2016 US Open Preview: 10 things to look for at the US Open

     The 2016 US Open gets underway today and so it is time for me to do my list of 10 things to look for going into the final grand slam of the year!

Before I do that, as a quick refresher, here are the results in singles for the Olympics: Andy Murray & Monica Puig (gold); Juan Martin Del Potro & Angelique Kerber (silver); Kei Nishikori & Petra Kvitova (bronze). Andy Murray became the first player to win two Olympic golds in singles and Monica Puig became the first Puerto Rican to ever win an Olympic gold medal.

With that now out of the way, here is my list of 10 things to look for at the 2016 US Open!

#1. Novak Djokovic needs to bounce back: Novak Djokovic went out early at Wimbledon and also got bounced in the first round at the Olympics, losing to Juan Martin Del Potro. Novak Djokovic has been dealing with some injuries and he is also fatigued from the French Open. Novak Djokovic could really benefit from a strong outing at the US Open. He doesn't necessarily need to win it, but he needs to at least reach the semifinals.

#2. Serena Williams still needs to establish herself as World #1: Serena Williams has established herself as the greatest women's tennis player ever, but funny enough, she hasn't yet clinched the world #1 ranking for the year. As a matter of fact, Angelique Kerber is only 190 points behind Serena Williams going into the US Open. If Serena Williams wants to finish the year at #1, she'll need to win the US Open and also hope that Angelique Kerber doesn't make too deep of a run.

#3. Will Andy Murray continue to roll? Andy Murray is on quite a roll right now. He won the 2016 Wimbledon title and also the 2016 Olympic gold medal in singles. With Novak Djokovic having rough outings at Wimbledon and the Olympics, Andy Murray might be the favorite to win the US Open. It'll be interesting to see if Andy Murray continues his dominance and closes out the year with two grand slam titles.

#4. Is Monica Puig a threat to win a grand slam? Monica Puig is the #34 ranked player in the world, which makes some people question whether or not her Olympic gold medal should be taken seriously in terms of her potential to win a grand slam. I personally think Monica Puig has what it takes to win a grand slam based on what we saw in Rio. Also, I don't like it when people start to second guess or diminish people's achievements. Winning an Olympic gold medal is a huge deal in any sport and it's an even bigger deal when you are the first from your country to do it. Regardless of what happens at the US Open, Monica Puig's gold medal should be celebrated and treated with respect.

#5. Is Juan Martin Del Potro ready to make some noise in a grand slam? Juan Martin Del Potro is the other player whose results were a surprise in Rio. He won the silver medal with a win over Novak Djokovic in the first round. It'll be interesting to see whether or not he is able to carry his success from Rio into the US Open.

#6. Angelique Kerber has a lot on the line: As I mentioned previously, Angelique Kerber is breathing down Serena Williams' neck in the rankings. She won the Australian Open and lost in the Wimbledon final. She also won the silver medal in Rio. If Angelique Kerber can win the US Open and finish the year as the #1 ranked player in the world, that would be huge for her as she builds momentum for 2017. She already has great momentum for 2017, but finishing the year as #1 would be huge.

#7. How much gas does Rafael Nadal have? Rafael Nadal finished 4th in Rio, just shy of earning a medal. Rafael Nadal is still playing because he believes he can win another grand slam. I personally think we are unlikely to see him win another grand slam, but I hope he proves me wrong. I would love to see Rafa in contention in the final grand slam of 2016.

#8. Don't sleep on Venus Williams: Venus Williams is #6 in the world and still playing excellent tennis. If there is any dark horse in this grand slam it is Venus Williams. She knows what it takes to win at the US Open and she loves playing in front of the American crowd.

#9. How will Milos Raonic respond to his Wimbledon run? Milos Raonic finished in second place at Wimbledon and he is hoping to build off that momentum and win the US Open. Raonic has the pieces to win the US Open due to his big serve, powerful ground strokes, and mobility. If there is any dark horse on the men's side to win, it's definitely Milos Raonic. He's bound to win a grand slam at some point, so why not the 2016 US Open?

#10. Is Madison Keys ready to make her move? Madison Keys is currently #8 in the world and appears to be on the verge of breaking through at a grand slam. Will the 2016 US Open be the place she wins her first grand slam? I don't see why not. Her game is well suited for the hard courts due to her power and aggression. Plus, she loves to play in front of the American crowd. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see her win the 2016 US Open.

Prediction:  On the men's side, I'm predicting Andy Murray to win the singles title. Murray has too much momentum on his side for me to not pick him to win. On the women's side, I'm gonna roll with Madison Keys. Look for her to break through at the 2016 US Open and win her first of many grand slam titles.

10 things to look for at the 2016 Olympics

     
     Today, the Olympic games begin for tennis with the men and women's fields containing 64 players each, which is half the amount of players that compete in a grand slam. The top 56 players in the ATP and WTA rankings automatically qualify for the event with a cap of 4 players per country per draw. E.g. The United States can send 4 men and 4 women to play tennis.

      In addition, unlike the 2012 games and previous Olympic tournaments, no rankings points will be granted so this really is an event all about bragging rights and national pride. Still, even without any ranking points being granted, this is still viewed as the unofficial fifth grand slam, which means that a lot is on the line from a legacy standpoint. I will preview and recap this event like I do the four grand slams with 10 things to look for and 10 things to take away once the event has concluded.

#1. Will Rafael Nadal have a renaissance? Rafael Nadal was given the opportunity to carry Spain's flag at the Olympics, an honor that I'm sure he will cherish for the rest of his life. He's a guy who has made more than enough money and already cemented himself as one the greatest tennis players of all-time. For him, these Olympic games are all about enhancing his legacy as much as possible and also giving himself a chance to get back in the winner's circle at a major event for the first time since the 2014 French Open. Rafael Nadal is hungry for an Olympic medal and anything that can give him a morale boost. Getting a medal in either singles or doubles would be huge for Rafa and perhaps propel him to bigger and better things in the future.

