All posts by Jon Green

From Omaha, Nebraska. On Twitter @MaverickManiacs
ATP Tour, Tennis

Sam Querrey Into Second Round, Donald Brown Gets Lucky Loser Spot in Mexican Open Draw

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Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

The first American to get the main draw started in Acapulco was Sam Querrey. Querrey took on Tigre Hank in the night cap of the first night. It was a competitive match with Hank taking the first set 7-6 (5) to put some pressure on Querrey. He responded just fine by pulling out the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the next round. It wasn’t the strongest opponent for Querrey but playing Hank, a Mexican, in front of a pro-Hank crowd was definitely a challenge.

On Tuesday three more Americans will get underway. Donald Young didn’t think he’d be part of the main event after losing to Tim Smyczek in qualifying, but that changed when Jurgen Melzer had to withdraw. That left a lucky loser spot open into the main draw and it went to Young, making him the fourth American in the main draw. Young will be taking on Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday for the right to face the winner of fellow American Tim Smyczek’s match with Gilles Simon. Both of the matchups are the first time the players have met. While the chance is small, since both Young and Smyczek would need to pull upsets, there is the slight chance that they could meet for the second time in a matter of days.

The other American to begin on Tuesday will be the #3 seed John Isner. Isner won’t have to face a top-25 player in the world in his quarter so the makings could be here for a nice run to the semifinals. He’ll start things off with a matchup with Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the first round. The two have split their four previous matchups with Isner winning the latest, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals at Newport last year.

Mexican Open - Singles - 2-25-14

Schedule

  • 5 PM – #3 John Isner vs. Ivo Karlovic – All-time series is 2-2
  • Approx. 9 PM – Tim Smyczek vs. #6 Gilles Simon – First ever meeting
  • Approx. 9 PM – Donald Young vs. Jarkko Nieminen – First ever meeting
FIS Ski Jumping World Cup, Ski Jumping

Anders Johnson and Nick Alexander Set to Compete in Ski Jumping World Cup Event in Falun

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The next stop on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup is Falun, Sweden. The US has two athletes, fresh off their Sochi competition, in the field. Both Anders Johnson and Nick Alexander will start competition today with the qualification round. There are 64 competitors from 19 nations at the event. The training jumps happened earlier this morning with the qualification round at 12 PM ET. The event wraps up on Wednesday.

We’ll have coverage of the results of the qualification round later today.

Schedule

  • Tuesday, February 25th
    • 12 PM – Qualification
      • Anders Johnson
      • Nick Alexander
ATP Tour, Tennis

Michaell Russell Will Be Only American to Compete in Dubai Tennis Championships

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Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP)

The only American in the field for the Dubai Tennis Championships will be Michael Russell. Russell will be an underdog in his opening match against the Czech, Radek Stepanek. The two have faced off twice in the past with Russell winning a match in Auckland in 2003 and Stepanek taking a 6-2, 6-0 decision in the round of 64 in Paris in 2010. If Russell can get past Stepanek he’d have to face the rejuvenated Swiss Roger Federer in the second round, no easy task.Dubai Tennis Championships - Mens Singles - 2-24-14

Schedule

  • Tuesday 2.25.14 – 5 AM ET – Michaell Russell vs. Radek Stepanek – All-time Series 1-1
ATP Tour, Tennis

Tim Smyczek Reaches Main Draw at Mexican Open, Three Americans Will Start First Round

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Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

Only one of five Americans who started qualifying, #5 Tim Smyczek, will be in the main draw at the Mexican Open. Smyczek was up 6-2, 3-0 on fellow American #1 Donald Young when Young retired.

#7 Wayne Odesnik was down 6-2, 2-0 to #3 Stephane Robert when he retired as well. Nicholas Meister went the distance vs. #2 Alejandro Falla but lost 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Mexican Open - Qualifying - 2-24-14

Continue reading Tim Smyczek Reaches Main Draw at Mexican Open, Three Americans Will Start First Round →

Luge, Olympics, Recaps, Sochi 2014

Sochi Luge Recap – US Won First Singles Medal, but the Men Struggled

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The US had a strong women’s singles event with their best ever finish and first ever medal. It wasn’t so good on the men’s side as the best finish in the men’s singles category was their worst in 30 years and in men’s doubles was their worst in 26 years. There will be some heavy motivation over the next four years to try and improve and make a better showing at the next Olympics.

