TennisToday

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for July 25, 2010

Hamburg ATP 500

Andrey Golubev (above) d 3 Jurgen Melzer - 63 75

Golubev wins his 1st title. He becomes the 3rd first-time titlist of 2010.

He is the biggest mover inside the top 100 rankings - up 45 spots to #37.

Golubev is scheduled to play Gstaad this week - Melzer in Umag.

***

Atlanta ATP 250

6 Mardy Fish d 2 John Isner - 46 64 76(4)

Fish wins his 2nd title of '10 and 5th career title. Weight loss = results!

With this upset win Mardy jumps 14 spots to #35.

He has nearly no points to defend this summer - seeded for the US Open?

Tough break for Isner who now owns a 1-4 record in ATP finals.

***

Portoroz WTA

Anna Chakvetadze d Johanna Larsson - 61 62

This was Anna's 8th title & 1st in a million years. Ok, just over two.

In '07 Anna was ranked as high as #5 then she completely disappeared.

This win will move her back in the top 100 at #74.

As for Larsson, this was her 1st final - she will move up to #66.

An aside: I love that my spell-check had zero suggestions for Chakvetadze.

***

Bad Gastein WTA

3 Julia Goerges d 2 Timea Bacsinzky - 61 64

Julia wins her 1st WTA title in her 1st final after 4 previous Sf loses.

She jumps 23 spots to her career high ranking of #42

As for Timea - she lost the doubles final too. Tough luck.

John Isner & Mardy Fish to Play for Atlanta Title

Atlanta ATP 250

2 John Isner vs 6 Mardy Fish (above) - H2H: 0-1

Their only match was a thriller - 75 in the 3rd in San Jose '09.

That was just before Isner became well, Isner.

Both guys are into their 4th final of '10 & both are 1-2 in finals on the year.

Fish is looking for his 5th career ATP title - Isner his 2nd.

Fish's upset of Roddick in the Sfs snapped a 9 match losing streak to him.

***

Semifinal Results

6 Mardy Fish d 1/WC Andy Roddick - 76(5) 63
2 John Isner d Kevin Anderson - 63 67(7) 63

Photo: Reuters

Andy Roddick Leads Semifinalists at ATP 250 Atlanta

Atlanta ATP 250

1/WC Andy Roddick vs 6 Mardy Fish - H2H: 9-1

The good friends haven't played each other in a couple years.

Andy has battled through 2 tough 3 setters - today won't be any easier.

The one Fish win came in their 1st meeting back in Delray Beach '03.

In fact, Fish has only won 5 out 23 sets played.

***

2 John Isner vs Kevin Anderson - H2H: 2-1

Talk about a battle of giants: Isner is 6'8" and Anderson is 6'9".

And talk about a battle of aces: Isner has 44 and Anderson has 30.

To be fair that ace count is with Isner playing one less match (1st R bye).

This match will be hot. And I'm not just talking about the weather.

***

Quarterfinal Results

1/WC A Roddick d 7 Xavier Malisse - 46 63 64 
2 John Isner d Michael Russell - 61 62 
6 Mardy Fish d Taylor Dent - 63 60 
Kevin Anderson d Lukas Lacko - 63 64

Photo: Getty Images

I've heard there are a lot of bugs in Atlanta but...

This wasp popped up during the Isner/Russell match a few minutes ago.

I guess it wanted a closer look at what that Wimbledon fuss was all about.

I'm surprised the cameraman didn't shriek. I would have.

Photo: ESPN2 on my TV

Andy Roddick Leads Quarterfinalists at ATP Atlanta

The last time Atlanta held a tounament was in '01. Andy Roddick won.

Atlanta ATP 250 Quarterfinals

1/WC Andy Roddick vs 7 Xavier Malisse - H2H: 8-0

And just who did Andy beat in that '01 final? Yep, Xavier Malisse.

6 Mardy Fish vs Taylor Dent - H2H: 0-1

I would never have guessed that they've only played once.

***

Kevin Anderson vs Lukas Lacko - H2H: 0-0

Both boys are at a career earnings of 500,000 each. How do they do this?

2 John Isner vs Michael Russell - H2H: 2-0

Their last match went to a 3rd set tiebreak in Miami this last March.

***

Interesting that 5 of the 8 quarterfinalists are over 28, 1 will be a finalist.

Andy Roddick Throws 1st Pitch at Braves Game

He tweeted: threw first pitch out at braves game always get nervous and wimp out,but actually tried to throw it hard tonight and it went over the plate!

Andy is the top seed at the ATP 250 stop in Atlanta. He plays his first round match against Rajeev Ram. They played once before - last month in the 1st round at Wimbledon, Andy won comfortably in straight sets.

Photo: ccompton

Atlanta: Best Tennis Town, Hmmm...

The forecast says 91 today with a real-feel of 98.

Add to that the 90% humidity factor and it doesn't sound so 'best' to me.

At all.