last year.  All the same, Tomic will have the opportunity to knock off a seeded opponent in Martin Klizan while praying for a miracle from Federer’s second-round opponent, Nikolay Davydenko.  (Those who saw their match at the 2010 Australian Open will remember how impressive the Russian looked against the Swiss—for a set and a half, after which he utterly collapsed.)  Perhaps more formidable than the momentum of Tomic is the mighty serve of Milos Raonic, which nearly toppled Federer three times last year.  In each of their matches, Federer managed to win the crucial handful of points late in final sets, but can he continue to escape so narrowly?  The younger man cannot look too far ahead too soon, however, for a second-round match against Lukas Rosol lurks, and everyone knows what Rosol has done in the second round of majors.
Winless against top-eight opponents in 2012, former finalist Tsonga hopes to turn over a new leaf in 2013.  To snap that streak, though, he must survive the early stages of the tournament against dangerous lurkers like Llodra and Bellucci.  Tsonga has struggled at times against compatriots and has a losing career record against Gasquet, his projected fourth-round opponent.  Fresh from his title in Doha, the world #10 never has plowed deep into the Australian draw and may not benefit this time from the weak first-week slates that he received at majors last year.  Eyeing a possible upset is Haas, another artist of the one-handed backhand who has collaborated with Gasquet on memorable matches before.  But the question remains whether any of these men currently can compete with Federer across a best-of-five match, and the answer seems clear.
Semifinalist:  Federer
Player to watch:  Tomic
Final:  Djokovic vs. Murray
Champion:  Novak Djokovic
Come back tomorrow for the women’s preview, designed with the same level of detail!

5 ATP Players Ready To Make an Impact in 2013

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By Evan Valeri

Summer has arrived in Australia and the first ATP tournaments of the year are underway. This means it’s time to start making some hot predictions for the 2013 season. The ATP tour has been dominated by the big four in recent years, Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray. But for 2013, change is in the air. Many young players have infiltrated the top 60 in the world and you can count on the five below to make their mark in 2013.

Milos Raonic

The Canadian youngster, nicknamed “The Missile”, has already made waves with his cannon of a serve and fierce forehand. Not only can he hit serves upwards of 140 mph, he has one of the nastiest kick serves I have seen in years. This is a serious threat on any surface, especially the faster ones. Milos is a good mover and prefers to run around his backhand to hit devastating inside out forehands whenever he gets a chance.
Having won two titles and making two more finals in 2012 proves that Milos is a legitimate threat in 2013. Raonic went 6-6 against the top ten last year, including two wins over Andy Murray. He has a more well-rounded game than other huge servers such as Isner and Karlovic. I expect Milos to make his first Grand Slam quarterfinal this season and finish the year in the top ten.

Jerzy Janowicz

Jerzy Janowicz was an unknown player to most fans until the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Paris. The number one ranked Pole tore through the field all the way to the final, which he lost to David Ferrer in straight sets. Along the way, he beat three top twenty and two top ten players.
The 6 foot 8 inch monster of a 22 year old has a modern game with the tools to be successful at the highest level. He moves well for a big man, reminiscent of a 2009 U.S. Open Del Potro. His serves appear to be shot down from the sky, he can end the point with big flat winners on both ground stroke wings, and he isn’t afraid to follow his big shots into the net with solid volleys. Besides the physical tools, the kid has something hard to teach, heart. Saving a match point against Murray in Paris and coming back to win proves this. Look for Jerzy to break into the top twenty this season with more consistent results.

Martin Klizan

The top ranked player from Slovakia had a great 2012 season, winning his first ATP title in St. Petersburg and finishing ranked inside the top 50 for the first time in his career. Some people will recognize Klizan’s name because of his run to the round of 16 at the U.S Open, where he lost to Cilic. Along the way he took down number six seed Tsonga in four lopsided sets.
Klizan has a big game and when he is on, opponents better look out. Martin can blast forehand winners from anywhere on the court and if he is having a good day, he is capable of beating anyone. If Klizan can tame his heavy southpaw groundstrokes and reduce his unforced errors, look for him to make a run to the quarterfinals of a major and break into the top 20.

Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov

Baby Fed. This kid has been touted for years as the next Roger Federer. He moves gracefully around the court like a gazelle, and has one of the best looking one handed backhands in today’s game. Grigor is also one of the most pure shot-makers around. If you haven’t seen his behind the back, half volley, drop shot winner against Victor Troicki, its worth a look, as it was one of the best shots of the 2012 season.
Dimitrov reminds me of a young Federer at times, in that he can get too creative on court. He will go for shots that are totally unnecessary, almost out of pure boredom with working the point any further. In 2013, we will see a smarter Dimitrov on court. A guy who instead of going for the flashy crowd pleasing shot, learns to play the percentages and wins more matches. Expect him to make a final in 2013, improving on his three semifinal appearances during 2012.

