The last grand slam of the year starts today, Monday.

Defending champ, Roger Federer will be hoping to win the title six times in a row. British boy, Andy Murray will also be hoping to do better than last year.

Meanwhile, former world number one, Rafael Nadal, winner of the first grand slam, has declared himself fit, let's see how far he'll go. He starts his bid with a opening match with Richard Gasquet.

Among the contenders are Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, F. Verdasco.

Men's Draw:

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Davin Britton (USA)
Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) vs. Simon Greul (GER)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
Thiago Alves (BRA) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)
James Blake (USA) vs. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)
Peter Polansky (CAN) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
Donald Young (USA) vs. Tommy Robredo (ESP)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Albert Montanes (ESP)
Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Marcel Granollers-Pujol (ESP)
Kevin Kim (USA) vs. Dudi Sela (ISR)
Michael Yani (USA) vs. Sam Querrey (USA)
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)
Jan Hernych (CZE) vs. Rainer Schuettler (GER)
Dieter Kindlmann (GER) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Juan Pablo Brzezicki (ARG) vs. Carsten Ball (AUS)
Karol Beck (SVK) vs. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG)
Jesse Witten (USA) vs. Igor Andreev (RUS)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Somdev Devvarman (IND) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) vs. Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs. Radek Stepanek (CZE)
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Benjamin Becker (GER)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
Robert Kendrick (USA) vs. Martin Vassalo Arguello (ARG)
Alejandro Falla (COL) vs. Tommy Haas (GER)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. John Isner (USA)
Marsel Ilhan (TUR) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)
Marc Gicquel (FRA) vs. Dimitry Tursunov (RUS)
Bjorn Phau (GER) vs. Andy Roddick (USA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Chase Buchanan (USA)
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) vs. Fabio Fognini (ITA)
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Peter Luczak (AUS) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Wayne Odesnik (USA)
Michael Berrer (GER) vs. Federico Zeballos (BOL)
Josselin Ouanna (FRA) vs. Rajeev Ram (USA)
Nicolas Massu (CHI) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Jeremie Chardy (FRA)
Evgueni Korolev (RUS) vs. Andreas Beck (GER)
Marcos Daniel (BRA) vs. Jose Acasuso (ARG)
Alberto Martin (ESP) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Robby Ginepri (USA) vs. Andrei Pavel (ROU)
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Nicolas Kiefer (GER)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) vs. Marat Safin (RUS)
Pablo Cuevas (URU) vs. Chris Guccione (AUS)
Daniel Koellerer (AUT) vs. Mardy Fish (USA)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA)
Philipp Petzschner (GER) vs. Sergii Stakhovsky (UKR)
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs. Lu Yen-Hsun (TPE)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) vs. Gilles Simon (FRA)
Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Ryan Sweeting (USA)
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs. Jesse Levine (USA)
Denis Istomin (UZB) vs. Brendan Evans (USA)
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) vs. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Ivan Navarro (ESP)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Taylor Dent (USA)
Paul Capdeville (CHI) vs. Victor Crivoi (ROU)
Ernest Gulbis (LAT) vs. Andrew Murray (GBR)

Subscribing.

For purely sentimental reasons I'm rooting heavily for Andy Roddick . . . he was fantastic at wimbledon and is deserving of a second slam.

If Roddick bows out, then its back to my dude FedEx .

Lets not beat about the bush, Federer is winning this.
I'll be satisfied with a S-final for Rafa.

Provided Nadal is as fit as he claims, i dont see anyone stopping him. . .
Everyone knows Fed is scared of Rafa, and it would take a spoiler like the notorious murray to prevent Nadal from laying his hands on the trophy. . .

Some First Round Results - Men

Roddick - Phau  6-1, 6-4, 6-2
Hewitt - Alves 6-0, 6-3, 6-3
Blake - Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-4, 7-5
Stepanek - Bolelli 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Kohlschreiber - Seppi 6-0, 6-4, 6-4
Haas - Falla 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2
Federer - Britton 6-1, 6-3, 7-5
Robredo - Young 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3
Soderling - Montanes 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Davydenko - Kindlmann 6-3, 6-4, 7-5
Isner - Hanescu 6-1, 7-6, 7-6
Garcia-Lopez - Polansky 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-1

Some Women's Results:

Li - Olaru 7-6, 6-3
Williams - Dushevina 6-7, 7-5, 6-3
Mauresmo - Malek 6-3, 6-4
Chakvetadze - Sema 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
Mirza - Govortsova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Williams - Glatch 6-4, 6-1
Bartoli - De Los Rios 6-1, 6-0
Radwanska - Mayr 6-1, 6-2
Clijsters - Kutuzova 6-1, 6-1
King - Yakimova 2-1 Ab.

