2011 U.S. Open: Thoughts on the Women’s Draw During the Middle Weekend

We’ve arrived midway through the U.S. Open, and the draws are slowly being whittled away in Flushing Meadows. I’ve been sitting on the opposite side of the country, catching snippets of coverage in between the day job and covering college football over the weekend. Labor Day presented a day away from work, with nothing else dominating the sports calendar, and CBS and ESPN combined for a full day of coverage from all the courts of the Billie... Read More

A Teatime Preview of Wimbledon

This time of year is a whirlwind of activity for tennis, as the Orwellian odyssey in Paris and London yields two Grand Slam champions in a month’s time. It was just a few short weeks ago that we wrapped up the clay-court season at Roland Garros, and already we’re just a day away from the start of lawn tennis’ pinnacle tournament. The All-England Lawn Tennis Club is set to host the 125th edition of The Championships, Wimbledon, beginning... Read More

Previewing the 2011 French Open: Women’s Edition

The women’s game is in an absolute state of flux heading into the French Open, with many of its top draws absent or ailing or slumping. Nobody seems to have that killer instinct that would have her grab the sport by the ears and pull it up to her level of play. Even the #1 player in the world still carries the stigma of earning her top-dog status without even a single Grand Slam to her name. The two sisters that have redefined women’s... Read More

2010 U.S. Open – Women’s Preview

In the absence of Serena Williams, winner of two of the three Grand Slams held so far this year, the field is theoretically wide open. But perhaps more surprising than the withdrawal of Williams, still recovering from surgery to repair damage from a cut on her foot, is the fact that last year’s champion didn’t vault up into the top seed. But Kim Clijsters is back to attempt her repeat nonetheless, the Belgian having returned to the sport... Read More