Bernard Tomic

Australian Bernard Tomic had a rough finish to 2012, after a good start which included a semifinal in Brisbane and a round of 16 result at the Aussie Open. These results catapulted him to a career high ranking of 27. Pressure from the Australian media may be of some blame for Tomic’s lack of results thus far. He had a very promising junior career and is the youngest player ranked in the top 100 for the second straight year. As Tomic matures and spends another year on tour, look for him to relax and embrace his role as heir to the Australian tennis throne.
Tomic has a very smooth, effortless counter punching game. Bernard is a player who possesses a great arsenal of shots. Often luring opponents into a consistent crosscourt rally, just to run around his backhand and slap a forehand winner. With a solid serve, modern two handed backhand, biting slice backhand, deft touch, and an unorthodox but effective forehand, he’s got the game to become a top player. With a nice 6-4, 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic at the Hopman Cup this week, Tomic will roll with his newfound confidence in 2013, making his first final appearance.
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2013 is bound to bring dark horses, upsets, surprises and lots of excitement. Be sure to keep an eye on these five youngsters. They all feature games with the potential to rise in the rankings, shaking things up at the top, and taking down the big four at any time.
Evan Valeri is a USPTA P2 tennis teaching professional and has a USTA Sports Science Level 1 certification. He graduated from Ferris State University with a degree in Professional Tennis Management/Marketing and enjoys the technical and coaching side of tennis. You can view his website here: www.totaltennisplayer.com.

Best 22 things we learned about Milos Raonic during his latest Twitter Q&A

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Dec. 2, 2012 — Top Canadian tennis player and current world No. 13 Milos Raonic is known for holding fun monthly Twitter Q&A sessions with his fans under the hashtag #AskMilos and today was no exception. In fact, it included a few tennis cameos, plenty of laughs and even some surprises. Read on for his most fun and revealing exchanges below, and to see the 22 things we learned about the Canadian today!
 

1.Milos can be witty, humorous and honest with just three words

2. He has an undeniable affinity for Taylor Swift


 

3. He wants revenge on a certain Spanish ATP player


 

4. And lists another one as his BFF on tour


 

5. But he prefers chicks to dudes any day


 

6. He almost forgot to reply to his sometimes doubles partner, Robin Haase


 

7. And his coach, Galo Blanco, even posed a question to which Milos answered mischievously


 

8. He is not your usual pasta kind of guy


 

9. And he holds a winning 2-1 record against current Olympic and U.S. Open champion, Andy Murray, so this is no surprise


 

10. He prefers his animals “mini-sized”


 

11. But he’d rather be a bear, and for good reason too


 

12. He likes house music — Janko Tipsarevic would approve


 

13. And high-quality chocolates should be everyone’s guilty pleasure


 

14. But donuts aren’t so bad either


 

15. He obviously loves the NBA more than “football”


 

16. And he’s talented enough to have been a muli-sport athlete growing up


 

17. This explains why the ATP World Tour Finals are already listed on his schedule for next year


 

18. And admits his WTA crush without reserve


 

19. And ok, he’ll even answer a relevant tennis question or two


 

20. But don’t expect him to do any death-defying stunts any time soon


 

21. He has a quick and agile memory, and even remembers points from two years ago vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky


 

22. But he is a family man at heart


 

Oh, and did we mention his excellent job of texting on his phone at lightening speeds for over an hour? Ouch, but well done!

Star tennis quartet face-off in Toronto

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Radwanska, Raonic, Roddick & Williams Face-Off in Toronto

TORONTO (November 17, 2012) — Agnieszka Radwanska, Milos Raonic, Andy Roddick and Serena Williams didn’t disappoint the fans who went through the turnstiles on Friday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to watch the second edition of the Sportchek Face-Off.
The exhibition event began with a fun celebrity doubles match pitting Team Canada – Raonic and Radwanska – against Team USA’s Roddick and Williams. The superstar quartet were joined on court by Canadian TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos, Bachelor Canada’s Brad Smith, CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon, and Adrian Grenier of Entourage fame. The recently retired Roddick joked about finally getting the chance to play alongside his compatriot after many years of campaigning.
“I couldn’t convince Serena (Williams) to play with me when I was actually good, but now that I suck she’s all about it,” Roddick said.
Andy Roddick salutes the crowd in his return to Canada

Next up was a rematch of this year’s Wimbledon women’s final between Radwanska and Williams. The Pole, who referred to Williams as a “grass tennis killer”, was able to impose her crafty game on the Canadian indoor hard court, en route to a 6-4, 6-4 win. This was a rare defeat for Williams, who has lost just one Tour match since falling in the opening round at Roland-Garros this spring. Despite winning Wimbledon, an Olympic gold medal, the U.S. Open and the WTA Championships in Istanbul, the 31-year-old is focused on looking forward instead of back.
“I’m not a big reflector,” said Williams. “I always feel like I want to do more, I want to improve. Once you start reflecting … you can become really satisfied. For me, I’m always trying to do a bit better. I’ll have more time to reflect after my career.”
Agnieszka Radwanska and Serena Williams sign autographs for fans

The evening concluded with the main event, a confrontation between two of the game’s biggest servers in Raonic and Roddick, who was making his first visit north of the border since 2009.  The former World No. 1 put his trademark humor and candor on full display in his return to Canada. He gave the crowd fits of laughter in the second set with his imitations of Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and John McEnroe. In addition to his talents as an entertainer, Roddick, who played his last professional match at the U.S. Open, showed that his tennis skills are still very much in tact defeating Raonic 6-4, 4-6, 10-7. The two players met once on the ATP World Tour, in the final at Memphis in 2011 which Roddick won in three tough sets. The American was full of praise for Canada’s highest-ranked singles player of all time.
“I like his (Raonic) game and I equally like the way he goes about his business,” complimented Roddick. “He’s very diligent and he has the hunger to get better and not be satisfied, which will serve him well.”
For Raonic, being able to host tennis royalty in his hometown for an event like the Face-off is an opportunity to grow tennis in Canada.
“There’s a lot of support, a lot of appreciation and interest in Canadian players, especially during Davis Cup,” Raonic said. “I think the kind of support we’re getting there is really amazing. It’s something we want to keep building up.”
Milos Raonic makes his entrance on front of his home crowd

In the first edition of the Face-Off held last November in Toronto, Raonic took on his tennis hero Pete Sampras.

