Bleacher Report - Men's Tennis

Rafael Nadal vs. Roger Federer: Rafa's Convincing Win Ups Ante at French Open

John Rozum — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:12:23 -0400

Rafael Nadal bulldozed Roger Federer in straight sets to win the Rome Masters.

That impressive victory simply vaults the ante at the 2013 French Open, because Nadal's momentum is continuing to build.

Prior to the Italian Open, he fell to Novak Djokovic in Monaco but then followed up with victories in Barcelona and Madrid. Italy was his third consecutive tournament victory and sixth overall in 2013.

As Russell Fuller of BBC Sport wrote, Nadal's form is looking good right now:

Nadal heads to the French Open in tremendous form as he looks to win an Open-era record eighth title at Roland Garros, and knowing he is likely to be seeded fourth - and so potentially avoid leading rival Novak Djokovic until the semi-finals.

And speaking of the Roland Garros seedings, he is No. 4 according to ATPWorldTour.com:

Rafael Nadal will overtake David Ferrer for World No. 4 in the Emirates ATP Rankings on Monday. The result has huge implications for Roland Garros, as Nadal's No. 4 seeding guarantees the seven-time champion cannot meet World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, No. 2 Andy Murray or No. 3 Federer before the semi-finals.

In order to prevent Nadal from winning his eighth French Open in the last nine years, though, the rest of the field must step up.

Since defeating Nadal, Djokovic was upset in Round 2 in Madrid by Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria. He then was unable to close the deal against Tomas Berdych in Italy. After taking the first set, Berdych edged by in the second and controlled the momentum for the third en route to winning.

Djokovic has proven to defeat Nadal before, and even on clay as previously seen in 2013. That said, Roland Garros is a different story. Not only will the magnitude of it be greater, but Nadal also worked Djokovic in 2012's final.

As for Federer, he fell to Berdych in Dubai's semifinals, Nadal in the Indian Wells quarterfinals and was upset by Kei Nishikori of Japan in Round 3 of Madrid. Include Rafa's dominant win on Sunday and Federer must also up his game for France.

Regarding other top competition, Andy Murray's status remains up in the air. In an article by Mike Dickson of the Daily Mail, Murray withdrew from the Italian Open and has yet to make a decision on Roland Garros:

The world No 2, 26 on Wednesday, pulled out of the Italian Open with a recurrence of lower back problems, and afterwards he cast heavy doubt on his chances of playing at the French Open, which begins in 10 days’ time.

‘I would be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,’ said Murray.

Even worse, Murray wasn't playing his best prior to the Rome Masters. Although he won in Miami over David Ferrer, Murray flopped in Round 3 of Monaco to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. Berdych then fended him off during Madrid's quarterfinals before the Italian Open.

Now one common denominator mentioned thus far has been Berdych. Despite solid match wins in 2013, though, he still dropped to Nadal on the clay in Italy (6-2, 6-4). Elsewhere, Nadal's fellow countryman David Ferrer has lost to him three times this season.

So, clearly Berdych and Ferrer must also raise their ability for the French Open to challenge Nadal.

He's just playing the best of anyone right now, which only enhances the Spaniard's confidence as we hit the summer months. Even though another victory at the Roland Garros would not be surprising, doing so drastically bolsters Nadal's momentum for the remainder of 2013.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013 Results: Rafael Nadal's Win Will Lead to French Open Success

Jesse Reed — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:11:13 -0400

In what was supposed to be a blockbuster men's final, Rafael Nadal made Roger Federer look average (at best) on Sunday, winning the Rome Masters in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. It was Nadal's seventh title at this prestigious clay tournament.

The way Nadal has been playing lately, it seems impossible that he won't win the French Open this year—his eighth career title at Roland Garros and fourth in a row.

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by this result, as Nadal has been absolutely crushing opponents since returning to the ATP Tour after his seven-month injury layoff. Still, whenever a professional athlete rises so far above his/her opponents, we can't help but be amazed.

Since coming back to the tour in February, Nadal has only lost two matches in eight tournaments—both of which occurred in a final. He has six tournament wins thus far, three more than any other player on the men's tour.

His knees, which were seemingly ravaged before his seven-month hiatus, appear to be in better shape than ever before. Nadal is getting anywhere on the court he wants to, and his ability to scramble on clay surfaces is unparalleled.

Though David Ferrer and Ernests Gulbis managed to take Nadal to three sets in their quarterfinal and semifinal matches, the man known as "The King of Clay Courts" proved too difficult an opponent to defeat.

Even when Nadal isn't at the top of his game, he's a terror on clay surfaces.

His seven titles at Roland Garros are the most by any single player since Max Decugis won eight back in the early 1900s. At that time, however, the French Open wasn't a worldwide event and was only contested by club members.

Nadal is the most dominant clay tennis player in the modern era, and now that his health has returned he's unstoppable. He's simply overwhelming his opponents right now with his superior athleticism, speed and range.

Next stop, French Open victory No. 8 for Nadal in 2013.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013 Final: Rafael Nadal Will Continue Dominance at French Open

John Rozum — Sun, 19 May 2013 14:31:33 -0400

Rafael Nadal ran through the Italian Open and that will hold true in the 2013 French Open.

Although he was minutely challenged by Ernests Gulbis of Latvia and fellow countryman David Ferrer, Nadal hit another level in the semifinals and finals.

Facing Tomas Berdych after Ferrer, Nadal won in straights sets 6-2 and 6-4, which set up a bout with Roger Federer. There, he continued to smash and swept Federer 6-1 and 6-3 for the win.

Despite Federer's age (31), along with his obviously declining play in recent years, this is still a remarkable victory for Nadal. The Swiss continues to be one of the best around. So, any time he gets rolled we can only appreciate the production of that particular opponent—in this case, Nadal.

Refusing to drop a set against Berdych and Federer is simply quite impressive, even for Nadal. For his sake, the guy also enters this season's Roland Garros with incredible momentum. As Kevin Mitchell of the Guardian writes, even Nadal sounded a bit struck by his performance:

Nadal said: "If anyone had told me [that] when I came back I would win six titles, I would have told them they were crazy. It has exceeded my wildest dreams." The No. 5 seed was diplomatic when asked if he was surprised at the ease of the win. "It was surprising. I cannot expect to win against Roger 6-1, 6-3."

Regarding the French Open, Nadal looks for his fourth consecutive title and eighth in nine years. Even better, his confidence leading in with consistent play has been much better than the top competition.

Novak Djokovic was upset in Round 2 of Madrid and then failed to put Berdych away in Italy's quarterfinals.

Andy Murray, on the other hand, may not even compete in the Roland Garros. According to Russell Fuller of BBC Sport, Murray has yet to make a decision after withdrawing from the Rome Masters:

The Briton will make a decision about his participation at Roland Garros on Wednesday after talking to specialists.

Murray endured a miserable 26th birthday as a lower-back problem forced him out of his second-round tie.

Now mesh all that with Nadal's three wins over Ferrer this year, as well as the convincing victories over Berdych and Federer. Only Djokovic appears to be the best of competition on clay, as evidenced by defeating Nadal in Monaco.

That said, the tides have since turned and Nadal is on the upswing. Include his win over Djokovic during last year's French Open in four sets, and this is Rafa's tournament to lose.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Roger Federer's Rome Masters Performance a Sign of Things to Come at French Open

Justin Onslow — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:01 -0400

Roger Federer struggled at the Madrid Open in his first competitive performance sincereturning from a two-month layoff, but the Rome Masters has been much kinder to the 31-year-old. With some dominating performances and a gritty win against Benoit Paire on Saturday, FedEx is now in position to close out the Rome Masters in convincing fashion and turn his focus to the French Open.

Federer struggled with the impressive service skill of Kei Nishikori in his 6-4, 1-6, 6-2 loss to the challenger at the Madrid Open, raising questions about his preparedness for a clay-court showdown with the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the French Open.

But in Rome, the No. 3 player in the world waltzed past both Potito Starace and Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2. He would then face one of the best service specialists of the sport in Jerzy Janowicz, who leads the tour in both aces and service speed.

Despite facing several break points from the 22-year-old, Federer took the first set 6-4 and went on to triumph in the second set 7-6 (2). The win may not have come against another member of the Big Four (or in the finals for that matter), but there’s something to be said for upending a youthful challenger who propelled himself to the No. 24 ranking in just a year.

