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David Ferrer into Rome Quarterfinals

ATP Masters 1000 Rome - Third Round

6 David Ferrer d 11 Gilles Simon - 60 76(5)

How's this as a mark for an amazingly consistent career:

This is David's 27th trip to a Masters 1000 quarterfinal: 18-8.

His 1st Masters Qf appearance was way back at Hamburg in 2004.

It's his 3rd at Rome - he won his previous 2 and advanced to the final in '10.

David is 30, currently ranked #6 and owns 14 ATP titles including 3 this year.

He will play the winner of Murray/Gasquet.

He's a man to admire.

Photos: Top Getty Images - bottom from David's Twitter

David Ferrer Moves into 4th Round at Roland Garros

Roland Garros - Men's Third Round

7 David Ferrer d 31 Sergiy Stakhovsky - 61 61 63

David's tongue should have its own publicist. Kinda not kidding.

That scoreline shows that he's been the 3rd best clay courter this year.

He's moving toward a possible Qf against Roger Federer...

0-fer: But he will first need to get thru (9) Gael Monfils - H2H: 2-0/GM.

Both of those wins came in France - 1 at RG & the other in Davis Cup play.

This time tho Gael will need to bring something extra special to win.

Either way, that should be a wildly entertaining match.

Robin Soderling & Andy Murray Win Opening Matches at the Australian Open

Australian Open - Men's First Round

4 Robin Soderling d Potito Starace - 64 62 62

5 Andy Murray d Karol Beck - 63 61 42 ret.

I know it's early and they both have to win 3 more matches but...

Nobody is coming between these 2 men from meeting in the Qf's.

Yes I see the names Tsonga, Del Potro & Baghdatis in there. No matter.

How's that for some chrystal ball reporting?

Both Robin & Andy are still in search of maiden Slam titles.

Remember, they are the losing finalists at the 1st 2 Slams of '10.

Andy lost to Roger at AO & Robin lost to Rafa at RG.

AO best results: Andy finalist in '10 & Robin 2nd round showings in '02 & '04.

Let's make this happen.

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

Henri LeConte is Killing Ryan Harrison in Adelaide

Yea. Evidently Henri is the Jerry Lewis of the legends tour.

***

I hear young Ryan may pull from AO11 cuz his sides have split.

Photos: Getty Images

Andy Murray Advances in Shanghai - Qualifies for Tour Championships in London

Shanghai ATP Master 1000 - Men's Third Round

4 Andy Murray d Q Jeremy Chardy - 63 64

With the win Andy qualifies for London & get's to go paintballing.

Andy improves his year to 38-14 with a single title coming in Toronto.

Post-match: I think it's a great achievement to qualify for the Finals.

Today, actually, was a good match. I was happy with the way I played...

Andy will next face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - H2H: 3-1/AM.

Photo: Getty Images

Svetlana Kuznetsova Squeezes Out Win at Wimbledon

19 Svetlana Kuznetsova d Akgul Amanmuradova - 62 67(5) 64

Sveta is having a really crappy year. This result (tho a win) can't help.

She Tweeted: Hey guys just got home had a shower, thank u.

Was a taff one today so i happy i made it thrue..... Watching soccer again.

Photo: Reuters

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

1 Man with FOUR titles: Rafael Nadal

6 men with TWO titles: Marin Cilic, Juan Carlos Ferrero,

Michael Llodra (above), Sam Querrey, Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco

***

18 ONE title: Marcos Baghdatis, Thomaz Bellucci, Juan Ignacio Chela

Nikolay Davydenko, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, David Ferrer,

Richard Gasquet, Ernests Gulbis, Lleyton Hewitt, John Isner,

Ivan Ljubicic, Feliciano Lopez, Albert Montanes, Robin Soderling, 

Sergiy Stakhovsky, Stanislas Wawrinka, Mikhail Youzhny

The Women

6 ladies with TWO titles: Kim Clijsters, Elena Dementieva,

Justine Henin (above), Maria Sharapova, Francesca Schiavone, Venus Williams

***

17 ONE title: Iveta Benesova, Alona Bondarenko, Alexandra Dulgheru,

Jelena Jankovic, Alisa Kleybanova, Ekaterina Makarova,

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

Flavia Pennetta, Aravane Rezai, Anastajia Sevastova, Sam Stosur,

Yanina Wickmayer, Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva

Madrid WTA: Monday's Results

SECOND ROUND

1 Serena Williams d Vera Dushevina - 67(2) 76(5) 76(5)
4 Venus Williams d Vera Zvonareva - 75 63
15 Francesca Schiavone d WC Sybille Bammer - 62 61

FIRST ROUND

2 Caroline Wozniacki (above) d Q Petra Kvitova - 64 62
Q Klara Zakopalova d 3 Dinara Safina - 76(1) 76(3)
8 Samantha Stosur d Gisela Dulko - 76(3) 75
WC Peng Shuai d 10 Victoria Azarenka - 30 ret.
13 Li Na d Q Beatriz Garcia Vidagany - 60 62
14 Flavia Pennetta d Sorana Cirstea - 61 16 61
16 Nadia Petrova d Elena Vesnina - 46 62 63

Photo: Caroline Wozniacki - Getty Images

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez Channels Gene Simmons in Estoril

"How you gonna celebrate your win Willy?"

"The creature I'm hosting within needs to feed on Xavier's face."

5 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez d Xavier Malisse - 62 76(7) - 1st Round

I propose that the next time that tongue leaves his mouth...

Automatic two-year suspension.

Photo: Reuters

Svetlana Kuznetsova Upset in Rome

Maria Kirilenko d 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova - 62 36 64 - 2nd Round

And so Sveta's miserable year continues...

She has failed to reach the quarters in all 7 tournaments played this season.

This, as Roland Garros looms - where she is the defending champion. Um...

1st Round Winners Today Included:

11 Yanina Wickmayer d Q Karolina Sprem - 63 16 64
12 Flavia Pennetta d Q Akgul Amanmuradova - 62 63
13 Francesca Schiavone d Daniela Hantuchova - 36 62 62
Ana Ivanovic d Elena Vesnina - 61 63
Q Bethanie Mattek-Sands d Melanie Oudin - 61 63

Photo: Getty Images

Nicolas Almagro couldn't explain his loss in Barcelona today any better!

3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d 15 Nicolas Almagro - 57 61 64

Oddly enough - that's exactly how I feel today!

And Yesterday. And tomorrow. And...

Photo: Reuters

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

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 24

The Du-bye Edition...

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Viktor Troicki

Andy Murray

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 20

Ernests Gulbis

Philipp Petzschner

Sam Querrey

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 19

Victoria Azarenka - Nice chompers.

Juan Carlos Ferrero - Vulnerable to the double tee-tee twister.

Venus Williams - You mean a photographer actually found this court?

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 14

Marion Bartoli - She is so lovably odd.

Andy Roddick - Another heartbreak in San Jose.

Ekaterina Makarova - Imogene Coca?

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 11

Marcos Baghdatis - Where'd it go?

Francesca Schuavone - See, thing is, if she's playing she's funny facing!

Melanie Oudin - I do believe she's gonna snack the crap out of that ball.

Novak Djokovic - That's how my friend looks when his 'roids are acting up.

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 10

Olivier Rochus - No thanks, I use toilet paper.

Alisa Kleybanova - Sometimes heaven just ain't gonna help.

Nikolay Davydenko - No really, Australia doesn't haunt my dreams.

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 9th

Francesca Schiavone - Tentacles or hair?

Shahar Peer - "Dubai sucks."

The Funny Faces of Tennis for February 7th

French Fed Cup doubles team - no wonder they lost.