Men’s Singles

Mens Singles - 2014The US competitors were well off the pace in this year’s Olympics. The only top ten finishes in a single run came from Chris Mazdzer who had two runs (first and fourth) that were tenth best. Mazder’s 13th place finish was the first time in 22 years that the Americans didn’t have a top ten finisher. It was their worst finish since 1984. Certainly a low point they’ll look to rebound from in Peyongchang.

Mens Singles All Time Yearly Best

Continue reading Sochi Luge Recap – US Won First Singles Medal, but the Men Struggled →

Alpine Skiing, Olympics, Sochi 2014

Sochi 2014 – USA Gold Medal Winner #9 – Mikaela Shiffrin

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The last gold medal winner for the US in Sochi was also their youngest. 18-year old Mikaela Shiffrin became not only the youngest gold medalist in Sochi for the US but the youngest gold medalist ever in the slalom competition at the Olympics.

Shiffrin’s gold medal was not completely unexpected however. She’s also the reigning World Champion and won her first US National Championship at 16.  She won the 2012-13 World Cup’s Slalom discipline with four wins and two third place finishes. She placed fifth overall in the World Cup standings.

She’ll turn 19 next month and already has a World Championship, seven World Cup wins, and now an Olympic Gold Medal on her resume. The sky is the limit for Shiffrin. She is already tied with Julia Mancuso for fourth most World Cup wins and looks a good bet to become only the second American to ever win more than 18 times in the World Cup after Lindsey Vonn.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot from Shiffrin over the next few years and she will likely be one of the biggest names and brightest stars that NBC focuses on during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Give Shiffrin a follow on Twitter @MikaelaShiffrin.

ATP Tour, Rugby, Rugby Sevens, Tennis, WTA Tour

The Daily Report – Venus Williams Wins Title at Dubai Tennis Championships

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Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA)

Previous Dubai Tennis Championships Coverage

Venus Williams won the singles title in Dubai on Saturday by beating Alize Cornet 6-3, 6-0. Williams had a fantastic tournament in Dubai this week winning all of her matches in straight sets and only losing more than three games in one set. Awesome, dominating play. It’ll be interesting to see if we get this Venus the rest of the year or if this was more of a one-time thing.
Dubai Tennis Championships - Singles - 2-23-14
Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears couldn’t complete the sweep for the US in Dubai as they lost in the final 6-2, 5-7, 10-8. In a very tight final they won just two less points than their opponents.
Dubai Tennis Championships - Doubles - 2-23-14

Click on Image to Expand

The next event we’ll be covering on the WTA tour is the BNP Paribas Open from March 3rd-16th. That’s a WTA Premier Mandatory tournament that has a large field of 96 singles, 32 doubles and has a qualifying draw of 48.

Continue reading The Daily Report – Venus Williams Wins Title at Dubai Tennis Championships →

Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Daily Olympic Reviews, Olympics, Sochi 2014

February 23rd – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review

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The US wrapped up the Olympics on Sunday morning with a couple of events. The US wasn’t able to grab a final gold in Sochi but they did grab one last medal in their final moment of competition.

Bobsleigh

Events:

  • Four-man Heat 3
  • *Four-man Heat 4

In the third heat the first US team of Steven Holcomb, Steven Langton, Curtis Tomasevicz, and Christopher Fogt was fourth fastest at 55.30, and fell to 0.45 seconds off the lead in third place. The second team of Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, Justin Olsen, and Dallas Robinson was just 17th with a time of 55.97, and fell to 12th, 1.85 seconds off the lead.

In heat two Cunningham, Quinn, Olsen, and Robinson were 11th in the heat at 55.64, 0.43 seconds behind the fastest, and they finished in 12th, 2.10 seconds behind the winner. Holcomb, Langton, Tomasevicz, and Fogt were fourth fastest in the final heat at 55.33, 0.12 seconds behind the best. They won bronze as they finished in third with a total time of 3:40.99. They finished 0.30 seconds behind silver and 0.39 seconds behind gold.

