OOO EEM GEE.
Big thanks to On the Go Tennis! Check out all her photos and videos here.
20 Fern will face countryman 12 Nicolas Almagro in the 3rd round tomorrow.
He is also alive and well kicking in doubles with David Marrero.
Remember: They've won 2 titles already this year - Buenos Aires & Acapulco.
ATP 500 Acapulco - Final
1 David Ferrer d 8 Fernando Verdasco - 61 62
Oh yea, that sombrero!
This is David's 14th career ATP title and a tour-leading 3rd title of 2012.
Um: Ferrer is now 18-1 on the year.
The win will bump him back up to #5 after a week at #6.
All 3 of his Acapulco titles have come at the expense of fellow Spaniards:
In '10 Ferrero was his foe and in '11 it was Almagro - both in 3 sets.
David: I am very proud to have won in Acapulco for a third consecutive time.
David next plays Indian Wells where he lost 2nd R to Karlovic last year.
Oh wait... I was there for that match. It was a tough loss.
***
Armada: The doubles too was an all-Spanish affair.
Fernando Verdasco & David Marrero beat Marcel Granollers & Mark Lopez.
That's back-to-back weeks with a dubs title for Fern & David.
They might want to consider keeping this partnership going.
Photos: Reuters
The unseeded Spanish team beat (2) Michel Mertinak and Andre Sa - 64 64.
Fern posted this on his Facebook page. I swiped just cuz I think they're cute.
So, there's that.
Cincinnati Masters Series 1000 - First Round
Fernando Verdasco d Thomaz Bellucci - 63 76(4)
First Fern is gonna rock with that buzz-cut - now he's gotta do the go-t!
Lord help me.
With the win today Fern has improved his year to 28-18.
He will next face the winner of Youzhny/Llodra.
Vamos Fern.
Photo: Getty Images
And then this happened to me this morning on Fern's Facebook page.
Fern has Qf points to defend in DC and at the US Open.
However, the US swing in between he only has 145 points to defend.
Let's see if he can get that ranking into the top 16 before New York.
Vamos Fern.
Los Angeles ATP 250 Final
Ernests Gulbis d 1 Mardy Fish - 57 64 64
Ernie captures his 2nd ATP title - interstingly, both on American soil.
Heading back up: The win bumps him up 29 ranking spot to #55.
A year ago he enjoyed his highest ranking of #21.
Let's see if he can keep it going - I think he belongs in the top 20.
Ernie: It means a lot to me. It's my second title.
It gives me a huge boost in confidence.
***
Gstaad ATP 250 Final
8 Marcel Granollers d 4 Fernando Verdasco - 64 36 63
Marcel also captures his 2nd ATP title - and first since Houston in '08.
It’s very important for me because I won my first tournament in 2008...
Which was a little unexpected, and three years later I won here.
So there is a lot of work behind today and I feel amazing.
The win bumps him to a career high ranking of #33.
DomiNation: Another Spaniard winning another title.
***
Umag ATP 250 Final
2 Alexandr Dolgopolov d 4 Marin Cilic - 64 36 63
Big congrats to Alexandr on winning his maiden ATP title.
2nd times a charm: He lost his first final in February at Costa Do Sauipe.
He becomes the 6th first-time titlist of 2011.
Alex rises 5 spots in the rankings to #21 - 1 spot below his ranking high.
Alex: I was first in the rankings in Ukraine, but I hadn’t won a title...
And everyone was talking about that a bit. It’s a good moment.
I’ll keep on working and try and get higher and higher in the rankings.
Photos: Reuters/AP
Hamburg ATP 500 - 2nd Round
8 Fernando Verdasco d Pablo Andujar - 62 63
Yowza: I mean, how do I not post this photo?
Recently Fern's dropped in ranking to #22 after a couple years in the top 10.
He didn't have a great US swing last summer so there is room for growth.
Until the US Open where he has Qf points to defend.
It'll be interesting to see if Fern can turn things around.
With 10 pounds lopped off his head he should at least be lighter on his feet.
