What happens in Vegas...: doesn't stay in Vegas for long, if you are the ATP. The men's tour has been experimenting with a round-robin format at select events this year, and thus far it has proven to be a disaster. At the latest stop, Las Vegas, a rule was temporarily rewritten mid-tournament to favor the top seed and defending champion, and then the situation was mysteriously reversed in the middle of the night. Midnight overseas phone calls, a cash payoff, and inciting the fury of the players: you can't make this stuff up! Previous "disasters" inside...

posted by somethingotherthan to tennis at 05:03 PM - 3 comments

Long-shot Serena Williams annihilates #1 Maria Sharapova to win Australian Open.: She started as a 34-1 longshot to win this event, coincidentally the last title she won on Tour (AO '05). Out of shape and will less than five events in the last 12 months, no one expected Serena Williams to compete for this Slam -- much less beat the newly-minted World #1 and US Open queen Maria Sharapova in straight sets. Does this win merely continue the tradition of "wacky" wins, or does it say something about the state of women's tennis today?

posted by somethingotherthan to tennis at 12:23 AM - 22 comments

Greg Rusedski cries foul: after he fails a drug test for the banned steriod nandrolone. The tennis media, especially in Britian, has taken this news and run with it, and suddenly this career-threatening news has given Rusedski more publicity than he has ever had, overshadowing the results of the first events of the 2004 season. The crux of his argument is the ATP's own admission last summer that their own trainers were giving out the banned substance in its electrolyte-replacement drinks and other pills, which lead to another player being banned from the tour then being reinstated. (more inside)

posted by somethingotherthan to tennis at 10:37 PM - 5 comments

With all eyes on Tim, will the other Brit sneak through?: Greg Rusedski, the transplanted Canuck, played a near-perfect match today against Andy Roddick and has been quietly going about his business. Now that there are no top seeds in the 4th round on the bottom half, what are the chances for an all-British final? (more. . .)

posted by somethingotherthan to tennis at 12:50 PM - 6 comments