Muguruza’s Cinderella Run Comes to a Halt at the French Open

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The clock has struck midnight for Garbiñe Muguruza, but not before making a massive impression at Roland Garros.

The 20-year-old half-Spanish-half-Venezuelan tennis player’s Cinderella run at the French Open came toan end at the hands of No. 7 seed Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova rallied to beat Muguruza, who was competing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Sharapova, the 2012 winner, overcame a sluggish start for the second match in a row, having defeated No. 19 Sam Stosur 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the fourth round. She improved to 18-3 in major quarterfinals and won her 48th match at Roland Garros (against 10 losses), breaking a tie with Serena Williams for the most among active players.

Williams, the world No. 1, barely added to her total at this year’s tournament because she proved no match in the second round for Muguruza, currently ranked No. 35 in the world.

Muguruza, a player to watch for a while, entered the French Open 0-5 against top-five players and 3-8 against the top 10. In her two most recent tournaments, she’d lost to Stosur in the second round of the Madrid Open and to No. 61 Francesca Schiavone in the second round of the Italian Open.

But the French Open was a different story as she crushed Williams 6-2, 6-2, followed that upset with two more routine victories and rolled to an early lead against Sharapova.

Muguruza dominated the first set on by breaking her opponent three times in five chances and hitting only seven unforced errors compared to 13 for Sharapova, who served at only 55 percent and won 2-of-9 second-serve points.

Sharapova, however, showed some of her trademark fight in the second set. After giving away a break lead with back-to-back double faults, the 27-year-old Russian had to hold at 4-5 to stay in the match. Muguruza then played a poor service game to get broken, and Sharapova served out the set.

“A lot of the games in the first set she was always up 30‑Love, 40‑Love, and then I’d win a point or two,” Sharapova said. “Then she’s the one with the confidence. You never are giving her a chance to think. In the second set, when you’re making her hit a second ball after her serve or when you’re being a bit more aggressive on the second serves, taking a bit more chances, all of a sudden she’s not hitting so freely.”

The key point of the third set came when Sharapova saved five break points while serving at 2-1. Both women struggled to string together two good points in the 10-minute game, with Muguruza taking the more offensive stance and forcing Sharapova to defend.

Sharapova struggled all day with the depth on her shots and couldn’t open up the court consistently enough to hit through her young opponent. But the Muguruza forehand broke down under pressure and began to leak errors. Sharapova finally earned the hold, won the next game for a double-break lead, at 4-1, and coasted from there.

“I knew that the match wasn’t over,” Sharapova said, when asked about the quick first set. “I still had a fair bit of time to change things around. Little by little I started playing a bit better, started getting in the court a little bit more, playing a little bit more aggressive, serving better than I did in the first set, returning as well, giving myself more looks at break points.”

“It’s tough now because I had the opportunity to win the match,” said Muguruza. “But I need more experience in these kind of matches. I think I played very good in three sets, but in the important moments I need to improve my mentality.”

Muguruza Reaches Her First-Ever Grand Slam Quarterfinal at the French Open

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s another first for Garbiñe Muguruza …

The 20-year-old half-Spanish-half-Venezuelan tennis player’s Cinderella run continues at the French Open.

Following her upset victory over World No. 1 Serena Williams in the second round, and her easy win over Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova in her next match-up, Muguruza returned to Roland Garros to face French wildcard Pauline Parmentier in the fourth round.

And the rising star in women’s tennis had little difficulty seeing off the challenge from Parmentier, winning 6-4, 6-2 in fading light on the tournament’s center court to advance to the French Open quarterfinals on Monday morning (AEST).

It’s Muguruza’s first-ever appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, a feat she’s accomplished in only her ninth major. She matched her previous best—a fourth round appearance at this year’s Australian Open—at this tournament, before besting it with her big win over Parmentier.

Muruguzu will next meet Maria Sharapova, who overcame Australia’s Samantha Stosur in three sets. The former World No. 1 is considered the favorite to win the tournament after so many upsets in the women’s draw— with the three top seeds – Williams, Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska – all failing to make the fourth round, the first time that has happened in the Open era.

Muguruza Easily Advances to the Fourth Round at the French Open

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

There was no letdown for Garbine Muguruza in her follow-up match at the French Open after taking down defending champion and World No. 1 Serena Williams.

In her third round match at Roland Garros, the 20-year-old Spanish rising star in women’s tennis easily dispatched Slovakia’s Anna Schmiedlova, who defeated Venus Williams in the second round.

Muguruza, who hit 24 winners in the match, beat Schmiedlova 6-2, 6-4. She won more than 65-percent of the points on her first serve.

She’d previously beaten her Slovak opponent in the second round at this year’s Australian Open.

Muguruza, currently ranked No. 35 in the world, now advances hit to her second successive Grand Slam fourth round appearance, where she’ll face either Pauline Parmentier or Mona Barthel.

Muguruza Soundly Defeats Serena Williams to Advance at the French Open

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Garbine Muguruza has registered the biggest win of her still-young professional career, sending shockwaves through the grounds at the French Open.