At 31, Federer’s biggest question marks now involve how easily he can adapt to a changing playing style that includes diminishing speed and quickness. He’s still among the best of the sport, but there’s no denying the decline in his play in recent years.

Defeating Janowicz in the Rome Masters quarterfinals was a bit of a statement match for the world No. 3. He may not be able to reproduce the same kind of exuberant performance in every match, but he showed he is still capable of playing at an elite level against much younger talent.

Federer used his victory over Janowicz to catapult himself to a hard-fought 7-6, 6-4 win over Paire in the semifinals—a match in which FedEx battled valiantly to escape a first-set collapse at the hands of the 24-year-old.

And of course, Federer’s semifinals victory now sets up a finals showdown with none other than Nadal—a potential preview for the French Open finals.

The Federer-Nadal rivalry has lost some luster in recent years, but their Rome Masters matchup should prove to be a sign of exciting things to come when both players take the court at Roland Garros later this month.

That Federer made it to the finals only proves he is fully capable of a repeat performance at the French Open. He shook off the rust at the Madrid Open, and his performance in Rome thus far is reason to be optimistic about his prospects at Roland Garros. If he can somehow manage to upset Rafa on Sunday, the entire landscape of the French Open may begin to shift.

However unlikely a Federer victory may be, his performance through four matches at the Rome Masters is enough to instill confidence in the 31-year-old’s ability to recreate that dominance at the French Open. Nadal is the “King of Clay,” but he isn’t invincible, and Federer is far from finished.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal's Rome Masters Performance Spells Doom for Field at French Open

Alex Ballentine — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Anyone hoping to put an end to Rafael Nadal's French Open dominance has to be disappointed with his Rome Masters performance. He appears ready to roll in Roland Garros once again.

Rafa will enter the tournament looking to win his fourth consecutive title and his eighth in last nine years. After dominating Tomas Berdych in the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-3 win that took just over an hour, it's clear he's playing in top form.

Here's why Nadal is nearly a lock before the draw for the French Open has even been announced.

He's Healthy

The incredible thing about Rafa's current form isn't the dominance. He's already known as the greatest clay-court player of all time and has owned the French Open for nearly a decade. It's the fact that he's at this point after a seven-month layoff.

Even as late as February CNN reported that Nadal's knees were still troubling him. For a 26-year-old tennis player that has plenty of wear and tear on him, that would usually be career-threatening news. Not for Rafa.

Not only has he dominated the Rome Masters, he's won five tournaments thus far in 2013. Considering he's already beaten the likes of David Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on clay this year, he's more than ready to beat the best at Roland Garros.

Serious Contenders Have Questions

Even if knee issues linger for Rafa, he isn't the only one entering Roland Garros in less than ideal form.

No. 1 player in the world Novak Djokovic has been hobbled with an ankle injury. Even though he played through it, it was clear that he was not himself in a quarterfinals loss to Berdych in Rome.

In fact, as Christopher Clarey points out, all four of the major contenders have questions heading into the prestigious tournament.

With Rafa's health appearing to be a non-factor, he seems the most likely to overcome his issues to earn the title.

Clay Court Dominance

It seems redundant at this point, but Rafa is really good on clay. Since the Brazil Open he's only lost just one match on the surface, a 2-6, 6-7 loss to Djokovic in Monte Carlo. Overall, he's won over 92 percent of his matches on clay this year.

That winning percentage has only been better when he takes to the big stage. He's 52-1 in his career at the French Open.

With few competitors in top form and a history of dominance, fans can expect yet another French Open title for Nadal.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013: Roger Federer's Play Should Worry Rafael Nadal

Steven Cook — Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

The 2013 Rome Masters may feel like more of a tune-up to the French Open for elite tennis players, but it's always a great indicator on where these athletes stand. If it's any indication, Roger Federer is hot and that's never a good sign for Rafael Nadal.

Nadal has Federer's number—as well as every other competitor—at the French Open as he has dominated the tournament in a way that's set for the record books. The Spaniard has won all seven of his French Open titles in the last eight years, prompting the nickname "The King of Clay."

But could this year be any different? If Federer's play in Rome is any indication, it could very well be.

Federer had yet to give up three games in a set before his quarterfinal victory over Jerzy Janowicz, as he's red hot at the moment and is tearing through the field.

Nadal, on the other hand, has seen his fair share of struggles in the tournament. He boasted an absolutely awful first set in his 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Ernests Gulbis.

He also dropped his first set to David Ferrer before winning two straight to move onto the semifinals, further proving that he's just not on his game at the moment.

This lack of domination just further proves that Nadal's No. 5 world ranking isn't a fluke and that he perhaps could be slipping behind the group of elite players like Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Federer.

Nadal better hope that changes and he can get things turned around before he heads to Paris. Even though he's all but one of the French Opens since 2004, Federer was the one exception in 2009 that knocked him temporarily off his throne.

On top of that, Federer is hungrier than ever to get back on the Grand Slam stage after only notching one major victory (2012 Wimbledon) since 2010.

Nadal's struggles, whether it be injury-related or on the court, have been well documented over the last 12 to 18 months and he could surely use another French Open title to add to his legacy and keep his current one from being blemished too much.

But if he looks across the bracket and sees Federer playing hot and motivated, it should scare the Spaniard who otherwise may have the French Open in the bag.

Follow me on Twitter: @steventerrycook

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal's Consistency Is Enough to Prove That He Is Back

Rob Goldberg — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:38:20 -0400

It is hard to know when an athlete has returned to his true form after missing time with an injury, but Rafael Nadal is clearly back.

The tennis star missed seven months with a knee injury and then struggled when he returned to the court. In his first tournament in Chile, he went far against the weak field but then lost to Horacio Zeballos in the finals.

At that point, the question remained about whether he would be able to compete at a high level ever again. If he were to get back to that point, fans did not know how long it would take.

However, Nadal has been impressive since then. He won five singles titles and lost only one match in that stretch. While the loss ended his run of wins at the Monte Carlo Masters, one defeat is nothing to be alarmed about.

Instead, it is the consistency that should have fans excited.

Nadal has stepped into the season without missing a beat. He is barely losing any sets on clay, and his statistics are as good as ever. So far this year, he has won 37 percent of return games, which ranks second on the tour.

Additionally, he ranks first in the world in FedEx Reliability Index, which includes every factor of winning and accounts for high-pressure situations.

While the Spanish player has had the advantage of playing most of his matches so far on clay—where he has done so well in his career—the fact that he looks like the Nadal of old is encouraging.

Of course, this success has not come without a bit of struggle. Ernests Gulbis came close to knocking off the King of Clay in the third round of the Italian Open. David Ferrer also provided a tough challenge in the quarterfinals.

Still, his resilience has been impressive. He continued to battle against tough opponents and did what was necessary to come out on top.

In the finals, he is set to face an old nemesis in Roger Federer. Regardless of who wins, Nadal has done enough to prove that he is ready to take on the rest of the world at the French Open.

After winning seven of his last eight appearances at Roland Garros, there is every reason he should be the favorite heading into this Grand Slam event.

Follow @TheRobGoldberg

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013 Schedule: Preview and Predictions for Championship Match

Steven Cook — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:55:08 -0400

The 2013 Rome Masters has seen its fair share of surprises, but that didn't stop two of the world's best players from facing off in the final round, as Rafael Nadal will face Roger Federer.

We've seen world No. 1 player Novak Djokovic bounced by Tomas Berdych and No. 2 Andy Murray withdraw due to injury, but Federer and Nadal couldn't be stopped on their way to winning at Rome just a week before the French Open begins.

The two will renew a fierce rivalry that captivated the sport of tennis throughout much of the 2000s, but this one has a different feel, as both players have their eyes set toward next weekend.

Let's take a look at everything you need to know as well as predictions for this championship match.

When: Sunday, May 19

Start Time: 7:30 a.m. ET

Where: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy

Watch: Tennis Channel

Online: Tennis TV

How Nadal Got Here

After a strong performance at the Madrid Open, things started to look like they were turning around for Nadal. He's only added to that notion with his play in Rome.

The Spaniard took down Italian Fabio Fognini in straight sets to start the tournament, looking to be firing on all cylinders. But then he nearly fell in the third round, with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory that looks as odd on paper as it did in person.

However, Nadal shook off his poor performance in the quarterfinals by ousting fellow countryman David Ferrer, who has emerged as a potential star player. That match went three sets, setting up Nadal with Tomas Berdych after he upset Djokovic.

Nadal beat Berdych easily with a 6-2, 6-4 win.

