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The biggest headline of the tournament so far was Rafael Nadal‘s first round match against the 6’9” big serving American John Isner. Nadal’s 6-4 6-7(2) 6-7(2) 6-2 6-4 victory was the most challenging win he has ever earned at the French Open. It was the first time that the five time Roland Garros champion was pushed to five sets in Paris. After four hours, Nadal’s expressive celebration implied how much this victory meant to him.

Second seed Novak Djokovic cruised past his first two opponents in straight sets, proving his candidacy for this year’s championship. Roger Federer faced no threating opposition in the first two rounds, as he also won without dropping a set. However, fan polls have shown that Federer is out of the conversation for winning this year’s title.

The biggest upset on the men’s side so far was a five loss of six seeded Tomas Berdych to qualifier Frenchman Stephane Robert. Last year’s runner up Robin Soderling was tested in his first round four set victory against young American Ryan Harrison.

First seed Caroline Wozniacki advanced to the third round without losing a set so far, while second seed and crowd favorite Kim Clijsters enjoyed a 6-2 6-3 win in her opening round. Third seed Vera Zvonareva played one of the most dramatic matches on the women’s side so far. The Russian earned a hard fought 4-6 7-5 7-5 victory over qualifier Sabine Lisicki. After nearly three hours, the cramping Lisicski fell to the ground in tears and had to be carried off the court in stretchers as the Paris sun faded late into the evening.

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Since New Year’s Day, Novak Djokovic has been flying on a magic carpet all season long. The biggest surprise about the Serbian superstar is that he will walk into Paris as the heavy favorite to win the event. Djokovic made an impressive clay court season debut by winning the tournament in his hometown of Belgrade. A week later, he stunned Rafael Nadal 7-5 6-4 to capture the trophy in Madrid, Spain. Days later, Djokovic pulled another trick out of his magic hat by upsetting Rafael Nadal once again 6-4, 6-4 in Rome, Italy. These extraordinary efforts on the red clay have earned Djokovic a 39 match winning streak this year. Right now, Djokovic is without a doubt the best player in the world. Additionally, he has dethroned Rafael Nadal to become the new king of clay.

Rafael Nadal comes into the French Open with two championship trophies and two runners up trophies which he earned this clay court season. The five time French Open champion has got to be rattled by his recent consecutive losses to his new rival, Djokovic. However, the courts of the French Open will put Djokovic and Nadal to their biggest challenges, and will determine who the true King of Clay of 2011 is.

Roger Federer has bitterly tasted one of his worst clay court season performances since dominating the men’s game. The 2009 champion will arrive in Paris with little confidence taken from only six victories in three clay court events. Two times French Open runner up Robin Soderling is also a long shot at this year’s event, as he hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals in the clay tournaments he played this spring.

Online sportsbooks have Djokovic at 5-1 in Tennis Odds to end the ATP Tour season as world number one. The odds were released Sunday after Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Djokovic is also at 5-1 to win the French Open in May.

The Serbian player passed 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer in the rankings following his Australian Open win, while a fourth title of the season has cut into Nadal’s lead further.

But Nadal does get a boost to hand on to top spot from the fact the ATP Tour season is headed for Nadal’s favored surface clay. The Spaniard is 8/11 to hold on to top spot.

But with Djokovic closing in on the game’s top player, Nadal is bow at 5-1 to win at Roland Garros after opening at 4-9.

Federer was brushed aside by Nadal in the semis in Miami and is 12/1 to reclaim top spot, while out-of-form Andy Murray is 33/1 to be topping the rankings come the end of the season.

Djokovic beat Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Sunday to win the Sony Ericsson Open, his fourth consecutive title of the year and 26th straight match dating from last season.

“It’s the best four months of my life,” he said. “This streak is incredible.”

The final was a hard hitting match full of long rallies and plenty of forehand and backhand exchanges. Li Na took the first set 6-3 in 38 minutes. She won the opening set with a running forehand pass winner. In the second set, Clijsters recovered and claimed it in about an hour. In the third set, the Belgian got off to a quick start and led 4-1. Moments later, Li Na’s final ball landed well beyond the baseline and Clijsters celebrated her first ever Australian Open title and fourth total Grand Slam.

The men’s final was one-sided and disappointed many in the tennis world. Novak Djokovic comfortably defeated Andy Murray 6-4 6-2 6-3. The young rising Serb repeated his 2008 performance by claiming his second Aussie and Grand Slam title.

The first was set just what everyone expected it to be, a physical battle that lasted for 60 minutes. At 5-4 and 30-15 on Murray’s serve, Djokovic won a 39 shot rally that took the breath out of both players. Moments later, Djokovic claimed the first set as Murray’s forehand landed out, but close to the baseline. The shot was challenged and confirmed by the review system.

