Winning his first title in 11 months with a 6-0, 6-1 demolition fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the Monte Carlo final, Rafael Nadal became the first player in the Open Era to win a title six straight years. The 13-game final was fewest in an ATP Masters 1000 final since

MONACO(AP) Rafael Nadal thrashed Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-1 in Sunday's all-Spanish final to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the sixth straight year and end his title drought. The second-seeded Nadal clinched his first title since the Rome Masters in May 2009 by overpowering the sixth-seeded Verdasco with a stunning

MONACO (AP)—Rafael Nadal thrashed Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 6-1 in Sunday’s all-Spanish final to win the Monte Carlo Masters for the sixth straight year and end his title drought. The second-seeded Nadal clinched his first title since the Rome Masters in May last year by overpowering the sixth-seeded Verdasco with a

*Dinara by Bobby Chintapalli, TW Contributing Editor Remember when you didn’t need a medical degree to talk about tennis? When bandages weren’t a girl’s best friend? When tennis player Dinara Safina actually played tennis? Those were the good, old days, weren’t they? Long ago my journalism professors discouraged starting an

MONACO (AP)—Rafael Nadal drew within one victory of a sixth straight Monte Carlo Masters title after beating Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 6-2, 6-3 Saturday. Nadal, seeded second, will play sixth-seeded Fernando Verdasco in an all-Spanish final Sunday. Verdasco defeated top-seeded Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal, depriving the

"It was pretty tough out there," Zvonareva said. "Sometimes I would hit a great shot, and I think it's a great point, and I don't have that many people cheering for me. But fair enough. She's a great player, and everyone is supporting her here, and I'm sure next time

TRIBE TOAST by Mme Highpockets Since this was Pete's idea, it's only right that we take a look at his "5 most hated songs" (his words!), as well: HA. I'm laughing out loud over here. I knew Pete wouldn't disappoint! (In comparing the lists, I come out looking like a

Maybe the Charleston sunshine got to me or maybe it was the mosquitoes that attacked me over on cosy Althea Gibson court as I watched Elena Vesnina provide commentary on her own match, loudly and often. I don’t know what it was, but by the end of the day when

MONACO (AP)—Rafael Nadal moved into the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-4, 6-2 victory Friday over Juan Carlos Ferrero, extending his winning streak in the event to 30 matches. Top-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 win over David Nalbandian. Second-seeded Nadal dropped only

98231495 - [[Leave it to our very own Master Ace to file a clay-court season preview. . . for men's doubles. That boy certainly is hardcore, eh? It's an especially good idea, though, because doubles really gets short shrift here (and most everywhere else in print or on web). So

MONACO (AP)—Rafael Nadal has breezed into the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlos Masters with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Michael Berrer and joins three of the Spaniards in the final eight. Berrer won his only game Thursday when serving at 0-5, prompting cheers from the crowd. Second-seeded Nadal has now

*92985200 - [[Well, our far-flung correspondents have returned from Atlantic City and weighed in via email. Occasionally, I hear footsteps and start looking over my shoulder when I read a "guest post," and I think you'll agree that if Skip 1515 swings a racket as deftly as a pen, you

MONACO (AP)—Rafael Nadal breezed past Thiemo de Bakker 6-1, 6-0 Wednesday to win his 28th straight match at the Monte Carlo Masters, while top-seeded Novak Djokovic also won in straight sets to advance to the third round. The second-seeded Nadal has won five straight titles at Monte Carlo, where he

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP)—No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic wanted a workout in her opening match Tuesday at the Family Circle Cup. She almost got knocked out of the tournament. Jankovic shook off a slow start to advance to the round of 16 with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 over unseeded Edina Gallovits.

Rafael Nadal says that the tournaments leading up to Roland Garros and Wimbledon are critical for him. The second seed in Monte Carlo, Nadal hasn’t won a tournament since Rome last May. “If I don't have a good result here, in Rome or in Madrid, my chances in Roland Garros

Does tennis need more of Wayne Odesnik? Do we need more outlaws, à la pro wrestling? Vince McMahon couldn’t have trained up a better one than the snarling, stalling, defiant, and annoying Odesnik who showed up in Houston last week. He played his role perfectly right to the end, losing

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

PONTE VEDRA, Florida (AP)—Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki took advantage of Olga Gorvotsova’s numerous mistakes and successfully defended her title in the MPS Group Championships with a 6-2, 7-5 victory Sunday. Gorvotsova, who had 41 unforced errors, committed five of her eight double faults in the first set, but then jumped out

CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP)—Top-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka beat Romania’s Victor Hanescu 6-2, 6-3 to win the Grand Prix Hassan II on Sunday. The Swiss player broke Hanescu twice in the first set and held serve despite landing only 40 percent of his first serves and double-faulting twice. Wawrinka’s service improved in the

96491090 Mornin', everyone. I'm hoping that GVgirl, Ruth, Skip 1515, or anyone else in Atlantic City this weekend gives us a summary of the big exo now underway, either via email to me or in the Comments. If anyone at that event happens to read this and wants to share