Rafael Nadal wins his seventh Barcelona Open men’s tennis title by defeating Spanish compatriot David Ferrer 7-6(1), 7-5. On the clay court of Barcelona, it was Nadal’s 34th successive match victory and his triumph came a week after he secured an eighth Monte Carlo Masters crown.

In the final of this ATP World Tour clay-court tennis tournament, it is the fourth time that Nadal has beaten Ferrer. He lifted the trophies from 2005-2009 and 2011-2012. After the win, Nadal said that it is almost unimaginable to win here seven times. He added that it is special tournament for him, at home in my club. He said that it is always more special to win at home in front of the people you know.

The world No. 2 becomes the only man to win two ATP events more than seven times each. He now has 48 career titles. He became the first player in the open era to win two tournaments seven times, after the thrilling win at Barcelona Open final.

Nadal came out on peak in a clay court slugfest between the nation’s two finest players that wowed the capacity crowd in the Catalan capital, in a repeat of last year’s title match and 10 years to the day since he made his World Tour debut. It was the 25-year-old French Open champion’s 48th career title and his 34th triumph on his beloved clay.

In a closely fought first set, sixth-ranked Ferrer went toe to toe with his Davis Cup teammate but failed to convert five set points on his opponent’s serve when leading 6-5. He faded poorly to lose the tiebreak 7-1.

He looked spent at that stage but after losing his serve to fall 3-1 behind managed to conjure the energy to break back, meeting Nadal for a fourth time in the Barcelona final and chasing an ATP-best fourth title this year.

He again failed to convert when it counted and Nadal produced perhaps the shot of the tournament to help break the Ferrer serve and level at 5-5, although he drew on all his famed stamina and persistence to carve out a 5-4 lead.

On a Ferrer drive to lift the ball high over the net, he just managed to get a racket before anticipating his rival’s smash and playing a phenomenal return that astonished his opponent into proffering up a simple volley. For Ferrer, that appeared to be the final straw and Nadal reeled off the next three games. Nadal sealed victory with a backhand winner before soaring into the air to rejoice.

ATP World Tour · Barcelona Open · David Ferrer · Rafael Nadal

Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska denied world No.2 Maria Sharapova a shot at her first victory in four finals appearances and she captured her maiden Miami women’s title. Radwanska earned her second victory of 2012 and her ninth career WTA Tour title with a 7-5 6-4 dismantling of the error-prone Sharapova.

Earlier this year in Dubai, the 23-year-old from Krakow had won, but the win at Miami is marked the biggest win of her career with a new career high ranking of fourth in the world.

The South Florida crowd was divided in its support, on a sunny, 85-degree afternoon. Before Radwanska hit her first baseline winner, the match was 72 minutes old. She was content to extend rallies and play steadily until the more aggressive Sharapova would make a mistake. Radwanska committed only 10 unforced errors and erased all three break points she faced, while Sharapova finished with 45 unforced errors, many from the backhand side.

The heat did not seem to faze either player, although Sharapova draped a rolled-up cold towel around her neck during changeovers. However, the pressure to hold serve made Sharapova wobble twice. Sharapova was let down by some reckless strokes. She committed four unforced errors when she was serving at 5-6 in the first set. This made her lose the set.

In the second set, the same pattern continued, with Radwanska had only one break point, the last point of the game. Sharapova struck a forehand long, and Radwanska lifted her arms in accomplishment.

En route to the final, Radwanska beat Venus Williams and won every set she played. With her other victory at the 2007 U.S. Open, she improved to 2-7 against Sharapova.

For a 10th consecutive year, Sharapova was trying to extend her streak of winning at least one title. Instead, she settled for her third runner-up trophy in 2012. Earlier, she had lost finals at the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Both the title matches were against Azarenka.

The Russian looked agitated and the opportunistic Radwanska lured her into defeat. The loss leaves the 24-year-old Sharapova still chasing her first win in Miami. For her it was the first professional tournament she would watch each year as a youngster. She attended the international tennis school at that time and her family would make the annual four-hour trek by car to Miami.