The "King of the Clay Courts" has further proved his nickname after dominating the clay on the way to the final round. Nadal is looking for his 24th Masters victory.

How Federer Got Here

Hungry for his first French Open win since 2009, Federer entered the Rome Masters with dominance on his mind. He hoped to fine-tune his clay-court game and didn't look back.

He showed that hunger in his first two matches, toppling his opponents while only giving up six combined games. That type of dominance doesn't happen every day.

Despite each of his next two matches going to a tiebreaker at some point, Federer never gave up a set and notched straight-set victories in each performance in this tournament. Although the competition has gotten stiffer, the Swiss star hasn't blinked.

But there was no doubting Federer's ability to get this far; in fact, it was expected. What is unclear is how well he'll play against Nadal, who is one of the best clay-court players of all time.

Federer X-Factor: Grind it Out

With the three-set scenario, some of these elite players have to adjust their game to what they're able to do given the shorter match. That's what Federer will have to do.

He shouldn't be afraid of grinding out the first set, because he's had success in his two recent matches by going to a tiebreaker. He seems to be saving his best for the end of the set.

Over the course of a set, Nadal will wear you out on clay courts with his precision and ability to control himself better than anyone on the court. That's why Federer must keep his focus on remaining tight in the sets and not overexerting his energy early on.

Federer must be able to channel his energy and have more control over where his energy goes, if he wants a chance at toppling the Spaniard.

Nadal X-Factor: Don't Go Down Early

All in all, Nadal should be in control of this match with a huge upper hand on clay. But if there's any blueprint for Federer to pull an upset, it'll be in the first set.

Nadal was able to fool around in the first set earlier this tournament, even losing one 1-6 before digging himself out of that hole. But that won't be possible against Federer, who knows better than anyone how to put down a player when he's running out of opportunities.

Nadal is going to have the advantage going in, but he cannot let that get to his head or it could be gone before he notices. It's not like he's playing in the third round anymore.

I admire what Nadal has been able to do in beginning to turn his career around, but he cannot afford to overlook players if he wants to be at his best heading into the French Open.

Prediction

As dangerous as Federer is on any type of court, I can't get over the improvements Nadal has shown recently and the unmatched skill he has on clay.

Nadal will have his head in the right place on Sunday, going for the kill early as he takes down Federer.

Nadal wins 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal Will Cruise to 7th Career Rome Masters Final Win on Sunday

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:48:39 -0400

There's never been a player as dominant on clay or at the Rome Masters than Rafael Nadal, who will be gunning for a seventh career title at the Italian Open on Sunday.

Nadal will face the the greatest champion in the history of men's tennis in this weekend's final, but even Fed doesn't stand much of a chance going up against the 26-year-old Spaniard on his favorite surface.

The defending champion at this tournament and a six-time winner in the past, Rafa has reached the final in Rome for the eighth time since 2005. And while Federer is a 17-time Grand Slam champion, he's just 2-12 against his archrival on clay all time.

Plus, Fed has never won this tournament before, coming closest in 2003 and 2006, when he finished as runner-up on both occasions. And while Fed has been playing arguably his best tennis of the season this May in the Italian capital, his history against the King of Clay is discouraging.

Fed hasn't beaten Nadal on clay since the 2009 Madrid Masters final. That was a straight set win, but the Swiss legend was also just 27 years old at the time, rather than 31 going on 32.

Meanwhile, there might not be a single player on the planet capable of slowing the seven-time French Open champ at the moment.

In Saturday's semifinal win over Tomas Berdych, Nadal was outright dominant, winning 100 percent of his second-serve points (10-of-10) to take the match in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-4 in just under 80 minutes.

The Czech star made plenty of unforced errors, but credit Nadal for capitalizing.

Nadal also won 42 percent of his return points, compared to Berdych, who won just 18 percent of his return points for the match. The win bodes extremely well for Rafa on Sunday and quite terribly for the rest of the men's field as the French Open draws closer.

While Nadal did look human in wins over Ernests Gulbis and David Ferrer, he was able to overcome both men despite leaving his A-game at home. It's victories like those two that prove Rafa is in a class by himself when it comes to the red stuff.

Keep in mind that Rafa is 27-1 in his last 28 clay-court matches dating back to last February. The lone loss coming to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo. Djokovic, meanwhile, was bounced in the quarterfinals of Rome on Friday, losing to none other than Tomas Berdych.

Roger Federer will likely go down as Rafael Nadal's greatest rival, but he's no longer the same player he was four or five years ago. Nadal has taken 11 of the their last 15 meetings dating back to the start of 2008.

More importantly, Rafa is 7-2 against Federer in tournament finals over that time.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013: Highlighting Biggest Disappointments at Italian Open

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:44:13 -0400

The Rome Masters is the last stop for a majority of tennis' top stars before they gear up for the season's second Grand Slam: the French Open at Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have been strong to this point on the men's side, and top-ranked female players Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka have cruised through the women's draw.

But not all of the top stars brought their A-game to the Italian capital.

Here we'll recap some of the biggest disappointments in Rome this past week.

Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has been inconsistent since knocking off Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo last month. He lost in the second round of the Madrid Masters to Grigor Dimitrov and was defeated by Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals of Rome this week.

Djokovic struggled mightily in his return game against Berdych, winning just 20 percent of his first-serve return points for the match.

You have to believe he'll patch up his game before heading to the French Open, but he's missed another golden opportunity to put some doubt in Rafael Nadal's mind before the year's second major.

The fact that Djokovic is considered to be the one guy capable of upending Nadal in Paris this summer is what makes his Rome performance so disappointing.

Agnieszka Radwanska

Following a first-round bye in Rome this week, women's world No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska turned out a disappointing effort in her first match of the tournament: a second-round loss to Simona Halep.

The 24-year-old Polish star has never been particularly dominant on clay, winning just two career singles titles on the surface and never getting past the fourth round at the French Open. But there's no excuse for dropping the final two sets 1-6, 2-6 to a player ranked No. 64 in the world.

Halep is a clay-court specialist, but if Radwanska is going to contend for the No. 1 ranking, she has to be able to overcome lesser players on challenging surfaces.

After early exits in Madrid and now Rome, Radwanska looks poised for another early exit in the French Open this summer.

Juan Martin del Potro

It's hard to believe that Juan Martin del Potro hasn't strung together consecutive match wins since Indian Wells last March.

The 6'6" Argentine lost his first match at the Miami Masters soon after Indian Wells and fell in the third round at Monte Carlo last month. And in Rome on Thursday he dropped his third-round match against Benoit Paire, falling in straight sets to the unseeded Frenchman.

The result is a huge disappointment for the 2009 U.S. Open champion, who has won four clay-court tournaments over the course of his career.

Delpo reached the quarterfinals at the French Open in 2012 and the semifinals at Roland Garros four years ago. In between those impressive runs at the French Open, he bowed out in the third round in 2011.

And it looks like he will do the same in 2013 based on what we've seen from him on the red stuff thus far.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013: Predictions for Saturday's Men's Semifinal Action

Patrick Clarke — Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:02 -0400

Three of the planet's top-six men's tennis players will be in action on Saturday in Rome, site of the 2013 Italian Open, the last stop before the French Open.

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Tomas Berdych will be joined by unseeded underdog Benoit Paire in the Italian capital, each aiming to inch one step closer to a Masters win.

So, will this weekend mark the first Federer-Nadal final since the 2011 French Open?

Here we'll take a closer look at Saturday's semifinal matchups, predicting a winner for each.

Tomas Berdych (6) vs. Rafael Nadal (5)

Six-time Italian Open champion Rafael Nadal enters Saturday's first semifinal matchup with Tomas Berdych riding an impressive 13-match winning streak against the Czech star.

That's right, Nadal hasn't lost to the 27-year-old Berdych since 2006 and is 14-3 against him all time.

On top of that, Nadal is 4-0 all-time against Berdych on clay, most recently defeating him in straight sets in the quarterfinals of this tournament a year ago.

Still, don't expect Nadal to roll over Berdych on Saturday. The 2010 Wimbledon finalist is coming off an upset win over world No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Friday in which he won nearly 80 percent of his first-serve points. If Berdych can recreate that performance on Saturday, Rafa could be in trouble.

Nadal was every bit as solid as Berdych in the quarterfinals, though, winning 40 percent of his first-serve return points and 52 percent of his second-serve return points against compatriot David Ferrer.

