Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal confirmed for Team Europe

Tickets for the highly anticipated third edition of the Laver Cup has been announced and will go on sale at 10am Central European Time (CET) on Friday February 8. The three-day men’s team tennis competition will take place at the Palexpo in Geneva from September 20 to 22, 2019.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who made history playing doubles at the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague, have both confirmed to represent Team Europe in Geneva, adding to the sense of occasion for the event.

Multi-session tickets will be available for purchase Friday February 8 online via Ticketcorner.ch and offer fans the same seat to all five sessions over the three days. Purchasers will receive five separate tickets, one for each session, and can choose to attend the entire tournament or share the tickets with others to tailor their experience.

Prices for multi-session tickets start at CHF 250 with a limit of six multi-session tickets per purchaser.

The Laver Cup sold out in both Prague and Chicago and the demand for tickets is expected to be high. Fans can take part in a special pre-sale by registering at LaverCup.com by midnight Monday February 4 CET.

There will be a limited number of single session tickets available for sale at a later date.

Premium Hospitality Ticket packages have been on sale since mid-December, and are also available for purchase at LaverCup.com hospitality

The three-day tournament pits six of the top male tennis players from Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg, against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world, led by John McEnroe, and has sold out stadiums in Prague and Chicago to date.

Named in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, the event will be played in a specially constructed 17,000-seat arena at the Palexpo in Geneva on a dramatic black court, with the players supporting each other from the sidelines.

A fan village will feature a range of food and beverage options, sponsor activations and the chance to see the players up close on the full scale practice court.

Via LaverCup.com

Rafael Nadal to team up with Roger Federer for Laver Cup 2019 in Geneva

Press release

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal will join Roger Federer for the highly anticipated third edition of the Laver Cup to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 20-22 September, 2019.

The news is a major coup for Bjorn Borg’s Team Europe as it looks to build a team to defend its unbeaten record.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public in early February, with a variety of Premium Hospitality Ticket packages available from today.

Image credit: LaverCup.com

Federer and Nadal, two of the greatest players and strongest rivals of all time, joined forces for the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague in 2017, famously playing, and winning, a memorable doubles match together.

Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg is understandably delighted to name both Federer and Nadal as he aims to build the strongest possible Team Europe for 2019.

“It doesn’t get much better for a captain than naming both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the Laver Cup in Geneva,” Borg said.

“Bringing together two of the greatest players, and rivals, the sport has ever seen together on one team is very exciting for our sport – and will give us the best possible chance to win the Laver Cup three years in a row.

“At the first Laver Cup in Prague, with both Roger and Rafa on the team, we knew it would be very special, bringing together two such great champions. But I think we all underestimated how powerful it would be to see them sitting side by side, coaching each other and cheering each other on, along with their teammates from the player bench.

“We saw again the same special moments in Chicago, and how much this event means to the players. I can’t wait to see how the Laver Cup unfolds in Geneva as Team Europe regroups to defend our title,” Borg said.

Roger Federer also has his eye on a third Laver Cup trophy as he looks forward to the event coming to his home country of Switzerland.

“We’ve all been blown away by the success of the Laver Cup, which in just two years has become so special to all the players who’ve been involved from both teams.

“I’m excited Captain Borg has named both me and Rafa to the team. We had a lot of fun in Prague and it will be very special for me to team up with him again in Switzerland to try and defend our title.

“John McEnroe has made it very clear how motivated Team World is to win and we’ll need to compete hard to stay undefeated. I know from lots of first-hand experience how tough it is to compete against Rafa and it’s a huge boost to our team to have him on Team Europe.”

Nadal is also looking forward to re-joining Team Europe.

“I’m looking forward to playing the Laver Cup in Geneva next year and am very excited to be named to the team by our captain Bjorn Borg. I will do my best to live up to the great performances we had in Prague last year,” Rafael Nadal said.

Since its inception two years ago the Laver Cup has established itself as one of the most prestigious tennis events in the calendar, bringing together top-class tennis and entertainment with premium sponsors and hospitality offerings to create a unique spectacle for sports fans around the globe.

The three-day tournament pits six of the top male tennis players from Europe, captained by Bjorn Borg, against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world, led by John McEnroe, and has sold out stadiums in Prague and Chicago to date.

Named in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, the event will be played in a specially constructed 17,000-seat arena at the Palexpo in Geneva on a dramatic black court.

Fans will be able to soak up the unique atmosphere as rivals become teammates through a range of ticket options, including multi-session tickets offering the same seat to all five sessions, single session tickets and a variety of hospitality experiences.

Full details of all hospitality packages, pricing and how to purchase can be found at LaverCup.com.

Multi-session tickets, excluding hospitality, will go on sale in early February 2019, with a limited number of single session tickets to follow. Prices for multi-session and single session tickets will start at $250 and $25 respectively.

Register at LaverCup.com for more information and to receive updates on ticket sales.

Nadal reclaims ATP no.1 spot and trains for Davis Cup

Source: Marca.com

Rafael Nadal is finally back from his hip injury by training for the upcoming Davis Cup match against Germany. While I bet you are going to enjoy the online live streaming of the match, feel free to also check out Dreamz.com if you're up for a thrilling session of online casino.

After the 10-time French Open champion dethroned arch-rival Roger Federer from the number one spot, Nadal started training again under the direction of Spain captain, Sergi Bruguera alongside with his fellow compatriots David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez, Roberto Bautista and Pablo Carreno Busta.

Source: laht.com

Nadal, who just completed his first training at the iconic Plaza de Toros de Valencia, could be playing when the two countries meet from April 6-8. Spain defeated Great Britain in the last round of the competition to reach this stage of the Davis Cup.

By returning to the top spot in the ATP ranking, it will certainly boost Nadal's confidence a little bit more. I do not mean to jinx him but it seems like every time he reached the no.1 rank, he could go on to finish the year as the no.1 ranked player.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer who had an amazing run in 2018, will not be competing throughout the entire clay court season. With just 100 points behind Nadal, and no points to defend, it seems like the perfect plan for Federer. As for Nadal, he couldn't afford to make any error. A small slip by Nadal's side would make the Swiss maestro the top-ranked player again.

