I listen to David Law’s podcast and before the match he said the crowd would be for Djoker because the French hate the Brits. Plus, his losing last year.
So this morning in Rosmalen Genie flopped to the 171st ranked Mertens 6-2 6-0. And to think she made the Wimby final 2 years ago and was anointed the next star. Looks on track to turn around and make 2016 even more of an embarrassment then 2015!
Sounds right emily. The French aren’t too fond of the British. And Djokovic won many hearts when he lost to Wawrinka last year. Also, delivering his press releases and speeches in French certainly can’t hurt! 
I noticed Nole had a lot of crowd support in Rome as well. I’m happy for him that he finally did it. Tears in the eyes of Boom Boom.
There is no way Rafa will be at Wimbledon. I am just hoping he will be healthy in time for the US Open.
Roger was 30y 11m when he won his last slam, so it’ll be interesting to see if Djokovic can win slams past 31. He has a good shot. He’s incredibly fit, has his diet sorted out, mechanically efficient, motivated. I guess we could have said the same about Fed at age 29, though. Fed hasn’t won of late mainly because of his competition, however. It’s not that Fed lacks the fitness or the game. As I mentioned a while ago, Fed looks a better player today than when he was winning slams. So for Djoker, similarly, it will depend what his competition looks like in 2018+.
Rafa won’t improve, if his body holds out. Fed is incredibly motivated but it’s hard to think he’ll be better than Novak at that point, if he continues on. Andy’s and Stan’s motivation seems hit and miss. I can’t see the upside to Nishikori’s game. Is Milos going to be a world-beater when he’s 27-29? Maybe too many injuries on the horizon. Dmitrov seems to do just enough to lose, and he seems ok with that. Then you have the youngsters Thiem, Kyrgios, Coric, Zverev, Fritz. Better than Novak in a couple of years? Thiem has the best shot. Kyrgios is a head case and I’m not sure his motivation will be there; he’s like a less dignified, slightly more talented Monfils.
The bottom line is that Roger had the likes of Nadal, Djoker, Andy, Stan to contend with into his 30’s – incredible players. Even delPo was formidable before his injury woes. I’m not seeing the same competition for Novak in a couple of years, so he could continue to win slams in 2018-19 if he stays healthy and motivated. It’s difficult to see that far into the future, though, and account for individual improvement. No one really saw Sampras coming until he arrived in 1990! Maybe one of those guys above will surprise. Maple-tronic has surprised me in the past couple of years with his improvement and dedication, so maybe one of the younger guys can take a quantum leap.
At this moment, I like Nole’s chances of hitting 17+ slams.
I agree Dunboyne. The 2008-2014 era of tennis was far and away the most talented I have witnessed, and I have been watching tennis since the late 70s. Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are 3 of the top 5 players of the Open Era, and they were all playing at a high level during that period. Had it not been for the emergence of Djokovic and Nadal, Federer would have been winning majors until now. He would probably have won Wimbledon in 2014 and 2015, and the US Open in 2015. Unless a talent the level of Djokovic, Nadal or Federer emerges in the next 2-3 years, which is highly unlikely, I think Djokovic will hit the 17+ mark.
I suppose we shouldn’t forget that Fed could still win a slam or two! If Djoker takes 3 out of the next 6, who wins the other 3? Roger is right up there with Murray as the most likely winner. Also, if Djokovic isn’t healthy going forward, Fed could win 2+, pending Fed’s post-injury level of play. So the 17+ benchmark could be 18-19 by the time Roger packs it in, in which case I can’t see anyone in this era catching him.
Just thought I’d throw that bone to the Federites. 
Federer could definitely win more majors. On a good day, he can beat anybody, including Djokovic. But will his nagging injuries persist, or will he return to form.
Wow! Sharapova banned for 2 years. I am surprised. Issues with the accuracy of testing for meldonium (how long it is detected after taking,etc…) have come up, but she did admit to taking it, saying she was unaware it had been banned. https://sports.yahoo.com/news/tennis-sharapova-banned-2-years-itf-150850015–ten.html
Decision in Maria’s doping case:
http://www.itftennis.com/media/231178/231178.pdf
Two years commencing from Jan 26, 2016.
She’s appealing to CAS.
I am admittedly a Sharapova fan, so to me, the punishment seems disproportional. I think 6 months would have been ample, with her returning in time for the Olympics. Then again, maybe I do not fully appreciate the severity of her transgression.