Inaugural Raonic Race for Kids tees up Face-off weekend in Toronto

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Andy Roddick & Serena Williams joined Milos Raonic at his inaugural Raonic Race for Kids event in Toronto.

By Melissa Boyd

TORONTO (November 16, 2012) — Two days after launching his foundation to support disadvantaged children, Milos Raonic hosted his first fundraising event, the Raonic Race for Kids, at the Toronto Lawn and Tennis Club with the help of a few Toronto celebrities and tennis stars.
A total of ten teams raised money to participate in the inaugural race and each drafted an honorary celebrity captain to join their squad, choosing from the likes of Raonic, junior Wimbledon champion Eugenie Bouchard, Daniel Nestor, former NHL player Brad Marsh, and Canadian Football League legend Damon Allen. “Romano’s Racers” raised the most  money through their fundraising efforts and were rewarded by having Raonic as their captain.
Teams competed in eleven three-minute challenges that tested both their physical and intellectual abilities including mini-putt, ping-pong, and making a puzzle. Creative costumes, a theme song, and an original name characterized each team.

Eugenie Bouchard served as honorary captain for “The Thunderballs”

The highlight of the evening came when Andy Roddick and Serena Williams made a surprise appearance to present prizes and a trophy to the highest scoring team. The winning team was “The Aces” captained by Toronto television personality Carson Arthur. The American super duo also joined Raonic for a Q and A session which covered topics like the trio’s big serves, trash-talking, and what Roddick has been up to since retiring from the game at the U.S. Open this year.
The first edition of the Raonic Race for Kids raised just over $160,000 which will be put towards the Milos Raonic Foundation and Tennis Canada’s “Let’s Make Tennis Matter for Kids” campaign. The Raonic foundation will create and support initiatives to reduce economic, physical, and other barriers that may prevent disadvantaged children from becoming healthy, productive members of society.
“Tennis has had a profound impact on my life in so many positive ways,” Raonic said. “Opportunities that were available to me as I grew up are not always as accessible to other children and youth and in many cases this is often due to circumstances that are completely beyond their control.”
Raonic, Roddick, Williams, and Agnieszka Radwanska will take part in the Sport Chek Face-off tonight at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Milos Raonic & his team make their entrance at the race.

 

Shanghai Rolex Masters 2012 – The title contenders

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By Ian Horne, editor of Shanghai-Masters-Live.com and Live-Tennis

After the US Open, the next major event of the 2012 season will be the Shanghai Rolex Masters. This competition has made its mark as a standout event and the second to last Masters 1000 series tournament on the ATP calendar. Sure, it might not boast the kind of history that many of the European and North American events can lay claim to, but entering its fourth year the Shanghai Rolex Masters can be described as a very significant competition. It’s even been voted Masters 1000 series Tournament of the Year for three years running.
The Qi Zhong Tennis Centre provides a superb location for this tournament, though it’s not the venue that’s going to make this year’s edition of the event so special. The real big draw here is the participation of the best players that the ATP has to offer, providing the prospect of watching Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray battle it out for the title. Here’s a quick summary of the main contenders in this season’s competition.
Shanghai-Masters-Live.com‘s feature writer Ian Horne takes a look at the title contenders in the 2012 Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer could hardly have asked for more this season. Some had questioned his ability to win slams at this stage of his career, yet we were fortunate enough to witness him win another major at Wimbledon this year. And a return to the top of the rankings is perhaps his biggest achievement this season. He seems fiercely determined to stay at No. 1 for as long as possible. He’ll be the pick of many a pundit to win the Shanghai Rolex Masters this year.

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic hasn’t been able to maintain his dominance over the rest of the ATP this season but he’s still playing breathtaking tennis. Now sitting at No. 2 in the world rankings, the Serb will be eyeing up the Asian swing as his big opportunity to regain lost ground on Federer. Like Federer, Djokovic was sidelined for last year’s draw due to injury. This event promises to be hugely influential in the race to finish the season as the world No. 1.

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is currently the world No. 3, but he could well have been ahead of both Djokovic and Federer had injuries not plagued him so often of late. The Spaniard is resting up at the moment due to the Hoffa’s Syndrome injury in his left knee. He has pulled out of Spain’s Davis Cup semi-final clash against the United States, but we hope for a comeback in Shanghai. The two events are just under a month apart. It would be fantastic to see him take part here. Forget his third round exit last season; a fully fit Rafa could really shake things up in the main draw.

Andy Murray

Let’s not forget two-time champion Andy Murray. Last year’s Asian swing was a very successful one for the Scot. He’ll return this time in search of a hat-trick, and his prospects seem to be pretty good. Journalists have referred to the ‘big three’ or the ‘big four’ in men’s tennis interchangeably over the past few years, outlining Murray’s flirtation with being one of the greats of the modern era. An appearance in the Wimbledon final, a Gold medal in the singles at the Olympics, and the title at the U.S. Open suggest that Murray isn’t destined to be a perennial nearly-man.

