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Sunday, June 25, 2017

Fantasy Tennis: 2017 Women's Doubles World Championships - Starting Line-Up

1. Serena Williams / Venus Williams (USA) - 15

2. Karolina Pliskova / Petra Kvitova (CZE) - 19

3. Svetlana Kuznetsova / Elena Vesnina (RUS) - 24

4. Jelena Ostapenko / Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) - 32

5. Angelique Kerber / Laura Siegemund (GER) - 33

6. Kristina Mladenovic / Carolina Garcia (FRA) - 35

7. Elina Svitolina / Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) - 39

8. Garbine Muguruza / Carla Suarez Navarro  (ESP) - 40

9. Madison Keys / Lauren Davis (USA) - 45

10. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova / Daria Kasatkina (RUS) - 46

11. Simona Halep / Monica Niculescu (ROU) - 52

12. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni / Ana Konjuh (CRO) - 52

13. Daria Gavrilova / Samantha Stosur (AUS) - 56

14. Barbora Strycova / Katerina Siniakova (CZE) - 62

15. Zhang Shuai / Peng Shuai (CHN) - 68

16. Coco Vandeweghe / Catherine Bellis (USA) - 72

17. Yulia Putintseva / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) - 72

18. Agnieszka Radwanska / Magda Linette (POL) - 85

19. Alize Cornet / Oceane Dodin (FRA) - 86

20. Lucie Safarova / Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) - 87

21. Timea Bacsinszky / Viktorija Golubic (SUI) - 91

22. Dominika Cibulkova / Jana Cepelova (SVK) - 102

23. Mona Barthel / Julia Goerges (GER) - 103

24. Roberta Vinci / Sara Errani (ITA) - 105

25. Ekaterina Makarova / Natalia Vikhlyantseva (RUS) - 108

26. Misaki Doi / Naomi Osaka (JPN) - 113

27. Johanna Konta / Naomi Broady (GBR) - 118

28. Qiang Wang / Duan Ying-Ying (CHN) - 119

29. Kiki Bertens / Richel Hogenkamp (NED) - 125

30. Sorana Cirstea / Irina Camelia-Begu (ROU) - 130

31. Elise Mertens / Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) - 145

32. Carina Witthoeft / Annika Beck (GER) - 146














Fantasy Tennis: 2017 Men's Afro-Europa Cup - Actual Competition

Stan Wawrinka SUI 3
Daniel Evans GBR
Stan Wawrinka SUI 3
Lucas Pouille FRA Lucas Pouille FRA
Viktor Troicki SRB
Stan Wawrinka SUI 3
Marcos Baghdatis CYP Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA
Malek Jaziri TUN Dominic Thiem AUT 6
Dominic Thiem AUT 6 Stan Wawrinka SUI 3
Andy Murray GBR 1 Roger Federer SUI 8
Kyle Edmund GBR
Andy Murray GBR 1
Alexander Zverev GER Alexander Zverev GER
Mischa Zverev GER
Andy Murray GBR 1
David Ferrer ESP Roger Federer SUI 8
Tomas Berdych CZE
Tomas Berdych CZE
Lloyd Harris RSA Roger Federer SUI 8
Roger Federer SUI 8 Roger Federer SUI 8
Rafael Nadal ESP 4 Novak Djokovic SRB 2
Paolo Lorenzi ITA
Rafael Nadal ESP 4
Roberto Bautista Agut ESP Martin Klizan SVK
Martin Klizan SVK
Rafael Nadal ESP 4
Gilles Muller LUX Gael Monfils FRA 7
Grigor Dimitrov BUL
Gilles Muller LUX
Mohamed Safwat EGY Gael Monfils FRA 7
Gael Monfils FRA 7 Rafael Nadal ESP 4
Novak Djokovic SRB 2 Novak Djokovic SRB 2
Fabio Fognini ITA
Novak Djokovic SRB 2
Ivo Karlovic CRO Joao Sousa POR
Joao Sousa POR
Novak Djokovic SRB 2
Philipp Kohlschreiber GER Philipp Kohlschreiber GER
David Goffin BEL
Philipp Kohlschreiber GER
Kevin Anderson RSA Marin Cilic CRO 5
Marin Cilic  CRO 5