Nadal has been out of action since the Australian Open quarterfinal match in January.

Roger Federer rises to the top of the rankings for the first time in more than five years

Source: REUTERS: Michael Kooren

Roger Federer added another feather in his cap after his age-defying career resurgence by returning to the top of the world rankings this week after more than five years and becoming the oldest world's no. 1 at the age of 36.

Beating leading Dutch player Robin Haase on his home ground 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals at the ABN AMRO World Tournament means Federer becomes the oldest player, male nor female, to top the world's tennis rankings. This also means that he surpasses Andre Agassi, who held the men's record at age 33.

Federer will overtake 31-year-old Rafael Nadal to no.1 when the ATP rankings are updated on Monday. He will also extend his record of 302 weeks at no. 1 since the rankings began in 1973. Pete Sampras is a distant second with 286 weeks at the top. Novak Djokovic is the closest active player, with 223 weeks at no. 1.

Source:  AAP

Federer now faces Italian Andreas Seppi in the semifinals in Rotterdam after Seppi beat Russian Daniil Medvedev, while the other semifinal match will feature Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov and Belgian David Goffin.

Federer won the Australian Open in January for his 20th Grand Slam title. He had not originally planned to play in Rotterdam but accepted a wildcard when it became clear he might be able to take back the top spot. Nadal hasn't played since retired due to an injury in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

Roger Federer's 20 Grand Slams achievement

Love Match: Our top 5 famous couples in tennis

Happy Valentine's Day!

In conjunction with the special day, let's us share our favorite couples, who are also some of the hottest people, in the tennis arena.

Source: Star2

Rafael Nadal and Xisca Parello
This pair has been reportedly started dating in 2005 despite known each other for a number of years before.

Born Maria Francisca Perello, she is a business graduate and serves as project director for the RafaNadal Foundation, the charity which Nadal launched more than a decade ago.

Having in a long term relationship, they have yet to publicly announce an engagement or plan for marriage.

Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe

Roger Federer and Miroslava "Mirka" Federer
Many people may not realise that Mirka used to be a decent tennis player herself. The Slovak-born Swiss tennis player has reached a career-high of no. 76 in the world.

Both Federer and Mirka met during the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the rest, as they say, is history. They married in 2009 and have four kids (2 sets of twins!) Myla and Charlene and Leo and Lenny.

Flavia Pennetta & Fabio Fognini
There is a lot of chemistry in this Italian couple who was married back in June 2016. A few months later, just before Christmas, the beautiful pair announced that that they were expecting their first child, Federico.

Pennetta called it quits after winning her maiden Grand Slam singles title at the 2015 US Open. During her playing days, she reached a career-high ranking of no.1 in doubles and no.6 in singles, respectively.

Meanwhile, clay-court specialist Fognini remains as active on the tour.

Source: lapresse.it

Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian
Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian tied the knot at the end of 2017 after announcing their engagement in December 2016. The ceremony comes just 11 weeks after the couple welcomed their baby girl, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., on Sept 1. That's almost two years after they began dating in 2015.

Source: Via Yahoo.com

Grigor Dimitrov and Nicole Scherzinger
Previously linked to Maria Sharapova, Dimitrov has dated X Factor judge Nicole Scherzinger for over two years now! Scherzinger has dated Dimitrov since her split from racing driver Lewis Hamilton in 2015.

Dimitrov is 12 years Nicole's junior and the brunette went public with the Bulgarian as she was first pictured kissing him at a tournament in Australia.

Source: Dailystar

So, who are your favorite tennis couples?

Roger Federer’s early career

Roger Federer won his 20th Grand Slam at the Australian Open recently

Roger Federer is undoubtedly the greatest tennis player of all time and is still currently ranked as the number 2 singles player in the world at the age of 36. The Swiss professional has now been playing for 20 years since making his debut in the 1998 ATP Tour and has managed to win 82% of the 1389 singles games that has played over the years.

He first entered the top 100 rankings in 1999 but it wasn’t until 2001 that he won his first major tournament being the Hopman Cup while representing Switzerland in the mixed doubles with Martina Hingis. His first singles win came the same year at the 2001 Milan Indoor tournament but his first real international breakthrough came at the Wimbledon Championships the same year when at just 19-years-old Federer played and defeated the seven-time Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras and progressed to the Quarter-finals where he was subsequently knocked out by Tim Henman.

In 2003 Federer won his first ever grand slam singles title at Wimbledon following victory’s over Andy Roddick and Mark Philippoussis. Later that year he had his first ever chance to become the world number 1 singles player however, a few losses late that year meant that he didn’t quite manage to overtake Andy Roddick that year. Moving forward to 2004 the real dominance of Federer started to shine through as he won three grand slam singles titles over the course of the year finishing with a record of 74-6 and reaching world number 1 for the first time.

The following year was another successful one and saw him facing Rafeal Nadal, his main rival, for the first time. Although he missed out on the Australian Open and the French open, he still managed to win Wimbledon and pick up 11 singles titles finishing the year with a very impressive win percentage of 95.2%. Finishing the year on such a high put Federer in a great position going into 2006 where he had statistically the best season of his career. He reached the final of all 4 Grand Slams winning 3 but unfortunately losing to Nadal in the French open, this was the first time they had met in a Grand Slam final but certainly not the last. He managed to reach 16 out of the 17 tournaments he entered during the year coming away with $8,343,855 in prize money. One of his personal highlights for this year was returning to his home town in Basel and winning the Swiss Indoors tournament having not won it previously.

Now Federer had established his dominance in the game he has continued to win tournaments over the years most recently winning the Hopman Cup with Belinda Bencic and also winning the Australian Open after beating Marin Cilic in the final in turn securing his 6th Australian Open of his career. In addition to this he recently became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles and will be hoping that he can knock Nadal off the top spot and become world number one again this year. If you’re interested in betting on the Tennis, then be sure to check out Oddschanger for daily betting tips as well as weekly insights into the world of tennis. Federer currently has a 100%-win record in 2018 and the next major tournament he will play will be the Rotterdam Open for the 9th time in his career, he only needs to make the semi-finals here to become the oldest ATP world number one of all time.

