2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters Results

The ATP Asian swing has ended tremendously with one of the ATP Masters 1000 held at Shanghai. Chinese fans have been treated by high quality tennis and exciting matches. Who could forget the between-the-legs shot done by Roger Federer against John Isner that brought Chinese fans up to their seats?

Of course, after a week of trimming down the draw, which also includes some remarkable upsets, a new champion has been crowned. Did I predicted it right? My pick for 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters Champion.

Searching Records Using Excel Functions

This is my very first post discussing about the technical side of me. As I work on database maintenance, data manipulation, data analysis, and others on different kinds of data, it gives me an idea to share this kind of stuff.

I've been using Microsoft Office Excel for about 10 years and my knowledge about using its features as well as its functions have been improved since the very first time I work on records using the spreadsheet application.

For every moment, I tried to analyze and/or manipulate small or large amount of data, I've learned new things on how things are going on. Data analysis, more often than not, is one of the few things I am more knowledgeable. From producing relevant statistics to designing a valuable report, I am very much keen on every single detail that must be displayed in the output.

2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters Preview

NOTE: This is my own version of draw analysis on 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters. In this self-version of draw analysis, I will pick who I think will be 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters Champion.

The 2009 ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year will stage its 2010 edition known as the Shanghai Rolex Masters. With the world's top 20 competing for the coveted title, this will be a strong field ATP Masters 1000 has.

Lead by world No.1 Rafael Nadal, the 2009 ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai runner-up, is looking for this record-breaking 19th ATP Masters 1000 shield, in addition to his three claycourt Masters and three Grand Slam titles of the year. As last year's finalist who lost to Nikolay Davydenko, will this Nadal's chance to conquer Shanghai with flying colors?

Dealing with Financial Difficulties

Living in debt is one of the painful realities to be experienced by a person who for once lived in a life satisfactorily. Struggling to come up a single penny to pay off debt can be so frustrating, most especially when there's nobody to run to, to help you out of it.

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?

2010 Rogers Cup Men's Results

The 2010 Rogers Cup staged another season filled with scintillating tennis. After the history-making Wimbledon episode, most of the top 20 players entered in this event to be part of the tune-up for the upcoming 2010 US Open.

Rafael Nadal, the new world No.1 and two-time Wimbledon champion, is the top seed followed by No.2 seed Novak Djokovic. Roger Federer, the new world No.3 as the result of his two quarterfinal finishes in both French Open and Wimbledon, is the No.3 seed. Defending Rogers Cup champion Andy Murray is the No.4 seed, completes the list to lead the field.

Will Murray be able to defend his title, after his disappointing loss at Wimbledon? Did I predicted it right? My pick for Men's Champion.

2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open Results

Cincinnati Open, one of the tune-up events heading to 2010 US Open was over and this year's edition hasn't been so kind to top players. Why? With great matches was on display, top contenders for the title suffered an early exit. Will these upsets contribute a slight damage in their campaign at Flushing Meadows?

Top seed and defending champion Jelena Jankovic, No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 seed Vera Zvonareva, and No.7 seed Agnieszka Radwanska bowed out in the third round, while No.3 seed Elena Dementieva and No.5 seed Francesca Schiavone have been beaten in their opening match. Leaving the draw wide open and giving No.4 seed Kim Clijsters an easy passage for the title. Did I predicted it right? My pick for Women's Champion.

2010 Rogers Cup Men's Preview

NOTE: This is my own version of draw analysis on 2010 Rogers Cup. In this self-version of draw analysis, I will pick who I think will be 2010 Rogers Cup Men's Champion.

The ATP World Tour Masters 1000 resume at Toronto, with top players are meeting again for this tune-up event leading to US Open. With top seed Rafael Nadal, who is gunning for fourth consecutive ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the year since winning Monte-Carlo, Rome, and Madrid before capturing 2010 French Open and Wimbledon, will try to show us again his strong performance as he will try to capture the only Grand Slam that eludes him so far.

World No.3 Roger Federer is also back after a quarterfinal exit at 2010 Wimbledon, now with his new coach Paul Annacone around. The first-time No.3 seed after dominating the tour for more or less five years and the 16th time ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titlist, will try to recapture the form the give him 16 Grand Slam titles.

2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open Preview

NOTE: This is my own version of draw analysis on 2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. In this self-version of draw analysis, I will pick who I think will be 2010 Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open Champion.

One of the Premier hardcourt events leading to US Open is underway. With the absence of the Williams sisters, it will be anybody's race for the title as well as to rack up points for the 2010 Olympus US Open Series Bonus Challenge.

Though, the Williams sisters not entered in this event, four Grand Slam champions are still in the field - world No.7 Kim Clijsters seeded No.4, No.8 Francesca Schiavone seeded No.5, No.13 Maria Sharapova seeded No.10, unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova and unseeded Ana Ivanovic to complete the wide open draw.

When Simple, Good Life Goes Wrong

It's been almost two years that I'm struggling financially. But as day goes by, I can see glimpse of hope that I can hold on and gives me enough strength to live life in simple way. But things still haven't change with what I'm struggling about. Honestly, I don't know how to manage financial matters as more often than not, I'm messing it. There'll be times or should I say most of the times, I have zero balance in my savings and nothing left for myself. It's hard to continue that daily life living when I know I have something to settle and I have nothing.

With such struggles, I never lose hope that one day I'll live life back to its simplicity, the life that I once owned and enjoyed. But some people say, "when it rains, it pours", seems like true. It would be okay if it's blessings but if it's problems you have nothing to do but cry.

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.

2010 Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles Final Results

When French Open has been concluded, there have been so many interesting stories around tennis world. From Roger Federer failing to reach 24th semifinal appearance for the first time since 2003 to another French Open title clinched by Rafael Nadal, it seems like a new story is born within.

With Wimbledon is kicking off, some of these stories have been carried over. Such interesting questions looking for an answer is that "Will Federer win his record-tying 7th Wimbledon title?", "Will Nadal win his 2nd Wimbledon title?", "Will Federer start another semifinal streak at Wimbledon?", how about "Will Andy Murray finally ended the 74-year title drought of Great Britain?", and much more.

2010 Wimbledon Ladies' Singles Final Results

Wimbledon, one of the most prestigious Grand Slam events is finally over. With Queen Elizabeth II visiting the Center Court at All-England Club, everyone seems to be very happy. After some intriguing matches, stunning upsets, unexpected retirements due injuries, and Grand Slam breakthroughs, it ended in a historic way.

As expected, everyone witnessed who won 2010 Wimbledon Ladies' Singles title and it's none other than Ms. Serena Williams. Did anybody chose other than her? Well, I admit I'm one of those. Here's my prediction. My pick for Women's Champion.

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?