Agnieszka Radwanska · Miami women's title · Venus Williams · WTA tour

Roger Federer avenged his loss to the American, John Isner 7-6 (7), 6-3, who beat him in Davis Cup play, by winning his record fourth BNP Paribas Open title Sunday. Federer won the richest winner’s checks in the tournament’s history by earning $1 million. Isner earned $500,000. Since last year’s U.S. Open, Federer improved to 39-2, with his only losses to No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the 11th-ranked Isner. Last month, Isner won on the Swiss star’s home turf.

Federer said that he had decided that this year, he wanted to play a bit more. He added that he knew if things went great then he could have a great run in Miami and Indian Wells. He also said that he was a bit surprised that things went that well for him.

In consecutive days at Indian Wells, Federer, who ranked third, avenged both those defeats by putting away Nadal in the rain-delayed semifinals Saturday and then Isner in a final delayed 12 minutes in the first set by raindrops. He felt especially sick during the first three days and had battled a cold most of the two-week tournament.

Friends cheered Federer’s victory. This win tied him with Nadal for most ATP World Tour Masters 1000 career titles at 19. From 2004-06, Federer won three straight titles here and his fourth snapped a tie with Michael Chang and Jimmy Connors.
Isner reached his first Masters 1000 final by beating top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. He had a breakthrough two weeks in the desert. When the latest rankings come out Monday, this assured him of entering the top 10 for the first time at No. 10.

The big-serving American, with his fastest serve clocked at 135 mph actually had three fewer aces than Federer’s seven. Federer went up 4-3 in the second by breaking Isner’s netted backhand volley. He closed out the match on Isner’s forehand that landed in the net. In the tiebreaker, Federer managed a backhand lob over his 6-foot-9 opponent when Isner was serving at 7-all and Isner let it go, with the ball landing on the baseline. Federer won that crucial point and the next to take the set.

BNP Paribas Open Title · John Isner · Roger Federer

Every tennis fan has geared up to watch the French Open 2011, which commenced on May 22 to June 5. Enthusiasts, for their favorite players, are rooting religiously. The 110th edition of the Grand Slam is currently taking place at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France and it is played on clay courts. Aficionados are eager to see if Rafael Nadal, five-time French Open champion will clinch the title again. Last year, in the women’s category an Italian player, Francesca Schiavone emerged victorious.

In 2011, Novak Djokovic took his unbeaten record to 38 wins. In the first round, he enjoyed a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 dismissal of hapless Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker. To break John McEnroe’s Open era record of 42 for the best-unbeaten start, Djokovic needs five more wins and a sixth victory will make him the first man to win the Australian and French Opens back-to-back since Jim Courier in 1992.

At this year’s French Open, Roger Federer was all about the serve in the opening match and his strategy served him well. Without facing a single break point in beating Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3), the 16-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the second round.

Federer said that from his side, the important thing was to be solid in his own serve. He added that he thought he played a good match.

For the women, defending champion Francesca Schiavone and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki made it through.

Tennis betting

lines have received a ton of action these last few weeks for 2011 French Open. The odds are Roger Federer (1/100), Maxime Teixeira (22), Novak Djokovic (1/100), Victor Hanescu (22), Caroline Wozniacki (1/25) and Aleksandra Wozniak (11).

French Open · Novak Djokovic · Rafael Nadal · Roland Garros

Kevin Anderson won his opening match of the Madrid Masters, defeating Olivier Rochus 6-2, 6-4. The big-serving South African sent down 12 aces and broke Rochus’ serve four times. He towered over his 30-year-old Belgian opponent.

Anderson now faces a overwhelming prospect in the second round. He will be facing the second seed Novak Djokovic, who has remained undefeated in 27 matches this year. Currently, Anderson is ranked 35 in the world.

Nikolay Davydenko went down to Spain’s Marcel Granollers 7-5. 6-2, while German Florian Mayer upset Serb 16th seed Viktor Troicki 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Mayer lost the finals on Sunday in Munich to Davydenko.

Djokovic and Anderson have met twice. In a tight three-setter, Anderson won in 2008 and Djokovic prevailed early last month, in the quarterfinals. Both the matches against one another were at the Miami Masters event (on hard courts).

In a season, which has seen Djokovic, rack up 27 wins for no losses, he is untouchable to date and he is living a tennis dream, which cannot go on.

The Serb admitted that he does not think that it is realistic to go without a defeat in the first for months of the season. He added that if you believe you can achieve it and you are fit physically and mentally fresh, motivated and dedicated to the sport, anything is possible.