Roger Federer engages in 'a cooking match' with Michelin star chef Davide Oldani

Press release

A nice plate of spaghetti with tomato sauce, the triumph of simplicity and a true symbol of Italian cuisine and the Mediterranean Diet around the world, marks the encounter of two extraordinary champions in their respective fields. On one side, the greatest tennis player of all times, Roger Federer, an icon of style and lover of good food who does not hide that he’s “unfamiliar” with cooking. On the other, Davide Oldani, the Michelin star Chef who made ‘Pop’ cuisine his tenet: simple ingredients affordable to all, but always cooked with great mastery. Two talents who meet for the first time in front of an icon of Italian food for a special occasion: the shooting of a global commercial in Italy for Barilla, the world’s most loved pasta brand.



Roger Federer & Barilla: Masters of Pasta 
“I’ve travelled a lot of countries, with different traditions and gastronomic cultures… but pasta remains one of my reference points. I’ve been eating it since I was little; I find it to be a fantastic food. Yet, I don’t know how to cook it” – the Swiss champion admits – “To tell you the truth, when it comes to cooking, I’m far from perfect”.

Federer is not someone to shy away from challenges, however. He will not stop halfway on the path to perfection. The time has now come to engage in a very difficult challenge for him, the quest for perfection in the kitchen. This is the first step in a journey that will see Roger Federer succeed in bringing his mastery perfection from sports to daily life.

A box of Barilla Spaghetti N°5 and a few simple ingredients are his tools. His gestures and the way he puts himself to the test show that he has the makings and talents of a champion. This is the narrative framework of the partnership between Roger Federer and Barilla.

So one discovers that, like in tennis, the recipe for perfection is made of simplicity, passion and commitment. An accessible and daily art that yet needs training and perseverance.

“Pasta has been in my daily diet since I was a kid. I am really happy to be part of the Barilla team: they are the best in their field”.

Federer & Oldani: Together in the quest for the excellence of simplicity 
Federer & Oldani: an impromptu meeting that promises plenty of surprises. An unexpected pair that actually share many traits: talent, discipline, commitment and - most of all - the passion for the excellence of simple things. A master playing the role of the apprentice and a challenge that proves rich of surprises. All this seasoned with glamour, style, humor and fun. But what will the strict “maestro” think of Roger’s début in the kitchen?

“You can immediately recognize a champion: whatever he does, he puts all he’s got in it. Filming the spot with Roger was a real pleasure,” coach Davide Oldani said.

Spaghetti with tomato sauce: A symbol of Italy all over the world 
Just like Roger Federer represents the apparent simplicity of the technical gesture in the tennis world, so the instant translation of “less is more” in the cooking world is represented by spaghetti with tomato sauce: the simplest pasta recipe, healthy and iconic, the symbol of the Mediterranean Diet. A recipe that Oldani has proposed with a touch of creativity by adding mint instead of the traditional basil, to reinforce the concept that simplicity and tradition are always evolving, as long as one keeps the importance and quality of the raw materials in mind.

An ageless champion with a healthy lifestyle 
During his long and brilliant carrier, Federer has collected many records and titles: he holds the no. 1 ranking for total weeks as best tennis players in the world (302); he won 91 single ATP tournaments, with a record 19 victories in Grand Slam tournaments. In his career, he also won two Olympic medals. In 2017, he won three tournaments, including the Australian Open and Wimbledon. At these levels, nothing can be left to chance, least of all the diet.

This is particularly true for a perfectionist like Federer, who has become an example of longevity in sports also thanks to a correct dietary lifestyle.

Pasta is the centrepiece of his dining table: “A correct diet is essential to my success: pasta perfectly combines my nutritional needs with the desire to eat good-tasting food”, Roger Federer concludes.

Different bet types in tennis

Tennis is an extremely popular spectator sport where you can majorly enhance your entertainment quotient by placing a punt or two on the matches. Although it’s an individual sport, the variety of bet types offered in it closely resemble the kinds available in team sports.

Furthermore, you can significantly improve your tennis betting gains by availing services like SBAT betting tips, which have proven to be extremely profitable for tennis bettors over the years. Whether you are betting on WTA or Wimbledon, placing a bet adds an extra dimension of fun to the event! Let’s go over the different kinds of bets you can place in tennis.

Tournament bets
Tournament winner odds are offered on almost all the entrants of any specific major tennis tournament, telling you the amount you stand to win by backing a certain player to win the tournament. For instance, if Stan Wawrinka is offered at 9-1 to win the Wimbledon, a £ 100 bet placed on him would return £ 900, if he indeed goes on to win the tournament.

Match bets
As evident from the name, these are bets wherein you predict the winner of a particular tennis match. The concerned two players are assigned a plus (+) and minus (-) sign, positioning them as an underdog and favourite respectively. The number against those signs reflects the amount you need to bet to win £ 100.

So if Roger Federer was positioned as a favourite at -400 going into a tennis match, you’d win £ 100 by placing a £ 400 bet on him. On the other hand, if he were offered at +300, you’d need to bet only £ 100 to win £ 300 from your bet. Considering how the Swiss has been playing lately, having beaten Nadal four straight times, it’s only justified that he’s being offered as a favourite by many bookmakers for all his matches these days.

Set bets
These bets are about predicting the correct score in terms of sets in a tennis match. So, you could place a bet that Roger Federer would win a particular Wimbledon tennis match in straight sets, or that he would win the match by three sets to one. Essentially, it’s about predicting how dominantly a player would perform in the concerned tennis match.

Spread bets
These bets are placed on the number of games the concerned player would win a tennis match by. Each player would be assigned a plus and a minus figure, reflecting the total number of games he/she can lose or win a particular match by, respectively.