Fantasy Tennis: 2017 Women's Afro-Europa Cup - Actual Competition

Karolina Pliskova  CZE 3
Timea Babos HUN
Karolina Pliskova CZE 3
Petra Kvitova CZE Petra Kvitova CZE
Laura Siegemund GER
Petra Kvitova CZE
Carla Suarez Navarro ESP Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6
Garbine Muguruza ESP
Carla Suarez Navarro ESP
Ons Jabeur TUN Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6
Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6 Petra Kvitova CZE 6
Angelique Kerber GER 1 Angelique Kerber GER 1
Lesia Tsurenko UKR
Angelique Kerber GER 1
Anastasija Sevastova LAT Anastasija Sevastova LAT
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni CRO
Angelique Kerber GER 1
Barbora Strycova CZE Jelena Ostapenko LAT
Jelena Ostapenko LAT
Jelena Ostapenko LAT
Valeria Bhunu ZIM Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 8
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 8 Angelique Kerber GER 1
Elina Svitolina UKR 4 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 5
Ana Konjuh CRO
Elina Svitolina UKR 4
Elena Vesnina RUS Elena Vesnina RUS
Kiki Bertens NED
Elina Svitolina UKR 4
Caroline Garcia FRA Johanna Konta GBR 7
Kristina Mladenovic FRA
Caroline Garcia FRA
Sandra Samir EGY Johanna Konta GBR 7
Johanna Konta GBR 7 Elina Svitolina UKR 4
Simona Halep ROU 2 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 5
Alize Cornet FRA
Alize Cornet FRA
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS
Roberta Vinci ITA
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS
Timea Bacsinszky SUI Dominika Cibulkova SVK 5
Agnieszka Radwanska POL
Timea Bacsinszky SUI
Chanel Simmonds RSA Dominika Cibulkova SVK 5
Dominika Cibulkova SVK 5

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Fantasy Tennis: 2017 Men's Afro-Europa Cup Top 32 Seeds

Here are the top 32 players invited to compete in the 2017 Men's Afro-Europa Cup.  Twenty-eight players from Europe will be invited while the remaining four will come from Africa.  Only three players per country is allowed.

1.  Andy Murray (GBR)

2. Novak Djokovic (SRB)

3. Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

4. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

5. Marin Cilic (CRO)

6. Dominic Thiem (AUT)

7.  Gael Monfils (FRA)

8. Roger Federer (SUI)

9. David Goffin (BEL)

10.  Tomas Berdych (CZE)

11. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

12. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

13. Roberto Bautista Agut (FRA)

14. Lucas Pouille (FRA)

15. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)

16. Alexander Zverev (GER)

17. David Ferrer (ESP)

18. Gilles Mueller (LUX)

19. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

20.  Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)

21. Mischa Zverev (GER)

22. Martin Klizan (SVK)

23. Viktor Troicki (CRO)

24. Joao Sousa (POR)

25. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)

26. Daniel Evans (GBR)

27. Kyle Edmund (GBR)

28. Fabio Fognini (ITA)

29. Malek Jaziri (TUN)

30.  Kevin Anderson (RSA)

31. Mohamed Safwat (EGY)

32. Lloyd Harris (RSA)

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Fantasy Tennis: 2017 Women's Afro-Europa Cup Top 32 Seeds

Here are the 2017 Women's Afro-Europa Cup Players. This fantasy tournament is by invitation only and is held after the Australian Open.

Only three players per country is allowed

1. Angelique Kerber (GER)

2. Simona Halep (ROU)

3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

4. Elina Svitolina (UKR)

5. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)

6. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

7. Johanna Konta (GBR)

8. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

9. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

10.  Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)

11. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

12. Garbine Muguruza (ESP)

13. Elena Vesnina (RUS)

14. Petra Kvitova (CZE)

15. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)

16.  Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)

17. Barbora Strycova (CZE)

18. Caroline Garcia (FRA)

19. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)

20.  Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)

21. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO)

22. Kiki Bertens (NED)

23. Laura Siegemund (GER)

24. Roberta Vinci (ITA)

25. Ana Konjuh (CRO)

26. Timea Babos (HUN)

27. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)

28.  Alize Cornet (FRA)

29.  Ons Jabeur (TUN)

30.  Chanel Simmonds (RSA) 348

31. Sandra Samir (EGY) 470
  32. Valeria Bhunu (ZIM) 674

Saturday, June 10, 2017

French Open 2017: La Decima for Nadal or Bust


Deja vu in men's tennis continues in the French Open as Rafael Nadal contests his 10th title - La Decima. Earlier this year, Roger Federer shocked everybody in the Australian Open, when he added that grand slam title to his already full cabinet of trophies.

