Tennis Tour Tidbits – Isner, Stephens, GPSTennis, French Open and more…

Written by: Staff on 28th May 2013

French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros

Tennis Tour Tidbits - Isner, Stephens, GPSTennis, French Open and more...

epa03720545 Sloane Stephens of USA in action during her 1st round match against Karin Knapp of Italy the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 27 May 2013. EPA/CAROLINE BLUMBERG |

Former French Open finalist Robin Soderling told USA Today that he is not ready to come back to the tour but hopes to. The Swede has been out of the game for nearly two years due to mononucleosis. . .

Marion Bartoli confirmed she is back working full time with her father Walter as a coach. Both of them tried to go their separate ways, but it did not work out for his daughter who has seriously struggling. “With my dad sometimes we just can understand each other without speaking,” she said. “And when I lost my match in Monterrey first round to Coco [Vandeweghe], it was not only that I lost the match, it’s the way I played. I think it was all‑time low level I probably ever played since 15 years or something.” . . .

Ivan Ljubicic is working with Milos Raonic at Roland Garros and could continue through the grass court season. Brad Gilbert worked with the Canadian the week before the French Open in Monte Carlo. . .

Venus Williams, who lost in the first round of the French, was unable to serve hard because of back injury that won’t see to go away. “I can’t really serve very hard. It’s painful when I do that. But I’m getting better. I just out of time to get better for this tournament…. I want my serve back. I’m going to try to get it back for Wimbledon.” . . .

The US had 15 women in the Roland Garros main draw, the most of any nation. Many of them are coaches by USTA Player Development including Shelby Rogers, Madison Keys, Jamie Hampton, Grace Min, Melanie Oudin, Varvara Lepchenko, Mallory Burdette and Sloane Stephens. . .

The normally charming Sloane Stephens, who barely smiled once after her win at Roland Garros in her press conference, says she’s not purposefully trying to change because she was criticized for saying that Serena Williams is not as friendly as she seems. “Not at all. I’m still me. Just moving forward. I think it was just a learning process. I got through it and I’m back to playing good tennis. I’m loving being here. I think that’s all that matters.” . . .

Agnieszka Radwanska, who has been suffering from right shoulder pain since the summer of 2011, says she’s on the mend and believes she can play her best at the French Open. “It’s up and down, but definitely it’s a little bit worse on clay. So it was good for couple months. “But then now it was inflammation again. On the clay it’s always a little bit worse/ I think I’m used to the pain. I’m ready to go.” . . .

John Isner isn’t thrilled that he will be playing his young buddy Ryan Harrison in the second round of the French. “I would probably rather not play Ryan, “Isner said. “It’s tough playing your good friend, especially at a Grand Slam. But I guess one good thing is that we’re guaranteed to have an American into the third round.”

Paris is chilly. Chillier than the Parisians (this weeks forecast is lots of rain )

Everyone’s still talking about the players party. Leave it to Steve Solomon at the tennis channel to come up with that one. Also their new free APP is crazy amazing. It’s called tennischanneleverywhere on your smart phone. Your tablet. Streams and screams (ladies matches) tennis from the French Open

While we are on the subject of apps. When did Sven Groeneveld find the time to launch a new APP ? He never sleeps. He coaches from dawn till midnight and works all night on the computer. All I can say is its awesome. It will help players of all levels. Find it . download it. Sven knows what works in the clubs, in the academies and on the pro tour. www.gpstennis.com.

Topics: French Open, GPStennis, John Isner, Marion Bartoli, milos raonic, Robin Soderling, Roland Garros, Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens, ven Groeneveld, Venus Williams