Total bets
Also popularly referred to as over/under bets, these bets are about predicting the total number of games in a tennis match. So, if the total has been set at 28 games by the bookmaker for the U.S. Open, you’d need to place an over bet if you think that the concerned match would involve over 28 games, for instance, a score line of 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 (total of 31 games). On a side note, here’s a piece on Nadal emerging as a potential greatest tennis player of all time, having won the US open, and his career 16th Grand Slam, recently this year.



To win first set
Quite evidently, these bets are about which player you expect to win the first set of the concerned tennis match.

Prop bets
A large number of off-line and online bookmakers provide a wide range of prop bets on tennis matches. These bets might range from the first player to lose his/her serve, to something like whether the match would feature a tiebreaker or not. Prop bets are an excellent way to increase the fun quotient of tennis matches.

Roger Federer skips Paris, Rafael Nadal eyes No 1 finish

Source: Getty

Unexpectedly, Roger Federer withdrew from the Paris Masters happening this week which leaves ensuring Rafael Nadal has a clear opportunity to end the year as the world no. 1.

Federer claimed a 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3 victory over Juan Martin del Potro on his home ground tournament, the Swiss Indoors final in Basel last weekend and right after that withdrew from the Paris Masters as he looks to get back to full fitness. If you would like to find out how other players perform instead, be sure to check out the betting lines for Paris Masters.

Nadal, currently leads the rankings and it is now every likely that the old rivals will battle it out at the ATP finals at the end of the season event.

Federer, fresh from winning a 95th career title which puts him into second on the all-time list behind the 109 of Jimmy Connors, had said all week that he would make a late decision depending on his post-Basel fitness.

"My body is asking for a break," said the Swiss maestro.

"Basel takes a lot out of me emotionally. I had five matches in six days. I feel sorry and sad for Paris."

"I love to play at Bercy, it's a few times now that I've not played there. It's a tough one but they have to understand that it's for the cause of staying injury-free and healthy."

"I'd like to be fully fit for London (the World Tour Finals) and for 2018."

Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Europe

According to ATP calculations, Nadal can clinch the year-end number one status by winning his opening second round match in Paris.

The Spaniard will open his campaign at Bercy against South Korean young player Hyeon Chung. If you are tracking the betting lines for Paris Masters, you know where to go to while keeping an eye on the players' performance during this period.

Federer last played Paris in 2015 and won the title in 2011.

"I did think about the ranking, but I'm so far back in the points race that it was almost out of the question," added Federer.

"I asked myself what I would do if the ranking (issue) was not there. I want to stay injury-free, not push it and maybe get hurt next week and then miss London."

"It would be a snowball. It was not really about the ranking to be quite honest. If I was closer in the points race (to Nadal) it might have been."

Federer is now 1,460 ranking points behind Nadal and misses out on the chance of the 1,000 on offer in Paris.

Team Europe reunited for a dinner together in Shanghai

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal together with their Laver Cup Team Europe mates and captain were pictured together having dinner in Shanghai this week. The picture was shared by Marin Cilic in his Instagram account.

Amazing time with great guys. #TeamEurope gathering in Shanghai. #Tomasgetwellsoon @rogerfederer @rafaelnadal @domithiem @alexzverev123 #bjornborg

A post shared by Marin Čilić (@marincilic_official) on Oct 9, 2017 at 10:40am PDT

Federer and Nadal who share one of the most intense rivalries in tennis history are obviously became teammates for the first time and they were even paired up as doubles partners at the inaugural Laver Cup.

Team Europe which was also featuring Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, Alexander Zverev and captain Bjorn Borg took the championship after thrashing Team World 15-9 in Prague.

The victorious team, unfortunately without Berdych, was reunited on Monday as the dined together ahead of the Shanghai Masters.

If you're a big fan of online betting for ATP tennis matches, do follow up on the performances of the players in the Shanghai Masters during this period.

Source: Laver Cup website

Zverev who sat next to Nadal, also posted a similar group photo on Instagram with the caption: "Awesome dinner back with my #teameurope teammates".

Federer reposted the picture, alongside the words: "We all missed the Laver Cup so much that we had to have a reunion in Shanghai... Tomas Berdych we saved you a seat!"

Berdych exited the China Open in the last 16 courtesy of a shock defeat at the hands of Andrey Rublev. Nadal has better luck, beating Nick Kyrgios on last Sunday's final in Beijing.

Federer, meanwhile, did not enter the ATP 500 tournament, instead opting to save himself for this week's ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament.

What makes Nadal the favourite among fans and in tennis betting?

Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)

In every sport, those involved purely as fans and those who spend hours studying form to bet professionally spend plenty of time discussing the topic of “greatest ever.” For the former group, it is often a mixture of head and heart that informs the argument, while those falling into the latter category are likely to have figures and statistics to support their view.

Yet while those who are into motor racing discuss Schumacher and Fangio, or cricket followers try to decide between Tendulkar and Bradman, for the tennis connoisseur, this is a golden era. Not only are the two greatest players contemporaries of one another, they are both playing right now. While F1 fans can only theorise about whether Fangio would have been faster than Schumacher, we have the honour of seeing Federer and Nadal duke it out time and again. In fact, they have played each other professionally almost 40 times. No wonder Fedal is one of the most hotly disputed sporting rivalries ever.

Who’s the greatest?

Some point to Federer’s greater number of grand slam wins as evidence that he is the greatest until such time as Nadal can prove otherwise. There are two flaws with this argument. The first is that at 36, does Federer really have any more grand slams in him? Nadal, on the other hand, is five years Federer’s junior, and needs just three more wins to draw level.

The other factor to consider is that Nadal has won 23 of their 37 encounters, which makes it difficult for anyone to argue that Federer is the greater of the two.

Where to place your bet

Whether Federer’s star finally on the wane, or he can still prove himself against Nadal is the burning question, and one that can be explored by examining the bookmakers’ view on the numerous online sports betting sites. In recent years, tennis betting has become increasingly popular, thanks mostly to the rise of smartphone apps and online services. As well as providing an opportunity to win some money, a look at the odds also gives a great form guide for tennis fans.