The Rest of the Pack

There are a few other players just on the periphery who could come to the fore in Shanghai. Take Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for example. When he’s not busy walking into fire hydrants, he just so happens to be an incredible athlete with a growing fanbase. The popular Frenchman possesses a forehand that is the envy of many.
David Ferrer, the man known affectionately as ‘the wall’, could also feature in the latter stages after his stellar semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open. He was the runner-up last season after losing against Murray in a close-fought two-set final.
A final suggestion for a title contender in Shanghai is the ATP’s worst kept secret, Milos Raonic. The young Canadian isn’t a household name just yet but he’s climbing the rankings at a steady pace. With his huge serve, there’s something a little Sampras-esque about Raonic. He’s got a lot of work to do before any serious comparisons can be drawn between him and Pistol Pete just yet though.

Azarenka parties with Redfoo, Raonic suave for promos, Na Li does charity tour: What tennis players do after losing at the US Open

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By Romi Cvitkovic

Tennis players are a peculiar breed. They lose nearly every week, but they get back on their feet just as often – many times with invigorating activities to keep their focus in check. We catch up with Victoria Azarenka, Milos Raonic, Laura Robson, Maria Sharapova and Na Li as we see what they were up to after losing at the US Open, including fashion shows, parties, charity tours and Olympic parades.

Some players party with Redfoo after a tough loss in the women’s championship match…

World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has had a familiar face in her player’s box during several of her matches at the US Open, rock star Redfoo of the group LMFAO, and Sunday was no different. The upcoming sponsor of the Party Rock Open in Las Vegas, Redfoo fistpumped and cheered his way into Vika’s heart. The duo – with some extra friends – partied just hours after her heart-breaking loss. And apparently there’s video coming up of the night as well. Guess a good party goes a long way to turn that frown upside down, Vika.


Victoria Azarenka parties with Redfoo after her women’s final defeat against Serena Williams at the US Open

Some players attend glamorous events …

When Canadian Milos Raonic lost in the fourth round to Andy Murray, he jetted to Toronto for a plethora of events and appearances, including a Hello! Magazine Canada party where he sported the casual look:

Milos Raonic (R) with HELLO! Canada Publisher Lisa Tant

… an amfAR Cinema Against AIDS event where he posed with Miss Universe Canada 2012 Sahar Biniaz. Do I smell a crush, Milos?
Milos Raonic (R) with Miss Universe Canada 2012 Sahar Biniaz

… and looking equally suave with a hint of pink and that same killer smile, Milos attended the Glitz and Glamour Breast Cancer Benefit alongside fellow countryman Daniel Nestor.
Milos Raonic (L) with compatriot and fellow tennis player Daniel Nestor

Some players forget their worries by attending New York Fashion Week …

Even before the US Open began, Maria Sharapova blitzed through the New York media scene with her “Sugarpova” candy launch. So after her abrupt semifinal finish at the Slam, Maria needed a good way to wind down. After what better way for the fashionista than taking in the Victoria Beckham show with good friend Anna Wintour? Looking fresh and outfitted in a color block jacket and elastic waistband red trousers, Maria also had an intimate conversation with the fashion icon. Anything that helps you wind down, Maria, we’re all for it.

Maria Sharapova (L) arrives to the Victoria Beckham fashion show with Anna Wintour

Maria Sharapova (far) and Anna Wintour share an intimate moment

Some players travel back to the Olympic stadium …

British teenager Laura Robson had her best results at a Slam by making the fourth round, defeating Na Li and ending Kim Clijsters’ career before losing to defending champion Sam Stosur. But Laura wasn’t disappointed. That gave her the opportunity to return to the Olympic village for the Paralympic Closing Ceremonies and participate in the Olympic and Paralympic heroes’ victory parade earlier today – sporting her silver medal in mixed doubles, of course! Compatriot Ross Hutchins joined in as paparazzi.

Laura Robson with compatriot Ross Hutchins

Laura Robson at the Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes in London

Some players launch a new book…

Chinese player Na Li is always a good sport even with her surprise loss to Robson last week. But she was back in business in Beijing over the weekend promoting her new book “Play Alone” and rebutting a statement from China’s tennis chief.
Last week at the US Open, China’s tennis chief Sun Jinfang blamed Li’s failure at the US Open due to a lack of education, saying “We have seen for a long time that Li Na can suddenly collapse. Why is this? Because athletes like her have not received a good education.” Her rebuttal came at her book signing press conference: “I don’t think my temper has anything to do with my education. I’m not angry with such talks. There is a Chinese old saying that rumors stop before the wise…. I’m not worried about being misunderstood. I just say what I want to say.” You go, girl.

Na Li at her “Play Alone” book signing in Beijing

Earlier, Li played some street badminton, table tennis and even piano(!) with kids during her charity tour to impoverished schools in Beijing, donating money, books and stationery to the charity school. A heart of gold.
Na Li on on her charity tour playing badminton, basketball, table tennis and piano.

In summary, the life of a tennis player is never boring or dull even when you expect it to be after one of the biggest events in the sport. Next up, the ladies have already begun with their tournaments this week in Tashkent and Quebec, and the men are set to begin the Davis Cup semifinals.

