TennisToday

Andy Murray Celebrates 25th Birthday with Tight Win at Rome

ATP Masters Series 1000 Rome - Second Round

4 Andy Murray d David Nalbandian - 61 46 75

Andy is becoming an old man! But... and this is a big but...

Only 13 men in the Open Era won their maiden Slam after their 25th bday.

I hope he becomes the 14th.

Photo: Andy's Facebook

David Ferrer Takes ATP Title in Auckland

Auckland ATP 250 - Men's Final

1 David Ferrer vs 6 David Nalbandian - 63 62

It took David little over an hour to beatdown David for his 10th ATP title.

David: Of course I am with confidence after winning a tournament;

the next tournament I will go in with confidence in my game & my mentality.

Let's hope both escape the "play final one week/lose early the next" curse.

Ferrer will face Jarkko Nieminen in AO11 1st round - H2H: 0-0.

He lost 2nd round in '10 so a decent run in could move him up to #6.

If seedings hold he is on a path to face Rafa in the quarters.

Nalbandian has old rival Lleyton Hewitt in the 1st round - H2H: 3-2/LH.

Best first round match on the men's side.

And could be a cracker - Lleyton just won the Kooyong Classic today.

Rematch: Both David's could play again in the 3rd round next week.

Yes ATP, Game On.

Photo: Getty Images

David's: Ferrer & Nalbandian to Play for Auckland Title

Auckland ATP 250 - Men's Final Preview

1 David Ferrer vs 6 David Nalbandian - H2H: 6-5

Nalbandian has won the last 3, Ferrer hasn't taken a match since '07.

Ferrer is looking for career title #10, Nalbandian title #12.

Hard to say who is favored in this one. I'll pick David in 3.

Outside the Slams Ferrer has had an amazing 12 month cycle.

As for Nalbandian, if healthy, he should add a lot of points this season.

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Semifinal Results

1 David Ferrer d Giraldo Santiago - 63 75

6 David Nalbandian d 2/WC Nicolas Almagro - 64 62

Photos: Getty Images

David Ferrer Leads Semifinalists at Auckland ATP 250

Auckland ATP 250 - Semifinal Preview

1 David Ferrer vs Santiago Giraldo - H2H: 0-0

David has been to the Sf's or better in 12 of last 22 events he's played: 5-6.

David next heads to the Australian Open as the #7 seed.

Santiago is looking to advance to his 1st career ATP final.

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2/WC Nicolas Almagro vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 2-2

I'm not entirely convince that much seperates the two in this one.

They are both wonderful shot-makers and may be well worth a stream.

A win would give both guys a little bump in the rankings.

But that won't help their seeding at AO11 - Nico is #14, David is #27.

Photo: Getty Images

Davis Cup Semifinals Day One Results

Well, of course Arnaud is gonna cheat to the camera. I expect nothing less.

France leads Argentina: 2-0

1. Michael Llodra (FRA) d Juan Monaco (ARG) - 75 46 75 63

2. Gael Monfils (FRA) d David Nalbandian (ARG) - 64 26 64 63

Note: Argentina has never come back from 2 match dwon in DC play.

With Novak out owing to flu Janko steps in to rescue the day...

Serbia and Czech Republic are tied 1-1

1. Radek Stepanek (CZE) d Viktor Troicki (SRB) - 46 62 64 64

2. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d Tomas Berdych (CZE) - 75 62 26 76(5)

One wonders: Can the Serbs get to their first final without Novak playing?

*****

And the US squad is in Colombia trying to stay in World Group play...

USA is tied with Colombia 1-1

1. Mardy Fish (USA) d Alejandro Falla (COL) - 46 61 64 36 64

2. Santiago Giraldo (COL) d Sam Querrey (USA) - 62 64 75

Hind-sight: Even before Querrey played I thought Isner was a better choice.

Fernando Verdasco & David Ferrer Set Up Quarterfinal Match at US Open

US Open - Mens Third Round

8 Fernando Verdasco d 31 David Nalbandian - 62 36 63 62

Good win for Fern - mainly because every single pundit picked Nalbandian.

10 David Ferrer d Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 76(2) 62 62

8 Fernando Verdasco vs 10 David Ferrer - H2H: 6-4

They've split a pair of matches this year with David winning the last one.

This will only be their second match on hard courts - the rest were on clay.

They are both having great seasons - both havng lost only 16 matches in '10.

Someone is giving the other #17 on Tuesday.