With the Shanghai Masters getting underway, there is little surprise that the bookmakers see it as a two horse race between the two giants, and they have it too close to call. Both are around the 2/1 mark, with some offering Federer as favourite and others Nadal.

Many happy returns

If the betting odds cannot choose between them, is there other data we can call upon to differentiate between the game’s two top players? One statistic that stands out is the return of serve. There can be few tougher challenges in sport – statistically, you will miss more first serves than you return.

Most professionals in the men’s game have a return rate of around 33 percent – Federer’s is slightly below average at 32.5 percent. Nadal, however, stands head and shoulders above the rest with a return rate of 35.2 percent.

In the average match, a player will face around 150 first serves. According to those statistics, Nadal will successfully return four more than Federer per game. And it is small edges like this that can ultimately contribute to him being recognised as the best of all time.

US Open 2017: Carreno Busta makes first major semifinal; Federer, del Potro and Nadal aim for semis

Source: Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Pablo Carreno Busta reached his first career major semifinal after beating no. 29 Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

Earlier, he beat up-and-coming Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov in three tiebreakers in the fourth round.

Carreno Busta will face no. 28 Kevin Anderson of South Africa, who got past no. 17 Sam Querrey of the US 7-6 (5), 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-6 (7) in a match that ended shortly before 2 am on Wednesday.

Carreno Busta had quite a smooth path to the quarterfinals, becoming the first man to face four qualifiers in a Grand Slam tournament during the Open era, which started in 1968. He didn't drop a single set against any of those opponents and stayed perfect against Schwartzman while appearing in his second major quarterfinal.

Carreno Busta and Anderson each advanced to the final four at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time. Do check out the online tennis betting odds leading towards the exciting semifinal matches.

Meanwhile, Roger Federer will take on Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open last eight after the Argentine's incredible fourth-round victory.

Del Potro who is the 24th seed came back from two sets down to beat Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem in five thrilling sets.

Source: china.cn

He will face third seed Federer in a rematch of the 2009 final, won by Del Potro.

Del Potro who had battled four wrist surgeries is hoping that a massage and a day's rest will be enough to restore his energy in time to face an increasingly in-form Federer.

The Argentine said "we cannot do magic" after battling through illness to beat Thiem in an extraordinary quarterfinal match.

It is already eight years since Del Potro stunned then five-time defending champion Federer in the final at Flushing Meadows to win his only major title to date.

Rafael Nadal will also be featured in the quarterfinals against Russian teenager Andrey Rublev who knocked out Belgian ninth seed David Goffin.

Now head over to Caulfield Cup Betting for a great experience in online betting.

Laver Cup: Teams announced in New York City

Source: lavercup.com

Rod Laver was joined by Roger Federer, John McEnroe, Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych and Denis Shapovalov in the heart of New York City recently to announce the captain’s picks for the inaugural Laver Cup.

This year, the Laver Cup will be held at the O2 arena Prague from 22-24 September. It will be played in the USA in 2018.

Alexander Zverev, the world no.7 becomes the fifth top 10 player for Team Europe, joining Rafael Nadal, Federer, Cilic and Dominic Thiem. Berdych will also represent the European team at the O2 arena.

Source: lavercup.com

Meanwhile, Juan Martin del Potro and Denis Shapovalov were confirmed as the captain’s picks John McEnroe’s Team World.

To find out the performance of the players prior to the Laver Cup, you're advised to follow the online tennis betting odds especially leading towards the US Open to be held from 28 August to 10 September.

“The last member of Team Europe is going to be picked by Bjorn Borg as a captain’s pick is going to be Alexander Zverev,” Federer announced during the press conference at the JPMorgan Chase center.

“We are very excited about, because he’s had a wonderful year. It’s great news. We were very excited when we heard it."

Meanwhile, Team World’s captain John McEnroe said he was not ‘turning up to Prague to lose,’ and was excited to welcome Shapovalov and Del Potro into his team.

“I think this young man is going to be a great, great player in the future,” McEnroe referred to Shapovalov. “He’s a Canadian, but we won’t hold that against him. He’s also a left-hander, like Mr. Rod Laver and myself.”

McEnroe described Del Potro as a ‘tremendous young man, a little bit older and a veteran and a winner.’

Shapovalov is competing in the qualifying event of the US Open and joined the event in New York on his day off.

“It’s truly an honor to be sitting with past champions and present champions like yourselves, and, you know, I’m very happy to be here with all you guys.”

Federer, winner of 19 Grand Slam titles and two this year (the Australian Open and Wimbledon), said he could not wait to join with Rafael Nadal on Team Europe.

“For us to spend sort of a week together on the same team and, you know, exchanging ideas of how we could win the Laver Cup over the weekend, I think it’s going to be really highly entertaining for both of us.”

Players and captains alike paid tribute to Rod Laver, winner of the Grand Slam in 1962 and 1969, who the Laver Cup is named after.

McEnroe described Laver as his idol growing up and the perfect choice to be honored at this new and hyped event.

“We are looking to do something big here along the lines of the Ryder Cup in golf, and I think this is a magnificent way to try to get this going. It couldn’t be a better man to represent what we are trying to do here.”

Now head over to Geelung Cup Betting for a great online betting experience.