ATP US Open Draw Analysis – Who will win it all?

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US Open 2012 — Who will win it all?

With the US Open kicking off main draw play next week, you won’t need to look much further than Tennis Grandstand’s panel of writers for your fully comprehensive breakdown of the men’s draw. We take a look at dark horses, exciting first round matchups,  seeded players crashing out early, our prediction of possible quarterfinalists, and, of course, the projected winner. What are you waiting for?! Get reading!

DARK HORSE

Burrows: #15 Milos Raonic. The Canadian is enjoying breaking into the top 20 for the first time in his career and his big-serving style of game suits the surface perfectly.  He has a difficult quarter with a fourth round meeting against Olympic gold champion, Andy Murray, but Raonic has the potential to pull off an upset against Murray, with a big win under his belt, he could finally begin to really shine.
Crabtree: #21 Tommy Haas. Nobody can argue that this guy has had one of the greatest comebacks in recent memory. He won Halle over none other than Roger Federer and reached the final in Hamburg and Washington D.C. Most Impressive has been his rise up the rankings from 205 at the beginning of the year to a current of 22. Now, don’t expect this 34 year old to take the title, but do expect a quarter final showing. Remember old guys make great runs in New York (Connors and Agassi).
Cvitkovic: #13 Richard Gasquet. After reaching the Toronto Masters final, he failed to back it up the following week as he fell to Milos Raonic in the first round, but his path at the U.S. Open seems a lot more open from the get go. His biggest potential hiccup could be a third round matchup against Haas, followed by David Ferrer in the fourth round, and then possibly John Isner or Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals.
Watson: #9 John Isner. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone outside of the Top 3 winning the title, but if one guy could potentially do it, it’s Isner.  He’s in one of the softest sections of the draw, he’s reached at least the semis in all of his tune-up events, and he’s notched big wins over Federer and Djokovic in 2012.  He’s got a big, imposing game, and as evidenced by the five-set scare he put into Nadal at last year’s Roland Garros, he’s a player that even the game’s best don’t want to see on the other side of the net.

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SEEDED PLAYER CRASHING OUT EARLY

Burrows: #25 Fernando Verdasco. The Spaniard has not played a tournament since his first round loss at the Olympics and he has been plagued by injury, which saw him withdraw from Toronto and Cincinnati.  Verdasco will come into the tournament cold having not played a hard court match prior to the Slam and this year his tennis has been very unpredictable.
Crabtree: #6 Tomas Berdych or #8 Janko Tipsarevic. This is tough, Berdych faces the fearless and very dangerous youngster in David Goffin whilst Janko will probably meet giant killer Brian Baker in the second round. Let’s make the draw totally open. They both crash out.
Cvitkovic: #11 Nicolas Almagro. Not one known to be a slacker, Almagro has not played a tournament since the London Olympics, and last played a hard court event in March in Miami. It will certainly be a wake-up call to play Radek Stepanek in the first round, or solid players Nicolas Mahut or Philipp Petzschner in the second round if he breaks down the Czech wall.
Watson: #20 Andy Roddick. There are a couple more obvious choices than this, but I’ll be a little daring and say Roddick.  After a promising start with a title in Atlanta, Roddick has been slowed by injuries, pulling out of Toronto, bowing out to a lucky loser in Cincy, and suffering his latest loss in two tiebreak sets to the unheralded Steve Darcis.  With a potential tricky second-round match with Tomic and Monaco possibly waiting in the third, it ought to be considered a successful tournament for the American if he reaches Week 2.

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FIRST ROUND (OR POTENTIAL SECOND ROUND) MATCH TO WATCH FOR

Burrows: #7 Juan Martín Del Potro vs David Nalbandian will be an all-Argentinean battle, which on paper looks set to deliver a mouth-watering match that could transfer to be just that on the court.  Del Potro is currently fending off an injury to his left wrist, which troubled him in Cincinnati and Nalbandian leads their head-to-head 3-1.  They haven’t played against each other since 2008 and Del Potro has since won the US Open, but playing against a compatriot is never easy and with Nalbandian’s infamous fiery outbursts on the tennis courts, there may well be fireworks on the court.
Crabtree:#7 Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro is up against countrymen David Nalbandian, the man with the most dangerous right foot in tennis (just ask the linesman at Queens Club). Del Potro has had an impressive year thus far but the 2009 U.S. Open champion is 1-3 against Nalbandian. This being said none of their encounters have been within recent memory. Expect this to go to five and Del Potro to edge it out.
Cvitkovic: #21 Tommy Haas vs. Ernests Gulbis. Gulbis, always outspoken and unapologetic, will need to dig deep in order to get past a resurgent Haas in their first round matchup. Haas, an obvious contender back in 2002 is now 34-years-old and just as relevant since defeating Federer to win the Halle title back in June. Gulbis can be a tricky player when “on,” so it’ll surely be an all-out battle.
Watson: #7 Juan Martin Del Potro vs. David Nalbandian.  This one is dependent on how Delpo’s wrist is feeling and which Nalbandian shows up, but if they’re both in the mood to play, this could be a real dogfight – plus there’s always an added sizzle when two countrymen square off. Second Round – #14 Alexandr Dogopolov vs. Marcos Baghdatis:  Grab the popcorn if this second-round encounter happens.  When these two are on their games, they are two of the most spectacular shot-makers in the sport.  Could be some breathtaking tennis on tap.

