Passing Shots: Safin, Navratilova, Federer and More!

Some interesting tennis news from this week...

Steve Tignor on the importance of the OOP (Order of Play) (Tennis.com)

Federer's improved backhand the key to beating Nadal? (The Fan Child's Two Cents)

Best player quotes from Indian Wells (Beyond the Baseline)

Marat Safin getting married?!? Nooooooooooooo (Open Court)

Yes, I think it's pretty clear Federer's game is up to snuff (ESPN)

Martina Navratilova on Dancing with the Stars! (LA Times)

Federer's press conference after his win over Isner (Indian Wells)

And Isner's presser after his defeat (Indian Wells)

Friday's Order of Play at Indian Wells

• Below is the order of play at Indian Wells today. Pretty amazing day at the tournament with matches like Federer vs. Del Potro, Nadal vs. Nalbandian, and Ivanovic vs Sharapova. I'm going to go with Federer, Nadal, and Ivanovic making it through to the next round.
  
  

  STADIUM 1 Start 11:00 am
  [1] Liezel Huber (USA) Lisa Raymond (USA) v	Iveta Benesova (CZE) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) WTA
  Not Before 1:00 PM
  [9] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v	[3] Roger Federer (SUI) ATP
  Not Before 3:00 PM
  David Nalbandian (ARG) v	[2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) ATP
  Not Before 6:00 PM
  [1] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v	[18] Angelique Kerber (GER) WTA
  Not Before 8:00 PM
  [15] Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v	[2] Maria Sharapova (RUS) WTA

• STADIUM 2 Start 2:00 pm
  John Isner (USA) Sam Querrey (USA) v	[2] Max Mirnyi (BLR) Daniel Nestor (CAN) ATP

And the Clay Court Season Begins...

Monday's Order of Play in Monte Carlo

MONDAY, 11 APRIL 2011

COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am

[10] M Youzhny (RUS) vs F Mayer (GER)

Not Before 11:30 AM
D Istomin (UZB) vs [13] R Gasquet (FRA)

Not Before 1:30 PM
[12] J Tsonga (FRA) vs J Monaco (ARG)

Not Before 3:00 PM
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) vs Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) - Exhibition Match
[Q] J Benneteau (FRA) vs J Nieminen (FIN)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:30 am

[WC] J Lisnard (MON) vs [11] V Troicki (SRB)
M Granollers (ESP) vs [9] N Almagro (ESP)
[WC] R Stepanek (CZE) vs M Baghdatis (CYP)
[15] M Cilic (CRO) vs [Q] F Volandri (ITA)

COURT 2 start 11:00am

D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) vs S Giraldo (COL)
T Robredo (ESP) vs I Dodig (CRO)
N Davydenko (RUS) vs R Haase (NED)
R Gasquet (FRA) / I Ljubicic (CRO) vs N Almagro (ESP) / M Raonic

COURT 9 start 11:00am

[Q] O Rochus (BEL) vs J Chela (ARG)
[Q] F Gil (POR) vs S Stakhovsky (UKR)
E Gulbis (LAT) / V Troicki (SRB) vs P Hanley (AUS) / A Ram (ISR) 

Australian Open: Day 7 Order of Play

Caroline Wozniacki

Matches to watch on Day 7 of the Australian Open

Rod Laver Arena 11:00 AM start (7:00 PM start in Toronto/New York City)
Wozniacki vs. Sevastova (predicted winner: Wozniacki)
Na Li vs. Azarenka (predicted winner: Azarenka)
Robredo vs. Federer (predicted winner: Federer)

Rod Laver Arena 7:00 PM start
Petkovic vs. Sharapova (predicted winner: Sharapova)
Roddick vs. Wawrinka (predicted winner: Roddick, but really won't be surprised if Stan wins this one)

Hisense Arena 11:00 AM start
Bryan/Bryan vs. Becker/Kohlmann (predicted winner: Bryan bros.)
Almagro vs. Djokovic (predicted winner: Djokovic)
Kuznetsova vs. Schiavone (predicted winner: Kuznetsova)

Margaret Court Arena (not before 2:30 PM)
Berdych vs. Verdasco (predicted winner: Berdych)

US Open: Order of Play for Day 4

Click here for the complete order of play for Thursday September 2, 2010.