Multi-talented Artist Sofia Carson, musical sensation Alex Aiono and five-time US Open Champion Roger Federer Headline Arthur Ashe Kids' Day

Marin Cilic , NJTL winner Elizabeth Scotty, Roger Federer, Shaun T, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal
Source: Huffington Post

World No. 3 and five-time US Open champion Roger Federer will once again be participating in this year's Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. Federer has committed to take part in the star-studded event, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Federer will take part alongside other top tennis players during the show. Players who have participated in past Kids’ Days include Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, etc. While being entertained by their showcase prior to the US Open, it's also a good idea to check out the betting odds for the tennis matches for the fourth Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Beside the tennis starts, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) also announced a star-studded lineup for the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, which is powered by Net Generation. The stadium show will feature live performances from Sofia Carson, star of Disney’s Descendants franchise, and global pop sensations Jack & Jack, along with singer-songwriter-musician Alex Aiono, and UK boy band New Hope Club. In addition to performing their hit singles, Sofia Carson and Alex Aiono will serve as co-hosts for this year’s show, which takes place Saturday, August 26th at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York. The festival of tennis, music and fun honors the legacy of legendary pioneer Arthur Ashe and serves as the start of the 2017 US Open, which runs from August 28th – September 10th.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day will be the official launch of  Net Generation, the USTA's new approach to inspire the next generation of tennis players. For the first time, American tennis will have one unified youth brand for kids to get into the sports. Embracing all aspects of youth play for kids aged 5-18, the objective of Net Generation is to provide a kid-friendly, safe connection to the sport, while also serving as a platform to celebrate individuality and self-expression. Net Generation will make it easier for kids and their parents to learn about tennis and get into the game in schools, parks and tennis clubs across the country.

For more than two decades, Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day has been a launching ground and showcase for artists such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Rihanna, Jonas Brothers, Fifth Harmony, Ne-Yo, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and more.

Garbine Muguruza, Roger Federer claim Wimbledon Championships

Muguruza looks stunning in an elegant white dress as she attended the Wimbledon Champions' Dinner
Source: Press Association

After claiming the titles on grass during the weekend, Wimbledon champions Garbine Muguruza and Roger Federer swapped their tennis whites for glamorous evening wear as they arrived at the Champions' Dinner. The event, which marks the end of the tournament, took place at the Guildhall, London.

Muguruza, 23, who lost at the Wimbledon final to Serena Williams two years ago, came back to beat Venus Williams to win her second Grand Slam title.

Meanwhile, Federer beat Croatian Maran Cilic in straight sets in a emotional final due to the latter's blister that caused him a meltdown. To find out Muguruza and Federer's chance of winning in the upcoming tournaments, check out CrownBet tennis odds.

Federer and Mirka at the Champion' Dinner in London
Source: Press Association

It is Federer's eighth Wimbledon title and the win makes him the oldest men’s champion in the Open era and the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to sweep through the draw without dropping a set. Federer won another Grand Slam title earlier this year at the Australian Open.

As for Muguruza, she's the only second Spanish woman to win the Wimbledon singles title and the first since her coach Conchita Martinez triumphed back in 1994. Muguruza's mother is from Venezuela and her father is from Spain. She was born in Venezuela but moved to Spain when she was six and retains dual nationality but her current residency is listed by the women's tour as Geneva, Switzerland. In 2014, she decided to play for Spain. Muguruza joins Victoria Azarenka, Angelique Kerber, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Petra Kvitova among the active female players on two Grand Slam singles titles. Only Serena Williams and Venus Williams, with 23 and seven respectively, and Maria Sharapova on five, have more.

In the latest ranking updates, Muguruza is currently world's no. 5 while Federer is at no.3.

Get Into The Spirit Of The Aussie Open!

The Australian Open is upon us! The draws have been announced and you can find the match-ups at the official Australian Open webpage. The players are descending on Melbourne, and for the next two weeks we'll get a good look at the world's best professionals during the first Grand Slam event of the 2017 season. For a lot of tennis fans, it may as well be a two-week holiday signaling the return of the sport. Here are a few fun tips for fully embracing the spirit of the Aussie Open.

First, you should consider adjusting your sleep schedule to whatever extent possible. That is, If you live in Europe or the United States and you want to watch the Open, you'll be faced with some tricky timing decisions. Matches can be going on in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning, and it's a shame to miss out on the action when there are only four Grand Slams to watch each year. Naturally, you have to account for work, family, and other aspects of your day-to-day schedule. Within reason, use the early days of the Open to get on a sleep routine that allows you to be up for the best matches. You won't regret it when you catch that epic five-setter!

Second, you should think about getting out on the courts yourself. It's difficult to watch an event like the Aussie Open and not be inspired to play, so it's a great time to seize the momentum to learn some tennis skills on your own. If your game got a little rusty during the off-season you can get back into shape by searching for a private coach online using Play Your Court to find tailored instructions for the parts of your game need the most work. Get a few lessons under your belt and you'll have that backhand ready in no time for the tournament.

Third, you may want to get your hands on some of the official clothing being put out for the stars at the Australian Open. As always, Nike has put out a collection for its signature athletes and Baseline has broken down the looks you'll see sported by the likes of Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Eugenie Bouchard, and Nick Kyrgios, but there are other options as well. You might get inspired by any number of player outfits during the tournament, and you can always check out the official shop of the Open online. There's no need to go nuts, but a new tennis shirt or an Aussie Open towel makes for a nice way to embrace the tournament.

Then you should take some time to read up on the exciting young talent starting to impact the game. If you're reading about tennis, you already know all about the top players but 2017 is looking like a particularly interesting year in tennis because of a lot of young players who are beginning to challenge the old guard. On the women's side, 22-year-old Ukrainian Elina Svitolina has secured the 11-seed and Australian Daria Gavrilova (also just 22) will be looking to thrill local fans and improve upon her ranking at number 25 in the WTA. On the men's side, 25-year-old Grigor Dimitrov is looking to make good on his sensational potential, and The Australian reports that 19-year-old German Alexander Zverev is fresh off a win over Federer and is seeded 24th. These are just a few of the names that could make this a particular
ly interesting tournament.

Finally, just kick back and enjoy the tennis. It's going to be a wonderful two weeks!

Five legends boasting 60 Grand Slam singles titles gather for Laver Cup

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal say they plan to play doubles together when the Laver Cup debuts at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic next year.

With a combined 31 Grand Slam titles, Federer and Nadal have committed to the inaugural event, which is an attempt to create a tennis version of golf’s Ryder Cup. The tournament will be played from 22-24 September.