#2. How much motivation will Serena Williams have? Serena Williams has won 22 grand slam titles, tying her with Steffi Graf for the most in the Open Era. She's won four gold medals (three in doubles and one in singles) and virtually accomplished all of her tennis goals. It'll be interesting to see how motivated she is during the course of the event and how much she wants a gold medal. In my opinion, I think she'll focus more on the doubles side since she really cherishes her time with her sister Venus. Look for Serena and her sister to take gold in the doubles, but in the singles, I'm just not sure how much motivation she has to win it. I'm still gonna pick her to win the event just because she's Serena.

#3. Andy Murray once again has a weight of a nation on him: You would think that winning Wimbledon for a second time and bringing home the gold in London would take the pressure off of Andy Murray. But amazingly, this man still has the weight of the United Kingdom on his shoulders. In wake of Brexit and all the pandemonium that has happened across the pond, the United Kingdom needs as much unifying as possible. Andy Murray carried the Union Jack in the opening ceremonies and once again is being looked to as the one who can rally the Brits together at the Olympic games. Look for Andy Murray to compete hard and make a serious run for gold as the #2 seed in the event due to this weight.

#4. Angelique Kerber can get some revenge and also prep herself for the US Open: Angelique Kerber fell to Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final after defeating her previously at the Australian Open final. Kerber comes into the event as the #2 seed, which means if all goes according to form, she'll face Serena Williams in the final. For Angelique Kerber, she has to view these Olympics as a chance to get some payback at Serena Williams and also give herself a mental boost heading into the US Open, which is also played on the hard courts.

#5. An Olympic gold still eludes Novak Djokovic: Novak Djokovic is on his way to being the greatest tennis player of all-time, but if he wants to cement himself as the greatest player, winning an Olympic gold is something he might need to do. I wrote a blog post about Novak Djokovic needing the French, so I don't want to contradict myself by saying he needed more than just one French Open title. Given that the Olympics only comes around once every four years, winning a gold at the Olympics isn't viewed as a necessity to be the greatest player ever, but considering that Roger Federer's gold medal came in doubles and not singles, getting an Olympic gold medal in singles would be a nice thing for Djokovic to have on his resume for the greatest of all-time debates that will certainly ensue once his career is over.

#6. An Olympic gold medal would be a nice way for Venus Williams to go out: Like her sister Serena, Venus Williams has four Olympic gold medals with three of them coming in doubles. Venus Williams hasn't been in the winner's circle at a grand slam since 2008 and so we are starting to forget how good she was in her prime. Seeing Venus Williams take home an Olympic gold medal in singles would certainly be fun to watch, as it would be a "turn back the clock" sort of moment.

#7. American Steve Johnson could have a breakout event: Steve Johnson is the highest ranked American male in the event, seeded 12th. Outside of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Rafael Nadal, this event is wide open. A lot of top players decided to withdraw due to either injury or fears of catching the Zika virus, which quite honestly is nothing to be afraid of unless you are pregnant or really old. One of the biggest benefactors of this wave of dropouts could be Steve Johnson, who is really hoping to do everything he can to give US men's tennis new life. As a dark horse of sorts to snag a medal, I got my money on Steve Johnson. He has a lot to play for as the highest ranked American male in this event.

#8. Eugenie Bouchard and Sloane Stephens could both use a boost: Two players who could both really benefit from a strong outing at the Olympics are Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and Sloane Stephens of the United States. Eugenie Bouchard has been as ranked as high as #5 in the world and is now ranked #40. Sloane Stephens has also experienced a bit of a drop off, though not as drastic, falling from #11 in the world to #22. Both of these young ladies really need to find their mojo again and the Olympic games is just the place for them to do it. Sadly, only one of them can do this since they are facing each other in the first round.

#9. Don't sleep on David Ferrer: David Ferrer is the #7 seed in the men's draw and has never gone further than the third round at the Olympic games. However, with all of the withdrawals and also a lack of desire by many to take this event seriously, David Ferrer could take advantage since he's a guy who I know would love to get an Olympic medal. Considering that he has never won a grand slam, it would certainly be a feel good story to see David Ferrer win an Olympic medal. He's a classy player and one of the hardest working players we've ever seen. I'd love to see it happen.

#10. Madison Keys is another player who should be looking to make her mark: Madison Keys is the #7 seed in the women's draw and eager to make her mark as the future of American women's tennis. If she wants to make a deep run at the US Open in a few weeks, she should look to have a strong outing at the Olympics and bring home a medal. If she does, she'll come into New York with a ton of momentum and confidence.

Note: Click here for live scoring updates throughout the Olympics for both singles and doubles.  

10 things to take away from the 2016 Wimbledon Championships

     Before I look ahead to the Olympics and US Open on here, I need to write my list of 10 things to take away from the championships at Wimbledon. It was a very exciting tournament with Serena Williams winning her 22nd grand slam title, tying her with Steffi Graf for the most in the Open era. On the men's side, we saw Andy Murray win his second Wimbledon title and third grand slam title overall making him the first Brit since Fred Perry to win multiple Wimbledon titles. History was made in both the gentlemen's and ladies' draws. Without further introduction, here is my list of 10 things to take way from the championships at Wimbledon. 

#1. Serena Williams is the G.O.A.T. Let me be clear that Serena Williams has been the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) in women's tennis for at least a couple of years now, but by tying Steffi Graf for the most grand slam titles in the open era, Serena Williams made it official. She breaks the tie over Steffi because Steffi benefited from the tragic downfall of Monica Seles, whereas Serena Williams has routinely owned the top players of her era. Serena still has to win two more grand slams to pass Margaret Court, which I think she will do in time. But, for now, Serena Williams has reached the record for most grand slam titles of the Open era which should erase any doubt of as to whether or not she's the greatest women's player ever. 

#2. Andy Murray can't be taken lightly Andy Murray, at least I feel, gets overlooked too much. It's easy for him to when you compare his body of work to that of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. But, with an Olympic gold medal and three grand slam titles under his belt, it's time we start giving him the respect that he deserves. Considering that his accomplishments have come in the most competitive era of men's tennis, one has to rank him among the games' greatest players right now. 