Photo: Fern's Facebook
Queen's Club ATP 250 - Quarterfinals
3 Andy Roddick d 7 Fernando Verdasco - 62 62
Hey, nice to see Andy string together (at least) a semifinal run this week.
But those ankle socks...
Andy is looking for his 5th title here.
To get it he will have to take care of the other Andy (Murray) tomorrow.
It can be done.
Anyone else smell one more decent run at Wimbledon?
Photo: Getty Images
The grass season is way too short.
Fragile: Fern's year - Andy's ankle.
Rafa no rest for the champ - yesterday clay today grass.
Play at Queens Club began today. Sadly, Dmitry lost.
Roland Garros - Men's Second Round
16 Fernando Verdasco d Xavier Malisse - 46 63 76(5) 61
Fern posted the above pic on Facebook of himself (shirtless) at practice.
No complaints here.
He will next face Ivan Ljubicic - heading to a 4th R with Rafa.
Nice to see him winning some matches again.
Madrid Masters Series 1000 - Second Round
Yen-Hsun Lu d 15 Fernando Verdasco - 76(7) 75
I just can't...
Estoril ATP 250 - Second Round
2 Fernando Verdasco d Frederico Gil - 61 76(5)
See what I did there? Fern and Vesnina had some cooking thing this week.
Looks like they gave each other crabs. (wow, really?)
Anyway, breathing a sigh of relief is Fern. Why, you ask?
Well, in his 8 tournies this year he's lost his 1st match FIVE times.
(And he damn near wasted a 5-2 lead in the 2nd set.)
That's why.
Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 - 2nd Round
Tommy Robredo d 6 Fernando Verdasco - 64 63
What on earth is happeneing to Fern?
Yikes: He is now 9-8 on the year with 5 1st match exits piled on.
As the runner-up here last year his ranking will take a hit - to #12ish.
But it will take another hit immediately if he doesn't turn things around.
He is the defending champ next week in Barcelona & a Sf'ist in Rome.
In fact, he has 1,100 points to defend thru Roland Garros.
And with the way he's been playing the last 6 months or so, I dunno...
You're welcome ladies and gays!
Fern's best result at the Miami Masters 1000 is the Qf's the last two years.
As the 9th seed he has a 1st R bye and will play either Tomic or Andujar.
He is in Andy Murray's quarter and in Novak Djokovic's half of the draw.
I am so not used to saying that yet: Novak's half...
Photos: Splash News Online
If I were Fern I'd stay away from all forms of the word 'dive'...
Cuz if he isn't careful that's what's about to happen to his ranking.
Fern's loss to Thomaz Bellucci yesterday represented his 3rd in-a-row.
His season now has 3 first round losses in 5 tournaments.
Now normally I would excuse him with the 2 odd-ish Raonic losses...
But he didn't finish 2010 very strongly either.
In matches played since the US Open his W/L is a dismal 9-10.
With a ton of point to defend this clay season - Fern fans should worry?
Here's hoping he turns things around soon.
Photos: Jorge Reyes
Memphis ATP 250 - 1st Round
W/C Milos Raonic d 2 Fernando Verdasco - 64 36 76(5)
The 2nd tense and close match between the two in four days.
Remember, Milos beat Fern on Sunday to win the title in San Jose.
Boy, Fern is not going to sleep well tonight.
The good news for him - Milos isn't following him to Acapulco next week.
Milos will next play Radek Stepanek - H2H: 0-0.
If he's not too tired Milos has a good draw to get to another final...
Fun fact: Milos has yet to pass half million dollars in career prize money.
That should/could change this week.
***
Milos: Some guys like to get into a lot of long rallies...
I tried to take that away.
Fern: I hope to play him soon in clay courts.
Photo: Getty Images
San Jose ATP 250 - Final
Milos Raonic d 1 Fernando Verdasco - 76(6) 76(5)
Boy watching that match sure felt all 'star is born'ish, didn't it?
In upsetting Fern Milos wins his 1st (of many one assumes) ATP title.