In the biggest victory of her career to date, the 20-year-old Venezuelan-Spanish tennis phenom outplayed Serena Williams, the defending French Open champion and World No. 1, at Roland Garros.

Williams, a 17-time major winner, lost to Muguruza 6-2, 6-2, in her earliest exit at a major tournament since falling in the first round at Roland Garros two years ago. It’s also her most-lopsided loss ever at a Grand Slam.

Muguruza was nerveless serving out the biggest win of her life, clinching victory on her first match point when Williams netted a backhand.

“It was one of those days. You can’t be on every day, and, gosh, I hate to be off during a Grand Slam,” said Williams. “It happens, you know. It’s not the end of the world. It is what it is.”

Williams struggled from the start against Muguruza and finished the match with only eight winners and 29 unforced errors.

“Just nothing really worked,” Serena said. “I don’t know anything that actually worked.”

The up-and-comer dictated most of the points, stayed aggressive and often smacked her groundstrokes down the middle of the court to avoid giving Williams angles — an approach Muguruza reminded herself to follow while preparing for the match in the locker room. Muguruza hit 12 winners against 18 unforced errors. During their postmatch handshake, Muguruza said Williams told her that if she continues to play this way, she can win the tournament. “I will try, I will try,” Muguruza responded.

Muguruza was playing at the French Open for only the second time in her career. She lost in the second round last year, but reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in January.

In their only other meeting, Williams crushed Muguruza 6-2, 6-0 at the 2013 Australian Open. “I was horrible because I was so nervous,” Muguruza said. But since then she has climbed from No. 112 into the top 40. In January, she won the Hobart International as a qualifier for her first title, then reached the fourth round in Melbourne, the final of the Brasil Tennis Cup and the semifinals of the Grand Prix SAR.

“I think now I believe more in me,” she said. “I’m more calm, because I know that I can play good.”

Still, Muguruza entered the match as a heavy underdog, having gone 0-5 in her career against top-five players and 3-8 against the top 10. In her two most recent tournaments, she had lost to No. 19 Sam Stosur in the second round of the Madrid Open and to No. 61 Francesca Schiavone in the second round of the Italian Open.

Muguruza will next face Slovak teenager Anna Schmiedlova, who earlier in the day beat Serena’s older sister Venus WIlliams.

Garcia stuns Former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic to Claim Her First-Ever WTA Title

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

The first time’s the charm for Caroline Garcia…

Competing in her first-ever WTA title match, the 20-year-old half-Spanish tennis player from France defeated defending champion and former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in straight sets at the Copa Claro Colsanitas in Colombia on Sunday.

With her 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Jankovic, Garcia has captured the first WTA title of her professional career.

It was the first win against a Top 10 player for Garcia, who turned pro in 2011.

Jankovic broke in the first game of the match, but the Garcia, ranked No. 5 in the tournament, took over from there, breaking right back. After that, she never fell behind again, taking six of the next eight games to take the first set.

Then, Garcia broke early in the second set en route to a 3-1 lead. Jankovic caught up to 3-all but Garcia broke again and eventually served out the match, firing back-to-back aces to bring up match point before hitting a phenomenal forehand winner for the victory.

Going into the match, Garcia was 0-6 lifetime against Top 10 players.

But Garcia’s winning ways didn’t end there…

Before winning her first WTA singles title, Garcia partnered with Lara Arruabarrena to claim the doubles title.

Garcia became the first player in nearly two years to pull off a singles-doubles sweep at a WTA-level event with Serena Williams being the last one at the Olympics.

Nadal to Participate in the Inaugural Edition of the International Premier Tennis League

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Rafael Nadal is preparing to join a league of champions in Asia…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star has signed up to participate in the inaugural edition of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).

Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Serena Williams are all confirmed for the exhibition league that begins in late November in Asia.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova and Li Na are not set to take part in the IPTL.

Indian doubles specialist, Mahesh Bhupathi, came up with the idea for the league, which will hope to be as successful as cricket’s Indian Premier League.

Tennis legends’ surprising comebacks

“The IPTL is the ﬁrst-of-its-kind Asian tennis league with a unique concept bringing together the best tennis players from across the world on the same platform,” the IPTL said in a news release.

The format sees five teams, based in Mumbai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and a yet to be confirmed city, play home and away matches. The matches are best-of-five sets but incorporate different sets — men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles and legends.

The official players list includes Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras in the legends category.

Questions still remain about how many matches the top players will play and how players will manage their schedules leading into January’s Australian Open.

Over the years, players have complained about how long the tennis season lasts — between 10 and 11 months — and the IPTL is scheduled to run from November 28 to December 20.

Nadal Named the Top Seed at the Australian Open

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It comes as little surprise… But Rafael Nadal has been listed as the top seed at the Australian Open, which gets underway on Monday at Melbourne Park.

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, recently extended his points lead over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic after clinching the title at the Qatar Open.

Djokovic, the defending champion, is the No. 2-seeded man, followed by David Ferrer, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro and 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer at sixth.