Named after Australian tennis great Rod Laver, a team of European players will face off against a group from the rest of the world. Future Laver Cups will rotate between major cities across the globe. The three-day Laver Cup will be scheduled two weeks after the U.S. Open each year, except for Summer Olympic years.

Former rivals Bjorn Borg (representing Europe) and John McEnroe (representing World team) were announced Wednesday as captains.

Images by Laver Cup/Ben Solomon

2015 Final Rankings - Men

When looking at last season’s performances of the top 5 on the ATP list there are some pretty clear conclusions to draw from it. This was definitely a year to remember for Nole and a year of misery and disappointment for Rafa. Murray’s season was a huge improvement compared to 2014, which he mostly spent recovering from injury. And the Swiss duo of Federer and Wawrinka played to the best of their capabilities, but didn’t warrant a top 2 position at the end of the year.

1. Novak Djokovic

This year there was a period of three months when Novak lost just once. The Serb had an absolutely brilliant season, which includes wins at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in which he only missed on the final played in Madrid and reached a record breaking 8 finals in the process.

This was complemented by a third win in his fourth final appearance at Wimbledon, and a win at the Australian Open. That win at the Australian Open was so comprehensive and dominant (he didn’t lose a set in the first five rounds) that many fans of Djokovic compared it to a dream-come-true performance.

And if you want to experience the same feelings that Nole’s fans regularly do, you don’t have to go all the way to Australia, you only need to visit Australia’s best new online casinos because this is where dreams come true.

The only negative, in an otherwise stellar season for Djokovic, was the loss in the Roland Garros final, when Stan Wawrinka prevented him from finishing off one of the greatest ever runs in a tournament, and completing a career Grand Slam. In Paris Nole didn’t drop a set in the first five rounds, beat Murray in a match that lasted for two days, and beat Nadal on his favourite surface at his favourite tournament, but still couldn’t prevail when faced with ‘Stan the Man’.

2. Andy Murray

Murray entered the 2015 season by failing to win in 36 events on clay, but all that changed with his victory in Munich over home favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber. He also entered the year with the embarrassing stat of not being in the top 4 of the rankings for a full year.

That changed when the UK native managed to get to the Australia Open Final, only to be defeated by Novak Djokovic in four sets. He also got to the semi-finals at Roland Garros, but again lost to Djokovic, this time in five sets.

This was also the year in which he joined the elite company of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the only players to get to at least the semi-final round in all nine of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments.

3. Roger Federer

Numbers 3 and 4 are reserved for the Swiss duo of Federer and Wawrinka. Federer managed to win in the first edition of the Istanbul Open, and the Turkish city became the 19^th place where a tournament was won by the Swiss maestro.

He also reached his forty-first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final on Rome’s clay, and by winning in Halle, he took his tally at his favourite grass court to eight titles. By doing this he became the fifth tennis player to win eight titles at a single tournament.

4. Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka will probably remember this season as the year in which he managed to defeat Nadal, Federer and Djokovic on clay. This was also the second season in a row in which he reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. But when he got there he lost to Gasquet. He went one step further in the US Open where he was defeated in straight sets by Roger Federer.

However, the tournament by which Wawrinka will definitely remember this season is the French Open. On the clay courts of Paris he defeated Federer in straight sets, in what was his first win over his compatriot in a major tournament. He then outplayed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis, earning himself a place in the final against the top seeded Djokovic. He won in four sets, and in doing so he defeated the most in-form player this season.

5. Rafael Nadal

2015 was a season to forget for Rafa. It was a year in which his confidence was shattered. He tried, but couldn’t get past his so called ‘mental injury’ and prompted many to start speculating that the best was behind the Spaniard and that his injuries have dealt the final blow.

He did recover however, and started looking like his former self. In the second part of the season by playing noticeably better he managed to take his tally of wins to 61, which when combined with the 21 losses he suffered this season, is not such a bad wins-to-games ratio.

 But we are talking of a serial winner here, and that win ratio of 75%, was his worst since 2004, and was achieved by playing part in as many matches that he could. He won most of those matches, but got eliminated when the going got tough and when he had to reach the latter rounds.

Rafa will certainly hope that 2016 will be much better for him. It surely cannot get any worse than this. Or can it? We’ll all have to wait and see whether his doubters were right, and whether his career is on a downward spiral already.

The Top 3 Favourites to Win the Us Open and the Dark Horses

The Top 3 Favourites to Win the Us Open and the Dark Horses The fourth and the last Grand Slam event of the year is just round the corner, and exciting matches are bound to happen. According to TonyBet bookie some favourites are very clear, but as last year’s US Open has shown, a dark-horse win can always happen. Here’s the top 3 leading players in our opinion – both at men’s and women’s courts – and the extra potential dark horses to watch out for.

Men’s Favourites:

1. Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is firmly at the top of the ATP rankings. The world‘s no. 1 has already triumphed in two Grand Slam events this years – the Australian Open and Wimbledon – and went through to the finals in French Open. Even with these results, he lost to Roger Federer in Cincinnati and before that, to Andy Murray in Montreal Masters, both times playing in the finals. This shows he can be beaten – but he may also be saving up his best form for the US Open.

2. Roger Federer

While Roger Federer haven‘t had as impressive a year as Djokovic, he still did well in the previous Grand Slam events, climbing up from third round in Australian Open, to the quarter-finals in the French Open, to the final in Wimbledon. The Swiss legend has been named 2nd seed and whilst he lost again to Djokovic in Wimbledon finals, Federer then beat him in Cincinnati, along with a win against Murray in the semis. He seems to be in a brilliant form and definitely has good chances at winning.

3. Andy Murray

The world‘s no. 3 has won the US Open in 2012, but hasn‘t gone further than the quarter-final ever since. Murray started the 2015‘s Grand Slam going to the finals in the Australian Open, followed by making it to the semi-finals in both the French Open and Wimbledon. He has managed to beat one of his main contenders, Djokovic, in Montreal Masters, but afterwards lost to Federer in the semi-final in Cincinnati. Still, he is able to win the championship if he‘s in a good form.

