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Ryan Harrison is on His Way to Madrid Y'all

Ryan posted this pic on his Facebook simply captioned: Traveling to Madrid.

He is heading there from Belgrade after suffering a 1st round loss.

Let's hope this travel goes better than his trip to Sebia, of that he wrote:

Maybe the worst trip ever but I finally made it to Belgrade...

After three days of travel but my luggage did not.

Fortunately, I carried on a pair of shoes and my racquets so...

At least I can practice and get ready for my first round match tomorrow.

Ryan is playing Madrid for the 1st time.

Currently ranked #58 he'll be one of the top seeds in the qualifying.

Next year he'll get directly in the main draw. Trust me...

Djokovic, Del Potro, Davydenko Weekend Winners

Belgrade ATP 250 - Final

1 Novak Djokovic d Feliciano Lopez - 76(4) 62

Wow: 27-0 on the year while winning 5 straight tournament titles.

Let's how this streak translates to clay.

Novak got a decent draw in Madrid - a Rafa/Novak final would be sweet.

***

Estoril ATP 250 - Final

8 Juan Martin Del Potro d 2 Fernando Verdasco - 62 62

And that folks is DelPo's 2nd title of the season as he goes 25/6.

With the win he moves up to #32.

The big boys can breathe easier - he'll be seeded at Roland Garros.

***

Munich ATP 250 - Final

7 Nikolay Davydenko d 5 Florian Mayer - 63 36 61

Nice move: The win bumps Niko up 12 places in the rankings to #28.

Title 21 equates to winning at least 1 title for 9 consecutive years.

Novak Djokovic Receives Religious Honor in Belgrade - Oh, and then Goes 26-0 on the Season

Belgrade ATP 250 - Quarterfinal

1 Novak Djokovic d Blaz Kavcic - 63 62

Blah blah blah, Novak is still undefeated this year, blah blah...

Yesterday he received the highest honor from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Novak was decorated - Order of Saint Sava of the first degree.

First might very well factor into his ranking soon.

Novak: This award is certainly the most important I’ve ever got. As an athlete & a religious person, it is hard for me to find appropriate words to describe my feelings of gratitude for the confidence I gain from the Holy Synod. I can only say that it can be earned only with hard work and self-belief, belief in your loved ones and in God.

Photos: Taken from Novak's website

Novak Djokovic Remains Undefeated in 2011 as He Wins 1st Match on Clay in Belgrade

Belgrade ATP 250 - Second Round

1 Novak Djokovic d Q Adrian Ungur - 62 63

Novak's improves his stunning year to 25-0 & has won his last 27 matches.

In fact, his last loss was back in November to Federer at the Tour Finals.

Looking at the draw there really isn't anyone (I think) who will beat him.

Which means, Novak would head to Madrid still unbeaten with 5 titles -

Where the tennis world waits to see if he will threaten Rafa's reign on clay.

Also, Novak has a chance to scoop-up a ton of points in the coming weeks...

As he didn't play Belgrade or Madrid last year and lost in the Qf's at Rome.

Things could get very interesting between Rafa & Novak very soon.

Oh calm down Rafantatics, I said: could.

Fernando Gonzalez: Wins 1 and Loses 1 in ATP Return at Serbian Open

Belgrade ATP 250 - Second Round

Feliciano Lopez d W/C Fernando Gonzalez - 64 76(4)

This was Fern's 1st tournament since losing 1st round at the US Open.

The last year or so he has been hampered by that damn hip surgery.

His 1st round straight-sets win over qualifier Klizan had to feel good.

Fern: I haven’t played for a long time but my shots are already in my game.

I’m moving better every day but I need to play more matches...

More points and I need to compete.

Hopefully he his fit again and can work his way back up the rankings.

Where he currently sits at #516. Can he pull a Del Potro?

We shall see... But in any case, it's nice to see him back.

And we will see more as he's been given a wildcard at Roland Garros.

Photo: Stevanovic/Milosavljevic

Davis Cup Day 1: France & Serbia Tied at 1-1

Pretty much as expected, no?

R1: Gael Monfils (France) d Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) - 61 76(4) 60

R2: Novak Djokovic (Serbia) d Gilles Simon (France) - 63 61 75

Doubles tomorrow... decisions, decisions, decisions.

Brewing: I am always happy when Davis Cup ties are decided on Sunday.

***

Photos: Gael from Getty Images / Novak from Reuters

The Davis Cup Draw has been Set

The fun begins tomorrow in Belgrade. Live on Tennis Channel in the States.

R1 Janko Tipsaervic (Serbia) vs Gael Monfils (France)

R2 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs Gilles Simon (France)

R3 Zimonjic/Troicki (Serbia) vs Llodra/Clement (France)

R4 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs Gael Monfils (France)

R5 Janko Tipsarevic (Serbia) vs Gilles Simon (France)

Photos: Taken from the Davis Cup website

Sunday's ATP Winners: Albert Montanes in Estoril, Mikhail Youzhny in Munich & Sam Querrey in Belgrade

Estoril ATP 250

4 Albert Montanes d Federico Gil - 62 67(4) 75

The defending champ defends - beating Roger Federer along the way.

Ranked #34 - he is only the 7th highest ranked Spaniard - now that's deep.

This is Albert's 4th career title and not surprisingly they've all come on clay.

He'll play Ernests Gulbis in the 1st round in Madrid on Tuesday. H2H: 2-1/EG.

Munich ATP 250

2 Mikhail Youzhny d 1 Marin Cilic - 63 46 64

Youzhny has played three finals this season - today he finally bagged one.

