Yes, my friends, one can only deduce from the recent flurry of play that it’s either John Isner or Andy Murray, who are the favorites to win on the red dust of Roland Garros. Just a few weeks ago, experts from John McEnroe to Brad Gilbert were conjecturing on Izzie’s chances of bagging the French. Hadn’t he beaten Federer and Tsonga in best-of-five matches in Davis Cup play on the red clay?

Big John and Pouty Andy Seriously Mar Their French Chances

Here’s the story about the latest ITF suspension for doping on the ATP Tour. This comes from the Montreal Gazette, WADA, the World Doping Authority, is based in Canada.

When Will They Catch A Player of Substance?

Madrid winner Serena Williams was not impressed by all the complaining about the new blue clay surface by some of the leading figures of the ATP, namely Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic last week.

Like Roger Federer, Serena opted to adapt to the blue clay conditions, not whine about it.

"Just shut up and play!"

Madrid wasn’t even completed yet, and the Rome Masters Series is already under way. Former French Open champ Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Kevin Anderson yesterday, and Paolo Lorenzi upset Davydenko. Just under a month ago Lorenzi was playing the Sarasota Open Challenger. Youzhny beat Bellucci and Troicki beat Volandri.

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Yes, I said it and I mean it. What a year he’s had as he’s poised to win his second Masters title of the year in Madrid. He’s already beaten Juan Martin Del Potro four times without dropping a set. Imagine that! A player seven years younger than Federer and one who nixed a slam final for Fed, and now Fed owns him.

A Career Resurgence By Federer

I can’t believe Rafa Nadal just got knocked out by Verdasco in Madrid from two breaks down in the third set. Twice Nadal served for the match but Verdasco prevailed 7-5 in the third in a marathon which lasted three hours and 11 minutes.

Rafa had a perfect 13-0 record vs. Verdasco, though some of their recent clashes were tightly contested battles.

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Status: WTA #3 ranked player. Winner of nine WTA singles titles.

Ht: 5-8 Wt: 120

DOB: March 6, 1989 In: Krakow, Poland

Tennis Inspirations: “I think Pete Sampras, he won everything. Martina Hingis. Roger Federer, I think he’s amazing. Amazing tennis. He won everything.”

"We played tennis with balloons"

I’m watching Harry go down in the first set of his second-round match against Jo-Willy Tsonga (is there a better-looking athlete than Tsonga? Muhammad Ali, Walt Frazier, Joe Namath from yesteryear, maybe Kobe Bryant or Dwayne Wade today. Blake was beautiful as was Borg and Yannick Noah).

Ryan Harrison, just-turned 20, is also a good-looking guy. Marvelous hair, good build, good posture, looks like the all-American boy.

The Burden of Being the U.S. No. 1 Prospect

First memory of tennis: When I was a kid my father talked about how he admired Maureen Connolly and later said it was good for tennis that Rosie Casals took the game out of the country clubs. I thought it was cool, so at age 13 a friend and I put on white shorts and Tee-shirts, rode our bikes to a clay court in Atlantic Beach, N.Y., and failed for several hours to keep the ball in play. I never tried again until I was in college. Very frustrating and extremely difficult sport.

Nancy co-authored "Tennis In New York"

I like the idea of blue clay, it might look extremely odd at first but we’ll get used to it. Remember how all hard courts were green? When they show it now it looks prehistoric. Now the bright green and purple looks awesomely clear and crisp. Change is good. Give the blue some time.

Bad news for DY, he lost again today to his fellow slumper Troicki in three sets.

Might they try black or pink clay next?