Los Angeles Times: Rafael Nadal makes fast, and stunning, Wimbledon exit

By Art Spander
For the Los Angeles Times

LONDON — When Steve Darcis, a Belgian whose basic language is French, saw last Friday that he would be playing Rafael Nadal in the first round of Wimbledon, his response was an English vulgarity. Four letters, and that's about as far as it goes.

Nadal, a Spaniard, may be echoing Darcis' reaction today, because in this 127th Wimbledon, the world's fifth-ranked player and recent French Open champion already has gone as far as he can go. Nowhere.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times

Newsday (N.Y.): Wimbledon shocker: Rafael Nadal falls to Steve Darcis in first round

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal said he had no excuses. Neither did he have any way to halt a rapid, early tumble out of the All England championships a second consecutive year.

In 2012 it was in the second round to the 100th player in the men's rankings, Lukas Rosol. On Monday, in the first round of the 127th Wimbledon, Nadal was beaten by No. 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 6-4.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2013 Newsday. All rights reserved.  

Newsday (N.Y.): Maria Sharapova takes shot at Serena Williams over comments

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — Another Wimbledon begins Monday on the lawns of the All England Club, and what's Wimbledon without rain and wind — both made an appearance Saturday — and without a controversy?

Maria Sharapova took a huge shot at Serena Williams Saturday, lashing back at her when asked about a Williams comment — the author assumed it to be about Sharapova — in Rolling Stone magazine.

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2013 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Global Golf Post: Merion Scatters The Doubters

By Art Spander
For GlobalGolfPost.com

ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA — Oh yes, Merion, that 6,996-yard Rubik's Cube of a golf course. A beauty who wooed with a beckoning finger and holes out of the last century but when you tried to get too close smacked you with a wicker basket full of unfulfilled promises.

Poor Merion, we kept saying. They were going to ...

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2013 Global Golf Post

Newsday (N.Y.): Tiger Woods ties for 32nd with his worst Open score

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

ARDMORE, Pa. — Tom Watson said that for most golfers, the opportunity to win a major championship doesn't last very long.

"With exceptions such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player,'' Watson said, "the window is a small one — five, six, seven years.''

Read the full story here.

Copyright © 2013 Newsday. All rights reserved.