Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal: On the Lighter Side

I was surfing the net and as usual looking for some latest updates about the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. I went to Tennis.com to look for some latest news as its article entitled The Fan Wars caught my attention.

It headlined: Roger and Rafa engage in a friendly rivalry, but the same can't be said for their devoted fan bases. Steve Tignor and Kamakshi Tandon discuss the most familiar and most inexhaustible topic in tennis.

I clicked the link of the article in its front page and it directed me to the article entitled The Rally: Those Guys Again to read the content of the intriguing headline. To my surprise, I enjoyed reading the whole story.

Caroline Wozniacki: Is She Ready to Dominate Women's Tennis?

Her angelic face can tell that she's enjoying to be on court playing tennis. Her smile is irresistible as well as her counterpunching groundstrokes. She's lovely and friendly, too.

How can these qualities be transformed into a weapon when she takes on the pinnacle of tennis?

Can it be translated to a stunning performance to win a match?

Melanie Oudin: Is She the Williams Sister's Successor?

Venus Williams and Serena Williams have done so much in tennis. From their power hitting ability to achievements to fashion, they are considered as successful women tennis players that burst into the scene or should I say that women's tennis have.

The Williams sisters are still at the heights of their fruitful tennis career. Simply saying, they are still dominating the game and they are still the one to beat at every tournament they played. But speaking of their ages, with Venus at 30 and Serena at 28, they are not going away anytime soon.

Of course, only time can tell when they are going to quit playing the game they both love. But when that happens, the current generation will surely inherit the kind of game that brought these sisters at the top of the game. While they are around, we can still have time to witness how the Williams sisters outplayed, outrun, and outclass every opponents they faced.

When Serena Williams Escapes

We all know that Serena Williams has a power that is too strong for the rest of her contemporaries. She often outplayed her opponents using her dangerous groundstrokes and she even won points not exerting too much effort using her serve. She rarely gave up matches and even she's on the verge of losing it, she ended up winning it.

Serena may not be like her rival Martina Hingis, which sometimes denied her power by constructing points so well like playing a chess. But above all, Hingis is very much not like Serena as she doesn't possess power, athleticism, and huge serve. Who could ever think that their head-to-head record is as close as 7-6 in favor of Serena?

It's just one of the classic example of contrast in playing styles displayed back when they burst in the scene as teenagers sending message to the rest of the field that they can dominate the game.

Will Serena Williams End the Year as Women's Top Ranked Tennis Player?

The Belgians, Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin, made some noise when they renew their rivalry at Brisbane International, a warm-up event leading to the Australian Open, whereas Serena Williams suffered her first loss of the year at Medibank International Sydney final to Elena Dementieva. With Clijsters and Dementieva, claiming their first title of the year, they both carry high hope going in the year's first Grand Slam.

The interesting stories Down Under continues since the start of the year, when former champion Maria Sharapova was stunned in the first round. It is followed by Clijsters who was downed by Nadia Petrova in round three. In the quarterfinals, Victoria Azarenka almost won her match against Serena but ended up losing in a 4-6|7-6(4)|6-2 tight contest and Li Na upset Venus Williams 2-6|7-6(4)|7-5 to spoil the all-Williams semifinals.

Will Rafael Nadal End the Year as Men's Top Ranked Tennis Player?

After failing to reached finals at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells and Miami, losing in the semifinals to Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick respectively, Rafael Nadal's first title of the year came at ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo, his sixth title in that event, and ending his 11-month title drought.

Then, two weeks later, Nadal won the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome title by defeating David Ferrer, to equal Andre Agassi's 17 ATP Masters 1000 shield.

Another two weeks later, Nadal won his record-breaking 18th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title by clinching the title in Madrid, defeating Roger Federer in the final. With that win, Nadal became the first player to win all three ATP Masters 1000 played on clay courts and sent message to his contemporaries that the King of Clay is back!

Serena Williams Served Her Way to 13th Grand Slam Title

It's been more than a decade since Serena Williams won her first Grand Slam title at 1999 US Open defeating former world No.1 Martina Hingis, in the battle of the youngsters. Then, from 2001 US Open to 2003 Wimbledon, she and her sister Venus Williams contested each other at the Grand Slam finals, with Serena edging Venus 5-1. Since then, they met in the Grand Slam finals twice, 2008 and 2009 Wimbledon having split results.