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FIRST ROUND UPSET SPECIAL

Burrows: David Goffin d. #6 Tomas Berdych.  The Czech giant has not had a fantastic season so far with a surprising first round loss at Wimbledon and a disappointing Olympic appearance, but he is starting to pull it back together on the hard courts and particularly at Winston Salem this week.  He has made it into the semis (at the time of publication), but he will face promising, young hopeful, David Goffin in the first round, who has enjoyed an inspiring 2012 and also progressed into the quarter finals at Winston Salem.  Could the Belgium hopeful record an epic first round win at Flushing Meadows? Possibly.
Crabtree:  Marinko Matosevic over #12 Marin Cilic. After a number of years as a journeyman, twenty seven year old Matosevic has finally found the confidence to really upset the bigger names. His year to date prize money has doubled his career earnings much in thanks to impressive displays in Delray Beach, Munich, Eastbourne and Los Angeles. Look for Matosevic to finally enjoy his breakout grand slam appearance with a hard fought win over Cilic.
Cvitkovic: (WC) Jack Sock d. #22 Florian Mayer. A very unsteady opponent on the hard courts, Mayer could easily succumb to Sock’s strengths that are best utilized on the hard courts. Although a stretch, Sock has the ability to get into the third or fourth round if he can overcome Mayer’s variety.
Watson: Radek Stepanek d. #11 Nicolas Almagro. No offense to Nico, who’s arguably been slightly underrated over the course of his career, but given that the last time we saw him was at the London Olympics and nursing an injury to boot, it’s a big ask for him to come out on top against his Czech opponent.

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QUARTERFINALISTS

Burrows:
Federer/Berdych – Roger Federer’s potential first difficult opponent is Fernando Verdasco who may not cause the Swiss maestro too many difficulties as he is fending off injury, but should he dispatch of him and a potential fourth round clash between Fish or Simon, he might find sixth seed Tomas Berdych in the quarters.  However, the Czech faces a difficult debut against Goffin and a hypothetical third round with Querrey, before a fourth round meeting with Almagro. Should Berdych maintain his winning form of this week, he has the ability to set up an interesting match against Federer.
Murray/Tsonga – Andy Murray dominates in the second quarter and in the first round he meets Bogomolov Jr. via a third round meeting with his mum’s favourite, Feliciano Lopez. The Scot is on a collision course with Raonic in the fourth round, but should he dispatch of them, he is most likely to face Tsonga in the quarterfinals. The fifth seed, will open his tournament against a qualifier and should not be troubled until he meets loose cannons Cilic and Nishikori. For me, a Murray/Tsonga quarter-final is likely.
Ferrer/Tipsarevic – Fourth seed, David Ferrer will face Anderson in the first round, Hewitt or Youzhny in the second round then possibly Gasquet and Haas in his quarter of the draw. Despite them being tricky opponents for the Spaniard I think he will make it through to the quarters where he could meet No.8 seed Janko Tipsarevic. The Serb will have a tough task against American John Isner, but he may just have the edge to do it.
Djokovic/Del Potro – After their infamous meeting at the Olympics, which Del Potro won denying Djokovic the bronze medal, it was interesting to see their encounter in Cincinnati which the Serb won.  They both have tricky players in their quarter, which they need to overcome first, but they have both won the US Open, they’re both experienced and hungry, with a lot to prove.  What a potential quarterfinal that could be!
Crabtree:
Federer/ Goffin. Okay call me crazy but why on earth shouldn’t the young Belgian get this far. Remember he did reach the 4th round in Roland Garros and push the Fed to four sets. No reason to think Federer should lose a set here but even less reason to underestimate the potential of the baby faced killer.
Murray/Tsonga – Sorry Cvitkovic (see below). There is no chance Raonic can defeat Murray enroute here, especially with the Scottish Gold Medallist looking for revenge after his loss in Barcelona. Tsonga’s path is an absolutely song, the biggest problem being there is nobody to really test the Frenchmen and get him hyped up.
Haas/ Isner – Big John loves playing for the American crowd and that will show here. Nobody knows for sure where a true New York fairy-tale begins and ends, but Haas is the perfect choice as protagonist for this year’s event.
Del Potro/Djokovic – An amazing quarter of the draw if you go on former form. But this year Roddick has been struggling all season. Monaco on hard courts? Nah.  Dolgopolov- too unpredictable. Harrison and Tomic- both missing some zing at present. This quarter final match up will be an all-out shoot out.
Cvitkovic:
Federer/Berdych – Federer should have absolutely no excuse to not reach the quarterfinals given that he could face a recuperating Verdasco in the third round and Fish who he has beaten eight of the last nine times. Berdych, on the other hand, seems to be struggling on every surface this year, but can break out and make deep runs as well. His only real test could be in the form of Sam Querrey who has returned after injuries.
Raonic/Tsonga – Sorry, fans. They’ll be no repeat of Wimbledon or the London Olympics finals between Federer and Murray, as on-point Raonic will finally mark his territory by defeating Murray in the fourth round. Tsongsa may have a duel with Marin Cilic in the fourth round himself, but having five of the sixteen qualifiers in his 1/8 helps!
Isner/Ferrer – Arguably the trickiest quarter, Isner will have to overcome Janko Tipsarevic, who has become synonymous with pushing his opponents into tough five-setters at the U.S. Open. Ferrer, likewise, is indestructible and could face either Gasquet or Haas, against whom he has solid winning records.
Del Potro/Djokovic – Easily the toughest and most unpredictable quarter, it features Roddick, Monaco, Dolgopolov, Baghdatis, Harrison and Tomic in addition to Del Potro and Djokovic. My chosen quarterfinalists will have to stay on top of their game in order to get through – especially Del Potro, whose first round opponent is fellow Argentine Nalbandian.
Watson:
Federer/Querrey – It’s no secret that Federer is back to playing some of his best tennis, and it’s hard to imagine him losing before the semis, let alone the quarterfinals.  As for his quarterfinal opponent, it’s a toss-up between Berdych and Querrey, but I’ll go with Sam.  His stock is on the rise, and he’s had a better summer than the Czech.  He’s also got the home crowd advantage, so I’ll put some faith in the Yank and hope he pulls through.
Murray/Tsonga – I’ll stick to the seeding here, despite their poor showings in the lead-up events to Flushing.  Murray has become remarkably consistent at the majors, and Tsonga is in a very cushy section littered with qualifiers.  Besides, you can generally count on the top guys to deliver at the big events, so you have to like their odds.
Isner/Haas – This is a tough one to call.  Possibly Malisse and Tipsarevic could prove problematic, but on the fast US Open courts, Isner is in with an excellent chance to make the quarters.  The bottom portion of this section is the trickier end.  Ferrer is seeded to come through, but the No. 4 seeded Spaniard could buckle under the pressure of trying to prove he’s an adequate substitute to fill the void left by Nadal – something a resurgent Tommy Haas could exploit.
Del Potro/Djokovic – On paper, there are a lot of potential stumbling blocks to this match up happening, including how Delpo’s wrist is holding up.  But even at less than 100%, Delpo is better than a chunk of the players in his section.  As for Djokovic, he’s come up big in both Canada and Cincy, so there’s no reason to think he can’t push on the gas when necessary to go deep in Flushing.