The second seed owns five titles at the ATP-WTA Madrid Masters and he is coming into his first serious clay test of the spring in Madrid as the French Open start on May 22 draws near.

Oddsmakers from online sports book have Novak Djokovic is the favorite to march forward to the next round. The best odd for Djokovic is 1/33 and for Anderson, it is 14.

Kevin Anderson · Madrid Open · Novak Djokovic · Olivier Rochus

World number seven Samantha Stosur of Australia overwhelmed the 33rd ranked Spaniard, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in the opening round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix played at the Porsche Tennis Arena at Stuttgart, Germany. To step into the second round of the $721,000 WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournament, the fifth seed Australian took 80 minutes to wrap up her straight sets triumph at 7-5, 6-1.

Stosur tended to put forth pressure upon her adversary early and she ignited the contest with her typical belligerence. She opened her shoulders on both wings and securing the opening set appeared to fill Stosur with confidence. She was able to read Martinez Sanchez’s intentions at will and winners flew off both the backhand and forehand side.

Last year at Stuttgart, the runner-up Stosur registered her fourth successive triumph over the Spanish rival. During the last year, the Aussie overwhelmed Sanchez three times and now leads the all time head-to-head record against her by 4-1. In the opening set of the contest, Stosur had some difficulties as she took time to get her eye in the game. In the second set, Stosur blew away the Spaniard to seal win for himself.

Last year, with triumph over Henin at Roland Garros, Stosur took revenge her Stuttgart final defeat before beating top seed Serena Williams and fourth seed Jelena Jankovic on the way to the final.

Stosur in the second round will meet Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova. The Australian defeated Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru 7-5 6-3.

The internet sports picks are offering great tennis odds. Stosur is favorite to go into the next round. The tennis betting odds for Stosur are 4/9 and Hantuchova are 2.

Jelena Jankovic · Porsche Tennis · Samantha Stosur · Serena Williams · WTA

No. 34 Ole Miss and Mississippi State will hit the road this weekend to face off against the Auburn Women’s Tennis team (4-15, 0-8 SEC). At 3 p.m., Friday, the Tigers will take on the Bulldogs and the Rebels at 1 p.m., on Sunday.

Making the Bulldogs 2-12 on the season and 0-8 in the SEC, Mississippi State is winless in its last nine matches. The Bulldogs will be looking for Alexandra Perper (5-7, 2-4 SEC), Vivian Pietraroria (3-9, 0-6 SEC) and Roseline Dion (2-9, 0-4 SEC), three freshmen to persist to develop and get key wins for the team, as they make up half the starting line-up. Perper has been playing at the No.1 spot ever since the commencement of the season and therefore there will be a lot of pressure on him.

For MSU, Freshman Alexandra Perper has proven her worth, as she has now amassed five triumphs in the top spot for the Bulldogs. Against Whitney Wolf of LSU, Perper had her first win over a ranked rival. Also, this weekend freshmen Vivian Pietraroia and Roseline Dion look forward to to pick up a couple of solid SEC wins as they contend on courts 5 and 6.

Junior Mariia Ryzhova are looking to carry on the streak this weekend against the brilliant Tigers, after coming off a huge singles triumph against Georgia last weekend. This weekend, Juniors Olesya Tsigvintseva and Jordan Zachary will also be challenging as they will show off their proficiency in doubles and singles action.

Matches will be moved indoors to the McCarthy Gymnasium, in case of inclement weather.

Bulldogs · Mississippi State · Ole Miss · Ole MissMississippi State · Tigers

Somdev Devvarman and Milos Raonic will be locking horns in the Sony Ericsson Open 2011, in the Miami second round on Friday. Last year in the Tashkent Challenger, came their only earlier encounter, where Raonic triumphed 6-4, 7-6(5).

After an incredible beginning to 2011, Canada’s top-ranked talent has reached a career-best No. 34 world ranking. When he overpowered Fernando Verdasco in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose in February, he became the first Canadian to capture an ATP World Tour title. At the ATP event in Memphis, he was the finalist. He lost to American Andy Roddick in a hard three-set final.