Assuming Rafa plays his usual, dominant clay-court game on Saturday, Berdych will have to be nearly superhuman in order to upend him. With the French Open looming, expect Nadal to get it done.

Prediction: Rafael Nadal

Benoit Paire vs. Roger Federer (2)

Frenchman Benoit Paire is clearly a player on the rise. The 24-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance this season in wins over Marin Cilic, Gilles Simon and most recently Juan Martin del Potro. Paire knocked off Delpo in straight sets in the third round on Thursday, acing the Argentine six times and winning 54 percent of his second-serve return points.

Unfortunately, the unseeded Paire has ways to go before he can be favored in a matchup against 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

The two last met in the first round at the 2013 Australian Open last January, with Fed winning easily in straight sets. Although these two have never met on clay, you have to love the Swiss legend's chances of claiming two sets.

After all, Fed has yet to drop a single set in Rome this week, cruising past Potito Starace, Gilles Simon and Jerzy Janowicz to reach the semifinals.

In Friday's straight-sets win over Janowicz, Federer looked like the Roger of old, recording 11 aces, zero double faults and winning over 70 percent of his service points.

Look for Fed to keep that momentum going on Saturday, beating Paire for the third-straight time to set up a thrilling Sunday final with his greatest rival.

Prediction: Roger Federer

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Roger Federer: 2013 French Open Win Could Be Crowning Achievement in Career

Van Sias — Fri, 17 May 2013 23:54:27 -0400

It's hard to choose a standout accomplishment in the legendary playing career of Swiss superstar Roger Federer—whether it's capturing the most Grand Slam singles titles, sitting atop the rankings for more than 300 weeks or the multiple double-digit winning streaks.

But if he were to channel the good form he's shown at this week's Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome—an ATP Masters Series 1000 event—into a title-winning run at the upcoming French Open, that would have to be a contender for his most impressive feat.

Over the past three seasons, Federer's younger rivals have been building on their own Hall of Fame credentials: In 2010, Rafael Nadal won three of the four Majors, and a year later, Novak Djokovic accomplished the same task with a Federer-like season.

2012 saw more parity return to the game, at least for the "Big Four" of the ATP, and Federer managed to win his seventh Wimbledon title—his record-extending 17th overall Grand Slam crown. He also made a return to No. 1, when it appeared Djokovic would never let go, proving he can never be counted out.

Entering this season, Federer decided to play a reduced schedule to save himself for the biggest tournaments, a move that could be argued hasn't gone exactly to plan. It's nearly the halfway point of the tennis year and Federer has yet to reach a singles final, with somewhat shocking losses to Kei Nishikori and Julien Benneteau already suffered.

Routine wins against dangerous players in Rome this week such as Gilles Simon and Jerzy Janowicz bode well for where his game is at right now, though. And there are other factors at work that could contribute to a title-winning effort in Paris, the only Major where he has one title (2009).

For one, Djokovic isn't looking as dominant with losses in his past two tournaments. And world No. 2 Andy Murray—a former French Open semifinalist—is speculating that he might not even make it to Paris.

Of course, there is a near-insurmountable obstacle in the form of Nadal, who has looked as good as ever in his return from injury.

But if Federer—the second-best clay court player of his generation—were to somehow accomplish the impossible-to-defeat Nadal and any other comers on his way to that 18th Slam title, in an event where he's not the clear favorite, it would just add to his amazing feats.

And perhaps it would be the biggest one of them all.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rome Masters 2013 Results: Biggest Surprises from Late-Round Action

Steven Cook — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:04:31 -0400

In the final tune-up before the 2013 French Open, the Rome Masters has brought with it a heap of surprises and twists as we head toward final-round action.

We've seen everything from world-class players going down to emerging stars putting more impressive wins on their resume, and it's far from over in this hotly-contested tournament.

Let's take a look at the biggest surprises that have come from the action at the 2013 Rome Masters thus far.

Djokovic Goes Down in Quarterfinals

The top-ranked tennis player in the world doesn't usually get bounced in the quarterfinal of any tournament, much less a three-set one like the Rome Masters.

And when they do, it hardly ever happens the way Novak Djokovic lost to Tomas Berdych.

Leading 6-2, 5-2 with one game left at one of his easiest victories yet, Djokovic completely lost focus and folded. Berdych stormed back to take the second set and finished out the third and conclusive set to knock the world No. 1 player out.

Things will likely go a little bit different in Paris next weekend as the five-set scenario often makes it more difficult for elite players to go down. But it can't be a good sign that Djokovic is heading toward the year's second Grand Slam tournament with a glaring loss.

Murray Withdraws, Status Doubtful for French Open

Say it ain't so! Andy Murray is missing a Grand Slam major?

Murray backed out of action at the Rome Masters before his opening match, admitting the disc pain in his back has gotten too bad to play through. His back troubles were well-documented last season as he's played through the injury for some 18 months.

According to the Guardian, Murray said he'd be "very surprised" to play at Paris this weekend to open the French Open.

Murray wouldn't have been the favorite over the likes of Rafael Nadal in Paris. But for one of the sport's toughest players, who has battled this injury for some time while winning the U.S. Open and Olympic gold, it's nothing less than surprising.

Roger Federer on Dominating Run to First Rome Masters Win

It's hard to believe any time you hear about Roger Federer trying to win a tournament for the first time. He's won seemingly every event you can win.

But he's never raised the trophy on Rome's clay courts, and this year would be a huge year to do so.

Federer is on a favorable side of the bracket heading into his quarterfinal match and has only lost six games through his past two matches. He's clearly on a hot streak and would likely play clay-court king Nadal in the final.

A win over Nadal to grab his first victory at the Rome Masters would be a huge stepping stone heading into the French Open, which is famously played on similar clay courts and which Nadal famously wins year in and year out.

Follow me on Twitter

Follow @steventerrycook

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Novak Djokovic's Poor Form Guarantees French Open Triumph for Rafael Nadal

Mike Chiari — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:05:34 -0400

Novak Djokovic may be the No. 1-ranked player in the world, but his recent play doesn't reflect that. With the French Open drawing near, all signs point to Rafael Nadal being the runaway winner of the year's second Grand Slam.

While the Serbian star has had a great year overall with a 28-4 record and three titles, his past two tournaments have not gone according to plan. Not only did Djokovic bow out in the second round of the Madrid Open against Grigor Dimitrov last week, but he was also upset by Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters on Friday, according to Sky Sports.

It's difficult to say why Djokovic is suddenly struggling, but perhaps a minor injury has something to do with it. According to BBC Sport, Djokovic has been bothered by pain in his ankle, but the world's top player certainly didn't use that as an excuse.

I know I can play well on clay and so I shouldn't allow myself to have these drops. Let's hope it won't happen for Roland Garros, Djokovic said of the French Open, the only major he has not won. I'm fine. I just lost my rhythm. It's a very strange situation.

It's a strange situation, indeed, as Djokovic seems to be playing his worst tennis at a time when he should be playing his best. With both the French Open and Wimbledon coming up over the next several weeks, Djoker must figure out a way to straighten out his game. With that said, it's unlikely that he'll figure something out by the time the French Open starts in little over a week.

Things have actually played out perfectly for Djokovic recently, but his form isn't good enough to take advantage of it. Sky Sports is reporting that world No. 2 Andy Murray could miss the French Open due to a back injury, so one hurdle is potentially already out of Djokovic's way.

In addition to that, Nadal is only the No. 5-ranked player at the moment. It's obvious that he is really the second or third-best player at worst, but the fact that he missed seven months with a knee injury affected his ranking adversely. While that is bad news for Nadal in terms of seeding, it could be beneficial to Djokovic as he may not have to face him until the finals.

With the way Djokovic is playing, however, he could very easily fall short of the finals anyway. He has been losing to inferior players in recent weeks and simply doesn't look like the guy who has won six career Grand Slams. The only missing piece in Djokovic's career Grand Slam is the French Open, but it's hard to imagine him completing the quartet this year.

Nadal is playing at an extremely high level as he has lost just two matches this year and has five titles to his credit. One of his losses was to Djokovic in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters back in April, but he and Djokovic have been moving in different directions since then. Rafa is 13-0 since that defeat and he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, especially on clay.

It can be argued that Nadal is the greatest clay-court player of all time and there is no doubt that he is the best on clay currently. Nadal has won the French Open a modern-era record seven times and all of those victories have come over the course of the past eight years. His dominance at Roland Garros is unprecedented.

