By Scott Swainston, Asst. Director of Mental Training at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy

Just four points away from winning a highly coveted match, you suddenly become uneasy and technique you have practiced thousands of times seems completely foreign. Your grip feels slippery, heart is pounding and mind is racing 100 miles per hour. What if I lose? What will people think?

The basis for these fears and the physical symptoms they create often come from an intense feeling of uncertainty. To put it simply, the future scares us. We often wish these moments were on our DVR so we can fast forward to the end result. What separates elite players from those who struggle with closing a match?

The first step to improving your mental game for clutch moments is to embrace the challenge and uncomfortable feeling. If you come into the match knowing you will face adversity, you will be prepared when the match gets difficult. Enjoying the moment allows you to relish the opportunity for crucial moments.

The second aspect to performing in high-pressure situations is establishing a game plan prior to the competition. Understand what it takes for you to compete your best from start to finish. Examples include active feet, sticking to patterns and being patient. As the match comes down the stretch, you will already know what it takes to be successful with simple mental reminders.

The last key to closing a match is working on managing your attention. The tendency is for your mind to race from one scenario to the next. Learning to better manage your focus will not necessarily eliminate all of those thoughts. However, paired with your keys to competing, using your attention allows you to get back to the match and what you need to do to win.

A strong mental game starts with understanding how to enjoy feeling uncomfortable. Better tennis, more learning and more enjoyment will follow.

About Scott Swainston
Scott Swainston is the Assistant Director of Mental Training at Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Scott received his Bachelor degree in Psychology and Sociology at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and Master of Science in Sport Psychology from Georgia Southern University.

Ivan Lendl IJTA exemplifies Ivan Lendl’s desire to give back to tennis and develop future champions through a new-era curriculum and holistic training approach. The Academy focuses on classic fundamentals, leading-edge biomechanics, strength training / fitness and mental preparation. Lendl subscribes to a hands-on approach with students instilling dedication, focus, hard work, motivation and overall preparation.

For more information: www.LendlTennis.com/info, 888.936.5327.

Sharapova hopes to reignite a love affair from last summer.

This look ahead at the Roland Garros women’s field mirrors the format used for the men’s companion article yesterday.

The smart money:

1) Serena Williams:  Looking back at last year’s preview of WTA Roland Garros contenders, Serena held exactly this position at the head of the list.  Virginie Razzano saw things differently, of course, scoring a shocking first-round upset that extended Serena’s drought without a final here to ten straight years after winning the 2002 title.  So you might ask why many of us did not learn our lesson in again choosing her as the consensus favorite.  One reason is that Razzanos, like Soderlings, are rare events that do not happen in consecutive years.  Another is that Serena’s clay titles last season, as impressive as they were, came on green and blue clay, whereas she completed the Madrid-Rome double this year on the red dirt featured at Roland Garros.  She also moved as crisply on clay as she ever has when she won the latter tournament, and the chronic injury woes behind her Australian Open exit have subsided for now.

But the main reason to dub Serena the Roland Garros favorite emerged from her dominant efforts against the two women just below her in the rankings and on this list.  The world No. 1 now owns a 25-4 advantage over world No. 2 Sharapova (13-2) and world No. 3 Azarenka (12-2) after she won the Madrid final from the former and the Rome final from the latter.  Outside a slight lull in both second sets, those matches served as brilliant displays of Serena’s talent rather than featuring genuinely competitive tennis.  Serena’s greatest challenges may come early in the draws from the Razzanos of the WTA, players whom she overlooks before dialing up her focus in the second week.

Knocking on the door:

2) Maria Sharapova:  The defending champion will arrive in Paris after a spring strikingly similar to what she produced last year.  Compiling two titles and four finals since the beginning of March, Sharapova lost just one match during the clay preparatory tournaments for the second straight year.  That loss came against Serena in Madrid, as it did in 2012, and the Russian has not lost to any other opponent since the Australian Open.  Although she won a set in their Miami final, Sharapova likely cannot reverse this head-to-head should she face a healthy world No. 1 in Paris.  But she cannot meet Serena until the final because of her No. 2 seed, and much can happen throughout the course of a fortnight.

Sharapova’s own health poses a minor concern, for a viral illness hampered her during Madrid and forced her to withdraw from Rome after two matches.  Assuming that she recovers by the weekend, she should overpower any of the clay specialists whom she can meet early in the draw, for she has evolved into a much smoother, smarter shot-maker under coach Thomas Hogstedt.  Fellow former champion Li Na defeated Sharapova at Roland Garros two years ago and again at this year’s Australian Open, suggesting that she represents the second-most significant obstacle for the Russian behind Serena.  Sharapova has won their last two clay meetings and four of their last five overall, however.  Consistently plowing deep into draws, she has not lost before the quarterfinals in ten months and reached the semifinals at all of her 2013 tournaments until she withdrew from Rome.

