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What’s Happening at the French Open?

Hello Tennis fans! Suga hasn’t forgotten you!

Women’s Singles

Serena Williams (2) is on maternity leave and watching from the stands this French Open. So who is still in it for the Ladies?!

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Photo of Venus Williams: ESPN

Her sister, Venus of course! Can Venus Williams (10) win another Grand Slam before she retires? It is very possible. She has been on top of her game and already through to the 4th round.

Who will stand in her way?

The Women’s side of the draw is usually a toss up, especially without Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.

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Photo of Angelique Kerber: ESPN

World #1, Angelique Kerber has been inconsistent and was defeated in the 1st round in straight sets by Tsurenko Makarova. Makarova was defeated in the 2nd round.

Suga thinks Venus’ biggest threat is Defending Champ, Garbine Muguruza (4), who is also moving on to Round 4.

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Photo of Simona Halep: ESPN

Simona Halep (3) was questionable to enter the French Open because she injured her ankle in a tournament before this, but she is already through to Round 3. I don’t think she is in it for the long run though.

Agnieszka Radwanska (9) and Elina Svitolina (5) are through to Round 3.

Rounding off the top 10 ladies, Svetlana Kiznetsova (8) is through to the 4th round.

If Venus doesn’t win the French, my money is on her to win Wimbledon.

Men’s Singles

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Photo of Rafael Nadal (L) and Novak Djokovic (R): ESPN

Novak Djokovic (2) seems to be back in Championship shape and he is now being coached by one of the greats, Andre Agassi. He is already through to Round 4 but may be destined to clash with the clay court specialist and veteran, Rafael Nadal (4) who is also through to Round 4.

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Photo of Andy Murray: ESPN

Andy Murray (1) says he is feeling good again but he is still not at his best just yet. He will play Juan del Potro (29) in Round 3.

Milos Raonic (5) and the Austrian, Dominic Thiem (6) are through to Round 4.

Kei Nishikori (8), Stan Wawrinka (3) and Marin Cilic (7) who round off the top 10 Men are in Round 3.

Gaël Monfils (15), who is usually very competitive is in Round 3 as well.

Suga thinks either Djoko or Rafa will take the French Open for the Men.

Remember the veteran, Roger Federer is sitting this one out to save his energy for the grass and hard courts. If he stays in top shape, I believe he will win Wimbledon. Do we have another vintage Finals coming up at Wimbledon for the Ladies and Men? Possible.

Stay tuned everyone!

By: Gabrielle Burgess

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Why did Serena’s quest for Grand Slam History end yesterday and more!

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Huge upset on the Women’s side of the draw yesterday at the US Open. Last year it was on the Men’s side with Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori knocking out Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the Semi Finals. Now, Novak Djokovic defeated the Defending Champion who has been plagued with an ankle injury during the tournament, Marin Cilic easily in 3 sets with a 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 victory. Federer defeated Stan Wawrinka easily with a  6-4, 6-3, 6-1. Wawrinka has not shown his usual fighting spirit this Open. So it will be a Djokovic-Federer final tomorrow at 4pm ET. It has been a few years that Roger has made it to the US Open final, but he surely looks better than how he was at Wimbledon this year. He has started to run more and looks fitter, but still 80% of the Roger Federer we know aka Fed Express so Suga has Djokovic for the win in an entertaining match.

Now for the ladies! It was expected to be a Williams-Halep final. First of all, Flavia Pennetta (26) upset young, world #2, ‘ jalepeño’ Simona Halep in 2 sets! 6-1, 6-3.  Suga did not see that match but one would think that after that marathon of a Quarterfinal with Victoria Azarenka, Halep would have been exhausted.

Then Serena’s quest for Grand slam history ended dramatically yesterday to an UNSEEDED 32-year-old that looks like 60, Roberta Vinci whose odds were 300 to 1! Wow. What an anti-climax! What happened?! Drake? No, just kidding. But you never know. Serena played relatively well, but was not consistent. With a 6-2 start in the 1st set she probably thought she was safe. She was crushed in the second and looked like she recovered in the 3rd, breaking Vince early, going up 2-0. But it all went downhill from there. She had a lot of unforced errors and just could not maintain focus and settle her emotions. Vinci capitalized on every opportunity she got. She played the match of her life and was pumped! After winning a long rally at a pivotal moment in the 3rd set, she put her hand to her ear to the crowd, then raised both hands saying something like yessss! Look at me! Applaud me! Check that moment out here.

I thought Serena would steam roll her for that but Serena just could not answer. Vinci had a flurry of powerful forehands setting up Serena for an open court and frequently went to the net with effective drop shots. Then the inevitable happened, Vince finishing Serena in a LOVE GAME, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Steffi Graf can prepare to hand over the Championship trophy to Serena another time. All preparations can go back into storage. It will be an all Italian final at 3pm ET today with the oldest players in a women’s major final combined, as Pennetta is 33.

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Well done Roberta Vince for pulling off one of the BIGGEST upsets in history and showing that even towards the end of the road or your career, anything is possible if you keep fighting. She said it was the best moment of her life.

See Vinci’s hilarious post match interview here:

Pennetta with a lot of experience, has already won the Australian Open Doubles title in 2011 and is well rested after just a 2 set match vs Halep. After Vince used all the gas her tank, it is likely that Pennetta may win, but Suga supports Vince for the win. Afterall it’s sports. As we witnessed yesterday, anything can happen. Good luck to her in the final. With an upset victory like that, it would be even sweeter to go all the way.