Even at his best, Djokovic would be hard pressed to beat Nadal in the French Open. Djokovic is barely showcasing a fraction of his ability right now, though, so knocking off Nadal is out of the question. There is no margin for error when facing Nadal on clay, and Djokovic is simply making far too many mistakes and doesn't seem to be locked in.

Although it isn't as if Nadal needed any help winning the French Open, Murray's injury, Roger Federer's declining play and especially Djokovic's rough patch all but ensure an eighth French Open triumph for Rafa.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

What Rafael Nadal's Shaky Start in Rome Means for French Open

Sean Frye — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:25:22 -0400

Rafael Nadal isn't looking good heading into the French Open, which starts in just about a week. His shaky start against Ernests Gulbis in the Italian Open may be a foreshadow of things to come in Paris.

Against Gulbis on Thursday, Nadal had one of the worst starts of his career, according to ESPN. He beat Gulbis 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals in Rome, but his first set was not pretty.

In the first set, Gulbis took a 5-0 lead over Nadal and at one point could have closed out the set at love.

According to ESPN, Nadal looked "sluggish" with his movements on the court. That's certainly disconcerting for Nadal, who is just seven tournaments into a return from a seven-month layoff to nurse a left knee injury.

After Thursday's match, according to the BBC, Nadal did not want to address any possible lingering issues with his knee.

"I really don't want to talk about my knee," Nadal said. "I'm fine. I fought a lot to be where I am today."

In Nadal's defense, he has reached the final of all seven tournaments he has appeared in since returning in February. So it appears that the knee may not be the issue.

Also, Gulbis has given Nadal fits before Thursday's match in Rome. Nadal is 6-0 all time against Gulbis, but Gulbis has taken a set from Nadal five of the six times.

Gulbis is also very comfortable in Rome, where he upset Roger Federer in 2010 to face Nadal in the semifinals.

Regardless, an especially bad start by Nadal so close to the French Open is enough to raise eyebrows.

One of the problems that Nadal may have to address before Paris is his positioning on the court when returning serves. According to Juan Jose of The Changeover, Nadal is standing even further back from the baseline to return serves, which may prove problematic against tougher competition at the French Open.

Whatever the problem is, Nadal certainly didn't look like one of the world's best players against Gulbis. He'll need to change that in the coming days if he wants to have a chance in Paris.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Projecting How Roger Federer Will Fare at 2013 French Open

Patrick Clarke — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:00:01 -0400

Despite having won the French Open only once over the course of his legendary career, Roger Federer is routinely in the mix at Roland Garros, and don't expect that to change in 2013.

Sure, Fed has struggled immensely this season, failing to win a single tournament thus far and recently returning from a two-month layoff only to be upset by Kei Nishikori in the third round at the Madrid Open.

But tennis fan don't need to worry about the 17-time Grand Slam champion this summer in Paris.

Not only has Fed reached the quarterfinals at every major tournament since the 2004 French Open, but he's also reached the semifinals at Roland Garros in seven of the past eight years, reaching the final five times and winning it all in 2009.

And in 2013, with world No. 2 Andy Murray now doubtful for the French Open, the door is open for Fed to return to the semis again. No, a berth in the semifinals wouldn't be reason to celebrate for Federer, but it would provide him with some crucial momentum heading into his favorite Slam, Wimbledon.

Fed has won a record seven Wimbledon titles, and each year that he's bowed out of the semifinals at the French Open, he's gone on to win the title at the All England Club.

Therefore, you can anticipate the 2009 French Open champion will bring his A-game to Paris this year.

Slam after Slam, year after year, Fed makes deep run after deep run at major tournaments. His success at the season's biggest events can't simply be described as an on-off switch that he flicks before and after tournaments but instead a laser-like focus and the heart of a champion.

At age 31, he knows when to go all out and when to throttle back.

But at this point in his career, to suggest that Federer will upend Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic on his way to winning the 2013 French Open would be foolish. Instead, considering Fed has reached the semifinals at 31 of the past 35 Grand Slam tournaments, it's safe to say the Swiss legend will be in the mix this June, even if he isn't playing for the crown on Championship Sunday.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Roger Federer Hitting Stride at Perfect Time with Smooth Win vs. Gilles Simon

Maxwell Ogden — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:40:10 -0400

With the 2013 French Open less than two weeks away, the top tennis players in the world have come to put their abilities on display at the Rome Masters. In the third round of action, it was a familiar face that stepped up to make a statement.

Roger Federer is back in his Hall of Fame form after picking up a smooth victory over Gilles Simon.

Simon, the No. 17 player in the world, was no match for Federer, as the Swiss legend dismantled him by a score of 6-1, 6-2. Federer defeated Potito Starace by that same count in the second round, thus proving what we've already known as true.

When Federer is on his game, there are few men in the world who can even come close to defeating him.

Federer, 31, will play 22-year-old Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in the in the quarterfinals. This may seem like a no contest, but don't jump the gun quite yet.

Janowicz, who stands at 6'8", has defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet to reach the quarterfinals.

With that being said, Federer isn't just playing good tennis during this tournament. Instead, he's bounced back from early season woes to put on the type of performances we've come to expect from the active legend.

That spells bad news for anyone in his path.

Slow Start Concluded

The 2013 season has been one to forget for Roger Federer, as he's experienced quite the uncharacteristic start. After losing in the semifinals at the Australian Open, Federer has yet to win any of the four tournaments he's played in prior to the Rome Masters.

That includes a third round loss to Kei Nishikori at the Madrid Open.

At the Rome Masters, however, Federer has been a dominant force, dispatching his first two opponents. While the win over Starace may not be of powerful significance, the victory over Simon sent a clear message.

Federer is back on his game.

As for why this is important, it's all about momentum entering a tournament that has been dominated by Rafael Nadal. Fortunately, Federer has experienced more success at the French Open than any other player not named Nadal since the Spaniard took over.

That may not be saying much, but at the same time, it's saying a lot.

French Open

Since 2005, Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal has won seven of the eight French Open tournament crowns. The only time that Nadal failed to win the French Open was 2009, when he lost in the fourth round to Robin Soderling.

That year, it was Roger Federer that took home the title—is anyone surprised?

Since 2006, Federer has made five trips to the French Open Finals, including his 2009 championship run. During the 2012 French Open, Federer lost a straight set semifinals clash against Novak Djokovic.

As if that's such a terrible place to lose.

As we make our way through the Rome Masters field, however, Federer has a chance to make history. In what is an undeniably stunning truth, Federer has never won the Rome Masters.

This year could change all of that and thus create something no tennis player would ever want Federer to have in his corner—momentum.

If Federer is to make his way through the Rome Masters and pick up the victory, he'd immediately become the favorite to dethrone Nadal. After all, Nadal has won six of the past eight Rome Masters tournaments.

Fortunately for Federer, he's hitting his stride at the perfect time to break that trend.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Andy Murray's Injury Latest Sign ATP Schedule Too Tough on Players

Merlisa Lawrence Corbett — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:49:45 -0400

Andy Murray retired from his second-round match in Rome. He is doubtful for the French Open and concerned about being healthy enough for Wimbledon.

His injury is the latest sign that the ATP schedule is too tough on players. There are too many tournaments. Players are beat up and breaking down.

Rafael Nadal once complained that the ATP cared little about its players, in a report from Fox News. He worried that the the number of hard-court tournaments increased the risk of injuries. He also said these injuries could impact players long after their playing days are over.

Nadal recently returned to the tour after missing seven months with a serious knee injury. In April, Novak Djokovic was on the ground in tears after suffering an ankle injury during Davis Cup.

In light of the injury to Murray, it's time for the ATP reconsider its schedule and stop playing players into the ground.

All professional athletes struggle with injuries. The NBA playoffs have been marred by injuries to star players.

But in tennis, there are no backups. When Nadal, Murray, Djokovic or Roger Federer go down, fans miss out.

We are only five months into the season and already each of the Big Four have suffered some sort of ailment. The ATP's near year-round schedule may be forcing some of its best players off the tour.

This comes at a time when Grand Slam tournaments are increasing prize money. More money paid often means more requirements for recipients.

But if the goal of the ATP is to increase the profile of the sport, it can't continue this grueling schedule.

Guys are playing tournaments back-to-back, traveling from country to country without a break.

We've seen subtle signs of fatigue in Rome. Popular players like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Grigor Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori; bounced from the tournament early. Stanislas Wawrinka, winner of Portugal and runner-up in Madrid, withdrew with a thigh injury.