#3. Winning the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back is really tough Both of the 2016 French Open singles champions (Garbine Muguruza and Novak Djokovic) went out early. Muguruza went out in the second round to Jana Cepelova and Novak Djokovic went down to Sam Querrey in the third round. While one certainly has to give credit to their opponents for winning their matches, I think the early exits of both Garbine Muguruza and Novak Djokovic is a cautionary reminder of just how difficult it is to win grand slam titles on both the dirt and the grass within such a short period of time. The surfaces are very different and the clay really does wear players down. After battling so hard on the clay for two weeks, it's very difficult to find the strength to win another grand slam just a few weeks later. 

#4. Novak Djokovic is human As sort of an extension of the previous point, we learned that Novak Djokovic is human. Djokovic came into Wimbledon holding all four grand slams and I think we all just took it for granted that he would once again steamroll the competition and pick up another slam. In the end, he showed us that he too has his moments where he can't find that extra gear to win, which I think should actually make us appreciate his greatness even more. The fact that he's accomplished what he has as a human being and not a robot makes him all the more remarkable. 

#5. Venus Williams proves she's still a threat Venus Williams advanced to the semifinals before falling to Angelique Kerber.  If anybody wonders about whether or not Venus Williams has what it takes to still contend at grand slams, I think the two weeks at Wimbledon showed us that she does. So long as she's playing tennis, she'll always be a threat to win at Wimbledon, a place where she's won five of her seven grand slam titles. 

#6. Milos Raonic has arrived Even though he lost in the final, Milos Raonic showed us that he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in men's tennis for quite a while. He played a great match against Roger Federer in the semifinals and played with a lot of heart in the final. I expect big things from Milos at the US Open and in future seasons to come. 

#7. Angelique Kerber is here to stay After winning the Australian Open, Angelique Kerber made a run all the way to final before losing to Serena Williams 5-7, 3-6 in the final. With Maria Sharapova still suspended indefinitely and nobody else really challenging Serena Williams, expect Angelique Kerber to stay as the #2 player in the world and also continue being a threat to win grand slams. 

#8. Roger Federer is still dangerous, but can he win another one? Roger Federer lost in the semifinals to Milos Raonic and has since ended his season so that he can be 100% for 2017. Roger Federer is showing that he is still an elite tennis player, but can he win another grand slam is the big question. Personally, I think he has it in him to win one more grand slam, but the odds are still not in his favor. With each passing year, guys like Milos Raonic continue to get better while Federer continues to age. It's gonna be tough for Roger Federer to win a slam in 2017, but I have the faith that he can. Especially since it appears as though he's really gonna be gunning for it. 

#9. Sam Querrey gave US Men's tennis some hope The United States continues to do well in women's tennis thanks to Serena Williams and some exciting young players. But in men's tennis, the US has had a difficult time making some noise in recent years. Sam Querrey upsetting Novak Djokovic in the third round and reaching the quarterfinals gave US men's tennis a spark of hope and something to get excited about. Hopefully Sam will have a strong outing at the US Open and also inspire the other US men to pick up their game as well. 

#10. Elena Vesnina is a name to keep an eye on If you hadn't heard of Elena Vesnina before Wimbledon, that's totally fine, but after making an impressive run to the semifinals she suddenly showed that she's a name we need to know. To some extent, she benefited from a friendly draw, defeating Ekaterina Makarova in the 4th round and Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals, but even so, the very fact that she won those matches and didn't let the pressure get to her is impressive.

2016 Wimbledon Preview: 10 things to look for at Wimbledon

      On Monday, June 27, Wimbledon will commence at the All-England Club. Amid all the paranoia and uncertainty surrounding Brexit, hopefully the championships will bring the United Kingdom together and help people get their minds off of what has been a very tumultuous week. Anyways, before I dive into more commentary about the possible ramifications that Brexit will have on the European and world economy at large as well as the possibility of Scottish independence, let me instead focus your attention on 10 things to look for going into Wimbledon.

#1. Will the rest help Roger Federer? Roger Federer, the winner of 17 grand slams and 7 Wimbledon titles, decided to not play in the French Open to help him better prepare for Wimbledon and the rest of the season. It will be interesting to see if Roger Federer benefits from the rest and seriously challenges to win his 8th Wimbledon and 18th grand slam title as a result of the extra rest.

#2. How will Garbine Muguruza respond to her French Open title? After winning the French Open and reaching the Wimbledon final last year, it will be interesting to see if Garbine Muguruza makes another deep run at a grand slam or if she goes out earlier than expected. She's the #2 seed in the tournament behind Serena Williams and certainly has good reason to be optimistic about winning another grand slam title. However, she lost in the first round in her home tournament the Mallorca Open as the number one seed to start off the grass season. So, that result has to at least give you pause when you start to hedge her chances at Wimbledon this year.

#3. Will the reunion of Andy Murray and Ivan Lendl bring forth fruit? Andy Murray has reunited with his former coach Ivan Lendl with the hopes of giving himself an edge going into Wimbledon. When Andy Murray won Wimbledon, Lendl was his coach and Murray wants to recapture some of that magic. It will be interesting to see if Andy Murray is any more of a threat because of Lendl's presence and also how long they stick together after the championships.

#4. Does Venus Williams have one more run left in her? At the age of 36, Venus Williams still has game. She enters the championships as the #8 seed in the draw and has had more success at Wimbledon than any other grand slam, winning the title five times. It's hard to see her sticking in the top ten for much longer, but right now, she's a top ten player with five Wimbledon titles. She's definitely a dark horse to win the title for a sixth time. It would be way fun to see Venus Williams play in one more Wimbledon final before her legendary career comes to a close.

#5. Will the pressure of a calendar slam get to Novak Djokovic? Novak Djokovic isn't a guy to struggle under pressure or let you know he's feeling the pressure, but he comes into Wimbledon as the odds on favorite to win and collect his fifth straight grand slam title. If he wins Wimbledon and the US Open, that will be six straight grand slam titles for Novak Djokovic en route to a calendar slam. If he accomplishes that, it'll be hard to not say he's the greatest to ever play the sport. With that kind of history on the line, it will be very interesting to see if we start to see any signs of the pressure getting to Nole.

