John Isner and Team USA win in France

Welcome to John Isner’s defining year. Back in February, he anchored Jim Courier’s U.S. Davis Cup Team with a clay-court shut-out on the road, in Switzerland…over Roger Federer.

Over the weekend, he won both of his singles matches over Gilles Simon and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – sending the U.S. into September’s semifinals against Spain…a Davis Cup Tie that will be on the road again, no doubt on clay.

Breakdown of Davis Cup play over the weekend in Monte Carlo:

  • Friday: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga over Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; John Isner over Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-2, 7-5
  • Saturday: Bob and Mike Bryan over Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4)
  • Sunday: John Isner over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3; Gilles Simon over Ryan Harrison 6-2, 6-3 in the dead rubber

In other Davis Cup play, the home teams were victorious – including Spain over Austria, Czech Republic over Serbia, and Argentina over Croatia.

Meanwhile, today – Andy Roddick heads to the White House to be a part of the annual Easter Egg Roll…

And that was Mardy Fish’s buddy, Nathan Overholser who was hit by Peter Hanson during the final round of the Masters in Augusta, Georgia yesterday. Nathan’s fine, Phil Mickleson gave him a glove…Congratulations to Bubba Watson on winning his first green jacket.

The weekend turned out to be a big one for both Williams sisters, as well – Serena was completely dominant on clay at the Family Circle Cup…crushing Lucie Safarova in the final 6-0, 6-1. That’s her 40th career tournament title and her first win on clay since winning the same tournament four years ago.

A productive comeback week for Venus, too – as she made the quarterfinals again, in her second tournament of 2012. With her wins over the past three weeks, Venus has climbed 63-points on the WTA Tour – jumping from 134th to 71st.

Caroline Wozniacki shot a video and released a pop song last week “Oxygen,” and the proceeds will benefit the Danish and Polish Paralympic teams…

Many apologies…