Players have complained about the schedule before. Murray was so concerned about the number of tournaments in 2011 that he was ready to strike, according to The Independent. That year there were a record number of retirements at the U.S. Open.

During the 2011 U.S. Open, Nadal told The New York Times, “The schedule is crazy... It’s crazy now, it was crazy before and it will still be crazy next year. You can’t make your body go to the limit for the whole year. It’s just not possible.”

In the same article, Maria Sharapova commented about the ATP schedule. “It seems like they play forever... So I guess we’re lucky.”

The ATP schedule began Dec. 30, 2012, and ends in November. The WTA schedule begins in late December too but ends in October.

Shortening the season will not eliminate injuries. But it may cut down on the number of top players hobbling out of tournaments.

According to the "2013 ATP World Tour Rulebook," a player in the Top 30 is required to play "singles event of all ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments for which he is accepted, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals (if qualified as a direct acceptance or designated as the alternate) and four (4) ATP World Tour 500 tournaments, one (1) of which must be held following the US Open. For commitment and ranking purposes, the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 will be included in the minimum requirements for the 500 category."

That means about 18 tournaments for top players. This does not include exhibitions or World Team Tennis.

Players older than 31, who have at least 12 years on the tour or have played in 600 matches, can reduce their commitment.

The ATP needs to consider shortening the season or easing the mandatory tournament requirements. Because it makes no sense to build up a sport only to tear down its players.

Follow Merlisa on Twitter: @merlisa

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal Will Continue French Open Dominance with Title at Roland Garros

Timothy Rapp — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:01 -0400

You do not want to face Rafael Nadal right now. And you most certainly do not want to meet him on a clay court at Roland Garros.

After a disappointing and injury-shortened 2012 season, Nadal has hit the ground running in 2013.

He has already won five singles titles (Madrid Open, Barcelona Open, BNP Paribas Open, Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Brasil Open) and boasts a sparkling 31-2 record heading into Thursday's match against Ernests Gulbis. He's reached the final in all seven tournaments he's played in.

Nadal has also beaten every elite player he's faced this season—including a win over Roger Federer and two over David Ferrer—with the exception of a loss to Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

Oh, and he's also won eight of the last nine French Open titles, with only Federer's win in 2009 interrupting Nadal's stranglehold of the event since 2005.

Plus, the field won't be quite as strong as usual for the event. Federer took a two-month hiatus this season and still looks rusty. Andy Murray is unlikely to play at Roland Garros. Djokovic has never won the event, though he did reach the final last year.

It just appears as though the Red Sea is opening up in front of Nadal, leading him to the promised land of his ninth French Open title.

This isn't the Nadal of old, of course, not exactly. Nadal spent seven months on the sideline, recovering from a knee injury, and his famous defense as he darts from one side of the court to the other may be somewhat more limited this year as he continues to recuperate.

But Nadal has always been more than speed (though, yes, his ability to cover ground on a clay court is the stuff of legend). He's a cerebral player that adjusts his game and finds new ways to beat opponents, even if Federer is always praised as the more flexible and versatile player.

Frankly, given the way he's played this year, I think he should be seriously feared at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open as well. While Djokovic will have eyes for sweeping the Grand Slams this year, Nadal has been playing well enough to steal the last three of the year.

If nothing else, that should make the last two Grand Slams of the year a lot of fun, with Murray hopefully healthy again and Federer back in form.

It should once again be a fun season among the Big Four this year. But when it comes to the French Open—well, that's a title I just don't see Nadal relinquishing this year.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Roger Federer Needs Strong Italian Open in Preparation for French Open

Timothy Rapp — Thu, 16 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

It was hard to blame Roger Federer for being rusty enough to lose in the third round of the Madrid Open to Kei Nishikori, 4-6, 6-1, 2-6. He came into the tournament on the heels of a two-month hiatus from the sport, after all.

But now, with the French Open less than a week away, Federer must round himself into his elite form of old. That means all eyes will be on him at this week's Italian Open.

Thus far, it has been business as usual for Federer, who dismantled Potito Starace 6-1, 6-2 in the second round. He'll have a tough test in Gilles Simon in the third round, but an in-form Federer should have no trouble advancing past the Frenchman.

For what it's worth, Novak Djokovic also struggled in Madrid, losing to Grigor Dimitrov in the second round. And to his credit, Federer seemed downright sick with himself after losing to Nishikori (via Kamakshi Tandon of ESPN):

I'm pretty disappointed with my play. I'm not sure how well Kei thought he played. I didn't think he had to play his very best, either, which is even more disappointing.

We're so accustomed to always finding that rhythm eventually, so it's even more disappointing if you never really find it, which was the case today.

I'm going to go back to the practice court, train hard, and make sure I don't have these kind of days anymore.

Generally, that means very bad things for Federer's peers.

But this year, it may not matter how well Federer plays at the Italian Open, or French Open, or any other Open, for that matter. Rafael Nadal will go to Roland Garros scorching hot, having already won five singles titles on the year and currently boasting a 31-2 record.

The 2013 season could end up being very Nadal-centric.

And seeing as Rafa has won this tournament seven times (in the past eight years, to boot), he'll once again be the prohibitive favorite. All roads go through Nadal at Roland Garros.

But Federer did end Nadal's streak of wins in 2009 with a French Open title, and with Andy Murray unlikely to play in the tournament, Federer could avoid a top-four opponent until the final depending on the draw.

We should have a pretty good idea of how Federer will fare at Roland Garros based on his play at the Italian Open. If he advances deep into the tournament, he should once again be considered one of the favorites.

But if he struggles or loses another third-round match, it's hard to imagine Federer making a deep run at the French Open.

If tennis fans have learned anything, it is not to doubt Federer. But he is only human, and taking two months off from the game may have left him with more rust than his 31-year-old body can shake off before the French Open.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Italian Open Tennis 2013: Dark-Horse Contenders to Watch for in 3rd Round

Patrick Clarke — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:00:01 -0400

The clay-court season is reaching its climax as the 2013 French Open is just over a week away.

Players like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are in Rome this week for the Italian Open, making one last effort to fine tune their games and prepare themselves for the season's second Grand Slam in Roland Garros, which many consider to be the most grueling of the four majors.

While it's no secret that those three superstars are heavy favorites to raise the crown in Rome on Sunday, there are a handful of dark-horse contenders tennis fans should be on the lookout for heading into Thursday's third-round action.

Let's take a look.

Kevin Anderson

Kevin Anderson, a big, 6'8" South African took out Jurgen Melzer easily in the first round and then knocked off the 11th-seeded Marin Cilic in the second round thanks to a spectacular performance in the second set tiebreaker.

Anderson won an incredible 75 percent of his first-serve points against Cilic, recording 13 aces and saving all six of Cilic's break-point chances in the straight-set victory.

The 26-year-old will face off against sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the third round on Thursday, who he lost a hard-fought third-round match to in Madrid last week.

But despite Berdych's high ranking, he's certainly beatable on clay. Before making a deep run to the semifinals in Madrid last week, Berdych bowed out in the third round of the Barcelona Open and Monte Carlo in April.

If Anderson, who finished as runner-up on the clay at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco last month, can continue to put powerful first serves into the box, there's no reason to believe he can't upend Berdych and potentially set up a quarterfinal clash with top-seeded Novak Djokovic on Friday.

Jeremy Chardy

Frenchman Jeremy Chardy lucked out as Andy Murray was forced to retire in the second round at the Italian Open on Wednesday, setting up a third-round matchup with doubles star Marcel Granollers instead.

Chardy has taken three of four singles matches against Granollers, and beat him in the two players' only clay court meeting back in 2008.

The 26-year-old Chardy was phenomenal in his second-round win over 16th-seeded Kei Nishikori, winning 75 percent of his first-serve points, recording six aces and dropping just five games in the straight-set thrashing.

If Chardy can get past Granollers on Thursday, then he'll take on the winner of Juan Martin del Potro vs. Benoit Paire in the quarterfinals on Friday. Remember, Chardy upset Delpo in the third round of the 2013 Australian Open last January to reach his first ever quarterfinal at a Grand Slam.

Jerzy Janowicz

Jerzy Janowicz, the 22-year-old Polish player, is playing with a ton of confidence in Rome this May. After stunning eighth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the second round on Wednesday, the 6'8" Janowicz will battle ninth-seeded Richard Gasquet on Thursday.