The other Latino seeds include Spain’s Nicolas Almagro at No. 13, Spain’s Tommy Robredo at No. 18, Spain’s Feliciano Lopez and No. 27 and Spain’s Fernando Verdasco at No. 32.

On the women’s side, Serena Williams has been made the top seeds at the Australian Open.

Defending champion Victoria Azarenka is No. 2, followed by Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Agnieszka Radwanska and former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in sixth.

The only Latina to earn at ranking at this year’s Australian Open is Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro at No. 16.

The 32 seeds were only altered twice from the rankings, both because of injuries. No. 29-ranked Jurgen Melzer is not playing due to a left shoulder injury and Maria Kirilenko, who would have been seeded 18th, has a left knee injury.

Sánchez Vicario to Present Winner’s Trophy at French Open

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Arantxa Sánchez Vicario will face either Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova at the French Open…

No, the 41-year-old retired Spanish tennis star, a former World No. 1, won’t be playing against either player.

The four-time Grand Slam champion will present the winner of the women’s final her trophy at the French Open this weekend.

The French Tennis Federation says Sanchez Vicario, who won the French Open three times, will be alongside the organization’s president Jean Gachassin at Roland Garros for the final on Saturday, handing the trophy to either Williams or Sharapova.

As a 17-year-old, Sánchez Vicario became the youngest winner of the women’s singles title at the 1989 French Open, defeating then-World No. 1 Steffi Graf in the final. Her record would be broken the following year by Monica Seles, who would win the title at the age of 16.

In addition to her eight Grand Slam singles titles, Sánchez Vicario also has six women’s doubles titles and four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

Sánchez Vicario, who retired in November 2002, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2007. She was the first Spanish woman to be inducted.

Fernández to Captain the 2012 Women’s Olympic Tennis Team…

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

She may have retired from professional tennis play in 2000… But that isn’t stopping Mary Joe Fernández from heading to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The 40-year-old Dominican American tenista will serve as the U.S. captain of the women’s tennis team at the games.

Fernández, who won three medals of her own in two Olympics appearances, was formally introduced on Tuesday by the U.S. Tennis Association.

“When I look back at my career, the highlight was being at the Olympics,” said the tennis commentator and ESPN analyst who won a gold and bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games and a gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. “Just being a part of it, something you’ve watched on TV as a little kid and cheered, and then all of a sudden you go to being there. You ask yourself, ‘Is this really happening?’ I’m really lucky to get to be part of that all again. Three times, wow, I’m very lucky to get to do this again.”

Fernández will await the nomination process of her team, which will kick off with the release of the post-French Open rankings on June 11. The Olympic tournament runs July 28 through Aug. 5 and will be held at the All England Club, the site of Wimbledon.

She’ll likely have Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Christina McHale and Varvara Lepchenko, plus doubles players Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond on her team.

The team will be finalized by the USTA and the International Tennis Federation, then submitted to the U.S. Olympic Committee for final nomination to the London Games in the

One of Fernández’s biggest challenges: monitoring the health of Venus Williams, who is hoping to play singles, doubles with her sister Serena, and mixed doubles, all while dealing with the symptoms of Sjorgen’s syndrome.

“Venus has been very open with me with about how she’s feeling, which I appreciate,” said Fernández, who also is the U.S. Fed Cup captain. “She’s been fantastic in letting me know what’s going on, and that’s important for us to know. She’s done an incredible job getting her ranking up so she can be on the team. We’ll see how everybody does at Wimbledon and make some decisions going forward. I think we’re all just really excited about heading to London, especially Wimbledon, for the Olympics.”

Nadal & Djokovic Aiming to Break Another World Record…

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Cristiano Ronaldo! Rafael Nadal is headed to Real Madrid’s soccer stadium… But don’t worry; he’s not planning to bend it like Beckham!

The 25-year-old Spanish tennis star, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will go head-to-head against World No. 1 player Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium on July 14. The Spanish football club’s pitch will be transformed into a tennis court, with the event taking place in the gap between Wimbledon and the London Olympics.

The reason: Well, Nadal and Djokovic—who currently have the record for the longest final in grand slam history—are hoping to attract 80,000 attendees in their ambitious quest to rewrite another record.

The showdown is the result of a partnership between two charities, the Real Madrid Foundation and the Rafa Nadal Foundation, and aims to raise money for disadvantaged children.

Djokovic and Spaniard Nadal made history at the Australian Open in January, when the Serb won his fifth grand slam title in a five-set epic match lasting almost six hours.

Now they hope to shatter the record for the largest turnout at an exhibition match — set in July 2010 when 35,681 people watched Kim Clijsters beat fellow former world No. 1 Serena Williams in Brussels.

Nadal, a Real Madrid supporter who tries to attend as many matches as possible, said he was thrilled to be taking part in the historic event.

“Back to practicing, very happy because the Rafa Nadal Foundation’s event has been confirmed at Bernabeu!” he announced on his Facebook page.

Nadal and Djokovic have won a combined 15 majors and have had one of the sport’s top rivalries of late. Djokovic has defeated Nadal in the last seven finals they’ve played, including in the last three Grand Slam tournaments—Wimbledon, U.S. Open and Australian Open.

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