The Dark Horse: Grigor Dimitrov

For a good chunk of promising players it would be quite a jump to dominate the US Open, however, Grigor Dimitrov looks like the one who just might be able to do it. Although it‘s admittedly unlikely that the world‘s 17th would become the champion, his recent loss against Murray actually revealed that he’s in a good enough form and what’s lacking is mostly in his mental game. Dimitrov has competed in all Grand Slam events, going to 4th round in Australian Open, 1st in French Open and 3rd in Wimbledon.

Women’s Favourites:

1. Serena Williams

The phrase “Serena Williams is the only Serena William’s real contender” is quickly becoming a big cliché in the tennis world. The world’s no. 1 is in absolutely amazing form, having already won three of the major titles this year and is going for a calendar year Grand Slam. Besides, she’s already won US Open 6 times, and she’s a three-time defending champion. By now, it’s going to be far more surprising if Williams doesn’t win rather than if she does.

2. Victoria Azarenka

The Belarusian is a former no. 1 and current 20th seed. She has made it to the US Open finals twice, and to the quarter finals last year. Victoria Azarenka‘s 2015 season is looking very solid so far, and even though Williams looks unbeatable, Azarenka is the one tennis player that could challenge the no.1 - if she‘s in a good form. Even with her left thigh injury that had her retire from Cincinnati, Azarenka should be able to play some world-class tennis.

3. Maria Sharapova

Maria Sharapova hasn’t won a Grand Slam title this year yet, but she made it to the finals in Australian Open, semi-finals in Wimbledon and the fourth round in French Open. She was ranked as the 3rd seed, and should be well rested to play in the US Open, as she hasn’t had any matches since Wimbledon. Sharapova had a good year, and she will be a tough challenge for any opponent in the upcoming tournament.

The Dark Horse: Belinda Bencic

The world‘s no. 12 is only 18 years old – and yet she managed to beat S. Williams in Toronto on 16th of August. Overcoming the world’s no. 1 on an extremely good year – even though it wasn’t in a Grand Slam event – shows that Belinda Bencic definitely has the potential to be the next big name in tennis. However, in Cincinnati she had to retire with a right wrist injury. If that doesn’t prevent her from being is a good shape, Bencic should be able to shake up the tennis world in the upcoming US Open. The first round of the US Open 2015 starts on Monday, 31st of August, and the championship will conclude on September 13th. Marin Cilic is the defending champion in the men’s singles, whilst Serena Williams is the three-time defending champion in the women’s singles. Together, the participating tennis players will share more than 40 million US dollars in prize money.

Images via US Open official website

Monte Carlo Masters - Who to Watch

 by Carine06 

As the Monte Carlo Masters gets underway, the buzz is beginning to build around just who exactly will surge to dominance on the clay courts of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, this coming week. With some first round ties already completed, the pack is already thinning and with that in mind, there is no better time than now to take a look at several stars that are likely to shine in Monte Carlo.

 by  y.caradec

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic began the year in scintillating fashion when achieving glory at the Australian Open - and the Serbian hasn't looked back since. Afforded a first round bye, 'The Djok' has undoubtedly had it easier than others in advancing to the second round, but it likely won't cause him any ring rust. Djokovic most recently moved to 6th place in the rankings for the most weeks spent atop the ATP World Tour Rankings and with a near-5000 point lead over second placed Roger Federer, he won't be dethroned any time soon. These astounding stats are paired with the fact that Djokovic won both the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open prior to this event, meaning he will likely want to make it a hat-trick and add to his stellar resume for 2015.

.@djokernole now 6th all-time for most weeks at No.1 in #Emirates #ATP Rankings. Tribute: http://t.co/QhuCSPpaSg pic.twitter.com/so5woJ26uy
— ATP World Tour (@ATPWorldTour) April 13, 2015

Stanislas Wawrinka

Wawrinka shocked the world when not only winning the Australian Open in 2014, but also when scalping a victory over Roger Federer to take the Monte Carlo Masters crown home with him last time out. Wawrinka played the aformentioned Djokovic through a gruelling five sets before ultimately losing out in the Australian Open this year and his form managed to remain consistent - until around two months ago it seems. Since then Wawrinka has defeated just one tennis player (Carlos Berlocq) ranked within the top 100 and it appears that this tournament could go either way for the 30-year-old. One thing is for certain though, whatever happens this tournament for Wawwrinka, all eyes will be on him.

Rafael Nadal
Rafa has slipped under the radar in recent years due to persistent injury problems, but that doesn't mean he is no longer able to punish the best of them at a moment's notice - especially on the clay courts of Monte Carlo. Nadal has won the competition as many as eight times and when you also factor in his nine French Open wins - which is also played on clay courts - there is every reason to believe he can emerge as a front-runner for success at this tournament. Leading bookmakers such as betfair have already listed the Spaniard as the favourite for success later in the year at the French Open, meaning that that Rafa's precense around clay courts is something to behold. Perhaps the 'King of Clay' can strike once again and earn himself an uprecedented ninth singles title.

Roger Federer
For an unknown reason, the Monte Carlo Masters crown has eluded Federer througout his entire career. He has reached the final as many as four times but each defeat appears to be a little more painful than the last, and that may have taken it's toll on the Swiss sensation. Such a storied career seemingly can't end without 'Fed' finally achieving glory in Monte Carlo, but in truth it all depends on whether he can maintain the composure to beat the likes of Nadal and Djokovic. He has, however, suffered on clay courts in recent seasons and this could be evidence of an ageing veteran who is slowly entering his hayday. The ATP rankings prove different however, so it will be interesting to see if Federer can pull another rabbit out of his seemingly-bottomless box of tricks. It would certainly be a fairytale story if he was to achieve glory come Sunday in France. 

So there you have it, four of the more prominent candidates touching down on the clay of Monte Carlo, but in truth, the tournament is extremely open this year, with the likes of Milos Raonic and Gregor Dimitrov looking to ascend into the higher echelons of elite tennis. Watch this space, it could really be anyone who emerges the winner at this year's Masters.