Well, Rafa has to really fight for it because the guy on the other side of the net has a 3-0 win loss record in grand slam finals - and as everyone knows, Stan Wawrinka is the foil that disrupts the dreams of the Big Four (Novak, Roger, Rafa, Andy).

He is the only one (for now) who has really stood up to these four pillars of men's tennis- and I won't be surprised if he pulls it off.

It's going to be lonely though as most of my friends here in FB and in the gym are big Rafa fans, so I'll be the only one quietly cheering for Stan - one of the more outlandish players on the men's tour.

French Open 2017: Women's Tennis Has a New Superstar!


OMG! What can I say? Women's tennis has a new superstar!
This is one of the most amazing runs I've seen in any of the grand slams - and Jelena Ostapenko has defeated many pedigreed players to win this tournament.
She was very aggressive and fearless in each of her matches and even when she was one set 3-0 down in the finals, she still maintained that fighting spirit which you rarely see when the other player has become so dominant - and Simona Halep is no pushover player, because she has been here before.
It would be interesting to see how she progresses in the other grand slams - but this win will definitely embolden many players in the tour - to aim for that grand slam title - no matter who's on the other side of the court.

Friday, June 9, 2017

French Open 2017: A New Queen of Clay Will Be Crowned



I slept at past 2 AM last night as I spent five hours in front of the telly to watch the grand slam semi-final in the women's side.
That rarely occurs because, usually, when it's Serena or Maria playing, it would usually just take an hour and a half at most for each of them to dispatch their opponents.
However, this French Open is going to be special since we are sure of crowning a player winning her maiden grand slam title! That's pretty exciting!
And, it's the old guard vs. the new guard - the 20 year old Latvian Jelena Ostapenko and former finalist here, Romanian Simona Halep.
It's going to be a hard fought match if both played the way they did today. It's a winner takes all situation and for Halep, a possible #1 ranking.
As for me, I'll be cheering for Jelena. I just love the way she plays - fearless, bombastic, fiery.
Sometimes that's not a good idea to be on court but it's fun to see players who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

French Open 2017: The Future of Men's Tennis (Dominic Thiem) Meets his clay court Majesty (Rafael Nadal)


The first semi-final match later today is the exciting match between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. If there is a player who is going to spoil Nadal's run to a tenth French Open title, it is Dominic, and it would be very interesting how Thiem dismantles Rafa in a court where he is considered king.

Well, that was the Rafa of the old and the latest Rafa has some chinks in his armor. One advantage he has though is that he is well-rested because of the retirement of Carreno Busta in their match earlier.

However, Thiem is also riding on a high after a three-set dismantling of last year's champion Novak Djokovic. So I just hope both players bring their A-game tomorrow as the future of tennis meets his clay court Majesty.

French Open 2017: Halep and Pliskova Looking forward to a Second Grand Slam Final



Among the last four women in Roland Garros this year, Simona Halep of Romania is the most pedigreed, having reached the finals here a few years ago, in probably one of the best finals of any grand slam I've seen in the women's side.

With no Maria in sight, it is really for Simona to lose this title, and she almost did today, as she trailed in-form player, Elina Svitolina one set down and 5-1 in the second set - and yet she still won in a breathtaking turnaround!

I do hope she still has some wind in her sails because her opponent, Karolina Pliskova is a very accomplished player herself, reaching the finals of the US Open last year, and has defeated Serena in the grand slam stage at that same tournament.

I like the styles of both players but I am cheering for Simona this time. She won me over as a fan after her performance here in 2014. She almost upset Maria but when Maria is in form, it is very difficult to win over her.

It would be interesting to see a Halep-Bacsinszky final.

French Open 2017: Timea the Swiss vs. Jelena the Latvian


The French Open will have a first time winner on Sunday and it has come down to the final four - all very good clay courters - and all taking advantage of the absence of some of the marquee players.

Not to take away anything from these ladies, but they did sweep aside former #1 players (Wozniacki) and grand slam winners (Stosur, Kuznetsova) to get to where they are.

I have heard of Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia for sometime now but I never saw her play because cable TV only shows matches where Serena or Maria plays - and unless you play them - you will never air on tennis cable TV here in Asia.