Note: I have Djokovic winning it and carrying the calendar slam into the US Open.

#6. Will Serena Williams finally breakthrough in 2016? Serena Williams has won 21 grand slam singles titles and is just one grand slam title shy of Steffi Graf who has won more grand slam titles than any other woman in the Open Era with 22. Margaret Court is the all-time leader with 24, but those titles are inflated due to Margaret Court competing in the 1960s, a much less competitive era and also an era in which not everybody played the Australian Open. Being an Australian herself, Margaret Court took advantage of the diminished competition at the Australian Open to win the event 11 times. So for all intents and purposes, 22 is the mark that Serena is chasing, not that she doesn't intend to reach 25.

Anyways, enough of the history lesson. The bottom line is that Serena Williams has not yet won a grand slam title in 2016 and she is eager to surpass Steffi Graf in 2016 as opposed to having it linger during the offseason. Look for Serena Williams to come out guns blazing with razor sharp focus during these two weeks on the grass.

Note: I'm picking Serena Williams to win and tie up Steffi Graf at Wimbledon.

#7. Will Dominic Thiem continue his assent? After reaching the 2nd round of Wimbledon in 2015 and the 3rd round of the Australian Open earlier this year, Dominic Thiem exploded onto the tennis scene in Paris, reaching the semifinals of the French Open. As a result, he reached as high as #7 in the world and enters Wimbledon as the #8 seed. It's hard for guys like Dominic Thiem, who have surged like this, to backup their play in the next grand slam. Will Dominic Thiem flame out early or will he prove he's here to stay? That will be a key thing to look for during these two weeks.

#8. Don't sleep on Petra Kvitova. If there's any dark horse worth gambling on, it's Petra Kvitova. Even though she's the #10 seed in the tournament, she's won Wimbledon twice in 2011 and 2014, which are the only grand slams she's ever won. It's no surprise she says Wimbledon is her favorite grand slam. She moves well on the grass and uses here lefty serve to her advantage on the grass in a way that she isn't able to at any other grand slam. Don't be surprised to see Petra Kvitova make another deep run at Wimbledon.

#9. Will Stanislas Wawrinka's coaching change pay off? Stanislas Wawrinka made a coaching change of his own, hiring 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek as his coach to give him an edge on the grass. The furthest that "The Stanimal" has gone at Wimbledon is the quarterfinals, so he's definitely smart to look for an edge. I'm just not sure the hiring of Krajicek is the edge he's looking for. We'll see.

#10.  Will the ladies' tournament go chalk? If you follow my blog and read my posts on here, you know that I believe anything can happen in the WTA, which means seeds don't mean too much. I don't mean to take seeds lightly or not acknowledge that the top players are at the top for a reason, but while things tend to go chalk for the duration of the year, in any one event or grand slam, things can be tough to predict. A perfect example is the possibility of an unseeded Sabine Lisicki making a deep run. I tend to think things will go chalk for the most part since I have Serena Williams winning it all, but don't be surprised if Garbine Muguruza, goes out early or if some lower seed makes a much deeper run than expected.

Click here to view the gentlemen's singles draw

Click here to view the ladies' singles draw 

10 things to take away from the 2016 French Open

   
     Before I move on to Wimbledon, I would like to take a quick look back at the two weeks that we just had in Paris at Roland Garros. Novak Djokovic won his first Roland Garros title defeating Andy Murray in the final while Garbine Muguruza won her first grand slam title defeating Serena Williams in the final. There are 10 things that we can take away from the event, but Djokovic completing the career slam and Muguruza winning her first grand slam are definitely the two biggest stories.

#1. Novak Djokovic has entered rarefied air: Novak Djokovic has now won 12 grand slam titles at all four grand slam events (Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and now French Open). Plus, he as completed the "Nole Slam" which means he holds all four grand slam titles at the moment and is halfway to a calendar slam. Novak Djokovic is playing some of the best tennis we have ever seen and by getting a career slam, he is now in serious consideration to be considered the greatest tennis player of all-time. The only other players to ever win a career slam in men's tennis are Andre Agassi, Don Budge, Rafael Nadal, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, and Fred Perry. If Novak Djokovic surpasses Roger Federer to win 18 career grand slams, there will be no debate that he's the greatest.

#2. Garbine Muguruza is for real: Reaching the 2015 Wimbledon final should have already tipped us off that Garbine Muguruza was the real deal, but winning the 2016 French Open title should erase any doubt. What makes her title even more impressive is the fact that she defeated Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4 in the final. Serena Williams is chasing the all-time record for grand slam titles on the women's side and to take her out in straight sets is very impressive to say the least.

#3. Andy Murray can ball on the clay: Any questions about Andy Murray's prowess on the dirt should be answered after the way he played in Paris. He went all the way to the final and fell to a guy who might go down as the greatest to ever play. Murray has nothing to be ashamed of and should be feeling good heading into Wimbledon (I'll address this more in my Wimbledon preview).

#4. Shelby Rogers is on the rise: The 23 year old American Shelby Rogers came into Roland Garros ranked outside the Top-100, but that didn't stop her from making a run to the quarterfinals before falling to Garbine Muguruza. Shelby Rogers is definitely a player to keep an eye on as we head into Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

#5. Could this be the end for Rafael Nadal? Rafael Nadal withdrew from Roland Garros due to a wrist injury and he also withdrew from Wimbledon. He plans to return next month at Rogers Cup in Toronto and play in the Olympics, but even so, the accumulation of injuries and absences at grand slams makes me wonder how much longer we'll see the King of Clay play on the ATP Tour.

#6. Venus Williams is still hanging around: Venus Williams came into Paris as the #9 seed and lost to the #8 seed Timea Bacsinszky in the 4th round. Venus' ability to play at an elite level at her age is incredible and she should not be counted out at Wimbledon.

#7. Dominic Thiem is a guy to keep an eye on: Dominic Thiem came into Roland Garros as the #13 seed, but that didn't stop him from reaching the semifinals. It'll be interesting to see if Dominic Thiem can find similar success at future grand slams or if his run to the semis as Roland Garros was an anomaly.

