TennisToday

Rafael Nadal Begins Title Defence at Rome with Win

Rome Masters Series 1000 - Men's 2nd Round

5 Rafael Nadal d Fabio Fognini - 61 63

It's still odd to type the 5 next to Rafa's name.

That will change if he takes the title as he'll move past Ferrer to #4.

That would be his 7th. But that's getting WAY ahead of ourselves.

He's got a tough draw to get to the final: possible Ferrer Qf & Nole Sf.

With Andy & Jo-W going out today Roger is the best bet to be in the final.

Round 3: Rafa will next face Q Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 5-0/Rafa.

The photo above is from a kid's clinic held yesterday.

 

John Isner Wins ATP Title at Houston and Then Promptly Loses 1st Round at Monte-Carlo Two Days Later

ATP 250 Houston - Men's Final

5 John Isner d 1 Nicolas Almagro - 63 75

John won his 6 title and has now won an ATP title 4 years running.

Post match: I've always known I could play well on clay.

Then two days later he's across the Atlantic playing at M-C.

***

ATP Masters Series 1000 Monte-Carlo - First Round

Ernests Gulbis d w/c John Isner - 46 62 63

I'm thinking he should have pulled from this tournament.

But he asked for a wild-card and I suppose he didn't want to waffle.

Almagro (Houston runner-up) barely got out of the first round himself.

This has to be one of the toughest turn-arounds in tennis.

Rest up. This is just the start of the long European swing.

ATP Title Winners for July 31, 2011

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

Novak Djokovic Sails into 4th Round at Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000

Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 - Third Round

3 Novak Djokovic d 31 Ernests Gulbis - 60 61

So, you're not much of a morning person eh Ernie?

Ernie had 3 break points in the 1st game - then went back to bed.

Pretty sad showing.

Novak remains undefeated on the year: 14-0.

He will next play countryman & close friend 16 Viktor Troicki - H2H: 7-1/ND.

Novak showed big love to Japan with his tape job. Nice Novak, real nice.

Photos: Reuters

Ana Ivanovic & Ernests Gulbis: 2 Seeds Upset on Day 2 of the Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's First Round

Ekaterina Makarova d 19 Ana Ivanovic - 36 64 10-8

The definition of a thriller.

I sure hope Ana can leave this match behind her - it was encouraging.

Despite the loss she's on the right track. Keep going Ana.

***

Men's First Round

Benjamin Becker d 24 Ernests Gulbis - 76(5) 62 64

For Ernie this was always gonna be a tough match-up.

Ben is a formidable player. Remember, he sent Agassi into retirement.

But at some point Ernie you have to win a match at a Slam.

Hell, even winning a set would be nice.

The last set he won at a Slam was at Wimbledon in 2009.

That's 5 straight 1st round losses - in straight sets.

Um...

Photos: Getty Images/AP

Gilles Simon & Viktor Troicki to Play for Sydney Title

Sydney ATP 250 - Men's Final Preview

4 Viktor Troicki vs Gilles Simon - H2H: 0-4

In fact, Viktor has never even purchased a set off of Gilles.

But they haven't play in over a year & this is a new/improved Viktor.

Viktor is looking to add a 2nd title to the maiden one he just won in Moscow.

Gilles is seeking an 8th. Funny, I don't remember him winning 7 titles.

Lemme think. Ah yes, now I do. There was that lovely little run in '08.

Viktor is the 2nd ranked Serbian - Gilles the 5th highest Frenchman.

***

Semifinal Results

4 Viktor Troicki d Florian Mayer - 64 76(4)

Gilles Simon d 3 Ernests Gulbis - 76(1) 60

Um, Ernie... bagels are not on the diet.

Photos: Reuters

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer Get Tested in Doha

Doha ATP 250 - 2nd Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Lukas Lacko - 76(3) 06 63

Rafa showed up in Doha suffering from a bit of fever.

And it showed in his match today - but he still played & won in doubles after.

Rafa last lost a love set in Feb '09 to Andy Murray in the Rotterdam final.

Rafa will play 5 Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 3-0/RN.

But Ernie has taken a set in each of their three matches. Interesting.

***

2 Roger Federer d Marco Chiudinelli - 76(5) 75

Roger won the battle of childhood friends. And it was closer than he'd like.

I watched the 2nd set & Fed didn't seem to have his usual fight.

But he drew enough will to score the win. Phew.

Roger moves into the Qf's at Doha in all 6 appearances: 4-1.

Roger will play 6 Viktor Troicki in the Qf's tomorrow - H2H: 1-0/RF.

Warning ahead: Troicki is playing the best tennis of his life right now.

***

Both matches tomorrow should be good. Setting my alarm now.

Top 8 Seeds in Action Tomorrow at Paris Masters 1000

All 8 are in action in the 3rd round tomorrow in Paris.

1 Roger Federer vs Radek Stepanek - H2H: 9-2

2 Novak Djokovic (above) vs Michael Llodra - H2H: 1-0

3 Andy Murray vs 13 Marin Cilic - H2H: 4-1

4 Robin Soderling vs Stanislas Wawrinka - H2H: 1-2

5 Tomas Berdych vs 10 Nikolay Davydenko - H2H: 1-8

6 Fernando Verdasco vs 12 Gael Monfils - H2H: 0-1

7 David Ferrer vs Jurgen Melzer - H2H: 3-1

8 Andy Roddick vs Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 2-0

5 of the 8 are playing for 3 spots in London. All could be settled tomorrow.

DVR set. Gonna be a long day tomorrow!

Photo: Getty Images

Ernests Gulbis Signs Autographs in Los Angeles

How happy is that kid? I'd love to ask this him, "Roger or Rafa?"

And I'd love for this kid to shrug, "Why not both?"

Yes, I made a bit of a statement there. Why not both!

Photo from LA Open Twitter page.

Ernests Gulbis is the First Men's Seed to Fall at Roland Garros

Julien Benneteau d 23 Ernests Gulbis - 64 62 10 ret.

Ah, I was looking forward to a fun run by Ernie.

He's played so well this clay season. Real pity.

This photo is his profile pic on the Roland Garros website.

It's hilariously airy and weird.

Roger Federer & David Ferrer to meet in Semifinal at Madrid Masters 1000

1 Roger Federer vs 9 David Ferrer - H2H: 9-0

They are 19-2 in sets played.

This is David's 3rd straight Master 1000 semifinal (1-1) & 6th overall (1-4).

This is Roger's 33rd Masters 1000 semifinal (25-7) & 6th in Madrid.

This may just be David's best shot at a win over Fed - can he step up?

***

Quarterfinal Results

1 Roger Federer d Ernests Gulbis - 36 61 64

Revenge in 3.

9 David Ferrer d 3 Andy Murray - 75 63

No shame in losing to the 'prince of clay'.

Photos: Getty Images