The final Grand Slam of 2016 begins on Monday with a new retractable roof the big change awaiting the players in New York City. The retractable roof is ready for operation atop Arthur Ashe Stadium so even if there is rain (though this first week looks pretty dry) action will continue to roll on at least one court at the US Open. There is also a new grandstand stadium (the third largest at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center), and this will be the last year that the old grandstand is used and the last year for the Louis Armstrong Stadium. The old grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium will be torn down and replaced be a new, larger, and roofed Louis Armstrong Stadium which will be ready in 2018.

Continue reading 2016 US Open Begins Monday in New York City →

Madison Keys had defeated two of the top five players in the Italian Open as she took out Petra Kvitova and Garbine Muguruza to reach the final of the Italian Open. There she ran into someone who was finally too much for her to handle. #1 Serena Williams held off Keys in a first set tiebreaker and then ended the match in the second set as she won the Italian Open title 7-6(5), 6-3. Williams hadn’t won yet this year and this will be a nice boost for her headed into the French Open at the end of the month.

In men’s doubles the title went to#5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan who dropped the opening set but battled back to defeat #8 Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil of Canada 2-6, 6-3, 10-7. Like Serena this is the first top level win for the Bryan brothers this year.

The next major event on both the WTA and ATP tours is the French Open beginning May 23rd and running until June 5th.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update
Friday Update
Saturday Update

An American woman is going to win the Italian Open, the only question is which one. Madison Keys and #1 Serena Williams both swept their semifinal matches on Saturday to advance to the final. Keys went the distance in the first set against #3 Garbine Muguruza of Spain but won the tiebreaker and a tight second set to claim the match 7-6(5), 6-4. Williams has yet to drop a set in the tournament and swept Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania 6-4, 6-1. No American woman had won a Premier 5 or higher tournament until this weekend.

In men’s doubles it’ll also be an all-American final, though a Canadian is also involved. #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan needed the match tiebreaker to defeat Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France in the semifinals but got the job done with a 6(5)-7, 6-2, 10-7 victory. #8 Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil of Canada needed two set tiebreakers to defeat #6 Rohan Bopanna of India and Florin Mergea of Romania 7-6(4), 7-6(2). This if the first time into the finals at a Masters 1000 level event for the Bryan brothers this year while Sock and Pospisil finished second in Indian Wells.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update
Friday Update

There might be a distinctly American feel to the women’s singles and men’s doubles finals in Rome this weekend depending on how things go on Saturday. In the women’s singles field both Madison Keys and #1 Serena Williams are in the semifinals after wins on Friday. Keys had to go three sets but pulled out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic while Williams swept #9 Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia in a dominant performance, 6-2, 6-0. Keys has the tougher route to the final as she will face #3 Garbine Muguruza of Spain. Williams takes on Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.

In men’s doubles #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan took out #4 Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil 6-3, 6-4 and now take on Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France in the semifinals. #8 Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil of Canada also didn’t need more than two sets as they defeated Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Marcel Granollers of Spain 6-4, 7-6(4). Sock/Pospisil face #6 Rohan Bopanna of India and Florin Mergea of Romania in the semifinals. Finally, the US won’t have a semifinalist in women’s doubles after Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears were swept by #1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza of India 4-6, 2-6.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update
Thursday Update

Madison Keys and #1 Serena Williams both needed just two sets to reach the quarterfinals on Thursday. Keys needed a tiebreaker to take the first set from Timea Babos of Hungary but pulled away in the second for a 7-6(2), 6-3 win. Williams took a similar path in defeating fellow American Christina McHale, who had advanced to the third round all the way from qualifying. Williams won her match 7-6(7), 6-1 and now faces #9 Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia on Friday evening. Keys will take on Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic on Friday afternoon. The two are on opposite sides of the bracket so they would not meet until the final if they keep winning.

In women’s doubles action Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears got their second win of the tournament when they beat #8 Julia Goerges of Germany and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-3. They’ll play again on Friday when they face #1 Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza of India. The other American left in doubles, Bethanie Mattek-Sands lost her opener as the #2 seed with Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 4-6 to Andreja Klepac and Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia.

In men’s doubles #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will face #4 Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil on Friday while #8 Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil of Canada face Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay and Marcel Granollers of Spain.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update
Tuesday Update
Wednesday Update

Madison Keys has been good all year but after missing out on a seed in Rome and drawing #5 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in the second round there was certainly potential for an early exit. Instead Keys swept Kvitova 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday and now has no more seeded players in her path to the semifinals after a couple of other upsets. Keys next opponent will be Timea Babos of Hungary after Babos upset #12 Venus Williams 6(5)-7, 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday. Also pulling an upset but lacking the good draw from here is Christina McHale. McHale needed to battle back after dropping a first-set tiebreaker to #13 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia but pulled off the upset 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-1. The reward for McHale is a matchup with #1 Serena Williams on Thursday, and of course Williams has had a day off.

In women’s doubles action Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears defeated the Chinese team of Chen Liang and Yafan Wang 6-2, 6-3 and now will face #8 Julia Goerges of Germany and Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic. Another American, Bethanie Mattek-Sands begins doubles play as the #2 seed with Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic as they take on Andreja Klepac and Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia. The Slovenians knocked out the Williams sisters in the first round.