#8. Agnieszka Radwanska was disappointing: Agnieszka Radwanska came into Roland Garros as the number two seed overall and she flamed out in the 4th round. That is not the kind of performance she was expecting to have. She better bounce back at Wimbledon.

#9. Stanislas Wawrinka couldn't get it done this time: The defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka lost in the semifinals to Andy Murray and was unable to defend his crown. Wawrinka definitely contended, but in the end, he couldn't replicate the magic he had last season. Maybe he would have been better served to face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He seems to have Djokovic's number.

#10. The future of Maria Sharapova is unknown: Maria Sharapova didn't compete in the event due to her suspension for taking meldonium. During the same time as Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova was handed a two-year suspension by the ITF. I personally find the suspension to be harsh since meldonium is new on the banned substance list and it isn't entirely clear whether or not it has any performance enhancing effects. What is good for Maria Sharapova is that her sponsors Head and Nike among others are standing by her. Hopefully she'll get her suspension reduced and finish her career on a positive note. She has done a lot of good for the game of tennis over the years.

How important is it for Novak Djokovic to win a French Open title?

                                          (Credit: www.telegraph.co.uk) 


     Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest tennis players of all-time. The man has won 11 grand slam tiles, is ranked #1 in the world, and has raked in more prize money than any player in the history of the sport: $99,272,343. In short, Novak Djokovic has accomplished just about everything one could ever want in tennis.
   
     I say "just about" because there is one thing that still eludes him and that is a French Open title at Roland Garros. It's weird to think that one could be considered the second greatest tennis player of all-time and not yet possess a career grand slam and yet if you were to ask me for the top two greatest tennis players of all-time, I would say Roger Federer and then Novak Djokovic.

     I don't mean to dismiss other legends of the game like Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras, but when you watch Novak Djokovic play tennis and then see his body of work, it's hard to think of anybody who has played the sport better. Djokovic has a fantastic serve, cat-like quickness, one of the greatest return of serves the sport has ever seen, and an ability to hit the most difficult shots when he's under the most pressure.

     He has ice in his veins and rises to the occasion in the biggest moments. He is the ultimate tennis player and a classy one at that. He always congratulates his opponents in defeat and applauds their efforts when he wins. We may never see another tennis player as good as Novak Djokovic ever again and yet with all of that being said he is still yet to win a career grand slam because of the French Open.

     Should we wait to call him the greatest tennis player of all-time until he wins at Roland Garros? Do we cut him slack because he dueled against the greatest clay court player of all-time in Rafael Nadal? Is the career grand slam essential to his legacy or is it just something that adds to it?

     I guess it depends on what you are asking, exactly. If you are asking whether or not Novak Djokovic needs a French Open title to prove he is an all-time great, the answer is obviously no. His 11 grand slam titles and prize money speak for themselves. But, if you are asking whether or not Novak Djokovic needs a French Open title to be considered the greatest of all-time, I think this is not such an easy question to answer.

     For one thing, both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are considered the top two players of all-time in many people's books largely because they have won a career grand slam. In order to be considered greater than them, it stands to reason that you must accomplish everything they've accomplished and then more. Winning a career grand slam seems to be an essential piece to any greatest of all-time resume, which means failing to win one would be a significant mark on Novak Djokovic's otherwise phenomenal career.

     I personally think that Novak Djokovic knows this and thus wants to win the French Open more than any other grand slam. He wants to cement himself as the greatest player of all-time and remove any shred of doubt. So long as he doesn't have a French Open title under his belt, that shred of doubt will remain. It may seem somewhat unfair, but what we are talking about is being remembered as the greatest to ever play the sport.

     If Novak Djokovic never wins a French Open title, there will always be people saying that Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal is the greatest because they got the job done at all four grand slams. If on the other hand he is able to join them in the career grand slam club, it will become almost impossible to argue that he isn't the greatest of all-time. He will have accomplished everything that they have and done it while they were still in their primes.

      A French Open title for Novak Djokovic will nearly cement his place as the greatest player of all-time with only six grand slam titles to go before he passes Roger Federer for most grand slam titles ever. I have no doubt that Novak Djokovic will pass Roger Federer for most grand slam titles ever. The only question is will he win a French Open title and so long as that question remains unanswered, Novak Djokovic will fall short of being the sport's greatest player.

2016 French Open Preview: 10 things to look for at Roland Garros

     The French Open is upon us! As a matter of fact, as I'm typing this, the second grand slam of the year is already underway, so I'm really getting this under the gun! Haha. Anyways, if you have been following my tennis blog over the years, you know that before each grand slam I make a list of 10 things to look for going into the event and then I recap the event with 10 things to take away. Note: I am doing a Novak Djokovic feature article right after this so make sure you read that as well. Anyways, without further ado, here is my list of 10 things to look for at the 2016 French Open at Roland Garros. Enjoy!

#1. Will Andy Murray carry momentum from Rome into Paris? Andy Murray won the title in Rome, defeating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 in the final. Probably the number one thing to look for on the men's side is whether or not Andy Murray can use his title at the Rome Masters as a springboard to winning Roland Garros. Andy Murray is yet to win a grand slam on the dirt despite spending a good chunk of his formative years training on it in Spain. Many feel that winning in Rome could be the breakthrough that Andy Murray needs to win in Paris. How he does over these two weeks will be very interesting to follow and could be career defining.

#2. Will Serena Williams make a deep run? Serena Williams won the women's title in Rome, which is very encouraging for her. However, she has gone down early in past French Opens, which means it will be interesting to see how she plays early on in this tournament. The fact that Serena is the defending champion makes it tricky to gauge how well she'll do. She has never won the French Open in back-to-back seasons, but at the same time, one has to like her chances considering that she won it last year and also won in Rome this year. If Serena can get to the second week, she'll be the favorite to win it all. But, during the first week she has historically shown some vulnerability, so it will be crucial to monitor her play in the first couple of rounds.