3) Victoria Azarenka:  Unlike Sharapova, the two-time Australian Open champion has defeated Serena this year.  That Doha victory in February could provide Azarenka with some belief should they meet again, as could their epic in last year’s US Open final when she came within two points of the title.  More recently, Serena’s rout in Rome laid bare the vulnerability of the younger champion’s serve, constantly under threat as the veteran with the much more imposing serve extended her lead in their matches to 12-2.  When she maneuvered herself into the rallies, however, Azarenka often stood toe to toe with a Serena near her best in an encouraging sign for the future.

Most effective on hard courts, Vika never has advanced past the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and weathered the first week only narrowly last year.  Understandably unimpressive when she returned from an ankle injury in Madrid, she shone more brightly in Rome by defeating two women with strong clay credentials in Stosur and Sara Errani.  Those former Roland Garros finalists should have held a surface edge on Azarenka, but that advantage could not compensate for her balanced weapons and relentless focus.  The world No. 3 holds the recent momentum in her rivalry with Li Na and, on outdoor courts, with Sharapova.  Those trends will make her difficult to stop if she stays healthy and composed—two huge “ifs” at the most physically and emotionally demanding major of all.

With a hope and a prayer:

4) Li Na:  The champion at Roland Garros two years ago, she blitzed four straight top-ten opponents to claim Asia’s first major title.  Enormously talented and enormously unpredictable for most of her career, Li appeared to have found some stability midway through 2012 when coach Carlos Rodriguez joined her staff.  The man partly responsible for Justine Henin’s greatness oversaw Li’s impressive run to the brink of the Australian Open title this year, which included victories over world No. 4 Radwanska and world No. 2 Sharapova.  Through the end of April, her consistency had improved so distinctly that she had not lost a match to a lower-ranked opponent in 2013.

But Li staggered to early losses at both Madrid and Rome, surprising in view of both her recent form and her affinity for the surface.  Her previous success on clay, which had extended outside Paris, stemmed in part from her ability to hit through the slow court while covering it with her crisp movement.  When Li’s weapons misfire even for a short period, though, matches can slip away from her quickly because of her slim margin for error.  And the cauldron of intensity that builds throughout the Roland Garros fortnight may unhinge her, as it did last year when she attempted to defend her title.  Li will not bear that particular burden this year, but her nerves will bear watching as much as her game.

5) Sara Errani:  Somehow, she’s in the top five despite never beating a top-five opponent in her life.  The day of reckoning may arrive for Errani now that she defends the mountain of points that a major final comprises.  Or it may not.  Schiavone backed up her championship performance in 2010 with a runner-up showing a year later, after all, and Errani has matured into a consistent achiever throughout the season.  Her clay results this year include a Premier title in Acapulco and consecutive semifinals at the marquee events in Madrid and Rome.  Both of those ended in similar fashion:  competitive in one set against a top-three opponent, Errani was overwhelmed in the other and never a real threat to win.

Like David Ferrer in the men’s draw, then, she needs more than a little help to go one round further in Roland Garros than she did last year.  The pieces of the puzzle fell neatly together for her countrywoman Schiavone, though, who maneuvered through an upset-riddled draw almost without anyone noticing it.  Such unexpected narratives can unfold more often at Roland Garros than at any other major because most of the WTA elite plays its least convincing tennis there of all the majors.  Not a celebrity or fan favorite like the others on this list, Errani will fly relatively under the radar and should like it that way.

***

Compared to the men’s field, the women’s field contains a greater potential for surprises, as Errani herself illustrated last year.  Among them are last year’s semifinalists Petra Kvitova and Samantha Stosur, capable of producing championship tennis at a moment’s notice.  They’re on the outside looking in after generally disappointing seasons, a Dubai title for Kvitova the exception.  Still, keep an eye on where they fall when the draw appears on Friday.

A panel of Tennis Grandstand contributors will offer thoughts on both Roland Garros singles draws by the end of Saturday, and I will publish my usual full quarter-by-quarter preview of both draws on Friday or Saturday at Tennis View Magazine’s website.  My daily coverage from Sunday onward of the year’s second major will follow on Tennis Grandstand and possibly elsewhere as well.