Venus had a close shave last night . . . I know she's been shaky in earlier rounds in previous slams but hope her knee doesn't do her in. I'd rather have her win than Serena 

~Borat~:

Provided Nadal is as fit as he claims, i dont see anyone stopping him. . .
Everyone knows Fed is scared of Rafa, and it would take a spoiler like the notorious murray to prevent Nadal from laying his hands on the trophy. . .

  Homeboy it would appear you made a mistake while typing . . . here, I've corrected you for free: "Everyone knows Rafa is scared of Fed"   

See how this place resemble graveyard . . . who would guess a major slam was going on right now

Anyways, Nadal vs. Gasquet . . . hope it doesn't bore.

MrCrackles:

Gasquet reminds me of GASKET!
I see Nadal sweeping Gasquet aside easily based on current form. . . .

I hope the opposite . . . we need some drama in these early rounds

JeSoul:

I hope the opposite . . . we need some drama in these early rounds

Nah. . . .

JeSoul:

Homeboy it would appear you made a mistake while typing . . . here, I've corrected you for free: "Everyone knows Rafa is scared of Fed"

yea rite. Fed is scared shyte of Rafa. Remember how Nadal trashed him mama in the french open finals.

chic2pimp:

yea rite. Fed is scared shyte of Rafa. Remember how Nadal trashed him mama in the french open finals.

  We all have our bad days, I'm sure even you have flunked an exam or two 

Federer welcomes the challenge that is Nadal, and as his volunteer personal media spokesperson on NL I have been charged with the duty of articulating this fact clearly to tennis fans everywhere - Bring on the Nadal! We shall send his capri-wearing behind back to Majorca empty handed or at worst with a stainless steel[i] tray[/i]

Its absolutely galling to hear king Rafa referred to as "World Number 3". . .
It doesnt sound right, and even though i know its just a matter of time before it changes to the norm, i cant wait to see it happen.
Btw Rafa is showing the frenchman how its being done. . .

JeSoul:

  We all have our bad days, I'm sure even you have flunked an exam or two 

Federer welcomes the challenge that is Nadal, and as his volunteer personal media spokesperson on NL I have been charged with the duty of articulating this fact clearly to tennis fans everywhere - Bring on the Nadal! We shall send his capri-wearing behind back to Majorca empty handed or at worst with a stainless steel[i] tray[/i]

i was close to flunking one , all the craming in the world did not help it was a narrow escape .

federer express needs to beat Nadal at least 3 times in 3 finals to get his vigour back.

subscribing . . . . .

No2Atheism:

federer express needs to beat Nadal at least 3 times in 3 finals to get his vigour back.

With one of them being an absolute trashing

JeSoul:

We all have our bad days, I'm sure even you have flunked an exam or two

Federer welcomes the challenge that is Nadal, and as his volunteer personal media spokesperson on NL I have been charged with the duty of articulating this fact clearly to tennis fans everywhere - Bring on the Nadal! We shall send his capri-wearing behind back to Majorca empty handed or at worst with a stainless steel[i] tray[/i]

Nadal is not on form now . . . he's just come back from a potentially career ending injury
We won't see his best till at least next year.

We all know how Nadal does when he's on form . . . we've seen Roger's tears a few times on TV cus of this

Nothing gets up my backside more than when I seem to care than the athlete competing.

Marat Safin needs to be locked in a room and flogged with serious koboko. He more than
anybody should have punctuated the relentless hoarding of grand slams by Federer.

Thank God, he is retiring. Good riddance to insouciant rubbish.

The return of Clijsters shows the paucity of talent in the women's game
beyond the top ten. And it isn't new. The likes of Hingis and especially Steffi
Graf have come back from lengthy layoffs to make easy money beating overmatched
opponents and in Graf's case, going as far as winning slams.

Shame about Gasquet. That ban has really set his game back I think.

But he is playing against the best player in the world. I actually hope Nadal wins this.
His game is out of this world, and I would like to be entertained and see if he can match
Federer's haul of Slams.

Let the chase begin

Marat safin's case get as it be jare. The guy is so talented yet seems not to give a damn. Well sha wetin u expect from a playboy extraordinaire. Na so so women him dey chase.

author=doyin13 link=topic=317230.msg4472022#msg4472022 date=1251942317]

The return of Clijsters shows the paucity of talent in the women's game
beyond the top ten. And it isn't new. The likes of Hingis and especially Steffi
Graf have come back from lengthy layoffs to make easy money beating overmatched
opponents and in Graf's case, going as far as winning slams.

You forgot Monica Seles and Jenefer Capriati. The women's game needs to step up.

But he is playing against the best player in the world. I actually hope Nadal wins this.
His game is out of this world, and I would like to be entertained and see if he can match
Federer's haul of Slams.