I cannot stand Maria and I think 2yrs is too long, but according to the rules it has to be 2 yrs. From the ruling:
"The contravention of the anti-doping rules was not intentional as Ms Sharapova did not
appreciate that Mildronate contained a substance prohibited from 1 January 2016. However
she does bear sole responsibility for the contravention, and very significant fault, in failing
to take any steps to check whether the continued use of this medicine was permissible. If she
had not concealed her use of Mildronate from the anti-doping authorities, members of her
own support team and the doctors whom she consulted, but had sought advice, then the
contravention would have been avoided. She is the sole author of her own misfortune.
For the reasons given above, the Tribunal unanimously makes the following decision:
(1) An anti-doping rule violation contrary to article 2.1 of the TADP was committed by
Maria Sharapova as a result of the presence of Meldonium in the samples collected
from her at the Australian Open on 26 January 2016 and out of competition in
Moscow on 2 February 2016;
(2) Under article 9.1 the player is automatically disqualified in respect of her results in
the 2016 Australian Open Championship, forfeits 430 WTA ranking points and prize
money of AUS$281,633 obtained in that competition;
(3) Under article 10.2 the period of ineligibility to be imposed is 2 years;
(4) Under article 10.10.3(b) the period of ineligibility shall commence on 26 January 2016.
Under article 12 this decision may be appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport."
If they had found it intentional she would have gotten 4 yrs.
I have a hard time feeling sorry for her. She was no longer seeing the doctor that prescribed meldonium. She did not tell her current doctor, or her team that she was taking it and she didn’t write it down on the list of medications she is currently taking when she was tested, even though she took it before each match at the Australian Open, because she thought that only meant the medications she took “every day”. Although I agree that the punishment appears harsh, drug-testing is part of her profession and it is her responsibility to ensure every single thing she is taking is legal. Had she been open with her current doctor, or her team, she would have known that it was: A. on the watch list for at least a year before it was banned and B. that it was banned as of 1/1/16.
I don’t feel sorry for her either. I just have a hard time getting worked up over a drug which was perfectly legal to take before 1/1/16. There are still several PED that haven’t been banned by WADA and I’m sure many athletes are taking them right now. I think it’s naive to think these athletes aren’t doing everything legal to enhance their performance and improve their recovery times. But in the coming years some of those drugs will undoubtably get banned too.
Caffeine was a banned substance until 2003, iirc, but it once again on the watch list.
Here is an interesting article on the use of caffeine as a PED.
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/03/how-athletes-strategically-use-caffeine/283758/
Echoing @tx5athome above … Sharapova claims she was taking the drug for health reasons, yet she concealed its use from her team (except her agent), from medical authorities, from the WTA. She failed to report the drug on anti-doping forms, which ask for any substances taken over the past week. This drug isn’t meant for diabetes. She certainly knew what the purported cardiovascular effect was, even if the drug wasn’t illegal for years, so she kept everyone in the dark, fearing that her reputation would be called into question.
It’s the concealment that did her in. If she had informed the interested parties, someone would have picked up a phone and told her that the drug was about to become illegal. She could have avoided the ban and, what’s worse, the reputational carnage.
I can’t see her being competitive for slams when she gets back, if the ban is upheld. Tall, slower players – especially the ones not on meldonium – can get pretty rusty with a layoff, and this is a mother of a layoff. Plus, her (improved) competition will have the daggers out for her. The good news for Sugarpova is that SW might not be around when she reappears, so her 2-19 head-to-head record will be safe.
“It’s the concealment that did her in. If she had informed the interested parties, someone would have picked up a phone and told her that the drug was about to become illegal. She could have avoided the ban and, what’s worse, the reputational carnage.”
Yep, agree, but her taking it for years and the reasons she took it are irrelevant, and had no effect on the tribunal’s ruling.
Nike has reinstated her contract with them, as has Evian. Head never suspended it’s sponsorship.
Serena probably wishes she wasn’t banned since Maria is great about taking out other players in slams but losing badly to Serena in finals. This might cause Serena never to reach 22.
Rafa will not play Wimbledon! Still has the wrist injury.
Such a bummer, although I figured the wrist would take longer to heal.
tx5athome, Wimbledon has not been kind to Nadal in recent years. I would rather see him prepare for the Olympics and US Open. He can be much more competitive on hard court. Nadal always does great when he represents Spain, and without the pressure of having to win the Gold, assuming he is healthy, I think he could well do it again.
Expected and I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s out all summer.
Meanwhile, Roger into semi’s of Stuggart and will play Theim (does this guy ever take a week off?)
Vika out of Wimby due to knee injury.
Pouring rain cancelled play at The Boodles and @Eastbourne play was suspended for day with only one qrt final completed.
Wimby draw comes out tomorrow. 