Maria Sharapova in her Roland Garros kit

May 21, 2013 — 2012 Roland Garros champion Maria Sharapova will compete in Paris starting next week wearing a new custom Nike tennis outfit and footwear. Designed to showcase her characteristic on-court style, the Nike Premier Maria Dress and personally-customized Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour iD shoes will deliver comfort, ventilation and confidence as Sharapova steps onto the clay in one of the world’s toughest tournaments.

Designed with Dri-FIT technology, the Nike Premier Maria Dress will keep Sharapova cool and dry whatever the conditions in Paris.

“When you’re out there competing, you want to feel cool as much as you can,” Sharapova says of the design. “The material in the dress makes it very breathable and easy to move around in.”

With its flattering princess seams and discreet Inner Definition Bra, the dress offers a supportive, supremely comfortable fit.

Sharapova pairs her dress with the Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour tennis shoe, which she personally customized using NIKEiD. Combining the lightweight support of a running shoe with the durable foot-frame needed for quick on-court turns, the Vapor 9 iD now offers a choice of outsoles to facilitate maximum performance on distinct surfaces: hard, grass or clay courts.

Maria Sharapova’s customized Nike Zoom Vapor 9 shoes

Sharapova’s NIKEiD design complements her dress and is inspired by global street style. Her chosen colorway is a palette of sophisticated neutrals, with a pop of color on the Swoosh — a nod to the effortless chic of Parisian women.

“I travel around the world and I’m always inspired by the way women from different countries carry themselves and put together an outfit,” Sharapova says. “Paris is such a unique city… beautiful, with so much attitude and style.”

Off-court, Sharapova will wear the classic Nike Air Max 1, which she personalized with the distinctive floral Pepper print from the Liberty of London and NIKEiD collection (photo below: top). She’ll also rock the Free 3.0 Hybrid of her own NIKEiD design as well (photo below: bottom). All of Sharapova’s footwear is emblazoned with her personal iD, MS 87.

Maria Sharapova’s customized Nike Air Max 1 and Nike Free 3 shoes

Andy Murray withdraws from Roland Garros

May 21, 2013 — After consulting with his team and medical specialists, world No. 2 Andy Murray has decided to withdraw from next week’s Roland Garros tournament in Paris due to a lower back injury.

“It’s a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete,” Murray said in a statement. “Apologies to the organisers and thanks to everyone for the messages of support. Now my complete focus is on getting back on the court as soon as possible.”

In Rome last week during his second round match against Marcel Granollers, Murray retired after winning the second set, and in his presser afterward alluded to potentially missing the season’s second Slam.

“I have an issue with my lower back. It’s been an issue for a while,” Murray commented in Rome. “I want to make sure it goes away. It’s been a problem since the end of 2011 but it got bad during last year’s clay season … I would be very surprised if I was playing in Paris.”

Though this may seem like bad news on the surface, it comes as a blessing in disguise. Murray has always played with a very physical and demanding style and Roland Garros has consistently been his worse Slam in terms of performance. Taking a rest now while the rest of the ATP Tour continues to grind it out inevitably allows Murray extra time to prepare for the grass season and another shot at winning Wimbledon.

After last year’s run to the final and tearfully heart-breaking loss to Roger Federer, Murray’s focus may already be on the greens of Wimbledon.

Tommy Haas (Photo: Moana Bauer)

By Yeshayahu Ginsburg

Not every sport needs a feel-good story, but they really help bring in fans that might otherwise not be so interested. Unfortunately for tennis, its feel-good story—especially the American ones—have fallen flat recently.

Mardy Fish lost 30 pounds and made fitness more a part of his life instead of just his tennis game a few years ago. He finally began to consistently compete in the deeper rounds of Masters and Slams. Then, just over a year ago, he discovered a heart condition and has barely competed since.

Brian Baker was everyone’s heartwarming story last year. He was a top junior player but missed almost seven years after a long string of injuries that necessitated five surgeries. He came back last year to reach the final in Nice (after coming through the qualifying) and was competitive at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He tore his meniscus in the second round of this year’s Australian Open and hasn’t competed since.

This is why Tommy Haas is such a breath of fresh air. Haas is not a traditional feel-good story. There is no massive life change. There is no adversity that has been overcome in extreme and immediate fashion. Haas is just pure grit, determination, and hard work.

Haas first debuted in the ATP rankings in October 1993, almost 20 years ago. After 10 years of play (the first few on the lower tours, like everyone does), Haas reached a career high of World No. 2 in May of 2002. There is no telling how high he could have gone had tragic circumstances, including his father being in a coma and a severe injury, taken him out of tennis for an extended period of time. During Haas’s leave, Roger Federer arose as the dominant player and Haas lost his next nine matches against the Swiss, until finally beating him in the Halle final last year.