Gasquet has looked vulnerable recently, however. He was upset in the second round at the Madrid Open last week and was upended by unseeded Fabio Fognini in Monte Carlo last month.

If Janowicz can get past Gasquet on the Italian clay on Thursday, there's a good chance second-seeded Roger Federer would be waiting for him in the quarterfinals on Friday.

After reaching the third round of the Australian Open last January and beating Tsonga on Wednesday, confidence won't be an issue for Janowicz in the third round in Rome. He's serving well and definitely making enough plays in the return game to play his way into the weekend at the Italian Open.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Andy Murray Skipping French Open Would Be Justified Move

Tim Keeney — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:02:02 -0400

This wasn't really the birthday present Andy Murray was hoping for.

On the day that he was celebrating his 26th cake day, the World No. 2 was forced to drop out of his second-round Italian Open match with Marcel Granollers, and now it appears likely he won't play in the upcoming French Open.

The news comes via Sky Sports' Twitter account:

...Happy Birthday, dear Andy.

Nevertheless, if there was one major to skip, the one at Roland Garros is unquestionably the one for Murray to do it at.

First and foremost, Rafael Nadal will be there, and with each pressing match, the Spaniard has looked his pre-injury old self.

The same "old self" who is the King of Clay; the guy who has won seven of eight French Opens, including three in a row; the guy who is an otherworldy 52-1 at Roland Garros; the guy who has won four clay titles already this season while "trying to get back into playing shape."

And if someone actually says enough prayers to the heavens and were to pull off the unlikely miracle of beating Nadal in Paris, the odds of it being Murray are low.

That's not meant to be a criticism. The Brit has made it to the finals at the last three majors and is undoubtedly deserving of his No. 2 world rank.

But on clay, he goes from burgeoning superstar to just a solid tennis player.

Just this season, Murray was destroyed by Stanislas Wawrinka at Monte Carlo and fell in straight sets to Tomas Berdych after struggling with Florian Mayer and Gilles Simon at Madrid.

In his career, he has made 40 ATP finals, with a whopping zero of them coming on clay, and his worst major winning percentage is at the French Open. During what you might call his breakout year in 2012, the only major in which he failed to make the semis was at Roland Garros.

Simply put, his game is just far more suited for fast courts.

Murray will lose some points if he opts out of the French Open, but earning a high ranking shouldn't be at the top of his list of priorities. Overcoming his current injury, clearing his mental state after a long past year and recharging his batteries before Wimbledon—where he most recently earned himself a gold medal—should be.

While the popular star would assuredly be missed by the tennis world in Paris, everyone needs breaks. And there is no better time for Murray to take one than right now.

He is, after all, a year older now.

I managed to restrain myself from using the phrase, "that (expletive) clay." Reward me with a follow! Follow @t_keen

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Tennis: The Best Male Clay Courters of the Open Era

JA Allen — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:35:26 -0400

Heading into the French Open, the second major of the season, most players prepare diligently for their final hurrah on clay. It is probably the least understood and least appreciated of the court surfaces players endure each year.

If the truth be told, players who learn to play on clay and embrace the surface’s forgiving nature generally become better, more successful all-around players than those who learn the game on grass or hard courts.

The typical clay court player excels at patience by learning how to develop points and excellent defensive skills.

For a long time, it seemed that some players segregated their careers by either avoiding clay altogether or by playing exclusively on the red dirt. But with the start of the Open Era, and the necessity to play on multiple surfaces, some players built successful all-court games using clay court expertise as the foundation.

These male players achieved a Top 10 ATP ranking, a winning percentage in excess of 70 percent on clay throughout their careers and double digit title wins on clay. Most also won at least one French Open, although not all.

Begin Slideshow

Breaking Down Roger Federer's French Open Prospects

Justin Onslow — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:00:04 -0400

A third-round exit at the Madrid Open probably wasn’t what Roger Federer had hoped for upon his return to competitive tennis, but failing to secure a victory doesn’t mean we should expect to see FedEx falter at Roland Garros.

Federer took a two-month break following his performance at Indian Wells in March, as both a result of a nagging back injury and a favorable opportunity to recharge before a run at this year’s Grand Slam events. He may be as healthy as ever, but Federer certainly needed an opportunity to shake off some rust.

The world’s No. 3 player dropped two of three sets to Kei Nishikori in the semifinals at the Madrid Open (6-4, 1-6, 6-2) after cruising past Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2 in the second round. Those particular matches couldn’t have been more different.

FedEx faced almost no pressure from Stepanek in his first match of the tournament, shaking off the dust in a manner we’ve come to expect from the 31-year-old. But Nishikori’s impressive service game gave Federer trouble, and raised some questions about his preparedness for the upcoming Grand Slam event.

Things have gone much more smoothly in Rome.

Again on a clay surface (this time at the Rome Masters), Federer evaded an upset bid from Potito Starace in just 51 minutes, dismantling his counterpart 6-1, 6-2 on May 14. The world No. 3 didn’t display any of the struggles that limited his effectiveness at the Madrid Open, and it looks (at least for now) like the clay won’t be an issue for FedEx as he prepares for the French Open.

But while all signs point to a good showing from Federer on May 26, Roland Garros hasn’t exactly been his strongest venue. That distinction lies with Rafael Nadal, who stands to be the 31-year-old’s biggest obstacle to claiming his second French Open title.

The current No. 5 player in the world has won the French Open seven of the last eight years, his lone defeat (and Federer’s only French Open title) coming in 2009. The “King of Clay” thrives at Roland Garros, and Federer’s hopes of winning the event will rest on getting past Rafa.

With the draw not yet available, it’s hard to predict FedEx’s chances of even reaching the finals for a potential showdown with Nadal. However the draw shakes out, he’ll likely have to beat more than one of the top six players in the world to earn the title.

Still, the most inviting sign for Federer should be the similar Madrid Open struggles of the rest of the Big Four. While Nadal took home the title, he was tested throughout the tournament (most notably by world No. 4 David Ferrer) and didn’t seem as indestructible as we would have expected.

Similarly, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic were far from perfect at the Madrid Open, each succumbing to upset bids short of the finals. No player can expect an easy path to the finals, but Murray and Djokovic certainly proved they could be playing much better tennis right now.

Ultimately, Federer’s chances of winning at Roland Garros will come down to how easily he can shake off the rust and settle in to his old form. Nadal, Murray and Djokovic present difficult challenges for the 31-year-old, but none are invincible.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Breaking Down Rafael Nadal's Path to the Rome Masters Semifinals

Tim Keeney — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400

Rafael Nadal's first-round bye might just serve as his most difficult competition at the this year's Rome Masters.

That's an obviously facetious statement, of course, but with the Spaniard looking more like his pre-injury self with each new match, it might not be far off.

He strolled to another Masters 1000 title at the Mutua Madrid Open last week. In five dominant wins, he was broken just nine total times and lost just one set.

In his final preparation for the French Open at the end of this month, it's difficult to imagine the King of Clay doing anything but continuing that momentum.

Let's take a look at who stands in his way at Foro Italico.

Second Round: Fabio Fognini

This is an intriguing opening match for Nadal.

The 25-year-old Fognini, who will be on his home soil in Italy, is unquestionably at his best on clay. He is just 16-19 overall in majors, but an impressive 8-4 at Roland Garros. As you'll recall, he made it all the way to quarters there in 2011 before bowing out with a muscle tear.

Still, while there is impressive potential for the world No. 25, his play has been quite underwhelming as of late.

He fell to Pablo Carreno-Busta in the second round of the Portugal Open and gave up two sets in a row to lose to Mikhail Youzhny at Madrid.

Nadal won't have trouble in his first career matchup with Fognini, but he can't ask for better preparation from an opening match.

Third Round: Viktor Troicki or Ernests Gulbis

For now, we'll assume that Troicki, who has had more recent success, will find a way past the qualifier.

Should that happen—well, no matter what happens there, actually—Nadal is in for a cakewalk.

Troicki, the world No. 42, made it to the second round in Madrid before losing in straight sets to Kei Nishikori. On Monday, he needed three sets to get past Lukas Rosol in the opening round at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

He has one tour win in his career, which came on the hard court at the Kremlin Cup in 2010, and has decent success on clay, going 7-5 in his career in the French Open.

The Serb was ranked as high as No. 12 in 2011, but he has done very little in the past that suggests he'll threaten to even win a set against Nadal, who he is 0-4 against in his career.