Photos: Getty Images

Quarterfinals Set for Toronto ATP Masters 1000

Toronto Masters 1000 - Quarterfinals

1 Rafael Nadal vs Philipp Kohlschreiber - H2H: 0-0

This is Rafa's 11th tourny in '10 - he has failed to make the Sf's twice.

He has made at least the Sf's of all 5 Masters 1000 played so far this year.

This is Philipp's 6th Qf (1-4) & 2nd in a Masters 1000 (Monte Carlo) for '10.

***

4 Andy Murray vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 0-2

They haven't played in a couple of years.

The way David is playing lately this could be a really good match.

In '09-'10 David has played in 1 Slam & he's in only his 7th Masters 1000.

***

3 Roger Federer vs 7 Tomas Berdych - H2H: 8-3

Tomas won their 1st meeting at the Athens Olympics in '04.

Then is was 8 straight for Roger through the glory (glorious) years.

2010 has seen Tomas take Fed out twice including a big win at Wimbledon.

Can he make it 3-in-a-row. Or can the Fed turn the tables. Stay tuned...

***

2 Novak Djokovic (above) vs Jeremy Chardy - H2H: 4-0

In 4 matches Jeremy has yet to win a set.

This is his 3rd Qf on the season (0-2) the other 2 were in 250 events.

This is Novak's 3rd Masters 1000 Qf in 2010: 1-1.

Photo: Reuters

David Nalbandian into Quarterfinals in Toronto

Toronto Masters Series 1000 - 3rd Round

David Nalbandian d 5 Robin Soderling - 46 64 61

I told you on Sunday after he won in DC that he'd be seeded at the US Open.

His win today will move him up to about #35 - a win tomorrow & ta-da!

And he has exactly ZERO points to defend next week in Cincy.

With the DC title & 2 Davis Cup rubbers he has won 11 matches straight.

Wasting away: I think this is the thinnest we have ever seen David.

Photo: Getty Images

Men's ATP & Women's WTA Title Count for 2010

The Men

FIVE titles: Rafael Nadal

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FOUR titles: Sam Querrey

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THREE titles: Juan Carlos Ferrero

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TWO titles: Nicolas Almagro (above), Marin Cilic, Mardy Fish,

Michael Llodra, Albert Montanes, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco

***

ONE title: Marcos Baghdatis, Thomaz Bellucci,

Juan Ignacio Chela, Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer,

David Ferrer, Richard Gasquet, Andrey Golubev, Ernests Gulbis,

Lleyton Hewitt, John Isner, Ivan Ljubicic, Feliciano Lopez, David Nalbandian,

Robin Soderling, Sergiy Stakhovsky, Stanislas Wawrinka, Mikhail Youzhny

The Women

TWO titles: Kim Clijsters, Elena Dementieva, Justine Henin,

Anastasia Palyuchenkova (above), Aravane Rezai, Maria Sharapova,

Francesca Schiavone, Agnes Szavay, Serena Williams, Venus Williams,

Caroline Wozniacki

***

ONE title: Victoria Azarenka, Iveta Benesova, Alona Bondarenko,

Anna Chakvetadze, Alexandra Dulgheru, Julia Goerges, Jelena Jankovic,

Kaia Kanepi, Alisa Kleybanova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Kateryna Makarova,

Mariana Duque Marina, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, Li Na, Flavia Pennetta,

Anastajia Sevastova, Sam Stosur, Yanina Wickmayer, Vera Zvonareva

***

So strange that we are this far into the year with no woman at 3 titles yet.

David Nalbandian Wins ATP 500 Title in DC

Washington, DC ATP 500 Winner

WC David Nalbandian d 8 Marcos Baghdatis - 62 76(4)

David earns his 11th career title & 1st since Sidney in January '09.

He will add 500 ranking points and move from #117 to about #45.

A couple of decents weeks in the upcoming Masters 1000's...

He has no point to defend - seeded by the US Open?

It'll be tough in Toronto tho as he faces #10 David Ferrer in the 1st round.

He's also in the Andy Murray/Robin Soderling quarter.

I'm guessing tho that David is not a player any of them want to play early.

But the real question is: can he stay healthy for the next month or so?

***

Marcos will begin play in Toronto against Jeremy Chardy.

He is in the Novak Djokovic/Nicolay Davydenko quarter.

Let's hope both players can avoid the tour curse...

Play the weekend one week - lose early the next.