Youzhny collects his 6th title and 1st since winning in Moscow last year.

Last Jusly he was ranked #70 - since then he has quietly moved up to #15.

He will face Lukas Lacko in the 1st round in Madrid. H2H: 1-0/MY.

Belgrade ATP 250

3 Sam Querrey d 2 John Isner - 36 76(4) 64

Two American's. On European clay. Contesting a final. What are the odds?

At the beginning of the week John & Sam were ranked #'s 21 & 22.

Sam's win will leapfrog him over John into the top 20.

This is Sam's 4 career title and second of 2010 following his win in Memphis.

Both Sam and John will open against a qualifiers this week in Madrid.

The pic above: Novak (right) is 6'2" and is the short one in the pic!

Photos: Reuters/AP

A Shocking All American Final on Clay in Belgrade

Q: Seriously, when is the last time 2 American's played for a Euro clay title?

A: Like in forevs.

***

Tomorrow's Final

2 John Isner vs 3 Sam Querrey - H2H: 1-1

These two good friends split matches this year.

John won R32 in Indian Wells - Sam got him in the final of Memphis.

Sam (6' 6") is going for his 5th title - John (6' 9") his 2nd.

It would be a first for either on clay. You read that right - on clay.

*****

Semifinal Results

3 Sam Querrey d WC Filip Krajinovic - 61 62

2 John Isner d Stanislas Wawrinka - 75 75

***

Who among these players will have anything left for Madrid?

Photo: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic Pulls Out of Madrid Masters 1000 Owing to Allergies & Illness - Could Lose #2 Ranking

Novak Djokovic retired from his quarterfinal match yesterday against fellow Serb and tournament wildcard Filip Krajinovic after losing the first set. He complained of severe allergies leading to illness. He promptly then pulled out of the mandatory Madrid Masters 1000 which begins on Monday.

At the beginning of the week I wrote that for Rafael Nadal to move back to #2 in the ranking before Roland Garros was to begin Novak would basically have to roll over and die. I certainly didn't wish it on him.

As defending champ in Belgrade and a semifinalist at Madrid last year Novak will lose 565 ranking points leaving him with a total of 6,405 going into Paris.

Rafael Nadal will have to make the final again this year to retain his 6,480 points nad move up to #2. Anyone wanna bet against Rafa making the final? Hell the way he's playing on the clay these days - anyone wanna bet against him winning the title?

Photo: Novak in Kooyong in January

Novak Djokovic Retires Match in Belgrade as American's John Isner & Sam Querrey Reach Semifinals

The other day I wrote that for Rafael Nadal to get back to #2 before Roland Garros Novak Djokovic would basically have to fall apart in Belgrade and Madrid. Welcome to part one - Novak withdrew from his quarterfinal match today owing to illness. Novak must be the most fragile man to ever play on the ATP tour. Seriously. I actually feel for him. Speedy recovery Nole.

Tomorrow's Semifinals

3 Sam Querrey vs WC Filip Krajinovic - H2H: 0-0

Filip's current ranking is #319.

Sam is looking for his 3rd final this year - and 2nd title.

2 John Isner vs 4 Stanislas Wawrinka - H2H: 0-1

Both are looking to advance to their 3rd final on the season.

They are both 1-1 in finals in 2010.

*****

Quarterfinal Results

WC Filip Krajinovic d 1 Novak Djokovic - 64 ret.
2 John Isner d Richard Gasquet - 26 76(6) 63
3 Sam Querrey d Igor Andreev - 63 26 64
4 Stanislas Wawrinka d 6 V iktorTroicki - 75 67(3) 76(6)

Marat Safin & Novak Djokovic: Just a Couple of Hotties Hangin in Belgrade

Anyone have a defibrillator handy? Day-um.

And to prove Novak didn't get all the looks in the family - brother Marco:

Novak Djokovic Tours his Kingdom - The Serbia Open

Ah yes, I remember the Shanghai terra cotta statue. It found a home.

The defending champ begins play Thursday against Fabio Fognini. H2H: 1-0.

Janko Tipsarevic Sexy Shirtless Practice in Belgrade

Not sure what happened but shortly after this practice Janko withdrew.

I'm thinking that if you're not a Novak fan the Belgrade tourney ain't for you:

Djokovic Loses 1st Round Match in Belgrade

Novak's little brother Marco that is... GOTCHA!

Hey, a hardcore tennis fan would've known Novak has a 1st round bye.

So that's on you!

Q Alessio Di Mauro d WC Marco Djokovic - 67(5) 75 60

Of course he got a wildcard - his family owns the tournament.

And it appears as tho he played well for 2 sets. I bet that felt great.

This was Marco's second ATP tour level event. His W/L is now 0-2.

Photo: Belgrade website

This Week the Men's ATP Tour Heads to Estoril, Belgrade and Munich

BELGRADE ATP 250 - Top Seeds

1. Novak Djokovic (above) - Winner '09

2. John Isner - Debut

3. Sam Querrey - Round of 32 '09

4. Stanislas Wawrinka - Debut

***

ESTORIL ATP 250 - Top Seeds

1. Roger Federer - Winner '08

2. Ivan Ljubicic - Round of 32 '00

3. Gael Monfils - Round of 16 '06

4. Albert Montanes - Winner '09

***

MUNICH ATP 250 - Top Seeds

1. Marin Cilic - Quarterfinal '08 '09

2. Mikhail Youzhny - Finalist '07 '09

3. Tomas Berdych - Winner '09

4. Philipp Koehlschreiber - Winner '07

***

Photo: Novak Djokovic Wins Debut Sebian Open '09

Getty Images