In my first post that is actually ahead of the ITF, Shingo Kunieda, the World's number 1 singles player defeated the Dutch Robin Aamerlaam 6-3,6-4. Shingo is so strong I anticipate him having a great year and if he stays at this pace maybe even surpass the legendary David Hall. In 2007 he is 16-1 in singles, and 13 and 0 in doubles

On the womens side Esther Vergeer uncharacteristically lost the second set in a tie break to Florence Gravellier. The other two sets were vintage domination, 6-3 in the first, and a triple break in the third 6-2 increasing her already tennis hall of fame career

I consider her right up there with Lance Armstrong as one of the best, most dominant athletes in the history of sport

Photo:ITF Tennis

The 1st annual French Open on the red clay of Roland Garros started yesterday. Lucy Shuker bageled Karin Suter-Erath 6-0 6-0 for her biggest win in Series one competition and as usual the juggernaut Esther Vergeer is rolling over her opponents. I don't dare say competition because frankly there just isn't any for her.

As far as the men's side is concerned there are some discrepancies on the ITF website. The ITF says
"The home French fans will have a local player to cheers in Thursday's Men's Singles semi-finals after Parisian Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) won the big points to see of Tadeusz Kruszelnicki (POL) 63 63. Jeremiasz will face Martin Legner (AUT) in the final after the evergreen Austrian outplayed Ben Weekes (AUS) in the other quarter-final to score a 61 61 victory.The home French fans will have a local player to cheers in Thursday's Men's Singles semi-finals after Parisian Michael Jeremiasz (FRA) won the big points to see of Tadeusz Kruszelnicki (POL) 63 63. Jeremiasz will face Martin Legner (AUT) in the final after the evergreen Austrian outplayed Ben Weekes (AUS) in the other quarter-final to score a 61 61 victory. "

To correct it Michael beat Tadeusz in the quarters played, and lost to Robin Ammerlam in the Semi's, and Martin Legner beat Ben Weekes in the quarters, and loast to world #1 Shingo Kunieda in the other semi-final. So with Martin Legner loosing in the quarters and Michael Jeremiasz in the Semi's how are they going to play in the final?

The final will be Robin Aamerlam and Shingo Kunieda

Wheelchair Tennis - Stephen Welch, Men's Former World #1 wins first title since 2005

International Paralympics - Canadian Athlete Kimberley Joines suspended for doping violation. IPC says "Joines tested positive for carboxylic acid metabolite of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (at a concentration greater than 15 ng/ml) at the 2007 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Aspen, USA, on 17 January 2007. The substance is included in the 2007 Prohibited List and consequently prohibited under the IPC Anti-Doping Code, which has adopted the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC)."

Denver Harlequins: Against the Odds

No one expected them to make it to D-I. No one expected them to make it to the finals. No one expected them to win. But the Harlequins didn't care what people expected! Read about their tough 47-45 win over the Lakeshore Demolition here.




NEW ITF Wheelchair Tour Event

Joining the likes of Roland Garros, the US Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open, the Rome WTA Tour event will be adding an exhibition wheelchair tennis tournament. The tournament will be on May 19 and will be between Peter Wikstrom(SWE), Stefan Olsson(SWE), Fabian Mazzei(ITA), and Martin Legner(AUT). It sounds like the sport of wheelchair tennis is really growing, being backed by the entire industry. Here's what President Binaghi had to say about the news, "Exactly as it happens in the four most important tournaments of the world, there is a wheelchair tennis exhibition event. In this way, Rome will play a great role not only for the Italian tennis movement but also for global wheelchair tennis."

Also on a more personal note, the Atlanta Open starts today. My friend and wheelchair tennis coach Greg Taylor, will be competing in the Quad events. I will be giving a full review of the tournament early next week so check back and see how Greg does.

The Ex starts this Friday

Starring Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, and Jason Bateman.

Tom just wants his wife Sophia to be happy. Chip however, just wants Tom's wife. Chip, a paraplegic, is hell bent on winning back his high school lady. I've only seen the trailer but the movie looks hilarious. Click here to watch some trailers.

The Cajun Classic was held this past weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was no surprise that Esther Vergeer(NED) and David Wagner(USA) remain unbeaten so far this year in Women's and Quad's singles. Michael Jeremiasz(FRA) beat Stephane Houdet(FRA) to take the big points in the Men's Singles and to win his first NEC Tour title of the year. Finalists Jeremiasz and Houdet teamed up to win the Men's Doubles and finalists Vergeer and Gravellier(FRA) teamed up to take the Women's Doubles. Quad finalists Wagner and Hunter(CAN) followed the same pattern and teamed up to win the Quad Doubles.