In the second set, Murray was completely disoriented and it flew past him in 40 minutes. Djokovic led 5-0 in that set. The third set was more competitive and lasted for an hour, but Murray was never able to get into the match. Besides an aggressive game plan, Djokovic played incredible defense. Murray’s 47 unforced errors and a lack of energy cost him a chance to truly contend for the Aussie title.

The victory extended Federer’s record to 2-0 at the season-ending event.

Federer, the world’s No. 2-ranked men’s player, looked unbeatable at the O2 Arena. He dropped just eight points on his serve in the match — three in the first set and five in the second.

“It’s a bit strange,” said Federer, who won 63 points to Murray’s 43. “Andy’s a good returner, one of the best we have in the game.”

But Federer didn’t just manage the match with his serve, he also forced Murray into long rallies when he was receiving. He pulled forehands to his left and hit them to his right, and the 16-time Grand Slam champion waited for his British opponent to make the errors or set up his winners.

“I don’t think Andy played his best match for sure,” Federer said of Murray, who made 26 unforced errors.

Later Tuesday, Robin Soderling was to face David Ferrer in the other Group B match. Federer can advance to the semifinals depending on the late result.

On Monday, top-ranked Rafael Nadal rallied to beat Andy Roddick 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and third-ranked Novak Djokovic defeated Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3.

Gasquet proved little trouble for the Swiss phenom, who is fresh off winning his 65th title at the Swiss Indoors. Despite losing their first meeting five years ago Federer is now 7-1 all time against Gasquet.

Joining Federer in the next round of action will be Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, Britain’s Andy Murray, and Sweden’s Robin Soderling. Along with the worlds number 1 player Rafael Nadal, all of these players have currently secured a spot in the ATP World Tour Finals.

Currently holding the 8th ranking, and the final qualifier spot for the Tours Finals is American Andy Roddick, who dispatched Jarkko Nieminen in simple fashion with a 6-1, 6-4 victory. With only the top eight players qualifying for the Tour Finals every game is of importance to Roddick. While his prospects look good he could still be derailed.

Djokovic also won his match in Paris, despite a slow start. Despite a shaky first serve Djokovic managed to stop 7 out of 8 break points on his way to winning the match. He topped Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-3. In his match Soderling demolished Gilles Simon, of France.

Andy Murray struggled to a win over a tough David Nalbandian. During the match Murray seemed to suffer a wrist injury, however after a short visit with the trainer he would go on to take the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

By upsetting 11th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 7-6(4) in the fourth round, unseeded Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia started the day session at Arthur Ashe. Between Novak Djokovic and American Mardy Fish, the next match was a fourth round clash. Fish did not offer much resistance and fell to Djokovic 6-3 6-4 6-1, to the disappointment of the American fans at the packed stadium. With a fourth round meeting between some of the hottest women’s tennis players on tour, Maria Sharapova and 1st seed Caroline Wozniacki, the day session ended. Wozniacki stepped off the court with a 6-3 6-4 victory, in this intense match that lasted about two hours.

7th seed Vera Zvonareva easily dismantled Andrea Petkovic 6-1 6-2 in the fourth round, in the evening session. With a tough 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 fourth round win against Austrian Jurgen Melzer, Roger Federer ended the night. Federer got lucky on critical points with several shots that hit the net tape and barely landed on the other side of the court, in the second set tiebreak.

Day 9 Review

At this year’s U.S. Open, Tuesday featured some of the most intense and grueling competition. American Sam Querrey was defeated by Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6(9) 6-7(5) 7-5 4-6 6-4. This fourth round match had plenty of ups and downs featuring minor medical treatments and bathroom breaks and it lasted for nearly 4 and a half hours. In the fourth set, Wawrinka eventually stepped up late in the fifth set to advance to his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, although he showed signs of fatigue and he was missing easy shots.

In the fourth round, Fernando Veradasco also won an epic five set match against fellow countryman David Ferrer. The powerful lefty Spaniard won the next three sets 6-3 6-3 7-6(4.) Russian Mikhail Youzhny won his fourth round match against Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5 6-2 4-6 6-4, after losing the first two sets 5-7 6-7(8).

In the fourth round, Fernando Veradasco, online betting favorite, also won an epic five set match against fellow countryman David Ferrer. The powerful lefty Spaniard won the next three sets 6-3 6-3 7-6(4.), after losing the first two sets 5-7 6-7(8). Against Spaniard Tommy Robredo, Russian Mikhail Youzhny won his fourth round match 7-5 6-2 4-6 6-4.

