The Pacific Life Open played out like a Grand Slam and Novak Djokovic was the final man standing after defeating Mardy Fish in three sets 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Sad. Fish would have been the Cinderella story of March.
The Serbians continued to represent well with Ana Ivanovic dumping Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets to win the women’s title.
I’m sad this tournament is over. It was a heck of a good one…and Roger Federer – what’s happenin’ man?

Because it’s March Madness, I didn’t watch tennis today. That was mistake number one. (How was I supposed to ditch my team when they needed me most, though?) Mardy Fish. Remember that name, because he beat Roger Federer in straight sets at the Pacific Life Open 6-3, 6-2.
Yeah – you read that right. Wow. Crazy.
Fish’s surprise victory (even if you’re a Fish fan, you gotta admit he was an underdog all the way), sets up a final showdown with Novak Djokovic who beat Rafael Nadal in straight sets as well.
It’s an unlikely final really. I’m excited for it. I’m going to …read more

I called David Nalbandian for the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open, and I was wrong. For those of you who don’t like me, embrace this moment because it won’t be lasting long.
 What a match thoughbetween the world number seven and Mardy Fish who is ranked, oh – uh – yes, 98 in the world. Fish took the first set at 6-3 then Nalbandian won the second 7-6 to force a third set. It went down to the wire again with a different result – Mardy Fish falling prostrate on the ground in relief.
This is the Pacific Life Open and …read more

Some players had a little easier time getting into the quarterfinals of the Pacific Life Open than Rafael Nadal did. Roger Federer is staying true to form beating Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-4. The good news for Federer is that Tommy Haas gave Andy Murray his ticket out of the tournament in a three-set match. Murray beat Federer in the first round at Dubai but Murray only proved what the rest of us already knew: he’s not consistent enough to be labeled with the big dogs, not yet.
James Blake slipped past Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal meeting …read more

It was one heck of a match. 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 victory to Rafael Nadal over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Pacific Life Open. I was on the edge of the couch, biting my nails, shouting at the television. My roommate walks into the house, sees me nearly apoplectic and asks, “Is that Wedgie Man playing?” referring to Nadal.
Why yes, yes it is. I’ve seen Rafa play a lot. He’s been around for quite awhile, but he found a different gear today. It was amazing. He was down a break, and Tsonga was serving for the match at 5-2. Tsonga should have won it, but …read more

I just watched Roger Federer demolish Nicolas Mahut. I still don’t know who he is and apparently it isn’t going to matter in this tournament. Federer cruised. No, not cruised, he was a tornado in his utter destruction. Okay, not utter. He only won 6-1, 6-1.
Hmm…maybe I should just pick up a pair of pom-poms and start some chants?
He just looked good. He was hitting his shots. He didn’t get rattled. After dumping a ball into the net, Federer knocked two aces – one kicked out wide and one down the line. I wouldn’t want to be across the net …read more

One of these days, i’m going to fiill out a tennis tournament’s bracket just like you fill out the March Madness bracket. Or the way I fill out a March Madness bracket anyway. Sadly, I can’t enter any bracket pools because of my job, but at least I can still fill it out and have the self-satisfication of knowing I kicked butt doing it.
I digress…Indian Wells. Pacific Life Open. That’s where the action is at right now. Roger Federer is rolling…meaning he’s won a match and will next be facing Nicolas Mahut – whoever that is.
Andy Roddick failed me. I …read more