Photo: Reuters

Nalbandian & Baghdatis to Play for DC ATP 500 Title

Washington, DC ATP 500 - Final

8 Marcos Baghdatis vs WC David Nalbandian - H2H: 3-1

David won their 1st match in '05 since then it's been all Marcos.

He is looking for his 11th title and 1st since Sydney '09.

A win today will make 6 straights years with at least 1 title.

Marcos is looking for his 5th title and 2nd of '10. He is 4-4 in finals.

Neither man has ever won a title on US soil.

This has all the makings of great entertainment.

***

Semifinal Results

WC David Nalbandian d 4 Marin Cilic - 62 62
8 Marcos Baghdatis d Xavier Malisse - 62 76(4)

Photo: Reuters

David Nalbandian Leads Semifinalists at DC ATP 500

In watching Nalbandian last night - he looked a lot thinner.

Washington DC ATP 500 - Semifinals

8 Marcos Baghdatis vs Xavier Malisse - H2H: 0-0

Once the tour moved to grass Xavier has been winning a lot more.

Since Queens Clubs he's 13-5 - with 2 Sf showings: 0-1.

This is Marcos' 4th Sf of '10: 2-1. He won Sydney in January.

He has put together a healthy looking W/L this year: 30-17.

It's almost twice the number of match wins he enjoyed last year.

And the reason he's #25 and moving up on Monday.

***

4 Marin Cilic vs WC David Nalbandian (above) - H2H: 0-1

That win was back in '06 - in a Davis Cup blowout.

David is playing in only his 5th tourney of the year & 1st Sf.

He's been to 2 Qf's and has won all 3 Davis Cup matches this year.

David is looking to advance to his 21st career ATP final: 10-10.

Marin had a great January - 2 ATP 250 titles & Sf at Aussie Open.

Since, he has lost a lot of matches & has only been to 2 Sf's: 1-0.

At the least this should be a great match.

***

Quarterfinal Results

Xavier Malisse d 1 Tomas Berdych - 64 36 62
8 Marcos Baghdatis d 3/WC Fernando Verdasco - 76(3) 64
4 Marin Cilic d Janko Tipsarevic - 76(4) 64
WC David Nalbandian d 13 Gilles Simon - 36 62 63

Photo: Getty Images

No Americans Through to DC ATP 500 Quarterfinals

Andy Roddick (above), Mardy Fish & John Isner all tried yesterday - all failed.

This is the 1st time in the Open Era no Americans in Qf's in DC.

***

Washington, DC ATP 500 Quarterfinals

1 Tomas Berdych vs Xavier Malisse - H2H: 1-1

They split matches back in 2006. Berdych is a much deffierent player now.

Malisse beat Isner 76(5) in the 3rd last night.

3/WC Fernando Verdasco vs 8 Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 0-0

They've both been on tour for so long it's surprising they haven't played.

Fern is looking for his 6th Sf on the year - Marcos, his 4th.

4 Marin Cilic vs Janko Tipsarevic - H2H: 4-0

Janko tweeted that he didn't get back to his hotel til 2:30AM - factor?

Add to that the H2H and it's not looking too good for Janko.

Marin went 3 last night too (d Fish) - but Janko got the latest start of all.

Stupid rain.

13 Gilles Simon vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 0-0

Again, surprised these two haven't played one another before.

No idea what to expect from these comeback kids...

A sign: Gilles sure crushed Roddick (63 63) last night.

Photo: AP

Nalbandian, Simon & Karlovic Added to DL for French Open

It sure feels like more top players have pulled out than ever before.

They include 6 top 50 players - 4 of whom would have been seeded.

***

David Nalbandian (above) withdrew yesterday with a hamstring injury.

Gilles Simon says he isn't fit enough after a long knee injury layoff.

Ivo Karlovic withdrew today bothered by a nagging Achilles tendon.

***

They join previously announced withdrawals from: Juan Martin Del Potro,

Nikolay Davydenko, Tommy Haas, James Blake & Igor Andreev.

***

Photo: David Nalbandian in Monte Carlo - Reuters

Novak Djokovic Advances to Semifinals in Monte Carlo

1 Novak Djokovic d David Nalbandian - 62 63

Novak reaches his 17th Masters 1000 semifinal - 3rd in MC.

He is looking for his 6th Masters 1000 title.

David played well & will take plenty of positives from this tournament.

I don't think he has enough time to get seeded at Roland Garros.

