Tennis Chatter

With the French Open just days away that means many of the tune up tournaments are wrapping up as well. Several top players are finishing play on clay courts all over the world. Here’s a quick run down of matches.

Gael Monfils beat Andy Roddick in Poertschach, Austria to advance to the semifinals.

Roddick was respectful about losing to Monfils.

“He’s a great athlete and seems to get every ball back,” Roddick said.

Monfils was cocky about beating Roddick.

“I knew how to play Roddick as I beat him last year,” Monfils said. “I am tall and can reach a lot of his serves.”

Monfils is allowed to have a swagger after continually breaking Roddick’s serve and claiming victory 7-5, 6-3. So the wildcard moves on to Lleyton Hewitt in the semifinals. Will Hewitt continue his comeback or will Monfils have his number too?

Maria Sharapova continues to polish her game. She made it to the semifinals in Istanbul following a three set win Agnieszka Radwanska. Sharapova dropped the second set 3-6 before dominating the third set without losing a game. The final tally was 6-2, 3-6, 6-0. Number two will face, the Venus Williams conqueror, Aravane Rezai in the next round.

Elsewhere Amelie Mauresmo and Jelena Jankovic made it to the semifinals in the Strasbourg International Thursday. For Jankovic this is the 8th time she’s made it to the semis this year. Mauresmo is looking strong as well. Could be an interesting final if they end up squaring off.

Well the wait is almost over. The stream of information regarding tennis will soon become a river and I will be here with a net to catch the biggest news. We’re entering the Grand Slam chunk of the summer when everyone pulls out all of the stops and goes for it. Congratulations, tennis fans, exicting tennis is on the way.