She has a very good chance of making it to the final because I don't think she has any nerves to deal with! Anyhow, the semi-final stage is another beast altogether so it would be interesting to see if she would be as fearless as she was during her match against Caro.

Timea is no stranger to the semi-final stage of RG, so I am not at all surprised about her run. She was able to tame the beast which is the French crowd, who were prevented from supporting Kiki because of the blustering wind and the rain delays, not allowing the Frenchwoman any chance to rev them up.

It would be interesting to see the aggressive play of Ostapenko against the steady accurate play of Bacsinszky. As for me, I am more of a Timea fan since I was cheering for her when she played Serena here in the semi's two years ago (she lost).

Monday, June 5, 2017

Petra Martic: 2017 French Open Women's Breakthrough Player


Croatian Petra Martic, currently ranked #290, is the 2017 French Open Breakthrough Player.  She fell down the rankings due to injury, and was absent from the grand slams for more than a year.

However, she has made a lot of progress this fortnight, by making it through qualifying, and then, going as far as the fourth round! 

This is her second appearance in the fourth round in Roland Garros after 2012.

Elite Women's Team Awardees for the FRENCH OPEN


The host France has never won this award until this year! Kristina Mladenovic, Alize Cornet and Caroline Garcia form the team that wins this award this year! They all have reached the fourth round! 


2017 - FRANCE - Kristina Mladenovic, Alize Cornet, Caroline Garcia 2016 - UNITED STATES - Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Shelby Rogers, Madison Keys 
2015 - RUSSIA - Sharapova, Makarova
2014 - RUSSIA - Kuznetsova, Sharapova
2013 - UNITED STATES - Sloane Stephens, Jamie Hampton, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Serena Williams
2012 - RUSSIA - Kuznetsova, Sharapova
2011 - RUSSIA - Kirilenko, Sharapova, Makarova, Zvonareva, Pavlyuchenkova, Kuznetsova
2010 - RUSSIA - Petrova, Dementieva, Kirilenko

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2009 - RUSSIA - Kuznetsova, Safina, Sharapova

2008 - RUSSIA - Kuznetsova, Dementieva, Zvonareva, Sharapova, Safina
2007 - RUSSIA - Sharapova, Chakvetadze, Kuznetsova, Safina
2006 - RUSSIA - Myskina, Kuznetsova, Safina, Sharapova
2005 - RUSSIA - Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Bovina, Petrova, Dementieva, Likhovtseva
2004 - UNITED STATES - Davenport, Williams, V., Capriati, Williams, S.
2003 - UNITED STATES - Davenport, Williams, V., Williams, S., Capriati, Rubin
2002 - UNITED STATES - Williams, V., Williams, S., Rubin, Seles, Capriati
2001 - UNITED STATES - Capriati, Shaughnessy, Williams, S.
2000 - UNITED STATES - Rubin, Seles, Williams, V.

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1999 - UNITED STATES - Williams, V., Fernandez, Seles, Capriati, Davenport

1998 - UNITED STATES - Williams, S., Williams, V., Seles, Rubin, Davenport
1997 - UNITED STATES - Arendt, Davenport, Raymond, Fernandez, Seles
1996 - UNITED STATES - Fernandez, Davenport, Seles
1995 - SPAIN - Martinez, Sanchez-Vicario, Ruano Pascual 
1994 - GERMANY - Graf, Huber, Hack
1993 - SPAIN - Martinez, Sanchez-Vicario
1992 - SPAIN - Martinez, Sanchez-Vicario
1991 - UNITED STATES - Whitlinger, Fernandez, Capriati
1990 - UNITED STATES - Capriati, Fernandez, Grossman

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1989 - BULGARIA - Katerina Maleeva, Manuela Maleeva

1988 - UNITED STATES - Navratilova, Garrison
1987 - WEST GERMANY - Hanika, Kohde-Kilsch, Graf
1986 - UNITED STATES - Evert, Casale, Fernandez, Rinaldi, Navratilova
1985 - UNITED STATES - Evert, Phelps, Gadusek, Spence, Navratilova
1984 - UNITED STATES - Evert, Benjamin, Bonder, Garrison, Brown, White, Horvath, Navratilova
1983 - UNITED STATES - Evert, Jaeger, Rush, Rinaldi, Jordan, Austin, Navratilova, Horvath