#3. How much will the absence of Roger Federer cloud this tournament? Roger Federer is a no-go for Roland Garros and a no-go at a grand slam for the first time since the 1999 US Open. Sometimes a grand slam can be defined by who isn't present and the absence of Roger Federer looms large at this year's French Open. Even though nobody saw Roger Federer winning this tournament, we are still so accustomed to seeing him in the second week of a grand slam and for him to not be out there at all will feel very weird. Hopefully his absence won't hurt the ratings too much since these next two weeks promise to bring about great tennis.

#4. How much will the absence of Maria Sharapova cloud this tournament? The biggest absence on the women's side is Maria Sharapova, who is absent due to her failed drug test in which she tested positive for meldonium. Sharapova is a two-time champion at Roland Garros (2012 & 2014) and has found more success at this grand slam than any other. If she was playing, there's little doubt that she would be a contender, which makes her absence even more significant. Once again, hopefully her absence won't detract people from what should be a great two weeks of tennis.

#5. Does Rafael Nadal have one more French Open title in him? Rafael Nadal fell to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals in the 2015 French Open and looks to prove he still has what it takes to win a grand slam on clay. Given Rafael Nadal's historical DOMINANCE on clay, it would be foolish to not give him significant odds at winning the title again this year. But, father time is catching up with the king of clay and there are a lot of other players who are serious contenders as well (Murray, Wawrinka, and Djokovic). I still believe Rafael Nadal has what it takes to win at Roland Garros, but it won't be easy.

#6. How dangerous is Victoria Azarenka? Victoria Azarenka is definitely back in the mix of things at grand slams. She is #5 in the world and won her first title on tour in nearly three years at the 2016 Brisbane International in Australia. She built off of that to win the titles at Indiana Wells and Miami, making her the third WTA player to ever win both events in the same season (Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters are the other two). However, Vika hasn't had much success at Roland Garros, making the semifinals only once and that was in 2013. It'll be interesting to see whether or not Victoria Azarenka is able to be a factor in the second week at Roland Garros or if she'll flame out early.

#7. Is this Novak Djokovic's time? As I mentioned earlier, I will be doing a feature article on Novak Djokovic right after this preview that will go more in-depth, but in this article, I will give you a quick synopsis of Novak Djokovic's situation. He has won 11 grand slam titles and is ranked #1 in the world. The only grand slam title he is yet to win is the French Open. He defeated Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals last year only to lose to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final. What's on everyone's minds is whether or not this is the year Novak Djokovic finally breaks through at Roland Garros. I am going to say that it is. I think that this time Novak Djokovic will get it done and win the French Open. But, it won't be easy. Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and Stanislas Wawrinka all have what it takes to win it all as well. Novak Djokovic will have to play his very best tennis in order to win the career slam.

#8. Can Angelique Kerber win another grand slam in 2016? Angelique Kerber is very quietly going for a calendar grand slam as she enters Roland Garros. She is the 3rd seed overall, yet nobody is really talking about her as a serious threat. Part of the issue is that she didn't do well at Rome or Madrid and she has only reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros once (2012). Smart money says she isn't much of a factor, but if the WTA has taught us anything over the years, it is that anything can happen. I guess what I'm saying is don't be shocked if you are shocked by Angelique Kerber winning it all in Paris.

#9. Can Stanislas Wawrinka repeat? Stanislas Wawrinka is the defending champion and looks to once again shock the tennis world. Stanislas Wawrinka has a way of crashing the party and winning grand slams in ways that nobody would expect. I have a hard time seeing Stanislas Wawrinka winning at Roland Garros in back-to-back seasons, but he is a very good clay player that is certainly capable of winning the title. I feel weird calling the defending champion a "dark horse", but considering what Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have on the line as well as Andy Murray's recent success on clay, I really believe that at best, Stanislas Wawrinka has a 15% chance of winning this event. Don't get me wrong; he'll be in the quarterfinals and probably the semifinals. It's just that I don't see him repeating. He'll have to once again play his very best tennis in order to do so.

#10. Look for Serena Williams to win it all: Even though she's never won back-to-back titles in Paris, I'm going to say that Serena Williams does it this time. She is coming off a title at Rome and is playing excellent tennis on the dirt as of late. I expect Serena Williams to play like the best player in the world over these next two weeks and win her 22nd grand slam title.

Instant reaction to Maria Sharapova's failed drug test

     On Monday, Maria Sharapova admitted at a press conference in Los Angeles that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open. The drug she tested positive for is Meldonium, a drug that can help improve an athlete's stamina and blood flow. While Maria Sharapova claims that she has been using the drug for the past 10 years for what is implied to be medical purposes, it turns out that a person given the drug as a prescription is typically prescribed to use it for 4-6 weeks. So, it sounds like her story of using it for 10 years for medical purposes is a lie.

     The big question that we must ask in light of all of this is how should we view Maria Sharapova? Should we view her as a cheater who has gained an unfair advantage over opponents to win grand slams? Should we view her as a human being who made a mistake? Or something in the middle? Certainly some of her biggest sponsors, one of which is Nike, have made their opinions known by no longer affiliating themselves with the Russian tennis star.

     But, just because it makes sense for a business to cut ties from Maria Sharapova doesn't mean that tennis fans, analysts, and players should also proceed to throw her under the bus. Those who are directly involved in the game of tennis shouldn't be quick to declare her a cheater and shun her from a sport that she has done a lot to grow. The bottom line is that while tennis has done a lot of good for Maria Sharapova, Maria Sharapova in turn has a done a lot of good for the game of tennis. She has inspired thousands of young girls to learn the sport, she has been a classy player for her entire career, and she has also proudly represented her native country of Russia at the Olympics.

     Until Monday, Maria Sharapova has maintained a clean image and hasn't made any major mistakes. However, we live in a world that now knows about her failed drug test and with that information now being known, we have to decide for ourselves what we think her legacy should be. She will be suspended effective March 12, but the duration of the suspension is not yet known. It is certainly possible that the length of the suspension may have a huge effect on how we perceive her. If she is given a six-month suspension, odds are good this all blows over in time. If on the other hand she is given a multi-year suspension, her legacy and image could be tarnished for good.

