French Open Men's Singles Prediction

I see this as a pretty easy pick.  Forget the career head to head, forget it's clay, forget how these two great champions are playing.

This is Nadal's match to lose and he's not going to lose.

Nadal in 3 sets for another Championship.

Day 11: French Open Match of the Day - Nadal vs. Soderling

Some think this match could be a blowout, but I tend to think it could last for a while.  Nadal isn't all that sharp and Soderling has beaten him here before.

I'm not saying that will happen again, but Soderling wil make him work.

Nadal has a 5-2 edge ove Sod and all but one match have been competitive.  I'm not sure what happened when Nadal beat Robin 6-1, 6-0 in Rome back in 2009.

Look for a close one, Nadal pulls it out, though.

ATP Tour Speaks on 'Special Events Rule'

A few weeks back there was rumor of a revolt by ATP 250 level tournament directors in response to the announcement that top ATP players including Rafael Nadal would be playing an exhibition event in Asia the same week that the ATP would be conducting 250 level events. 

It took a couple weeks, but I finally got an answer from Austin Nunn and Kate Gordon, the Executive VP of the ATP Tour's Marketing and Communications.

The ATP Special Events Rule has been consistent since the governing body’s inception in 1990.  Players are allowed to play in non-ATP events during the week of an ATP World Tour 250 tournament if it is located more than 100 miles (160km) away and not considered the same market area of the city where the ATP World Tour tournament is located.

Over the years, the ATP Board of Directors has considered various proposals to modify the Special Events Rule. However, the Tour believes that the current rule provides an appropriate balance between promoting the ATP World Tour and the investment by our tournament members, and allowing our player members -- who are independent contractors and not ATP employees -- some flexibility to play in non-ATP events throughout the year, while fulfilling their commitments to the Tour.

Bad news for ATP 250 tournaments that sometimes struggle to attract a top-10 or top-20 player in their field.  I'm not sure men's professional tennis becomes "the wild west" again, but it could spell the end for some 250 events around the world.

ATP Tour Match of the Week: Nadal vs. Murray

It will be a big day in Monte Carlo on Saturday as the Nadal/Murray rivalry is renewed.

The Spaniard holds the career edge 9-4, including winning both meetings on clay.  They played 4 times in 2010, each winning twice.

Nadal is having a much better 2011 than Murray and you have to like Rafa on clay.  This should be a two-setter with Nadal winning maybe 6-4, 6-4.

This will be a good test for Nadal, but he should pass it with flying colors.

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.