Haas returned to the game in 2004, competing and winning titles before reaching the top 10 again in 2007. 2008, however, was marred by injuries and aside from a great run Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2009, Haas’s career was once again derailed.

This is the story of Tommy Haas’s career. He plays well, works his way into form, competes with just about anyone on tour, and then seems to be knocked off track by injuries at the worst time. If you look at a graph of his career ranking, it almost looks like a repeating curve. His ranking rises to the top of the game and then falls drastically when injury forces him to miss extended periods of time—twice missing more than 12 months and falling out of the rankings completely.

Now, at the age of 35, Haas is back once again. He beat Novak Djokovic in Miami en route to reaching his first Masters 1000 semifinal since Paris back in 2006. He is on the verge of the top 10 and has no points to defend from now until Halle. He has all but guaranteed himself a top 16 seed in Roland Garros and will most likely be able to get a favorable draw both there and in Wimbledon. A few wins at Roland Garros could very easily put Haas back in the top 10 for the first time since 2007, which would be an incredible feat.

Haas is competing at a high level past an age where most players have retired. He hasn’t done it with flash or shocking one-time runs. He has been consistently getting better after each return from injury. His feel-good story is not one of fan-rallying epic proportions. It’s the story of a player who has been dealt poor cards in his career and has made the absolute best of them time and time again. It’s the story of a man who has been on the brink of the top of the game but never quite made it—and he has still never let that get him down. Let’s hope that his current stint on tour lasts until he can leave on his own terms this time.

Yulia Putintseva is quickly developing a reputation for being one of the most outspoken players on Tour.

During many a Real Housewives reunion special, a middle-aged, mildly affluent woman sits in a tight, off-the-shoulder cocktail dress (I’ve watched a couple in my day), and tells another similarly dressed woman to take responsibility for her actions. In other words, “own it.”

With this sort of cartoonishly glamorous set up unfortunately missing from the tennis world, it can be difficult to keep track of the daily drama, on both a macro (the game’s elite) and micro level (everyone else). Like those sage Bravo producers, we can often bow to clips conclusively showing Juan Martin del Potro dissing Andy Murray’s mother, or Jelena Jankovic imitating compatriot Ana Ivanovic’s signature fist pump.

But just like those bastions of reality television, it is almost always what happens “off-camera” that stirs up the most controversy. As a New Jersey housewife would probably say, “the fewer witnesses, the better.”

In tennis, nothing breeds isolation quite like a rain delay. With troubling forecasts predicting rain through early next week in Europe, qualifying matches in last minute warm-up tournaments like Brussels were driven indoors to ensure the event reaches completion. One such match was ripe for drama, rain or shine.

Vandeweghe came out on the losing end of her Brussels match, but may have the last laugh after all.

In one corner was 21-year-old CoCo Vandeweghe. A former US Open girls’ champion, the young American made a dream run to the Stanford finals last summer. Since then, however, she has struggled to reign in her high-octane game, and coming into Brussels had yet to win back-to-back matches this year. Granddaughter to a former Miss America, Vandeweghe’s senior career has been largely played under the radar, but she has had a “princess” moment or two, as evidenced by her twitter account.

Her opponent likely needs no introduction: the “delightfully offensive” Yulia Putintseva. After pushing Serena Williams to a tiebreak in Madrid, the teenaged Kazakh suffered a potentially soul-crushing loss in Rome, failing to convert a 5-1 final set lead to Madrid quarterfinalist Anabel Medina Garrigues. But whether you’re throwing drinks on someone at a party or playing a tennis match, it helps to be a little bit delusional. Shrugging off her fourth three-set loss (three of them from a set up) of the year, Putintseva crushed her first two opponents, including an equally offensive (though arguably less delightful) Michelle Larcher de Brito.

Playing on a surface that mitigates her weapons and exposes her suspicious movement, Vandeweghe had been surprisingly comfortable in Brussels, and took a tight first set from Putintseva with only one break separating the two. From there, Putintseva went on a tear, winning 12 of the next 14 games, and broke the big-serving American five times for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

But it was after the match where the drama (allegedly) reignited.

With no one reporting more than the score of “Brussels QR3 Vandeweghe/Putintseva,” Vandeweghe took to Twitter to enlighten the public to that which many already consider to be obvious:

I have never played a person with worst sportsmanship… Putintseva…

— CoCo Vandeweghe (@CoCoVandey) May 20, 2013

From there, CoCo outlined an exchange following the match’s conclusion where the victorious Putintseva allegedly told her, “You are a terrible player only serve. I win all the rallies.” The American went on to accuse Putintseva’s father/coach, Anton, of not only condoning, but also “clapping” as his daughter made these biting observations.

