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Fabio Fognini & Calros Berloqc Win Maiden titles at Stuttgart & Bastad - Mahut Takes Title at Newport

Stuttgart ATP 250 - Men's Final

5 Fabio Fognini d 2 Philipp Kohlschreiber - 57 64 64

Post match: Finally, after two finals, I have won. I played great,

great tennis this week. I am really happy to have won the final.

Awww. I like this cat.

Bastad ATP 250 - Men's Final

Carlos Berloqc d 8 Fernando Verdasco - 75 61

Carlos becomes the 9th over-30 tourney winner this season.

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Newport ATP 250 - Men's Final

WC Nicolas Mahut d Lleyton Hewitt - 57 75 63

Post match: When you want to win a final, everything can happen.

I just can’t believe it’s true.

It's his 2nd career title - the 1st was last month at s'Hertogenbosch.

Nico partnered with Roger-Vasselin to take the doubles title.

And *surprise surprise* Nico's part of the over-30 crowd.

Lleyton Hewitt Thru to Semifinals at Queen's Club

ATP 250 Queen's Club - Men's Quarterfinal

Lleyton Hewitt d 3 Juan Martin Del Potro - 62 26 62

Someone is busy turning back the clock to his glory years.

Remember: Lleyton is a 4-time champion here: '00-'02 & '06.

At 32 he's looking to become the tournies oldest winner as well.

He'll next face the defender 5 Marin Cilic in the Sf's - H2H: 1-0/Lleyton.

The only time they played was last year at the London Games.

So Lleyton's gotta feel good about his match tomorrow...

Post match: Cilic is going to be another tough one, very similar to my

match against [Sam] Querrey yesterday and against del Potro today.

In terms of that, I have had good preparation for playing him,

but, he's the defending champ here.

Gilles Simon Wins a Thriller in 1st Round at French Open

French Open - Men's 1st Round

15 Gilles Simon d Lleyton Hewett - 36 16 64 61 75

Someone dug deep. Way deep.

Post match: I simply got back into the match by playing better.

Unfortunately, at the end he played one more time great tennis.

It's never easy to finish when you see the guy coming back 5-1, 5-2, 5-3

after a few match points. So I'm just happy that I managed to win this one.

David Ferrer: A Quiet 4th Seed Advances to 4th Round at US Open

US Open - Men's Third Round

4 David Ferrer d Lleyton Hewitt - 76(9) 46 63 60

Has there ever been a quieter 4th seed at a Slam?

I mean, nobody is talking about him as a potential anything.

And this is a guy that is tied with Roger with the most titles this year with 5.

He is 16-3 at the Slams in '12: which equals 2 Qf's and a Sf at Roland Garros.

Well I'll talk about him.

David has a great shot at repeating is '07 Sf showing here.

Looming for him potentially are Gasquet, Tipsarevic and *gulp* Isner.

I guessing David doesn't moving quietly thru the draw. Vamos.

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for July 15, 2012

Good week for top seeds as 5 of 6 tournies were won by the top dog.

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Umag ATP 250: 2 Marin Cilic d 4 Marcel Granollers - 64 62

The 23 year-old Croat won his 8th title and 2nd on the season.

He went one further this year as he was the runner-up last year.

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Bastad ATP 250: 1 David Ferrer d 2 Nicolas Almagro - 62 62

David picked up his 16th title, 2nd at Bastad & 5th on the season.

All this and he's still stuck at #5 in the rankings.

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Newport ATP 250: 1 John Isner d W/C Lleyton Hewitt - 76(1) 64

This is John's 4th title and 1st of the season.

This is the 1st time he has ever defended a title.

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Stuttgart ATP 250: 1 Janko Tipsarevic d 2 Juan Monaco - 64 57 63

Janko earned his 3rd career ATP crown and 1st of the season.

He is now 3-6 in finals.

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Stanford WTA: 1 Serena Williams d LL Coco Vandeweghe - 75 63

Serena won her 43rd WTA title, 4th on the year and 2nd at Stanford.

This is also the 2nd straight Sunday with a title following Wimbldeon.

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Palermo WTA: 1 Sara Errani d 8 Barbora Zahlavova Strycov - 61 63

Sara won her 6th WTA title and 4th of the year.

She is the 1st Italian to win 4 titles in a single season.

Robin Soderling Comes from 2 Sets Down to Beat Lleyton Hewitt to Advance at Wimbledon

Wimbledon Men's Second Round

5 Robin Soderling d Lleyton Hewitt - 67(5) 36 75 64 64

This is the 3rd time in Robin's career he's come back from 2 set down.

