Returning from our two-week “WTA vacation,” we were delighted to see that many…

After a prolonged sojourn in Europe, live tennis returns to California with tournaments in Stanford and San Diego. While we prepare to visit those consecutive events, we reflect upon a few of the most striking differences between the spectator experience on TV and at the venue. Be aware that these comments are highly subjective, so a different observer might leave a…

Spearheaded by American #1 Roddick, the fledgling Atlanta event initiates the US Open Series today. Similar to the “Road to Roland Garros,” these eleven tournaments (six ATP, five WTA) attempt to serve the dual purpose of affording players ample preparation for the…

Moving from the WTA to the ATP and from defense to offense, we respond to a pre-Roland Garros request for a profile on the “little Safin,” Ernests Gulbis. After a hideous 2009 campaign, this longtime underachiever finally began chipping into the vast iceberg of his talent during the spring of 2010, when he scored a possibly career-redefining victory over Federer en route to the Rome semifinals. The scion of an affluent Latvian family, Gulbis was named after American author Ernest Hemingway,…

As Spain exchanges the Davis Cup for the World Cup, we shift from our match-oriented analyses to another article in our series of player profiles. Turning 20 today (July 11), Caroline Wozniacki already has embedded her name among the WTA elite, yet the engaging Dane still struggles to shed the label of “pusher.” Employed to characterize counterpunchers…

Conventionally considered a second-tier competition populated by mid-level players, the Davis Cup also can be perceived as a theater where those outside the ATP elite can seize a rare chance for immortality. Contrasting with most tournaments in this individual sport, the raucous atmosphere of the national team competition often christens unexpected heroes. Studded with several marquee attractions, though, will the quarterfinals perpetuate or diverge from this pattern?…

Standing head and shoulders above their respective challengers (figuratively in Nadal’s case), the two #1s asserted their authority with emphatic victories in Wimbledon’s final weekend. As the victors bask in the glow of their well-deserved triumphs, we present report cards for the principal contenders as well as those who surprised us, for better or for worse.…

For once, form held in the women’s tournament as the two seeded players expelled their unseeded challengers from these fabled lawns (not without considerable effort, to be sure). Will the upset genie now shift to the men’s tournament, where a pair of mini-upsets look somewhat plausible? We explore the less than insurmountable tasks confronting each…

Zvonareva (21) vs. Pironkova: Amidst widespread reports of Russia’s demise as the dominant WTA power, Zvonareva has bravely upheld her nation’s honor by reaching the semifinals in both singles and doubles. This unexpected heroine demonstrated uncharacteristic mental tenacity by rebounding from adversity more than once in her quarterfinal victory…

Effective but unspectacular in her third-round victory, Sharapova reached the second week of a Slam for just the second time in her comeback from shoulder surgery and extended an encouraging passage of play that began with her Strasbourg title in May. Compiling a 14-3 record since her return from elbow injury, Maria now confronts a monumental challenge in world…

Among the most compelling reasons to watch Novak Djokovic is the Serb’s unpredictability, which echoes the pleasantly surprising narratives that emerge from this unpredictable sport. Expecting an engaging Day 5 after perusing the order of play, however, we were unpleasantly surprised by the dreary day that developed from what had seemed fascinating encounters.…

Henin (17) vs. Petrova (12) (Centre Court, 1^st match): Two Slams ago, Petrova scored a stunning third-round upset over a member of Belgium’s dazzling duo, and she has an opportunity to repeat the feat on the grandest stage of all. Typically tormented by Henin’s graceful, versatile style, the programmatic Russian dropped two tight matches to…