Kim Clijsters defeated Samantha Stosur and Venus Williams overpowered Francesa Schiavone, in the women’s quarterfinal matches.

Novak Djokovic struggled in his first round match against fellow countryman Victori Troicki. This second match at Arthur Ashe stadium lasted for more than 3 and a half hours as the Serbians exchanged plenty of long rallies. In the end, the third seed Djokovic prevailed 6-3 in the fifth set.

On Louis Armstrong Stadium, Frenchman Arnaud Clement upset 17th seed Marcos Baghdatis in the first round, winning the fifth set 7-5. The 32 year old Clement remains the oldest player left in the men’s draw. 34 year old German veteran Rainer Schuettler, the oldest player to enter the main draw, lost his opening match in a tough fifth set tiebreak to French qualifier Benoit Paire. Other notable five set victories in the first round were by American Mardy Fish and eighth seed Fernando Verdasco.

In the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium, first seed Rafael Nadal took out Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili 7-6(4) 7-6(4) 6-3. This was followed by a quick victory by the women’s first seed Caroline Wozniacki, whose match ended just after midnight.

Here’s a look at Days 3 and 4:

Day 3

Day three featured the biggest headline of the tournament so far, as unseeded Janko Tipsarevic eliminated Andy Roddick 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6(4) in front of a night crowd at Arthur Ashe stadium. Roddick lost his composure in the third set because of a foot fault call, and he kept on complaining about it for several games. Another major upset on the men’s side was by Michael Llodra, who took out seventh seed Tomas Berdych 7-6(3) 6-4 6-4.

On the women’s side, the headline of the day was when 10th seed Victoria Azarenka collapsed during the first set of her second round match against Gisela Dulko. Azarenka was escorted off the court in a wheelchair and was rushed to a local hospital. The 90+ degree weather has been a major factor at the U.S. Open so far, and it took out the young Belarusian.

Day 4

Day four of the U.S. Open did not feature any extraordinary matches on the main show court. Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, and Maria Sharapova all enjoyed straight set victories in their second round matches at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The upset of the day was by Richard Gasquet, who eliminated sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko in straight sets. However, the most impressive match of the day was between 20 year old Kei Nishikori of Japan and 11th seed Marin Cilic. The young Japanese rising star won the match 5-7 7-6(6) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-1 in a grueling battle that lasted for almost five hours under the scorching heat.

Quarterfinal loss at 2010 Wimbledon, following seven consecutive appearances in the final, dropped the 16-time Grand Slam champion by one spot.

He trails No. 1 Rafael Nadal and new No. 2 Novak Djokovic.

Federer was overtaken in the rankings by Nadal on June 7, after the French Open, although he was No. 1 earlier this season.

While Federer lost in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, Nadal won his fifth title there, too. Of tying Pete Sampras’ career record of 286 total weeks at No. 1 that left Federer one week shy.

A year after missing the tournament because of bad knees, Nadal’s second title at Wimbledon, increased his lead atop the rankings. Runner-up Tomas Berdych, who upset Federer at the All England Club, by reaching his first Grand Slam final, climbed from 13th to a career-high No. 8.

To six-time champion Federer, Andy Roddick, who lost the 2009 Wimbledon title match, dropped two spots to No. 9 after losing in the fourth round. Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan, the man who beat him, leaped 40 spots to No. 42.

Wimbledon women’s champion Serena Williams remains at No. 1, like Nadal. Venus, her older sister, dropped from No. 2 to No. 4. With Caroline Wozniacki third, Jelena Jankovic moved to second.

Vera Zvonareva’s run to her first major final allowed her to rise from No. 21 to No. 9.

The preview for the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open is definitely exciting as the top players visit the American hard courts for the spring season. First of all, this event will be played right after another major tournament, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The Indian Wells tournament will play a major role in the confidence and performance of the players as they enter the Sony Ericsson Open.

The World’s number one players and the 2010 Australian Open champions, Roger Federer and Serena Williams are expected to play the Sony Ericsson Open. Federer and Williams are the favorites to win the tournament.

On the men’s side, Federer is expected to face some heavy competition from top players such as Novak Djokovic (#2) and Rafael Nadal (#4). Last year’s champion Andy Murray enters the tournament ranked number 3 in the world. Despite losing to Federer in this year’s Australian Open final, Murray has a great chance to defend his title in Miami.

On the women’s side, besides Serena Williams, a major contender for the title is Victoria Azarenka an Internet betting favorite. The currently #7 ranked Azarenka is the defending champion, as she beat Williams here in the final last year. Azarenka will remember her tough 3 set loss to Serena Williams at this year’s Australian Open, and will seek some revenge on the Miami hard courts.