Overall, they contested at Grand Slam finals eight times with Serena leading Venus 6-2, their current head-to-head record is 13-10 in Serena's favor. Serena dominated Venus from 2009 Wimbledon through 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships.

So, how dominant Serena on women's tour?

Rafael Nadal: The Undisputed World Number One

It's time.

Rafael Nadal's convincing win at All-England Club gave him second Wimbledon title in four consecutive finals. With a flawless display of speed, blistering and curling forehand, sweet volley, and improved serve turned in a weapon, Nadal is ready to dominate the game again.

Having claiming fifth French Open crown and the top ranking he once held for almost a year, he bounce back — stronger, faster, and healthier.

He started to dominate in 2008 but was halted almost prematurely due to injury. From being stunned at his favorite surface at Roland Garros to not defending his crown at All-England Club to personal concerns, Nadal faces the down side of his great tennis career.

Andy Murray: The Journey for Grand Slam Success

Andy Murray began his 2010 ATP World Tour campaign by reaching his second Grand Slam at Australian Open losing to Roger Federer in straight sets. Since then, both Murray and Federer shared not so good results in succeeding tournaments including 2010 French Open where they both upset in fourth round and quarterfinals, respectively.

As the grass court season starts, Murray went at the Queen's Club as the defending champion, but wasn't able to defend his title as he lost to Mardy Fish in third round. But such loss didn't bother him for his quest for his first Grand Slam title at All-England Club.

Murray started his Wimbledon campaign beating Jan Hajek 7-5|6-1|6-2. In the second round, he played in front of Queen Elizabeth II against Jarkko Nieminen whom he defeated in straight sets 6-3|6-4|6-2. He defeated Gilles Simon in the third round 6-1|6-4|6-4 to set up a meeting with Sam Querrey whom he defeated in straight sets 7-5|6-3|6-4.

Serena Williams and the Wannabees

The door has been widely opened for Serena Williams, the top seed and the defending champion, as the top contenders for the Wimbledon title as has been wiped out one by one. With the draw features blockbuster matches and some interesting matchups, it seems like Serena has not been challenged well and most likely until the final comes.

This only implies that with the four women left in the draw Petra Kvitova, who will take on the defending champion, Vera Zvonareva, who upset Kim Clijsters, and Tsvetana Pironkova, the spoiler of supposedly all-Williams final by upsetting Venus Williams, Serena has a huge advantage to defend her crown for her 13th Grand Slam title.

Can somebody stop her?

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick: On Different Direction

The second week at this year's Wimbledon, scheduled interesting and blockbuster fourth round matches. Of course, the top players are still the heavy favorite to advanced, but those who are struggling will surely be out of the tournament. As always, the tricky opponent cannot be counted out. As the draw is trimmed down and the event is nearing to its conclusion, anything can still happen.

Andy Roddick, the 2009 Wimbledon finalist, started his Wimbledon campaign strongly and looks like his chances for the title is within his reach. With his very convincing first round win over his compatriot Ram Rajeev, he established himself again as a serious contender for the 2010 Wimbledon title.

The Rivalry That Defines Tennis Success

Tennis has been exciting and interesting to watch because of the established rivalry. And what's more interesting with a rivalry is the contrast of playing styles as well as personalities possessed by each player. Though, with today's game, it is also interesting to see who can conquer the other.

The great rivalry of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, who played 80 times throughout their careers with Navratilova edging Evert 43-37, have teamed up and captured two Grand Slam doubles titles: 1975 French Open and 1976 Wimbledon. Though, it is an unfair alliance as they truly dominated the women's tour in their prime but it is great to see that they were able to combine their contrasting styles to succeed as a doubles team.

Martina Hingis Considers a Comeback?

When I've read the news in Yahoo! Sports tennis column, that Martina Hingis might play WTA doubles after World Team Tennis season, I can't hold the excitement that I will be seeing her playing tennis again at the grandest stage. Is Hingis considering a comeback? Maybe but not sooner. But hopefully she will.

Currently, women's tennis is lacking, if not missing, the style of play that Hingis has - variety and finesse. So, it will be a good idea if Hingis do consider again a comeback.