RickLimpert.info Picture of the Week: A Lot of Titles

To say that these three guys have hoisted up a bunch of trophies over the years is an understatement.

Roger Federer with 16 Grand Slam titles, Pete Sampras with 14 Slam titles, and Laker's Coach Phil Jackson with 11 NBA Championships.  Not too shabby.

Federer was in L.A. early this week preparing for the BNP Paribas Open being held in Indian Wells.

Fed an Sampras practiced together before heading tothe Laker's game.

What's Next...Multiplying Loaves and Fishes?

The two best tennis players in the world can really do it all.  Is it not enough that Rafael Nadal can wear opponent after opponent down from the baseline on just about any surface?  Or how about Roger Federer hitting "tweeners" for winners all over the court.

Now we see they can walk on water.  Actually they are playing on some plexiglass island in Doha, Qatar to promote the start of the 2011 ATP season.

New Haven Men's ATP Event Moving to Winston-Salem

In what I think is a great move, the ATP has announced that the men's portion of the New Haven U.S. Open Series event in August will move to the campus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

When I spoke with Bill Oakes, the tournament director of the ATP's Atlanta Tennis Championships last month he was excited about this event moving.  He called it a "community event" and I have to agree with him.  Winston-Salem is more of a community than a big city, and has a vibrant tennis community within.

The event will be dubbed The Winston-Salem Open, and if it gets players similar to what New Haven got it will be a success.  Players who participate should expect great Southern hospitality and knowledgeable fans, much like what turns out in Atlanta.

The weather will be warm, but great prep for the U.S. Open.

ATP Tennis Match of the Week: Soderling vs. Monfils

Not the final match that anyone expected in Paris.  Both players are on a roll.  Soderling is relying on his big serve and groundstrokes.  Monfils is inspired by the home crowd and pulled out a huge win over Roger Federer in the semis. 

They have only played twice.  Soderling has won both matches and both were played indoors. 

Look for Soderling to be a bit fresher and win this in straight sets.  A big tourney for both, but huge for Soderling heading into the London finals.

ATP Match of the Week: Roddick vs. Federer

A big semi in Basel on Saturday with Roddick and Federer.  With Federer leading 19-2 in head-to-head matches, can this be called a rivalry?

I think so, every time they two meet you have to throw out that record.  Even though Roger has 19 in the win column, these two will forever be linked.  They are close in age, turned pro about the same time and have played some great matches including the 2009 Wimbledon final that we all know Fed won 16-14 in the 5th.

Believe it or not, but these two haven't met since that final at SW19.  In Roddick's favor on Saturday is he appears fresh and in good form.  They also have gone the distance in their last 5 encounters whether it be 3 or 5 sets.  Andy's last win was in 2008 at Miami.

Federer is playing at home in Switzerland and has eased into the semis.

With the recent news that Roddick's IQ is 133 ( The Wechsler Intelligence Scale classifies an IQ Score of 133 as very superior intelligence. If you scored 133 on an IQ test, congratulations, you scored better than 98.6% of the general population) I like him to pull out a 3-setter tomorrow. 

So it will end up to be a good weekend for the #1 ranked American.  He'll notch his 3rd career win over the greatest player of all-time, and we now know he's smarter than 98.6% of the population.

Go Andy.  And notice I didn't mention your wife has an IQ 3 points higher than you at 136.