Quarters: David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Albert Ramos or Philipp Kohlschreiber

You have to believe Nadal will be meeting Ferrer here, although the other fellow Spaniard, Verdasco, played quite well at Madrid.

Nadal vs. Ferrer, of course, would be a rematch of the Madrid quarters last week, which saw Rafa get past his countryman in three sets. After splitting the first two sets, the eventual champ showed off his brilliance by tossing a bagel on his opponent in the deciding set.

While this matchup serves as an intriguing Spain vs. Spain battle between the World No. 4 and 5, you can expect last week's result to be as close as it will get.

In the last 15 meetings between these two on clay, Rafa has won every single one, dropping just three sets in the process.

Still, when you're getting a top five matchup in the quarterfinals between a historically-dominant clay player and a very-accomplished clay player, it's tough to complain.

Follow @t_keen

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal Doesn't Need to Win Rome Masters in Preparing for 2013 French Open

John Rozum — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:55:34 -0400

Expect Rafael Nadal to make a deep run at the 2013 French Open, regardless of his performance at the Rome Masters.

Coming off two consecutive clay victories (Barcelona and Madrid), Nadal has reached the finals in his previous five tournaments (winning three). The Italian Open will only help the clay surface master buff out the rough spots before entering France.

Nadal's opponents are also wavering about his skill set on clay. Stanislas Wawrinka and Andy Murray echoed Nadal's ability, as Paul Newman of the Independent wrote:

“Even if I’m playing my best tennis and completely fresh, it’s really, really tough to beat him,” Wawrinka said afterwards. “If you’re not completely there then he’s killing you, like he did at the beginning of the match."

Andy Murray said yesterday that Nadal’s recent form had been no surprise. “I think his record on clay was incredible before the injury and I expected him to come back and play well,” Murray said.

Even better, Nadal received a favorable draw to reach the quarterfinals.

In his section of the bracket, Nadal won't likely face another seeded opponent until fellow countryman David Ferrer in the quarterfinals. Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych are the best possible challengers in the semifinals, but it would still take a lot to defeat Nadal on clay.

Djokovic's victory over Nadal in Monaco was definitely impressive. It's also important to note that Rafa has dropped just one set since last facing Djokovic: He lost the first set to Ferrer in Madrid before winning the next two.

The other half of the bracket features Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Unfortunately for them, each was bounced early in Madrid just like Djokovic and each has to instantly respond. With Nadal rolling, though, the pressure is on everyone else.

He's clearly getting stronger as the season progresses and that only makes him more dangerous. Just like Madrid and all previous tournaments this year, Rome acts as a stepping stone for Nadal entering the Roland Garros.

And that is where tennis fans will see Nadal in his element.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Madrid Open 2013: Stan Wawrinka Continues Brilliant Play in French Open Warm-Up

Tim Keeney — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:44:01 -0400

With the 2013 French Open marking the first major in which each of the "Big Four"—Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal—will enter with at least one Grand Slam title, the stage is set for a memorable semifinal.

Stanislas Wawrinka looks like he's ready to crash that party.

Blessed with a thundering backhand and terrific baseline game, the 28-year-old Wawrinka has always had burgeoning talent. His mental toughness, however, has left much to be desired, and he has never quite lived up to his potential.

Well, better late than never.

2013 is playing out to be Stan the Man's breakout year.

He started it off in Australia, where he battled eventual champion Novak Djokovic to five hard-fought sets in a scintillating fourth-round classic.

After coming up short against David Ferrer in the Copa Claro finals and impressively taking Roger Federer to three sets at the BNP Paribas Open, Wawrinka appeared to take a massive step back when he fell to Tommy Robredo in Casablanca.

But that step back forced him to make that most crucial move of his career—one that has resulted in three giant leaps forward: On April 16, he hired former World No. 2 Magnus Norman as his coach.

Since the duo has collaborated, Wawrinka has annihilated Andy Murray in straight sets, won the Portugal Open with a redemption victory over Ferrer and made it to the Mutua Madrid Open final with mentally strong three-set victories over Grigor Dimitrov, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych.

He fell to Nadal in the championship to end his impressive nine-match winning streak, but it's undeniably clear Wawrinka, who just catapulted five spots to No. 10 in the world rankings, is playing at an elite level.

His upcoming appearance at the French Open is shaping up to be the most perfect of perfect storms:

In 2013, Wawrinka has beaten the No. 2, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 8 players in the world. All four victories have come on clay—his best surface—since hiring the same trainer who led Robin Soderling to two French Open finals and the only win in history over Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros.

Wawrinka has always had the talent. But now he has leadership in his corner, mental stability and proven production and results to back it up.

The furthest he has made it at the French Open in his career is the fourth round. But with the way things are shaping up, that's no longer his ceiling. It's his floor.

Follow @t_keen

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal's Easy Madrid Open Win Makes Him Huge Favorite to Win French Open

Jesse Reed — Sun, 12 May 2013 18:45:12 -0400

Rafael Nadal made winning look easy at the Madrid Open, and he'll be the big favorite to win this year's French Open starting later in May—the eighth of his career.

The Spaniard easily defeated Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets on Sunday, 6-2, 6-4, capping off an impressive tournament with his third career title at the Mutua Madrid Open.

After his victory, Nadal had a bit of fun with champagne, as shown by ABS-CBN News Channel on Twitter (via Reuters):

Since returning to the court after a seven-month layoff, while recovering from a knee injury, Nadal has appeared in the final of every single tournament he's entered, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Nadal has won five titles and lost two finals, and there isn't a hotter player on the ATP Tour on the men's side than him right now.

Watching him play these days is like taking a look into the past. His knees are finally in good shape again, and the rest he received while recuperating has clearly been good for his body and mind.

His biggest and only true test came in the quarterfinal against fellow Spaniard David Ferrer. After struggling to get into the match early, he dominated Ferrer in the final set and then didn't look back, beating Pablo Andujar and Wawrinka with ease in the semifinal and final.

There's no doubt that Nadal will be heavily favored to win this year's French Open. Even before his injury, he was difficult to defeat on clay, but now that Nadal has seemingly discovered the fountain of youth, he looks absolutely unstoppable.

He told reporters after his compelling victory on Sunday that he's playing better now than he did at Monte Carlo, according to Live Tennis:

He is hitting all his shots with confidence, he's getting anywhere on the court he wants to with speed and his energy is tangible.

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and the rest of the world's best need to bring their best game to Roland Garros later this month, because Nadal looks like he could defeat anyone on clay right now, any time.

Follow me on Twitter @JesseReed78

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com

Rafael Nadal Will Continue Dominance from Madrid at 2013 French Open

John Rozum — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:34:28 -0400

Rafael Nadal crushed the competition at the Madrid Open, which sets him up nicely for the 2013 French Open.

He dropped just one set in five matches, and swept through the semifinals and finals for the win.

Although Nadal didn't face Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray en route to his victory, Madrid featured upsets where the underdogs won at an unexpected rate. Federer and Djokovic each fell before the quarterfinals.

Murray then dropped to Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals, who lost to Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland. In a tournament where the big names were failing to overcome the stampede of lower/unseeded players, Nadal refused to crumble.

To a certain degree, that's just as tough of a mental challenge for elite athletes to fight through.

Had Nadal squared off versus Federer and/or Djokovic during that tournament, he obviously would have been diligently prepared. By contrast, getting ready for a much lesser-known opponent takes extra focus, as they become easy to overlook.

Instead, Nadal rolled. Expect him echo this performance at Roland-Garros.

For one, Nadal took the clay-surface Grand Slam for a third straight time last year, and he has won seven of eight since 2005. Even more impressive, he won 20 straight sets to open the 2012 French Open and only lost one set before winning it (Djokovic won third set in finals).

In short, the 2013 French Open is Nadal's to lose.

And Roger Federer believes the Spaniard deserves a high seed in France as well, according to Courtney Nguyen of Sports Illustrated last week:

“We all know he would deserve it,” said Federer. “I mean, he’s been so successful there in the last eight, nine years that everybody knows that he deserves it.”

“Is it really going to make a huge difference if he’s five or one?” Federer said. “Not a whole lot, I don’t think, at the end of the tournament."

Federer's not wrong either.

Until Nadal is knocked off the French Open pedestal, he is the man to beat. His smashing performance in Madrid is further evidence, as well as having reached the finals in every tournament since early February.

The man has found a rhythm, and we'll see Nadal make a run at the top position before Wimbledon.

Read more Men's Tennis news on BleacherReport.com