Hours later, Putintseva popped up on Twitter herself, at first to nonchalantly express her satisfaction at qualifying for the main draw, then to give us a “No comment,” re: CoCo. Elaborating for a fan, she said,

@jakedavi5 haha i did:D i think she is angry coz before the match she thought that im not her level of player:p lol

— Yulia Putintseva (@Yulka1995P) May 20, 2013

which appears to imply whatever occurred was a two-way street. But why many flocked to Putintseva’s support in the immediate aftermath of this bizarre incident was the same reason why reality TV fans love Nene Leakes and Caroline Manzo: Putintseva appeared to take ownership of what many would consider a gauche act of gamesmanship. In its own way, that was breath of fresh air in a sporting world that can often feel stilted and devoid of cadence. It keeps us from our own delusion that everyone on the Tours is there to make friends. Because they’re not, they’re here to win.

And thus would have ended this episode of The Real Tennis Players of Brussels, until Putintseva took to Twitter again early this morning. After tacitly accepting Vandeweghe’s version of events, she made a complete about face when asked about the incident directly:

@willlebeau of course i didnt!I won a match why would i say that?:DShe didnt shake my hand and said that im terrible and ridiculous player:p

— Yulia Putintseva (@Yulka1995P) May 21, 2013

In barely 140 characters, the teenager took her ownership, and sold it back to the American, who has already rallied support from the American media.

Is Putintseva a cult hero for telling it like it is, or a spoiled brat deflecting blame? Is Vandeweghe a victim of needless trash talk, or a bully for inciting an angry mob on an 18-year-old? For a Tour that peaked in the late 90s because of exchanges like these, it might behoove us all not to ask too many questions, sit back, and “watch what happens.”

Rafa reacquaints himself with one of his old friends. Another awaits in Paris.

One man looms above the rest in Paris, as usual.  But a few other champions could step into his shoes if he stumbles.  Meet the men to watch at Roland Garros.

The smart money:

1) Rafael Nadal:  What more can be said about the greatest clay player ever to brand his mark on the terre battue?  Nadal has reached the final at all eight events that he has entered this year, seven of them on clay, in a career-best streak that has accompanied ATP-leading tallies in titles (six) and matches won (36).  Not since he won Roland Garros for the first time in 2004 has he suffered three or more losses in one clay season, and he already has dropped two this year.  The Monte Carlo loss to Djokovic did not seem to derail Nadal’s confidence for long against other opponents as he swept through Barcelona, Madrid, and Rome to claim a top-four seed.

Even his most fervent fans could not have expected such an impressive comeback from the Spaniard, yet his detractors will note with some accuracy that he has produced form less overwhelming on this surface than in years past.  Nadal has played more final sets on clay this year, going the distance against players like Dimitrov, Gulbis, and Ferrer, and his movement looks a shade less naturally explosive on some days.  But those niggles are far from enough to consider him anything less than the presumptive favorite at the tournament where has lost only once.  He holds a perfect record there against his current archrival (Djokovic) and his former archrival (Federer), neither of whom even has taken him to a final set in Paris.

Knocking on the door:

2) Novak Djokovic:  The only man to defeat Rafa during the European clay-court swing, Djokovic joined Nadal in completing the trio of Masters 1000 titles on this surface.  Perhaps even more important is his trio of victories over the greatest clay player ever at each of the clay Masters 1000 tournaments, the most recent in Monte Carlo this year.  Nobody else has defeated Rafa at any of those three events since 2009, which shows how far Djokovic stands ahead of the Spaniard’s other rivals.  His Monte Carlo victory reminded observers how well his backhand matches up to Nadal’s heavy topspin and how he can cover a clay court as suffocatingly as the man who built his reputation on it.

Responding to adversity in that match with poise, the Serb stood less tall at the other 2013 clay events and brings little momentum to Roland Garros.  He has won just one set in their four meetings there, although he took a step forward by reaching his first final last year at the only major that he has not won.  Not seeking a Nole Slam of holding all four majors simultaneously, Djokovic may feel less pressure if he returns to that stage and especially if he faces Nadal before it.  He arrives in Paris with the momentum in their rivalry even if a host of more general concerns about his form surround him.

3) Roger Federer:  Not until Rome had he even reached a final, playing a reduced schedule and navigating around a back injury.  Other than Nadal, Federer is the only active man who ever has won Roland Garros, and his knowledge of what it takes to win there arms him mentally against the challenges that will arise.  Since that title in 2009, he has produced mixed results in Paris from a quarterfinal loss to Soderling and a tepid effort against Djokovic to a transcendent masterpiece that toppled the Serb in 2011.  Federer never has defeated Nadal at Roland Garros, of course, and he has registered just one victory over the Spaniard since his peak period in 2007.  That one win came with a  significant asterisk, a day after his rival’s 243-minute semifinal against Djokovic in Madrid.