Results Summarized:

  • Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, Justin Olsen, and Dallas Robinson – Finished 12th in 3:42.70 and was 2.10 seconds behind the winner. In heat three was 17th fastest with a 55.97. In heat four was 11th fastest with a 55.64.
  • Steven Holcomb, Steven Langton, Curtis Tomasevicz, and Christopher Fogt  – Finished 3rd and won bronze in 3:40.99 and was 0.39 seconds behind the winner. In heat three was 4th fastest with a 55.30. In heat four was 4th fastest with a 55.33.

Cross-Country Skiing

Events:

  • *Men’s 50km free mass start

The best skier for the US on Sunday was Noah Hoffman who finished in 26th place in a time of 1:48:04.3, 1:09.1 behind the winner. Brian Gregg was 51st in 1:55:02.3, 8:07.1 behind the leader, and Kris Freeman finished 57th in 1:59:46.7, 12:51.5 behind the winner. Torin Koos was scheduled to start for the US but did not.

Results Summarized:

  • Torin Koos – Was scheduled to start but did not.
  • Kris Freeman – Finished 57th in 1:59:46.7, 12:51.5 behind the winner.
  • Brian Gregg – Finished 57th in 1:55:02.3, 8:07.1 behind the winner.
  • Noah Hoffman – Finished 26th in 1:48:04.3, 1:09.1 behind the winner.
Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Daily Previews, Olympics, Sochi 2014

February 23rd – Sochi 2014 – Daily Preview

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What’s on tap today? The end of the Olympics as we have competition in the remaining two disciplines for the US.Two events with two gold medals up for grabs.

Out today: five disciplines that are finished for Sochi, alpine skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, snowboarding, and speed skating.

All times below are ET.

Bobsleigh

Events: The margins were tight on Saturday in the bobsleigh and now the US team of Steven Holcomb, Steven Langton, Curtis Tomasevicz, and Christopher Fogt has it all to go for on Sunday. They are in fourth but just 0.17 seconds out of the lead and will go fourth in the 4:30 AM third heat . The second team of Nick Cunningham, Johnny Quinn, Justin Olsen, and Dallas Robinson was o.90 seconds off the lead in 11th, and that’s where they will start on Sunday. Heat four is at 6 AM and will feature the top competitors in reverse order of their standings.

When:

  • Four-man Heat 3 – 4:30 AM
  • Four-man Heat 4 – 6 AM

Live Streaming: A live stream will be available on the NBC Olympics website and on the NBC Sports Live Extra app. You will probably have to authenticate a cable subscription to watch the live streams of the Olympics.

TV Coverage: The bobsleigh will be covered LIVE on NBCSN’s from 4-7 AM ET and included in NBC’s daytime coverage from 2-6 PM ET.

Continue reading February 23rd – Sochi 2014 – Daily Preview →

Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Daily Olympic Reviews, Ice Hockey, Olympics, Snowboarding, Sochi 2014, Speed Skating

February 22nd – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review

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On Monday the US grabbed their first gold since Thursday and had a couple of historic firsts. Several events got canceled due to the weather and the US hockey team won a medal, we just won’t know which one until Thursday.

Alpine Skiing

Events:

  • Men’s Slalom Run 1
  • *Men’s Slalom Run 2

Ted Ligety was the first to go for the US in the first run and his 47.56 placed him sixth and left him in medal contention for round two. David Chodounsky was the next to go for the US but he took a DNF. The final American was Nolan Kasper who finished in 48.70 to find himself 18th after the first run.

In run two Kasper finished in 55.52, the tenth best time of the run, and his total time of 1:44.22 placed him 13th overall. Ligety had a good chance to medal but his hopes were dashed when he got off track and took a DNF.

Results Summarized:

  • David Chodounsky – Received a DNF on his first run.
  • Ted Ligety – Received a DNF on his second run. On his first run he finished in 47.56, 6th fastest, and 0.86 seconds behind the leader.
  • Nolan Kasper – Finished 13th overall in 1:44.22, 2.38 seconds behind the winner. On second run he was 10th best with a 55.52, 1.58 seconds behind the leader. On his first run he finished in 48.70, 18th fastest, and 2.00 seconds behind the leader.

Continue reading February 22nd – Sochi 2014 – Daily Review →