EveryJoe » Pacific Life Open

Djokovic Wins Pacific Life Open

Erica — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:28:45 +0000

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?

Post from: EveryJoe

Djokovic Wins Pacific Life Open

Fish Fells Federer

Erica — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 01:12:38 +0000

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 watch it…providing my basketball team isn’t trying to continue its run in the tourney!

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Fish Fells Federer

Fish Reels in win over Nalbandian

Erica — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:46:14 +0000

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 not one of the four Grand Slams, right?

Rankings mean nothing in sports and tennis isn’t immune to that rule. Although - Fish is set to meet Roger Federer in the semis. Even though rankings don’t dictate the game, Federer is going to be a lot to handle for Fish’s weaker forehand.

I can see the slogans now: American Tennis: Swimming to the Future with Fish.

Post from: EveryJoe

Fish Reels in win over Nalbandian

Djokovic, Federer, Blake Cruise into Quarters

Erica — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:08:23 +0000

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 with Nadal. Bad news for the Spaniard, Blake leads head-to-head 3-0, but the two also haven’t met since the Tennis Masters Cup in 2006.

Mardy Fish also advanced to the finals with a hard-fought victory over Lleyton Hewitt and…Stanislas Wawrinka? Wawrinka beat Tomas Berdych and Marcos Baghdatis and, thanks to Hyung-Taik Lee, didn’t have to face David Ferrer.

And since the NCAA tournament is just about to tip off, why don’t we pick the semi-finalists? I’m going to have to put Roger and Nalbandian through to the semis (that should be a good match!) and Djokovic will be through to face….crap…if we go with seeding, Nadal is in. If we go with head-to-head records, Blake is in. Blake is more rested; he dispatched his opponent a lot easier…but Nadal did win this tournament last year…gotta stick by Wedgie-Man for this one, he’ll be the fourth one in the semis.

Post from: EveryJoe

Djokovic, Federer, Blake Cruise into Quarters

Rafa digs in for victory over Tsonga

Erica — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:29:32 +0000

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 Nadal wouldn’t go away. The lame-o announcer did make one good comment and that was how “Nadal won it with his feet and his heart.” It was…good.

Wow…apparently I’m being very Rah-Rah Rafa today.

Okay, I’m done blithering now. In other, less interesting news, David Nalbandian is still in the hunt after defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2, 6-2. Has Bandi lost that extra weight yet? The guy can be a formidable force. Can be the words to key on there.

Post from: EveryJoe

Rafa digs in for victory over Tsonga

Federer Rolls Ma-who? at Indian Wells

Erica — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:23:50 +0000

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 from him when he gets pissed off or when he feels like he’s got something to prove. I’m going to guess he’s feeling a bit of both right now.

Post from: EveryJoe

Federer Rolls Ma-who? at Indian Wells

Top Seeds Marching on at Indian Wells

Erica — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:49:28 +0000

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 endorsed him and then he failed. Tommy Haas rolled him in straight sets and that’s about all I have to say about that.

James Blake bounced Carlos Moya in the third round to move on so I guess the American dream is still alive. Sort of.

All the other usual suspects are still making their shots and moving on: David Nalbandian (although he faces a tough Radek Stepanek), Mikhail Youzhny and Lleyton Hewitt are facing off, Nikolay Davydenko and Mardy Fish. Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (who would have thought he’d become a common household name?), Richard Gasquet, David Ferrer…so really, nothing has changed. It doesn’t get exciting until some of these dudes are knocked off.

Oh yeah, the women are playing too.

Post from: EveryJoe

Top Seeds Marching on at Indian Wells