It seems that the shock of losing at Wimbledon is still hindering the performance of world #1 Roger Federer, as he barely squeaked out a three set battle against Robbie Ginepri in the second round of Cincy's Masters Series.  Not to look past the Olympics, but it will be very interesting to see how Federer does at the US Open, an early round exit would put a serious question mark around Roger's chances to break Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record of 14 titles:

Rafael Nadal looked uncomfortable at times during his semi final match against Andy Murray in Toronto, but he quickly resolved all problems against Nicolas Kiefer for his 5th title of the season.  Hard is Nadal's least favorite surface, but he's healthy, his confidence is riding high after winning two consecutive Grand Slam titles, and he is the man to beat on the ATP Tour.  If Rafa can stay agressive on hard courts, he will be very tough to beat, but the one thing that the Spaniard can't do, is tighten up.  For what ever reason, Nadal occasionally gets tight on hard courts, possibly because he doesn't have as much time to position himself for his huge groundies, or due to the fact the courts are faster than clay....the bottom line is that Nadal is inching towards Federer's #1 ranking, and is in great form as the Olympics and US Open approach.   World Team Tennis is complete, here are final results:

New York Buzz capture first World TeamTennis title with 21-18 win over Kansas City Explorers (courtesy WTT)

Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss do a fantastic job with World Team Tennis, giving tennis fans throughout the country a chance to watch top caliber players at a close glance.  Here are a few recent results:

With their win tonight, the New York Buzz became the third team to clinch a playoff spot in the WTT Championship Weekend, July 24-27, in Roseville, Calif.

World TeamTennis Pro League presented by Advanta - Results for Sunday, 7/20

(Home teams in capital letters)

FINAL RESULTS - All matches complete:

NEW YORK BUZZ def. New York Sportimes 23-11

Women's Doubles - Gabriela Navratilova\Yaroslava Shvedova (Buzz) def. Milagros Sequera\Hana Sromova (Sportimes) 5-0

Mixed Doubles - Yaroslava Shvedova\Nathan Healey (Buzz) def. Milagros Sequera\Brian Wilson (Sportimes) 5-3

Men's Singles - Jesse Witten (Sportimes) def. Nathan Healey (Buzz) 5-3

Women's Singles - Yaroslava Shvedova (Buzz) def. Hana Sromova (Sportimes) 5-1

Men's Doubles - Patrick Briaud\Nathan Healey (Buzz) def. Brian Wilson\Jesse Witten (Sportimes) 5-2

Philadelphia Freedoms def. WASHINGTON KASTLES 23-19 (OT)

Men's Singles - Alex Bogomolov Jr. (Freedoms) def. Scott Oudsema (Kastles) 5-3

Women's Doubles - Audra Cohen\Lisa Raymond (Freedoms) def. Mashona Washington\Sacha Jones (Kastles) 5-4

Men's Doubles - Alex Bogomolov Jr.\Travis Parrott (Freedoms) def. Scott Oudsema\Justin Gimelstob (Kastles) 5-3

Mixed Doubles - Lisa Raymond\Travis Parrott (Freedoms) def. Justin Gimelstob\Mashona Washington (Kastles) 5-4

Women's Singles - Sacha Jones (Kastles) def. Audra Cohen (Freedoms) 5-2

Overtime - Women's Singles - Audra Cohen (Freedoms) def. Sacha Jones (Kastles) 1-0

Kansas City Explorers def. ST LOUIS ACES 20-19 (7-6 STB)

Men's Doubles - Bob Bryan\Mike Bryan (Explorers) def. Uladzimir Ignatik\Travis Rettenmaier (Aces) 5-2

Women's Singles - Jelena Pandzic (Aces) def. Kveta Peschke (Explorers) 5-2

Mixed Doubles - Rennae Stubbs\Bob Bryan (Explorers) def. Jasmin Woehr\Travis Rettenmaier (Aces) 5-3

Women's Doubles - Rennae Stubbs\Kveta Peschke (Explorers) def. Jelena Pandzic\Jasmin Woehr (Aces) 5-4

Men's Singles - Uladzimir Ignatik (Aces) def. Dusan Vemic (Explorers) 5-2

Supertiebreaker - Men's Singles - Dusan Vemic (Explorers) def. Uladzimir Ignatik (Aces) 1-0 (7-6)

