First Serve: April 12-18

Published Apr 18, 2010

Reading between the lines: TENNIS.com's Monday morning quarterback recaps last week's pro tennis action—and offers his reaction.

Last Week's Tournaments

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Monte Carlo, Monaco(ATP, Clay)	Final: Rafael Nadal def. Fernando VerdascoSemifinal 1: Fernando Verdasco def. Novak DjokovicSemifinal 2: Rafael Nadal def. David FerrerBrackets: Singles \| Doubles
Barcelona, Spain(WTA, Clay)	Final: Francesca Schiavone def. Roberta VinciSemifinal 1: Francesca Schiavone def. Yaroslava ShvedovaSemifinal 2: Roberta Vinci def. Alexandra DulgheruBrackets: Singles \| Doubles
Charleston, United States(WTA, Clay)	Final: Samantha Stosur def. Vera ZvonarevaSemifinal 1: Vera Zvonareva def. Caroline WozniackiSemifinal 2: Samantha Stosur def. Daniela HantuchovaBrackets: Singles \| Doubles



Bubble players like Christina McHale shouldn't have to wait until the week of a Cup tie to know their fate. (Francois Nascimbeni/AFP/Getty Images)

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Fed Up
As tempting as it is to call the Fed Cup the “Dead Cup”—this week’s Russia-United States semifinal is riddled with notable absences, and the final doesn’t take place until November—I can’t, because there are players who genuinely want to play. I’m thinking in particular of the mostly green Americans: Melanie Oudin, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Christina McHale. It was disappointing, then, to see that U.S. captain Mary Joe Fernandez held a spot open (likely McHale’s) for Venus or Serena Williams, should one be “healthy enough to compete.” If you believe that, I’ve got a spacious one-bedroom in midtown Manhattan for under $1,000 a month. Clearly, they don’t want to play; why make a player on the fringe wait out this charade? Here’s a better idea: Require Davis and Fed Cup captains to name their teams at the beginning of the year. This way, the players that want to play, get to play.

Caroline in Carolina
In just over a month’s time, Caroline Wozniacki has played 19 matches in four different tournaments. But her retirement in Charleston wasn’t a result of overplaying. Her ankle would have twisted even if she sat out Ponte Vedra Beach the week before. Wozniacki’s schedule is ambitious, but not reckless. It reminds me of the days when players played in more than just the big tournaments. And while I agree that she might need more firepower to bag a Slam, her focus—the all-important mental game—is one of the finest on tour. It says here that if she becomes No. 1, she’ll stay on the perch much longer than Jelena Jankovic or Dinara Safina did.

Did You Know?
Last week’s three losing finalists—Vera Zvonareva, Roberta Vinci and Fernando Verdasco—won a combined total of six games in their defeats.

This Week's Tournaments


Barcelona, Spain (ATP, Clay)	Brackets: Singles \| Doubles
Fed Cup (WTA, Various)	Semifinal 1: Italy vs. Czech RepublicSemifinal 2: United States vs. Russia

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Ed McGrogan is an assistant editor for TENNIS.com.

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