Outclassed again by Nadal in Rome, Federer will hope to land in the opposite half of the draw and for someone to conveniently remove him in advance.  If that surprise should happen, he could repeat what he did in 2009, for the week in Rome restored him to normal operations after the Madrid fiasco and earlier concerns over his back.  Amid all of the scrutiny surrounding his futility against one particular opponent on the surface, people forget too often that Federer is clearly the second-best clay player of his generation.

With a hope and a prayer…:

4) Tomas Berdych:  A semifinalist in both Madrid and Rome, he bounced back from a dismal start to the clay season to become its second-most reliable performer behind Nadal.  Two monkeys have climbed onto his broad shoulders in recent years, from one of which he probably cannot escape at Roland Garros.  Perhaps as the result of some bad karma (google “Berdych Nadal Madrid 2006”), Berdych has gone winless against Rafa since the start of 2007 and rarely wins even a set from him.  On the other hand, he ended an 11-match losing streak against Djokovic in astonishing fashion with a three-set comeback over the world No. 1 in Rome.  His only other previous win in their matches came at a major, Wimbledon 2010, where he also upset Federer, so he does not shrink from the grand stage.

The same year, Berdych came within a set of the Roland Garros final after a straight-sets demolition of Andy Murray.  His explosive forehand penetrates even the slowest surfaces, and he benefits from the extra time to set his feet.  The closest equivalent in this year’s draw to two-time finalist Robin Soderling, Berdych has become more consistent than ever over the last year and grows more dangerous as he settles into a tournament.  The best-of-five format allows him to find his range, lose it, and find it again.

5) David  Ferrer:  Among the most consistent performers in 2012-13, the Spanish veteran has reached semifinals at three of the last four majors, including his first ever at Roland Garros.  If not for Nadal, Ferrer’s grinding baseline resilience should have earned him a title or two at the major traditionally designed for that playing style.  Years of subservience to Rafa have trickled into his lack of belief against other elite contenders, however, and at 31 that fatalism may have become too ingrained to erase.  Ferrer came very close to winning some notable matches this year, such as the Miami final and his Madrid meeting with Nadal, which might either encourage or discourage him.

Unlikely to halt a 16-match clay losing streak to his countryman, he never has defeated Federer on any surface.  Ferrer thus needs help from others in the draw, although he has earned his share of success against Djokovic on clay and against Berdych more generally.  A first Masters 1000 title at the Paris Indoors last year marked a late-career breakthrough that many doubted would ever come, so a larger breakthrough might not be inconceivable.

***

Return tomorrow for a look at the women’s title contenders in Paris.

Despite being clear favorite for Roland Garros, John McEnroe believes Rafael Nadal could walk away without the title.

May 20, 2013 – John McEnroe participated in a Tennis Channel media conference call today, dishing out his opinion on Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal. Despite being overwhelming favorites for Roland Garros, McEnroe believes that either player could have a hiccup and lose unexpectedly.

Serena Williams has been unstoppable recently, extending her match winning streak to 24 and going 16-0 on clay this year, including three titles in Charleston, Madrid and Rome. However,  McEnroe believes there is one way in which Williams may not walk away with the Roland Garros title: if she beats herself.

“The level she’s at when she’s playing well, I don’t think anybody can beat her,” says McEnroe. “(But) anybody, no matter great they are, everybody has bad days. On clay, it’s her worst surface. The odds would increase. The pressure is greater obviously at the French because she’s only won it once. I would say at some stage in the event, it would be likely that she won’t have one of her best days. Depending on her opponent that day, someone might have a shot at her.”

Similarly, Rafael Nadal has stormed back onto the ATP Tour after an injury layoff, winning six titles out of eight tournaments and leading the ATP rankings race to London. So, what — or who — would it take to possibly defeat Nadal in his French kingdom?

“Unless something happens that’s unforeseen, it would be pretty hard‑pressed to make an argument for anyone other than (Novak) Djokovic to beat him,” states McEnroe. ” It would have to be one of those swing‑for‑the‑fences type players like (Robin) Soderling was that one year, and the conditions would have to be extremely heavy so his ball wouldn’t have the type of jump it normally does.”

And much like with Williams, McEnroe believes that Nadal would have to have an “off day” in order to be eliminated.

“It’s possible he might be caught off guard in a match, but it’s unlikely that someone can still beat him in a best‑of‑five,” he states.