Standings

Eastern Conference MP W L PCT MB

x - New York Sportimes         12  9  3 0.750  --

x - New York Buzz              12  8  4 0.667  1

Boston Lobsters            12  6  6 0.500  3

Philadelphia Freedoms      13  6  7 0.462  3.5

Washington Kastles         12  5  7 0.417  4

Delaware Smash             11  2  9 0.182  6.5

Western Conference MP W L PCT MB

y - Kansas City Explorers      12  11  1  0.917  --

Sacramento Capitals        12  6  6  0.500  5

Newport Beach Breakers     11  5  6  0.455  5.5

Springfield Lasers         13  5  8  0.385  6.5

St Louis Aces              12  3  9  0.250  8

x = Clinched playoff spot

y = Clinched Conference Championship

Next Matches: 7/21/2008

Boston Lobsters @ NEWPORT BEACH BREAKERS, 7:00 PM (PDT)

Delaware Smash @ PHILADELPHIA FREEDOMS, 7:30 PM (EDT)

For live scoring and complete player / match statistics, please visit wtt.com 

An impressive and surprising ATP Tournament win for Gilles Simon.

Singles - Final
[2] G Simon (FRA) d [3] D Tursunov (RUS) 64 64

Doubles - Final
A Fisher (AUS) / T Phillips (USA) d S Lipsky (USA) / D Martin (USA) 36 63 10-5
SINGLES FINAL - SIMON EARNS FIRST ATP TITLE ON AMERICAN SOIL IN INDIANAPOLIS (courtesy ATP Tour Media Department)

As predicted, James Blake had a tough match with Tursunov's heavy game at the RCA.  Of course when Tursunov is on, it's hard for anyone in the world to beat him on hard courts.

INDIANAPOLIS TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS PRESENTED BY LILLY

$525,000 ATP International Series

Indianapolis, IN, U.S.A.

[3] D Tursunov (RUS) d [1] J Blake (USA) 46 63 64

[2] G Simon (FRA) d [4] S Querrey (USA) 63 46 64

Doubles - Semifinals

S Lipsky (USA) / D Martin (USA) d H Levy (ISR) / J Thomas (USA) 76(4) 75
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008

STADIUM start 10:30 am

S Lipsky (USA) / D Martin (USA) vs A Fisher (AUS) / T Phillips (USA)

 Starting at 1:00 PM

[3] D Tursunov (RUS) vs [2] G Simon (FRA)

Congratulations to Michael Chang, Eugene L. Scott and Mark McCormack for being inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.  All three honorees have done great things for our sport, and as someone who grew up watching Michael Chang battle with such heart, class and determination, I also wanted to say “thank you.”  Chang may have only won one Grand Slam event (French Open), but his ability to represent American tennis at the top of the world rankings was priceless.  My best memory of Michael was at the 2003 Forest Hills Challenger ATP tennis tournament.  I had applied for a doubles wildcard, and it was between my partner and me, and Michael and his partner.  Chang of course was the better choice, although he ended up not needing the wild card, as he signed up with Cecil Mamitt….so Chang walked up to me and said "congratulations on getting the WC into the doubles event, I wish you the best of luck, and play well!"  Considering I was just a local college player at the time, that meant so much to me, and proved what class Michael brings to the tennis community

Michael Chang was presented for Induction by his brother Carl.  Below is the presentation speech.  Michael Chang's acceptance speech follows (courtesy tennisfame.com)

Carl Chang:  
"It is with great honor and pleasure that I have been asked to introduce to you the next honoree.  We all know him from his “never-say-die” attitude, his tenacity and mental prowess on the court and his David-like fighting characteristics against what always seemed to be insurmountable odds.  As most athletes on such a special occasion, we recognize him for his on court accomplishments, his 34 career single titles, his extraordinary French Open championship in 1989, a feat not previously achieved by an American for some 34 years. Overcoming physical hurdles and pain that were remembered by the greatest in our sports history, if not all sports, as recently recognized by ESPN."

"The many epic encounters with some of the greatest and most respected player to ever set foot on a tennis court, his 5 set marathon with Jimmy Connors in Paris, his life-changing battle with John McEnroe in New York, the heroic match with Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French, which in so many ways defined his career and the numerous hard fought clashes against his childhood rivals and friends, Jim Courier, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi.  It is these accomplishments that define this individual as one of the greatest tennis players of this era." 

"But I would like to share with you what his career and life have really meant to him.  It was an opportunity to live a dream, to share with others that the impossible is possible no matter what the obstacle.  That size, race and gender doesn’t make a difference when you believe, that there is a better life for all and that faith can be a life changing event that can provide meaning, purpose and a sense of fulfillment.  To spend countless hours signing autographs all those years just to have a moment or just a glimpse of an opportunity to share an encouraging word, thought or prayer.  This is the dream that this individual lived on the tour and the life he lived and continues to live to this day.  I would like to introduce you to a man that I have admired and respected all my life.  He is my brother and best friend.  Please allow me to introduce to you this day the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Chang."