He is defending a quarterfinal showing from last year.

This match was played in just under 4 hours with the roof closed.

Spare a thought for the '02 champ - Lleyton came awfully close.

Lleyton: In the end, I feel like I hit the ball pretty well.

I hit it a lot better than I did a couple days ago...

And I needed to against a guy like Soderling. It's just one of those days.

The roof closed I think helped his game, as well.

A Hall of Fame career is sadly nearing it's close.

Photo: Getty Images

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

Novak Djokovic Beats Lleyton Hewitt - Advances to Wimbledon Quarterfinals

3 Novak Djokovic d 15 Lleyton Hewitt - 75 64 36 64

Novak was treated by a doctor (not a trainer) in the 3rd set. Dicey stuff.

This boy sure is sick a lot.

He suffered some tummy trouble but said, "Physically I am fit. I feel fine...

I played the right shots at the right time and am just happy to get through."

Novak moves into his 3rd Wimbledon Qf: 1-1. And his 13th Slam Qf: 7-5.

Going forward Novak will need to work on his receiving game.

He only won 33% of points receiving and converted 4 of 9 break chances.

Spare a thought for the '02 champ - Lleyton put up a nice fight.

Lleyton Hewitt Upsets Roger Federer for Halle Title

8 Lleyton Hewitt d 1 Roger Federer - 36 76(4) 64

File this under 'I didn't see that coming' - this is a big upset indeed.

Lleyton wins his 28th title, 1st since Houston '09 and 6th on grass.

Lleyton also snaps a 15 match losing streak to Roger dating back to '02.

***

Roger Federer is now on a 7 tournament title draught.

Not since '01 has Roger gone this far in the year without a 2nd title.

Never fear FedFans, this is a small bump in the road...

He's still the heavy favorite for a 7th Wimbledon title.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer & Lleyton Hewitt to Play for Halle Title

1 Roger Federer vs 8 Lleyton Hewitt - H2H: 17-7

Roger has won their last 15 matches played - Lleyton last beat him in '02.

This will be their 5th meeting on grass - Roger leads 3-1.

Oddly enough this is only the 4th meeting in a final - Roger leads 3-0.

Roger seeks 2nd title in '10 following the Australian Open - Lleyton his 1st.

A win would give Roger a 6th title in Halle: '03-'06 & '08.

He skipped the tourney in '07 & '09 so he is riding a 29 match streak.

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Semifinal Results

1 Roger Federer d Philipp Petzschner - 76(3) 64

Germany's Petzschner has quietly worked his way up to #41.

8 Lleyton Hewitt d Benjamin Becker - 67(4) 76(3) 62

Becker is the 4th ranked German at # 52 - there are 5 between #'s 35-60.

Photos: Getty Images

Roger Federer Leads Semifinalists in Halle

Halle ATP 250 - Tomorrow's Semifinal Matches

1 Roger Federer vs Philipp Petzschner - H2H: 0-0

Roger is looking for his 29th consecutive win at Halle.

He's won the event the last 5 times he's played it: '03-'06 & '08.

This is Roger's 5th semi for the 2010 season: 2-2.

This is (home country) Philipp's 4th tour semifinal this year: 0-3.

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2 Lleyton Hewitt vs Benjamin Becker - H2H: 1-0

Both men are in their 1st semifinal on the year.

Basically, both are playing to be the runner-up to Federer on Sunday, no?

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Quarterfinal Results Today

1 Roger Federer d Philipp Kohlschreiber - 75 63
8 Lleyton Hewitt d WC Andreas Beck - 76(0) 61
B Becker (GER) d WC Mischa Zverev - 76(4) 60
Philipp Petzschner d Lukas Lacko - 64 63

Photo: afp

Rafael Nadal Storms into 4th Round at Roland Garros

2 Rafael Nadal d 28 Lleyton Hewitt - 63 64 63 - 3rd Round

Poor Lleyton - 4th time in 6 years he's had to face Rafa in Paris.

That's just really bad luck but he did make Rafa work hard.

Rafa's record on clay this season improves to a perfect 18-0.

He is 9-0 in sets played - 5 sets have gone 6-2, 3 to 6-3 & 1 to 6-4.

He will next play the 24th seed Thomaz Bellucci in the 4th round.

They have played once before - in the 1st round here in '08.

If you have to ask who won that match - you're dumb. (jk)

Photo: Getty Images

Defending Champ Lleyton Hewitt Leads Quarterfinalists in Houston ATP 250

Houston, Texas ATP 250

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1 Fernando Gonzalez vs 6 Horacio Zeballos - H2H: 0-0

Long 3-setter last night for Fern and Zeballos will be unforgiving.