Bonus McEnroe

… on Roger Federer‘s potential at Roland Garros:

“I would think at some stage for anybody, even Roger, the motivation of playing in the smaller events becomes an issue. Then if you string a couple of mediocre results it gets frustrating. The it’s difficult for him at his age that he could go past like a Djokovic and Nadal to win something on a clay court. I think his best bet, as I’ve said for years, is Wimbledon. I would be amazed if he would be able to beat both those guys at the French … I think at this stage for him, if he got to the semis, it would be a solid result.”

… on the stability of young up-and-comers:

“(Grigor) Dimitrov has finally taken a step in the right direction, I think he was certainly top‑five material.  I think (Milos) Raonic has the ability to break easily into the top 10, top five potentially … (Bernard) Tomic has issues with his father … Ryan Harrison I always felt was a solid player, top‑20 potential, (but)  I didn’t see that individual sort of trait that would separate him with some of these other guys … I like Jack Sock quite a bit, but I don’t know exactly what’s happening as far as his commitment, training.”

That awkward moment when you wake up, and have a mini heart attack because you don’t recognize your environment.

Yeah, that happens to me nearly every single week. I have now not only gotten used to having these little attacks, but have decided to embrace them. They represent the fact I get to travel to really awesome places and stay in cool hotels, so I can’t really complain in the end.

Anyway, bonjour everyone! Salutations, greetings, and a cold welcome from Paris, France. Oh yes, not warm, but cold. Very, very, very cold and rainy. Come on mother nature, we are going into June next week! What’s going on?! I mean, I brought a bathing suit for crying out loud. Even a dress! But a dress is unheard of in this weather. What I really should have brought was my winter jacket. I mean, no joke.

Granted, I’m a warm body. I thrive with the heat and avoid cold weather at all costs. I can handle cold weather when well prepared, but I was not prepared for this kind of chilly weather in Paris. Allez Paris, come on and bring on the heat!

I got into Paris yesterday afternoon, which was Sunday, if you’re keeping track. I took a pleasant and quick flight from Prague to Paris — as one does — and then had a nice cab ride to my hotel. Luckily, I had put my sister’s name on the reservation, so I was able to go straight to the room and find her all showered, hungry, and ready for Paris!

We decided on a cute little Italian place that gave us just what we wanted, and provided us with awesome service. We clinked glasses (water, don’t worry) to our first night in Paris, and then called it a night.

Today was a bit uneventful but relaxing. Though early, I had sorted practice for 9 am and it was one of the best decisions ever. Why? Because at 10:03 am, right when we finished, it started raining. I’m writing this at 5:30 pm, and guess what, IT’S STILL RAINING!!!!

Irina Falconi practicing prior to her French Open start

Probably going to enjoy the local French cuisine for dinner tonight, and once again, call it an early night.

Tomorrow, the men’s qualifying starts so we will definitely go and support our American boys that are all competing for main draw berths. Let’s go USA! Git ‘er dun in Paris, oui!

Bonsoir!

-IF

Success on clay has remained a bit beyond Caroline Wozniacki’s reach so far.

One Premier tournament and one International tournament complete the Road to Roland Garros within striking distance of Paris.  None of the women involved are in serious contention for the clay season’s ultimate prize, but the absence of those elite names could lead to some tightly contested matches in playing fields without clear favorites.  I forwent predictions this time because your guess is as good as mine.  (Feel free to opine in the comments, as always.)

Brussels:

Top half:  Seven of the Brussels seeds will receive seeds in Paris next week, a strong statement considering the tournament’s placement on the eve of Roland Garros.  In need of a strong statement herself is top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, who took a wildcard into the tournament following opening-round losses in Madrid and Rome.  Wozniacki has struggled on clay for most of her career but should aim to halt her skid before dropping outside the top ten.  Unfortunately for her, recurrent nemesis Julia Goerges lurks in the quarterfinals.  This German notably defeated Wozniacki to win the Stuttgart clay title two years ago, and she has added two more victories over the Dane since then.  Since she has impressed hardly more than Wozniacki has recently, though, one can’t entirely discount Swiss clay specialist Romina Oprandi or the qualifiers who litter this section.

None of the women in the second quarter has distinguished herself consistently on clay, although Arantxa Rus does own a Roland Garros victory over Kim Clijsters.  Having reached the second week of Roland Garros last year, the fourth-seeded Sloane Stephens looks to build upon her modestly encouraging effort in Rome.  There, Stephens won consecutive matches for the first time since defeating Serena Williams at the Australian Open.  Her depleted confidence resurfaced in a lopsided loss to Maria Sharapova, but a small tournament like Brussels offers a useful venue to rebuild that strength.  With fast-court specialists like Tsvetana Pironkova and Magdalena Rybarikova around her, Stephens might face her stiffest resistance from Peng Shuai.  The Chinese double-fister won their only previous meeting, also on clay, but Stephens has improved markedly in the two years since then.