     Ultimately, I ask people to be careful being overly critical of Maria Sharapova. For one thing, Meldonium wasn't added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances until January 1, 2016. To say that she's been cheating all these years when she actually wasn't is absurd to say. Secondly, it is entirely possible that she was unaware of it being added to the banned list, which while making her negligent and irresponsible, it doesn't necessarily make her a cheater. Third, she has overall been a positive figure for the sport of tennis and to throw all of that away because of one failed drug test seems cruel and harsh.

     While it is certainly fair to criticize her and hold her responsible for her actions, it is not necessarily fair to suddenly treat her like a cheater. She made a mistake and to her credit, she owned up to that mistake in front of the entire world. We need to not forget that and also remember that if we made a similar mistake, we too would hope for some forgiveness and compassion.

10 things to takeaway from the 2016 Australian Open

           

    It’s been a little over two weeks since the 2016 Australian Open ended and I’m long overdue to share my 10 takeaways from the first grand slam of the year. It was an exciting two weeks of tennis and a lot to unpack, so here I go!

#1. Who can stop Novak Djokovic? Novak Djokovic won the men's singles title, dominating Andy Murray 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 in the final. Djokovic collected his 6th Australian Open title and his 11th grand slam title overall. Unless some other young phenom comes up in the next couple of years, it's hard to see Novak Djokovic not breaking Roger Federer's grand slam title record of 17. He is locked in and extremely focused right now. The only thing he is yet to accomplish is win the title at Roland Garros, but with the way he's playing, I really like his chances to do it this year. 

#2. Angelique Kerber's moment finally came: Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in the women's final to capture her first career grand slam title. While many of us wanted to see Serena Williams give herself another shot at the calendar grand slam, it was really heart warming to see Angelique Kerber finally breakthrough and win her first grand slam. She's been knocking on the door for a while and she finally got it done. 

     There was a look of relief, excitement, and child-like joy on her face. It was really neat to see how much winning a grand slam meant to her. It'll be interesting to see whether or not Kerber can win another grand slam or not, but regardless of what the future holds for her, she will forever be in a very elite club of grand slam champions. 

     Tennis is a sport where winning one championship doesn't seem like much since there are four grand slam championships every year, but in truth, winning one is a big deal and Angelique Kerber should really enjoy this one. So few players ever get the satisfaction of winning one, let alone multiple, grand slams. 

#3. Is the end finally coming for Roger Federer? Roger Federer lost in the semifinals to Novak Djokovic and shortly after, it was revealed that he needed to undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his knee. While he will be back on the courts competing by hopefully March, one does have to wonder whether or not we will ever see Roger Federer win another grand slam title. He is still one of the top-5 players in the world without question, but the gap between Federer and Djokovic is widening and not closing.

     If Roger Federer doesn't win Wimbledon this year, I'm not sure we'll ever see him win another grand slam. Also, Roger Federer has never won an Olympic gold medal and the 2016 Olympic games in Rio will certainly be his last opportunity to do that. This is a big year for Roger Federer and I hope he'll be able to win another slam and get that Olympic gold. 

#4. Serena Williams is still the player to go through to win a grand slam: Even though she didn't win the title, Serena Williams showed us that she is still the best player in the world and the player who every woman on tour must go through in order to win a grand slam. In addition, Serena displayed great sportsmanship and appeared to be genuinely happy for Angelique Kerber. 

     I think that while Serena Williams still wants to win more slams, she knows that she has solidified her place as the greatest female tennis player ever. So at this point, every time she gets to compete in a grand slam, I think she's just grateful to be out there and still able to be the best at what she does. She isn't done winning grand slams by any means, but she is a human being and can't win them all. Look for her to make serious noise in Paris. 

#5. Hello, Johanna Konta: Until the 2016 Australian Open, the furthest that the 24 years old British/Australian had gone in a grand slam was the 4th round of the 2015 US Open. In the 2016 Australian Open, Konta had a breakthrough tournament, reaching the semifinals before losing to Angelique Kerber. What's crazy is that after her run to the semifinals, her ranking shot up to 95 in the world! Yeah, she was so low in the rankings that a semifinal run to a grand slam made her barely crack the top 100! 

     Anyways, considering her 4th round run at the US Open and her semifinal run at the Australian Open, I would say that Johanna Konta is certainly trending upward at the moment. It'll be interesting to see how she does on the clay at Roland Garros and the grass at Wimbledon before returning to the hard courts in New York. 

#6. Serena Williams seriously owns Maria Sharapova: Maria Sharapova was on a roll until she met Serena Williams in the quarterfinals. Serena won easily by a score of 6-4, 6-1. It's kind of crazy how much Serena Williams just owns Maria Sharapova. It's almost like Serena Williams has a personal vendetta against Maria Sharapova ever since she lost to her in the 2004 Wimbledon final. 

#7. Maybe Milos Raonic is on the verge of breaking through: Milos Raonic had a great two weeks in Melbourne, reaching the semifinals before losing to Andy Murray. It was just the second time he had reached a grand slam seminal (2014 Wimbledon) and what was even better was that he took Andy Murray to a 5th set. Perhaps Milos Raonic is finally scratching the surface of what he can do and we'll see him in grand slam final later this year. 

Note: For your amusement, click here to watch Milos Raonic dunk a basketball at the 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity game in Toronto. 

#8. Victoria Azarenka is on her way back: Victoria Azarenka lost in the quarterfinals to Angelique Kerber, but the fact that she got to the quarterfinals is a huge step in the right direction for Vika. She has been successful at the Australian Open, winning the title back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013. For her to get off to a strong start in 2016 is definitely encouraging. Hopefully she can build on this and make an even deeper run at Wimbledon and the US Open. She isn't really a clay player, so an early exit at Roland Garros wouldn't be a setback for her at all. 