Somdev Devvarman is at present India’s top player and at the moment, the former NCAA tennis champion is enjoying a form surge of his own. It will be a fascinating matchup between the two. Last month, he made the Johannesburg final and on his way to the Indian Wells fourth round, he shocked Marcos Baghdatis. He has moved up to a career high ranking of 73. He has been improving and appears to be a different player over the years.

Devvarman will force the young Canadian to show a lot of persistence and to hit plenty of balls. He is a spirited counter-puncher and will give the Canadian a strong fight; however, Devvarman’s chances of breaking Raonic’s serve are far less than Raonic’s opportunities of breaking Devvarman’s serve.

The sportsbooks are offering great basketball odds for this match. The best odds for Milos Raonic are (8/15), while for Somdev Devvarman (11/6).

Andy Roddick · ATP · Milos Raonic · Somdev Devvarman

The world’s top men and women gather to compete in Miami for the Sony Ericsson Open, which will be one of the hottest non Grand Slam tournaments of 2011. The event will immediately be played after BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California and Scheduled to begin on March 21. Because of two consecutive major events in North America, that’s why March has always been an important month on the Calendar.

Tennis Odds for this event have not yet been posted in various sports betting sites.

About the Sony Ericsson Open, the preceding event at Indian Wells has traditionally provided good insight. It is early to pick favorites for Miami’s tournament however, since Indian Wells has yet to be played. For the hard court tournaments in North America, the recent events in Asia and South America provide the most accurate predictions.

In late February, the number three player in the world Vera Zvonareva defeated the world’s No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in Doha, Qatar. With seeds corresponding to their current world rankings, it’s most likely that both of them will enter the Sony Ericsson draw.

As the second seed, defending Champion Kim Clijsters comes into Crandon Park. In the final, last year, she overpowered Venus Williams 6-2 6-1. This year, the runner up will make a comeback, as the sixth seed.

Several other less known players who are coming off hot streaks in late February are to watch out for. While at the same time Anastasia Pavluchenkova raised the trophy in Monterey, Mexico, Gisela Dulko claimed the title in Acapulco, Mexico. Jelena Dokic won the event in Malaysia. If Dokic will even play, unless she competes at the qualifying rounds, though it is uncertain.

Even though Victoria Azarenka had a poor February, losing early in Dubai and Doha, the 2009 Champion comes into Miami as the ninth seed. Samantha Stosur, Francesca Schiavone, Li Na, and Jelena Jankovic are the other top ten seeds, who are possible “dark horses” which can be unpredictable at big events.

BNP Paribas · Jelena Jankovic · Kim Clijsters · Sony Ericsson Open · sports betting

India has some reprieve in their Davis Cup World Group opener against defending champions Serbia as World no.3 Novak Djokovic will stay out from the contest. In front of a home crowd in Belgrade in the 2010 final, the Australian Open victor led Serbia to a momentous triumph over France. Djokovic will be focusing on the U.S. hard-court season and consequently has opted out of the March 4-6 first-round world group tie.

The visiting side’s self-belief did draw a little boost in the Thursday’s draw. The visitors will be playing without their star players Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes.

On Thursday, the World Group first round was declared. Ranked 629 in singles, Rohan Bopanna will be facing a stronger challenger. Only during the Davis Cup, the doubles specialist on the tour, beckoned for singles responsibility and he will start the proceedings against Viktor Troicki. Bopanna’s rival Troicki is positioned 17 in the ATP rankings.

Somdev Devvarman has squashed some of the top-50 players previously and he, in recent times reached a career-best 80. He has the capability to push Janko Tipsarevic in the other singles match on Friday. Tipsarevic is at present ranked 45. Expect Somdev to give some hard-hitting fight to Janko.

According to various tennis betting odds, the best bet for Janko Tipsarevic (1/7) against Somdev Devvarman (13/2) and Viktor Troicki is (1/25) vs. Rohan Bopanna (14).

For the second straight year, India secured their place in the privileged 16 by overpowering Brazil 3-2 at home in the World Group play-off and a defeat will definitely pull them back in the play-off round. The two countries are tied 1-1. When Serbia played as Yugoslavia in 1988, they beat India 3-2 in New Delhi. In 1927, India had witnessed a win by beating them 3-0 in Zagreb.

ATP · Davis Cup · Leander Paes · Mahesh Bhupathi · Novak Djokovic