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AND THE WINNER IS …

Burrows:  Novak Djokovic. He is the defending champion and he has had a good run at the two Masters 1000 Series tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati the two events preceding the US Open. He is seeking to put to bed the rumours of his apparent issues off the court which have supposedly affected his game in recent months and he is a man on a mission: to defend his title and he is in search of his No.1 ranking once again.
Crabtree: Andy Murray- Nope. Roger Federer- Are you kidding me? Novak Djokovic- Most certainly not. 2012 shall be the first year since 2003 that all four slams will be held by different names.  And all this will be thanks to Juan Martin del Potro who will have again found the dominance that brought him the 2009 U.S. Open crown. Sadly for the Brits I am picking him to take down Andy Murray in the final.
Cvitkovic: Roger Federer. Big surprise, right? Even though he didn’t take home the gold medal at the London Olympics, he’s easily shaping up to be the clear choice of champion in New York. Of the top four seeds, his path is the least trying and he’ll certainly have enough energy to withstand an intense final with Djokovic or Isner.
Watson: Novak Djokovic.  Seems Federer is the more popular choice at the moment, especially with the growing murmurs that the Swiss Maestro might be getting into the Serb’s head. But I’ll continue to back the Serb.  Djokovic has come back from match points down to defeat Federer the last two years at the US Open.  And don’t forget…just like last year, Djokovic won Canada and was a finalist in Cincy.  It worked out well for him then, so maybe history will repeat itself now.

US Open 2012 – Who’ll make up the big four?

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By Ian Horne, editor of Live-Tennis.com and US Open Tennis Live Stream

The US Open begins shortly and there’s a growing sense of expectation in the tennis world. We seem to be poised for one of the best slam events of all-time, featuring an outstanding cast of world-beaters. Amongst these are Roger Federer, Andy Murray and defending champion Novak Djokovic.
There’s no doubting that these three will be the main title contenders. Federer looks red-hot right now, Djokovic is still in scintillating form, and Murray might just be ready to enter the slam-winners circle following his Olympic gold glory at the All-England Club. There seems to be one question going unanswered though, and that is ‘who will replace Rafael Nadal in the big four at Flushing Meadows?’
With Rafa sidelined due to Hoffa’s syndrome, a space has potentially opened up for one of the ATP’s other stars to step up to the plate. Here’s a look at some of the players who could shoot to prominence in the next two weeks.
Live-Tennis.com‘s feature writer Ian Horne takes a look at the players who could fill-in for Nadal at the US Open

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Tsonga is perhaps the biggest threat to the big four and the man with the best credentials to take up Rafa’s mantle. Back-to-back semi-final appearances at Wimbledon in the last two years and a runner-up finish at the 2008 Australian Open are amongst the Frenchman’s achievements. Tsonga is more than just a popular outsider. His forehand is amongst the most lethal shots on the tour and his all-round athleticism makes him a hard man to beat, especially when he rushes the net.

Juan Martin Del Potro

Del Potro earned a reputation as one of the ATP’s elite players when he won the 2009 US Open. Sadly, his rise to the top was hampered for the next two years due to a subsequent injury to his right wrist. The 2012 season has marked a welcome return to the big time for Del Potro. He’s performed well in all of the slams this season, capping his achievements with a bronze medal at the Olympics.