I second this  . . . . . Go Nadal!

tubabie:

author=doyin13 link=topic=317230.msg4472022#msg4472022 date=1251942317]

You forgot Monica Seles and Jenefer Capriati. The women's game needs to step up.

Hear Hear.


Honourabe mention to my fellow brit Andy Murray. I am undecided about him. His game is appealing,
especially the variety and he has shown significant determination to improve his stamina. Just don't
think he believes he can go all the way despite him saying this is his best surface.

doyin13:

Honourabe mention to my fellow brit Andy Murray. I am undecided about him. His game is appealing,
especially the variety and he has shown significant determination to improve his stamina. Just don't
think he believes he can go all the way despite him saying this is his best surface.

Based on his recent performances am keeping an open mind about him, He looks promising , lets see how well he does.
He's confidence and stamina have been impressive in recent times.

doyin13:

Honourabe mention to my fellow brit Andy Murray. I am undecided about him. His game is appealing,
especially the variety and he has shown significant determination to improve his stamina. Just don't
think he believes he can go all the way despite him saying this is his best surface.

I think the fact that he's playing so far away from the British media might help him.
In Wimbledon, the expectation was just too much . . . they had cameras clicking away while he was training

He's proven that he can beat Roger and Nadal before . . . so I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be winning this if they both flop.
Though we all know how tennis works . . . only one upset per tournament.

The U.S open is actually Andy's best chance of winning a grandslam. Murray loves the hardcourt as illustarated by his performance last year @ the same event(not forgetting his us open win as a junior). I bet he would probably win either the U.S OPEN or the Aussie open.

Some Men's Results:

Federer - Greul 6-3, 7-5, 7-5
Williams - Czink 6-1, 6-1
Simon - Gimeno-Traver 6-4, 7-6, 6-3
Ferrer - Martin 7-5, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
Del Potro - Monaco 6-3, 6-3, 6-1
Ginepri - Pavel 5-7, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0
Nadal - Gasquet 6-2, 6-2, 6-3
Almagro - Darcis 6-2, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6
Melzer - Safin 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4
Ferrero - Santoro 6-4, 6-3, 5-2
Kiefer - Llodra 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Monfils - Chardy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
Beck - Korolev 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-4
Hewitt - Chela 6-3, 6-3, 6-4

Some Women's Results:

Hantuchova - Bacsinszky 5-7, 6-2, 6-1
Martinez Sanchz - Kerber 7-5, 6-3
King - Stosur 7-5, 6-4
Clijsters - Bartoli 5-7, 6-1, 6-2
Kirilenko - Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 5-4
Zvonareva - Chakvetadze 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
Flipkens - Medina Garrigues 6-1, 6-3
Williams - Mattek 6-4, 6-2
Wosniak - Mauresmo 6-4, 6-0
Rybarikova - Chang 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Pennetta - Mirza 6-0, 6-0

Some Men's Results:

Roddick - Gicquel 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
Kohlschreiber - Devvarman 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
Stepanek - Mayer 7-6, 6-3, 6-4
Djokovic - Ball 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Davydenko - Hernych 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
Chiudinelli - Youzhny 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3
Robredo - Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Blake - Rochus 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-3
Verdasco - Serra 6-3, 6-0, 6-3
Querrey - Kim 7-5, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4
Haas - Kendrick 6-4, 6-4, 7-6
Witten - Gonzalez 6-7, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

Women's Results:

Sharapova - McHale 6-2, 6-1
Peer - Suarez Navarro 6-2, 6-0
Kuznetsova - Sevastova 6-4, 6-2
Errani - [b]Schnyder [/b]7-5, 6-2
Wozniacki - Martic 6-1, 6-0
Rodionova - Lisicki 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
Wickmayer - Peng 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
Kvitova - Garbin 6-1, 6-3
Shvedova - [b]Jankovic [/b]6-3, 6-7, 7-6
Zheng - Cornet 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
Bondarenko - Perry 6-1, 6-1
Cirstea - Dubois 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Dulko - Bondarenko 6-4, 6-0
Petrova - Coin 6-4, 7-6
Safina - Barrois 6-7, 6-2, 6-3
Oudin - [b]Dementieva [/b]5-7, 6-4, 6-3

I see the gathering of the St. Federer devotees.

Nadal will soon get his mojo back . . . this yr is Feds last yr as a grandslam champion.

chic2pimp:

The U.S open is actually Andy's best chance of winning a grandslam. Murray loves the hardcourt as illustarated by his performance last year @ the same event(not forgetting his us open win as a junior). I bet he would probably win either the U.S OPEN or the Aussie open.

Andy will not win a slam. He's a 3-set player, nothing more.