Over in men’s doubles #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan just barely found separation against Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey as the matchup was eventually decided in a match tiebreak that ended 13-11 to the Bryan brothers. Johnson/Querrey had taken set one 6-4 but lost the second 6-3. Also advancing was Jack Sock who won two tiebreakers with Vasek Pospisil of Canada as the #8 seeds defeated Treat Huey of the Philippines and Max Mirnyi of Belarus 7-6(4), 7-6(2). Both men’s doubles teams will be off on Thursday before playing in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update
Tuesday Update

If Monday was a good day for Americans in Rome, Tuesday was a downer. Americans won only two of the six matches they were involved in but the #1 seed on the women’s side, Serena Williams didn’t have any problems. Williams advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany. In Williams’ next match it’s possible she’ll take on fellow American Christina McHale. McHale was the other American winner on Tuesday as she defeated Claudia Giovine of Italy 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 and will take on #13 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia on Wednesday. Losing on Tuesday was qualifier Alison Riske against Sam Stosur of Australia despite winning the first set and forcing a second set tiebreak. Eventually Stosur prevailed with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 win. Two American women who were off on Tuesday will be back in action in the second round on Wednesday evening as #12 Venus Williams takes on Timea Babos of Hungary and Madison Keys faces #5 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic.

In doubles action Vania King and Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia lost their opener to Lara Arruabarrena of Spain and Sara Errani of Italy 2-6, 6-4, 5-10. The all-American doubles team of Raquel Atawo and Abigail Spears will take on an all-Chinese team of Chen Liang and Yafan Wang on Wednesday.

The US is out in men’s singles after Jack Sock was swept by #12 David Goffin of Belgium 6-4, 6-4. The US has not advanced anyone past the round of 16 in any Masters 1000 level tournament this year. In the doubles competition Rajeev Ram and Raven Klaasen of South Africa lost their opening match 4-6, 0-6 to Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France. Wednesday will featuring an all-American men’s doubles match as #5 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan are up next for Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey. Sock will also play in doubles on Wednesday as he and Vasek Pospisil of Canada begin play as the #8 seed and take on Treat Huey of the Philippines and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update
Monday Update

After a Sunday to forget in Rome the American contingent was excellent on Monday with nearly everyone advancing. One of the few American losses was in the women’s singles competition where Coco Vandeweghe dropped her opening match 4-6, 3-6. Of course her opponent was #12 Venus Williams so that was one was going to result in an American loss no matter what. The other American woman competing in singles on Monday was Madison Keys and she took care of business in straight sets against Andrea Petkovic of Germany 6-4, 6-1. Tuesday the tournament begins for #1 Serena Williams who will take on Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany as she tries to win for the first time this year. Also getting underway will be two qualifiers, Alison Riske against Sam Stosur of Australia and Christina McHale against Claudia Giovine of Italy.

The Williams sisters did suffer a loss in doubles competition on Monday as they lost to Andreja Klepac and Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia 1-6, 5-7. Vania King will get going in the doubles tournament as she and partner Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia take on Lara Arruabarrena of Spain and Sara Errani of Italy. King and Kudryavtseva have reached the quarterfinals or better in all of the Premier 5 or better competitions this year.

Over on the men’s side it was a perfect day Monday for the Americans. Jack Sock dropped the first set to Guido Pella of Argentina but battled back to win 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. Sock continues his singles play Tuesday evening against #12 David Goffin of Belgium. In the doubles competition Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey defeated Daniel Nestor of Canada and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-3. Another American, Rajeev Ram, begins doubles play on Tuesday as he will pair with Raven Klaasen of South Africa to take on Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview
Sunday Update

The Italian Open men’s singles competition didn’t last very long for Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey as both Americans were bounced from the field in Rome on the very first day of competition in straight sets. Both Johnson and Querrey lost their matches by identical 4-6, 4-6 scorelines, Johnson to Juan Monaco of Argentina and Sam Querrey to Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain. The losses leave Jack Sock as the last American man in the field. Sock will open his competition today against Guido Pella of Argentina. Ironically Johnson and Querrey are teamed up together in doubles and will begin to focus on that today as they take on Daniel Nestor of Canada and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic.

On the women’s side there is an all-American first round matchup as #12 Venus Williams faces Coco Vandeweghe. The other American woman to start singles play will be Madison Keys who will look to continue a strong year as she takes on Andrea Petkovic of Germany to start her Italian Open. In doubles action Venus teams up with Serena Williams to face Andreja Klepac and Katrina Srebotnik of Slovenia.

Previous Italian Open Coverage:
Preview

Play begins on Sunday in Rome as the 2016 Italian Open kicks off with Americans involved throughout the field. Two of those Americans will get underway in the singles tournaments on the first day of the tournament. In the men’s singles matches we’ll see Steve Johnson take on Juan Monaco of Argentina and Sam Querrey take on Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain. Neither of the Americans, nor their opponents, are seeded. The men’s and women’s qualifying is still wrapping up on Sunday as well so most of those draws will get underway on Monday.

Previous WTA & ATP Coverage:
Mutua Madrid Open Recap