4.22.2009 -

Since the start of the open era no player has won the same tournament six years in a row. I’m betting Nadal will be the first guy to set this record. Both Rafa and Uncle Toni were perturbed with his serving performance last week. What I love about these guys is that they’re always looking to get better and are not afraid to continually tweak and tinker Nadal’s game.

What a tremendous second set Djokovic played against Nadal on Sunday and the Serb started the third set with the momentum. Serving 30-40 in the opening game of the 3rd set Nadal won one of the most epic points of 2009. After a lengthy rally Nadal scampered to an excellent Djokovic drop shot and summoned up an impossible passing shot. It was the first sign of bad body language from the Joker as the winner by Nadal brought him to his knees. After four deuces — 13 minutes and 32 seconds of battle, Nadal held on for 1-0. That was the most pivotal game in the match. Even though he didn’t win the tournament Djokovic should gain a huge amount of confidence from the way he conducted his business in Monte Carlo. After a disappointing start to the year it nice to see him round out his form.

 Murray had his career best clay court event and should keep improving on the dirt. In my mind Federer is now the fourth best player in the world…

Every kids dream in the world is to one day be number one. And I gotta give big props to the Marat and Dinara for becoming the first ever brother and sister combo to obtain the number one ranking. But at the same time I’m not happy about the WTA ranking system. Since 2008 six women have reached the number ranking and two of them did it with out winning a major title in their careers. Since Feb 2004 there have been only two number ones in men’s tennis and they have a total of 19 slams between them…I still think that they’ve jammed too many events into the clay court season. Four big tournaments in five weeks is brutal, the ATP needs to find another week on the calendar.

4.18.2009 -

What a battle royal in the second set of Murray and Nadal today.  Murray saved a match point down 3-5 with a sweet dropper and from that point on the match took on epic proportions.   Murray pushed Nadal harder than anyone has on clay since Fed took a set of him in the 2006 final which was the last time that Nadal lost a set in Monte-Carlo.

Andy can take a lot away from the week and has had a massive improvement on clay since last year; this will certainly bolster his confidence for the French Open.

Excellent result from Djokovic today and in this event he is no longer giving his new Head stick the stare down. Wining Dubai and reaching the final in Miami have helped his confidence as well.

Nadal will win in straight sets tomorrow to become the first man to win Monte-Carlo five years in a row…

Who says Americans can’t win on clay the Bryans are in the final here again and might even consider clay one of their favorite surfaces.  The won their first major title at the Roland Garros so you never no.

4.17.2009 -

Today was very straight forward with three of the top four coming through, the only problem was having the wrong Swiss guy round out the semifinals. 

It was great seeing Nadal playing with out tape on his knees.  He completely mauled Lapentti and Ljubicic and even though he had to play two matches he will be well rested for Murray.  It amazes me how he can come straight from the hard courts and immediately re-tool his forehand for the dirt. 

What a rough welcome back for Davydenko, he spent four and half hours on court ans still came up short.  I think Murray’s improved play will help him on the other surfaces and tomorrow’s semi with Nadal will be a real measuring stick to see how far his clay court game has come. 

Djokovic has done an excellent job keeping his composure all week and I expect to see him and Nadal battleling for the hardware on Sunday. 

This is such a great time for men’s tennis.  To consistently have the top seeds staying around through the weekend is every tournament director and fans dream.  As a matter of fact it’s epic… 

It really takes the air out of the tournament with no Americans left in the Charleston draw.   The Williams sisters are going to need to put more time in on the dirt if they are going to be French Open contenders.   These are not the best of times for women’s tennis.

4.16.2009 -

I’ve only been to the Monte-Carlo event four or five times and today’s conditions seemed pretty typical to what I’ve experienced there.

These slow, heavy conditions are usually what Fed prefers on clay. Like in Indian Wells and Miami he continues to struggle with his forehand and serve. When he was running around his backhand to hit inside out forehands he was misfiring often. He also had 14 break points against his serve today, so he’s lucky that Stan didn’t drop a real beat down on him. It’s not like Wawrinka is a clay court specialist and Roger hasn’t lost to a Swiss player since Roset beat him in 2000. I think Fed’s problems are stemming from a lack of patience and this is precisely what he going to need in spades in the next two months. Also the Fed fear factor is fading.

What an effort from Murray coming back from 0-5 to capture the first set 13-11 in a breaker. Andy’s looking a lot more comfortable on the dirt. Three qualifiers made the third round of Monte-Carlo. With todays incomplete card due to rain delays a couple of guys are going to have to play two matches on Friday and that’s never ideal scenario on the dirt…

Venus was upset in the third round of the Family Circle Cup by 63rd-ranked Sabine Lisicki. Venus needs to step up to her clay court potential. The Young American Melanie Oudin qualified for the FCC and won a round.  Props to Mary Joe for picking her for the Fed Cup squad, this move seems to have helped her confidence.

4.15.2009 -

I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting old but I’m having a difficult time tracking the ball on the clay in Monte Carlo. Maybe it would help if they had a multi colored court.

Fognini, who qualified, pulled off a big upset over Cilic today. When I was coaching Andy Murray two years ago in Montreal he got crushed by Fognini. They play for second time in their careers tomorrow. Murray is working with Alex Corretja during the clay court season and will be eager to reach his first professional quarterfinal on clay.

I really enjoy watching the clay court tennis much more the last few years because it seems like more guys are playing attacking tennis instead of trying to just out-grind each other.

Big win for Ljubicic over Del Potro today. It looks like quitting the ATP board has helped him focus more on his tennis. Props to Monte-Carlos for getting nine of the top ten to play the event…

It’s funny I was reading that Nadal says since he’s been playing so many non-clay events that he’s having a difficult time adjusting to the dirt.  And Fed is saying that he’s looking forward to getting off the hard courts…

I still can’t believe that Safina is the WTA number one. I just don’t understand the way they do their ranking system. If the William sisters don’t do well on the dirt the clay court season will be wide open. Venus has had poor results the last few years on clay, if she can continue her streak this year on clay she’ll make up a lot of ground in the rankings.

4.10.2009 - I’ve always felt that for a player to get the number one ranking something magical should happen.  Because of an injury to her left leg Serena has essentially forfeited the top spot to Safina. No disrespect to Safina—she’s been in two slam finals— but it’s hard to merit being number one without winning a major title…

Federer made a wise decision to accept a wild card into next weeks clay court event in Monte Carlo. I think it will do him justice to get plenty of matches in on the dirt– win or lose– before playing the French Open. He’s doesn’t need to win these tournaments, he just needs time to prepare his game for Roland Garros…

Props to ESPN for having a live web cast of the U.S. Clay court Championships on ESPN360.com this weekend.