He is the 1st Canadian since Greg Rusedski in '95 to hoist a tour level trophy.
Feeling old over here: Milos is also the 1st man to win a title born in the 90's.
His ranking rises to #59 - but that has a serious speeding bullet next to it...
Milos tweeted: Just landed in memphis, haven't slept,
Just been absorbing everything, thanks to all the kinds & motivational tweets.
In the photo Milos is with coach Galo Blanco. I thought that was a wine.
Tough loss for Fern, he only lost his serve once in this tournament, in the Sfs.
ATP oddity: They will face each other in the 1st R at Memphis on Wednesday.
Photo: Mark Lyons
The following are all third round matches, natch.
8 Andy Roddick d Robin Hasse - 26 76(2) 62 62
Rough start. Picked it up in the 2nd. Then cruised to victory.
Remember Robin was voted 'most improved' by the ATP last season.
Semi bound year: Odd years find A-Rod in the Sf's: '03, '05, '07, '09.
To get there he'll need to get thru Wawrinka next & probably Federer.
Andy vs Stan - H2H: 2-1/SW. Both Stan wins were from Andy retirements.
14 Maria Sharapova d Julia Goerges - 46 64 64
Talk about gutting one out. This was a thriller from 1st to last ball struck.
This is furtherest she's been at the Aussie Open since she won in '08.
This is also her 3rd straight 4th round showing at a Slam.
I've said it here many times last year: She's due a good Slam result.
9 Fernando Verdasco d Kei Nishikori - 62 64 63
He picked this up right where he left us with Tipsarevic.
And in his Clavin's no less.
The '09 Sf'ist has now matched last years result.
To improve on that he'll have to get thru Tomas Berdych - H2H: 6-4/TB.
That will be a really great 4th rounder for sure.
1 Caroline Wozniacki d Dominika Cibulkova - 64 63
Caro turned the tables on the half-pint that beat her last week in Sydney.
Then went into the presser and wowwed the journos by interviewing herself.
Google it. It's funny.
6 Francesca Schiavone d Monica Nicolescu - 60 76(2)
Has she yet been on a bigger court tha Margaret Court?
This is Fran's 14th visit to a Slam 4th round: 5-8.
She have a fun one next against Svetlana Kuznetsova: 8-4/SK.
6 Tomas Berdych d 28 Richard Gasquet - 62 76(3) 62
Here's a shocker: Tomas is 3-9 in Slam 4th round matches.
Two of those 3 wins came last year at Roland Garros & Wimbledon.
And he followed them up with Sf & RU runs respectively.
Also, he has David Ferrer breathing down his neck for that #6 ranking.
And nothing is certain with Verdasco next.
23 Svetlana Kuznetsova d 11 Justine Henin - 64 76(8)
Shocker #1: This is only Sveta's 3rd win over Justine in 19 matches.
Shocker #2: This is the very first time she won a tie-break over Justine.
Shocker #3: Sveta really tried to give this match away to Justine.
Ok, that last one isn't a shocker - but when you serve for it twice...
***
Photos: Reuters/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal & David Ferrer to Play for Barcelona Title
ATP 500 Barcelona - Seminfinal Results & Final Preview
1 Rafael Nadal d 9 Fernando Verdasco - 60 64
3 David Ferrer d 11 Milos Raonic - 76(2) 76(5)
1 Rafael Nadal vs 3 David Ferrer - H2H: 13-4/RN
Rafa is going for his 7th title at Barcelona tomorrow.
He will see a familiar face in the final - it will be their 4th at BCN.
Rafa has won the previous 3: '08, '09 and '11.
David is only 1 of 7 players to have 4 or more wins over Rafa.
Elite club: Only Federer, Djokovic, Davydenko & Murray have 5 or more.
Daunting: Rafa rarely loses in the month of April. Or on clay.
David is looking to add a 4th title on the season - Rafa just his 2nd.
Prepare for some long grinding points and lots of sliding.
Clay court tennis sure is fun to watch when two masters play. Enjoy.
Photos: Reuters
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