4 w/c Lleyton Hewitt (above) vs Juan Ignacio Chela - H2H: 5-2

How come I don't remember Hewitt winning this title last year at all?

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3 Sam Querrey vs Nicolas Masu - H2H: 0-1

Interesting, their only meeting was here in Houston in '08.

Just gonna go on and say it: there will be a reversal of fortune today.

Xavier Malisse vs Wayne Odesnik - H2H: 0-0

Malisse took out John Isner last night 76 in the third.

And why is Odesnik even playing? You got caught - now go away.

Photo: atp facebook

The Men's ATP Tour is Heading to Houston and Casablanca this Week

Casablanca ATP 250

Top Seeds: Stanislas Wawrinka (above), Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Victor Hanescu, Lukasz Kubot, Paul-Henri Mathieu ('07 champ) and Olivier Rochus. Also in the field is Richard Gasquet - remember when he was suppose to be the next big thing?

Houston ATP 250

Top Seeds: Fernando Gonzalez ('00 champ), John Isner, Sam Querrey, Lleyton Hewitt (defending champ), Evgeny Korolev. Other notable players include a motley slew of Americans: Donald Young, Taylor Dent, Mardy Fish, Michael Russell, Rajeev Ram, Wayne Odesnik and Jesse Levine.

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It must suck hosting a tournament week after a Masters 1000 (or two) has been played as not a single top 10 player (only 1 in the top 20 actually) is in action this week.  Fernando Gonzalez is the highest ranked at #11 - playing in Houston. I suspect he's playing only because he skipped Indian Wells to tend to earthquake relief matters at home in Chile.

Photo: Wawrinka/Davis Cup March 2010 -Reuters

(Some) Winners from Day 6 at the Australian Open

All moved into the 4th round today.

Roger Federer d. Albert Montanes - 63 64 64

50-7 - including 3 titles in '04, '06, '07.

Serena WIlliams d. Carla Suarez Navarro - 60 63

She looks great but can she win in an even year.

Samantha Stosur d. Alberta Brianti - 64 61

Another match in Rod Laver Arena. Awfully spoiled in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic d. Denis Istomin - 61 61 62

Kubot next, expect the same score line.

Caroline Wozniacki d. Shahar Peer - 60 64

Those earrings belong on a red carpet somewhere.

Venus Williams d. Kasey Dellacqua - 61 76(4)

She bent over and I swear it looked like she wasn't wearing panties.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. Tommy Haas - 64 36 61 75

Celebrating like it's the final. Um, it's only a 3rd round match bud.

Lleyton Hewitt d. Marcos Baghdatis - 60 42 ret.

How old did Baghdatis look?

Fernando Verdasco d. Stefan Koubek - 61 ret.

One of three men's matches today that wasn't completed.

Nikolay Davydenko d. Juan Monaco - 60 63 64

Maybe he'll play on a show court when he makes the final?

Photos: AP/Rueters/Getty Images

(Some) Winners from Day 2 at the Australian Open

All move into the 2nd round.

Novak Djokovic d. Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 75 63 62

Jelena Jankovic d. Monica Niculescu - 64 60

Fernando Verdasco d. Carsten Ball - 67(4) 76(1) 75 62

Venus Williams d. Lucie Safarova - 62 62

Nikolay Davydenko d. Dieter Kindlmann - 61 60 63

Ana Ivanovic d. Shenay Perry - 62 63

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d. Sergiy Stakhovsky - 63 64 64

Lleytom Hewitt d. Ricardo Hocevar - 61 62 63

Photos: Reuters and Getty Images

Tennis Superstars Raise Money for Haiti Relief

I really wish Tennis Channel had picked this up - it looks like it was a blast. In the end this special 'Hit for Haiti' exhibition raised $159,000 for much needed relief. Enjoy the photos.

9 more photos after the jump.

Photos: AP, Getty Images, Reuters

Lleyton Hewitt Hits Australian Open Courts with Family

These are some very sweet photos the Hewitt clan.

Bec, Mia and Cruz - just looking too cute.

"Replay the point."

Check out that backhand on Cruz. A star in the making?

Photos: Getty Images

The Funny Faces of Tennis for January 14

Andy Murray

Lleyton Hewitt

Marcos Baghdatis   

The Funny Faces of Tennis for January 13

Victoria Azarenka

Lleyton Hewitt

Justine Henin