So, he may just be setting himself up nicely as a dangerous spoiler.

It's no secret the top players don't like playing him...

Photo: From my TV - Novak's physio wears Novak tee

Monte Carlo ATP 1000: Tomorrow's Quarterfinal Preview

TOP HALF

1 Novak Djokovic vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 2-1

Nalbandian is playing with a protected ranking. This result will move him up.

Novak is looking for his 17th Masters 1000 semi - David his 12th.

Fernando Verdasco vs Albert Montanes - H2H: 3-0

Fern is in his 10th Masters 1000 quarter - looking for his first semi.

***

BOTTOM HALF

11 David Ferrer vs Philipp Kohlschreiber - H2H: 4-3

David is playing in his 5th MC quarter - he's lost the last 4.

This one could go either way.

2 Rafael Nadal vs 9 Juan Carlos Ferrero - H2H: 6-2

Ferrero got the last one - over a slightly injured Rafa in Rome last year.

Rafa is 30-7 in Masters 1000 quarterfinals - 13-0 on clay.

***

Photo: Novak Djokovic - Getty Images

That off-racket hand sure made a funny impression on me today during the 1st round in Monte Carlo

Not to mention those funny ass faces!

David Nalbandian (above) d Andreas Beck - 63 61

10 Tomas Berdych d Feliciano Lopez (above) - 63 61

9 Juan Carlos Ferrero (above) d Q Marcel Granollers - 60 63

w/c Richard Gasquet (above) d Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 62 46 62

Nicolas Almagro d Simon Greul (above) - 36 75 62

Rafael Nadal Moves into 4th Round in Miami

4 Rafael Nadal d w/c David Nalbandian - 67(8) 62 62

Rafa will play good friend David Ferrer in the 4th round. H2H: 8-2/Nadal

Rafa is looking for his 16th Masters 1000 title.

The Miami event is 1 of 4 Masters 1000 titles he has yet to win.

Rafa had this to say about his Indian Wells/Miami swing, "I am very happy how I am doing in this American hard court season. Every match right now I want to be really important for me, and every victory gives me confidence."

And with the clay season starting shortly...

Photo: Getty Images

Indian Wells: A Look at the Men's Draw

You can view the draw HERE.

This year ought to be interesting on the men's side as so many of the top seeds come into the Indian Wells event on the heels of time off for injury. Roger with his lung infection. Rafa and that damn knee. Murray and his mental health time. Roddick and Davydenko with their stuff... How will they hold up? Many questions will be answered in the coming 2 weeks.

Like every once else in the whole entire world I looked first to see where Rafael Nadal fell in the draw and breathed a heavy sigh of relief to see him in the bottom half - I always hold out hope for a Rafa/Roger final.

#1 Roger Federer must be pretty thrilled with his draw - not a lot of upset-worthy names loom in his quarter except possibly Radek Stepanek (he'd have to have a really great day) and Andy Roddick (pray for this match people).

#2 Novak Djokovic will sail into the quarters - there is not a single guy in his draw that will beat him. Fish, Kohlschreiber, Dent, Simon - I don't think so.

#3 Rafael Nadal got handed a very tricky draw - 3 big bombers are in there: Mario Ancic, Sam Querrey and John Isner and that's just to get into the quarters where recent nemesis Davydenko could await. YIKES.

#7 Andy Roddick should get through to face a potential fun 4th round with a few players: Monfils, Gasquet or Nalbandian.

Projected Seeded Quarterfinals:

1 Roger Federer vs 7 Andy Roddick

4 Andy Murray vs 6 Robin Soderling

3 Rafael Nadal vs 5 Nikolay Davydenko

2 Novak Djokovic vs 8 Marin Cilic

It's hard to bet against any of these guys but I would have to say that the quarterfinal least likely to happen would be Nadal vs Davydenko. They both seem vulnerable and they have some very dangerous players they may have to face...

Wild Card Players Announced for Indian Wells

Let's see - you either need to be a former top 10 player on the way back, a so-so American player, a promising junior, Greek, or a wacky sock enthusiast.

Ladies and gents your wild card entries for Indian Wells:

Justine Henin (champion in '04), Carlos Moya (finalist in '99), David Nalbandian, Robbie Ginepri (above), Ryan Harrison, Christina McHale, Alexa Glatch, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Alicia Molik, Elani Daniilidou, Tamira Paszek, Alja Tomljanovic.

Photo: I took it of Ginepri during practice at the LA Open '09.