Bottom half:  By far the most intriguing first-round match of the draw pits third-seeded Dominika Cibulkova against Kaia Kanepi.  This battle of 2012 Roland Garros quarterfinalists will feature a contrast of styles between the compact, agile Slovak and the robust, heavy-hitting Estonian.  Never have they met on clay, while Kanepi has won two of three matches overall.  Of some lesser note is a potential second-round clash between Varvara Lepchenko and Stefanie Voegele.  The American upset Schiavone at Roland Garros last year and has continued the clay success atypical among her compatriots this year with two victories over Roberta Vinci.  For her part, Voegele reached the semifinals of Charleston on green clay, although she has won only one match on red clay.   Kanepi defeated Lepchenko last fall before the injuries that sidelined her for several months, so an upset of Cibulkova could open her draw.

Probably disappointing many Belgian fans, their two leading women would meet as early as the second round in their home tournament.  Both have achieved more success on grass and hard courts than on clay, and both open against rising American stars.  Having upset Li Na in Madrid as a lucky loser, Madison Keys will aim to snuff out home hope Kirsten Flipkens in a match of baseline first strikes against all-court craft.  Belgian No. 2 Yanina Wickmayer faces a somewhat easier assignment in the form of Jamie Hampton, who has not won a match in a clay main draw this year.  Awaiting one of the Belgians in the quarterfinals is second-seeded Roberta Vinci, an artisan of traditional clay-court tennis.  Vinci has not found her best form for much of the spring but did win a small event in Katowice, Poland.

Strasbourg:

Top half:  Atop the draw is French No. 1 Marion Bartoli, who has emitted the occasional burst of inspiration on home soil.  The eccentric double-fister reached the Roland Garros semifinals two years ago, although clay usually hampers her style of staccato points and quick strikes.  Two rising stars could challenge her in this section, compatriot Caroline Garcia and Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard.  The former just won a clay challenger at Cagnes-sur-Mer, while the latter notched a significant victory over Laura Robson on the green clay of Charleston.  First-time champions in 2013, Memphis titlist Marina Erakovic and Florianopolis titlist Monica Niculescu will seek to end spring losing streaks when they meet in the first round.  Neither can match Bartoli’s talent, but either could befuddle one of the youngsters.

Another Frenchwoman holds the highest seed in the second quarter, and world No. 30 Alize Cornet’s game suits clay more effectively than Bartoli’s style.  The mixture of qualifiers and fellow Frenchwomen surrounding her will turn few heads, while Chanelle Scheepers will not overpower Cornet.  The latter two women bring similar patterns of results to Strasbourg.  Before she fell to Melanie Oudin in Rome qualifying, though, Scheepers did reach a clay semifinal in Marrakech and upset Jelena Jankovic on the surface in Madrid.  Last year’s runner-up here, Cornet reached a somewhat more significant clay semifinal in Acapulco this February but suffered a loss to an Italian wildcard in Rome.

Bottom half:  Following a mid-career surge, Hsieh Su-Wei has embedded herself within the top 50 and holds the fourth seed here.  An opening match against promising German talent Annika Beck intrigues, as does a possible quarterfinal meeting with the elegant Daniela Hantuchova.  Handed a wildcard into Madrid, Hantuchova made the most of the opportunity by upsetting Petra Kvitova en route to the final 16.  Also in this section is Karolina Pliskova, a heavy server who nearly won her first title this year at Kuala Lumpur and defeated Kanepi on the clay of Portugal.

Perhaps worth more attention than the seeds in the lowest quarter, some of the unseeded entrants could score an upset or two.  For the rest of her career, Virginie Razzano will struggle to trump the achievement of defeating Serena Williams at Roland Garros, which probably resulted in her wildcard here.  Aligned against Czech doubles specialist Lucie Hradecka in a first-round match to watch, Garbine Muguruza aims to notch her first clay main-draw win in a season when she has reached the fourth round at both Indian Wells and Miami.  In the shadow of compatriots like Stephens and Keys, sixth-seeded Christina McHale continues to seek traction in her comeback from mononucleosis.  Second-seeded Tamira Paszek has lost 11 of her last 12 matches and seems unlikely to increase that total suddenly here.

***

Capsules on the Roland Garros contenders will follow this week before the draws appear on Friday.