Michael Chang: 
"I want to thank International Tennis Hall of Fame for this incredible honor.  I realize the list of inductees is very small and to be included with such champions both on and off the court of the sport of tennis is truly special.  This is a day I will remember for the rest of my life with much pride and honor.  Thank you so very much." 

"It makes it even more special to share it with many of my closest friends and family today as well.  People like Tom Ross and Kelly Wolf of Octagon, and Dianne Hayes of Reebok have played such a key role in my career and I am honored that they would come today just to be here today for the induction.  My friends and family from Seattle and California, thank you for being such an important and encouraging part of my life and it means so much that you are here today too.  As I reflect upon my career, the words dedication, perseverance, hard work, sacrifice, faith, unity and love come to mind and you would think that I was referring to myself through all these years but in actuality, I am not.  You see, for any champion to succeed, he must have a team. A very incredible, special team.  People that he can depend on, count on and rely upon through everything. The highs and lows, the wins and losses, the victories and failures and even the joys and heartaches both on and off the court.  And, no one knows that better than my Mom, Dad, Carl and Dianna.  For us, tennis was never about the winning or losing.  The Lord Jesus taught us that very early on in my career.  Sure, it is always  nice to win but from the beginning, the way, way beginning, when Pete Sampras and I were 8 years old and we were competing it was always about unit, love, closeness and about spending time together doing things that we loved to do.  Sometimes it was fishing.  Sometimes it was soccer.  A lot of times it was sharing a meal and talking but most often it was tennis.  And the same rings true today even now as I am retired."

"The goal, unity, sacrifice, care for one another, faith and reliance upon the Lord and a love that constantly encourages and lifts one another up.  That has stayed with me throughout my entire life and career and to my family I say thank you for loving me that way and for giving me every opportunity to excel in a talent that God has given to me."

"In my mind, with a team like you and the Lord’s blessings, who wouldn’t succeed?  My job on the court was easy as compared to yours.  I can say that now because I have since gotten a taste of what it is like to coach last year.  Now, of course Carl, who has coached me for twelve years would say “yeah, right, you think you know what it means to coach but you really don’t know what a pain in the butt you can be at times”, which I must say is true.  Now you can imagine with that kind of love, there was no pressure to come off the court after losing a touch match or having a bad day.  And if there was, it wasn’t coming from my family.  When you get to playing at the top, pressures are coming from everywhere and the last thing you ever want to worry about is whether or not you will still be loved or accepted by those dearest to you.  I never had that kind of burden and I hope for future generations of tennis players around the world never have to carry that kind of burden either.  But with that kind of comfort, love and support from my family it was easy to reach for the stars and to dream big dreams as the fear of failure rarely enters your mind.  In fact, your only thoughts are giving your very best and striving to accomplish what no one thinks you can accomplish.  But if you do come up short some time as we all do, I was one point away from becoming number one in the world; hear these wise words from my mom when I was just 17 years old.  She said “as long as you have tried your best, as long as you have given your 100% that is all that people can ask of you, that is all the Lord desires of you and that is all that you can ever ask of yourself.  If you do that, you should walk off the court, win or lose, with your head held high, knowing that you gave it your very best.  So, to Mommy, [Bobba], Carl, and Dee Dee, thank you for always giving me your very best and of course, to this family.  You are, and will always be in my hall of fame right here in my heart.  I am so incredibly blessed to have you as my loving family."

"Lastly, as I have shared many times before, I would like to give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.  I know that without him, I am nothing, so I give him all the glory and praise of all my accomplishments and for teaching me how to love and to live life to the very fullest.  Thank you dear Lord."

"In closing, I want to thank the International Tennis Hall of Fame again for this tremendous honor and also a special thanks to you, to many of my fans and supporters throughout the world for always encouraging me throughout my career through your cheers, your words and your letters."

"Thank you for allowing me to celebrate this tennis career in such an extraordinary and special way.  This is truly an incredible honor. Thank you very much."

Wimbledon Men's Finals: It was the defining moment of our tennis generation; two of the greatest champions going head to head under a dramatic sunset at the All England Club.  Both players used sheer determination and guts to continue at a top level throughout 4 hours and 48 minutes.  Tears of joy and pain were shed by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, while flash bulbs were the only sources of light on the war torn center court.  I knew we (as a tennis community) were in for something special when people, who don’t usually follow tennis, were also locked on the TV set for every point of this epic final.  Rafa dramatically fell to the grass after capturing his first Wimbledon title, he wasn’t the only winner after this amazing match; the whole tennis community was also a winner tonight….just another reason why we love this game!  Congratulations and thank you to Roger and Rafa, two legendary ambassadors.