#9. Eugenie Bouchard has work to do: A second round exit to the 4th overall seed Agnieszka Radwanska was expected but all the same discouraging for a player who very recently appeared to be on the verge of winning a grand slam. Eugenie Bouchard has the talent to win a grand slam in future seasons, but right now, she has to get her mind right and put herself back in a position where she can compete for grand slams. She was ranked as high as #5 in the world in October of 2014, so she definitely can get back, but it will require her to buckle down and really focus. 

#10. Andy Murray can't get it done down under: Andy Murray has a lot of good things happening in his life. He's a husband and now a father in addition to a two-time grand slam champion and an Olympic gold medal winner. However, winning the Australian Open title is not one of the good things to happen in Andy Murray's life. He has now reached the Australian Open final 5 times only to lose in the final 5 times. No player in the history of tennis has been to the final of a particular grand slam more times without winning it. He's sort of the Buffalo Bills of the Australian Open. Anyways, look for Andy Murray to contend at grand slams this year, but it's possible that so long as Novak Djokovic is around, an Australian Open title will always elude the Scotsman.   

Conclusion: The 2016 Australian Open had a lot of exciting moments and interesting results. We saw Novak Djokovic continue his dominance and Angelique Kerber win her first grand slam title. In addition, we saw Johanna Konta breakthrough and Milos Raonic have a possible breakthrough of his own. It'll be interesting to see what the future grand slams hold for us this year. Look for my preview of Roland Garros to come the Friday before the tournament starts, which will be May 13. 

2016 Australian Open Preview: 10 things to look for down under

     On Monday, January 18, the 2016 Australian Open will kick off the new tennis season. Over the coming two weeks, there will be lots of exciting moments, unexpected results, and drama that can only be found at a grand slam tennis event. With the tennis season effectively being year-round, it's nice to have a grand slam so early in the season. Anyways, what I will do in this post is list 10 key things to look for during the upcoming Australian Open. With so much tennis to be played, I think it helps to narrow things down and know what to really focus on.

#1. Lleyton Hewitt's farewell tour stops here: Lleyton Hewitt's final event on tour will be the Australian Open. In 1998, Lleyton Hewitt played in his first Australian Open. 18 years later, he is playing in his final Australian Open and will call it a career after the tournament. While he is no longer a contender to win a grand slam, he is still one of the most beloved players on tour.

     I have no doubt that when "Rusty" plays his final point of this tournament, there will tears both from himself and the crowd to go along with a very long standing ovation. That will be an emotional moment for all of us who have followed tennis and watched Hewitt play through the years. He always played with a tremendous fighting spirit that propelled him to a US Open singles title in 2001 and a Wimbledon singles title in 2002. Lleyton Hewitt, you will be missed.

#2. Look for Serena Williams to come out motivated: Serena Williams is not happy about falling short of her calendar grand slam aspirations. Serena Williams will be locked in and very focused during these next two weeks. She's gunning for a calendar slam again and knows she has to win the Australian Open in order for her to do so.

#3. Will Rafael Nadal make any noise? Rafael Nadal is seeded 5th and is projected to face the 4th seed Stanislas Wawrinka in the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal hasn't won a hard court grand slam since the 2013 US Open and his lone Australian Open grand slam title came in 2009. It's hard to see Rafael Nadal winning the 2016 Australian Open considering his lack of success on the hard courts, but given his fighting spirit and perseverance, you never want to completely rule him out.

#4. Victoria Azarenka is dangerous: Victoria Azarenka appears to be finding her groove again considering her #14 seed in the tournament. Her only two grand slam titles came at the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open. While it's been a little while since she's won a grand slam, Australia has by far been Vika's best event and if there is any place for her to recapture her magic, it would be at the Australian Open.

#5. Will Andy Murray breakthrough down under? Andy Murray is coming into this Australian Open with lots of positive vibrations right now. He's the number two seed and has Amelie Mauresmo back in his camp. Andy Murray has come close to winning the Australian Open, reaching the final four times. Will the 5th final be the charm if he gets there?

#6. Don't sleep on Venus Williams: Venus Williams is the #8 seed and is playing really good tennis right now. Grand slams often reward the more savvy and veteran players. Especially the veterans that are ranked as high as Venus. If Venus Williams plays her game, gets to the net, and plays with poise, she could win her first Australian Open title and her eighth grand slam title overall.

#7. Roger Federer for whatever reason still feels he has something to prove and that's scary: Roger Federer is still playing tennis because he loves the game, is still a top-three player in the world, and he feels like there's more he can still do in terms of winning grand slams and proving doubters wrong. Roger Federer is on a mission to win one more grand slam and that should have every player on tour very worried. Don't get me wrong, Novak Djokovic is the best player in the world right now, but outside of him, Roger Federer is the guy who nobody wants to face right now.

#8. Eugenie Bouchard could really use a boost: No player in the ATP or WTA had a more disappointing 2015 than Eugenie Bouchard. She's no longer a seeded player and she withdrew from the US Open due a concussion, which in a way perfectly encapsulated her season as a whole. Eugenie Bouchard has gone from being one of tennis' brightest young stars to suddenly being a player who can't figure out how to get her mojo going at all. If Eugenie Bouchard found herself playing into the second week and at least reached the 4th round, that would be huge for her in terms of building confidence for the rest of the season.

#9. Look for Serena Williams to win the women's singles title: Serena Williams is the best women's player in the world by far. It really is a Serena vs. the field situation because it's unclear who best has a chance of upsetting her. The big name players can't get it done against her and it always winds up being a massive underdog that upsets her. Provided Serena Williams plays her style of tennis and does so consistently, she will win the 2016 Australian Open women's singles title. There's just nobody else out there to pick ahead of her without admitting that you are basically banking on Serena Williams to have an off day, which could happen, but isn't something you want to put money on.

#10. Novak Djokovic will deliver the goods and win the men's singles title: Novak Djokovic is the best men's player in the world right now, his favorite tournament is the Australian Open, and the number two seed Andy Murray has never won the event before. Novak Djokovic loves the hard courts of Australia and plays his best tennis in those fast conditions. The Australian Open is tailor made to suit Novak Djokovic's strengths, which are his speed, service return, and stamina. Novak Djokovic thrives down under and I expect 2016 to be no exception. He will be the men's singles champion.