John Isner

John Isner

2012 has been a great year for John Isner. The 6’9” American has cracked the top ten for the first time in his career. Big guys like Isner are often caricatured as lumbering powerhouses that can’t hold their own in a rally. This isn’t true of Isner, who possesses an array of effective ground strokes. His movement isn’t at all bad either. Surprisingly, slam performances have been disappointing from Isner this season. Expect more from the 2011 quarter-finalist in Flushing Meadows. He tends to excel in front of the New York crowd.

Milos Raonic

Raonic is a bit unique in this group of players due to the fact that he’s never been beyond round one in this event. Don’t let this fool you. The Canadian is the ATP’s most exciting young gun. Like Isner, there’s more to Raonic than meets the eye, but it’s often difficult to see beyond his rocket serve. It’s hard to believe that they find people willing to stand behind the baseline as a line judge when this guy is playing. There’s still a lot more for Raonic to learn, but there are few players out there with such great potential.

Other potential high-flyers

This group of players could be added to. For instance, 2003 champ Andy Roddick could feature in the latter stages. It will be a case of rolling back the years for the former world No. 1 if he’s to achieve anything. Sam Querrey might also be capable of reaching the latter stages. He’s been getting better and better since returning from elbow surgery.
There are also a few highly ranked players worth mentioning. David Ferrer is one of the world’s most consistent performers. He’s a former semi-finalist, but has never quite looked capable of winning a slam. Tomas Berdych could also be worth watching. For some reason, the Czech has always faltered in New York earlier than expected. Maybe he’ll make amends over the next two weeks.

Getting to know Milos Raonic – the ATPs new top 20 player

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By Lisa-Marie Burrows

Milos Raonic is Canada's big hope after breaking into the top 20 for the first time. (Photo credit: Getty Images)

This week, Canadian Milos Raonic has been a continuous feature in tennis discussions this week after breaking into the top 20 of the ATP rankings for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old young gun moved up five spots to secure his No. 19 place, thanks to his quarter-final appearance at the Rogers Cup in Toronto last week.
Many have predicted great things for the rising star, speculating on whether he will be a future Grand Slam champion, on his ability to break into the top 10 or even break up the mold that has bound the top 5 players so tightly in recently years, but this achievement is something which no Canadian singles players has managed to do before. He is enjoying being on the court; he is living the dream and he still has a lot more to give. Here is a little bit of information and fun facts about the Canadian hero that many may not know about:
Who is Milos Raonic?
Milos Raonic was born Podgorica, Montenegro, in the former Yugoslavia just before Serbia became an independent country and he moved to Canada at the age of 3-years old. He did not begin playing tennis until he was 8-years old and whilst growing up his hero was Pete Sampras. It seems as though he suddenly exploded on the tennis scene from nowhere after enjoying a very successful 2011. He rocketed up the rankings from No.156 at the end of 2010 to a year-end ranking of No.31 in 2011. The 6’5” player is infamous for his booming serves and possesses an all-court style of play. He has won three career titles – his first in San Jose in 2011, which he successfully defended again this year and he has also won on the hard courts of Chennai.
How much does Raonic remember of his Serbian roots?
Milos moved to Canada with his family because of the war that continued in between the surrounding nations. Milos has said before that he doesn’t remember anything about his homeland except for one bad memory that has always stayed with him – the time when he was stung by a bee on his finger when he was 4-years old.
His super serve
When you hear the name ‘Milos Raonic’ you automatically think: big serve. As a child his father made him train with a ball machine at 6:30am and 9:00pm and those early morning starts and workouts seemed to have put him in good stead as a player. He rarely shows aggression on court (apart from when he is serving or during a rally) and emulates the speed and finesse of his hero’s service motion, Pete Sampras.
Making his mark
Milos Raonic made his mark in the tennis world after he won his first ATP Tour title at the SAP Open in San Jose beating the then-ranked world No.9 player, Fernando Verdasco. It was a very special moment for the Canadian and indeed for Canada, as it was the first time a Canadian tennis player won an ATP title since 1995. After this victory, Milos earned a lot of attention from the media – and particularly the Canadian media – which is something he has had to learn to deal with. Very much like Andy Murray and his British expectations, Raonic has expressed how he hopes that it will benefit and influence the juniors who are up and coming in Canada.
Fast Facts
• Raonic plays with a double-handed backhand
• He can speak Serbian and English
• He moved to Canada when he was 3-years old.
• Both of his parents (Dusan and Vesna) are engineers.
• He has a sister called Jelena, and a brother, Momir
• Raonic first picked up a racquet aged 8-years old.
• His favourite surface to play on is on the quick-paced hard courts.
• He confessed that when he was younger, his dad used to make him train with a ball machine early in the morning and at night as they were cheaper to hire during those times.
• Raonic enjoys watching movies and talking to family on Skype when he’s away.
• Raonic is a big fan of football (soccer) and his favourite team is Real Madrid.
• The Canadian has the correct height to be a basketball player and he supports Toronto Raptors.
• His tennis hero as a child was fourteen-time Grand Slam champion ‘Pistol’ Pete Sampras and he admitted that he recorded his matches that were shown on tv.
• He is coached by former ATP pro Galo Blanco (since October 2010)
• His ultimate goal? To remain consistently in the top 50 and break into the top 10.
Milos Raonic’s rise in the rankings has been documented by the ATP World Tour Uncovered, which you can watch using the video below.