TennisToday

Benoit Paire Thru to 2nd Round at French Open

French Open - Men's First Round

24 Benoit Paire d Marcos Baghdatis - 36 76(1) 64 64

I'm just gonna say it: I've become a big fan of Benoit's.

And lookie here he's won his 2nd match at RG in 4 visits to Paris.

And he has a very winnable 2nd rounder against Lukasz Kubot.

In fact, he's got a great shot at a Qf with Rafa.

You heard it hear first.

Novak Djokovic on Sale - At My Local Newstand - As He Prepares for Miami Title Defense

I just happened to walk by a magazine stand and found Nole on Italian GQ.

Dumb: That photo has been so photoshopped it barely even looks like him.

Of course Novak is in Miami looking for his 3rd title: '07 & '11.

Yes, he is the defending champ but so far this year he is 1-2 in defending.

But he did repeat at the big one tho - the Aussie Open.

He'll open against Marcos Baghdatis tomorrow - H2H: 6-0/ND.

And he's in a pretty troicki tricky draw: Troicki, Del Potro, Gasquet, Ferrer.

All surely beatable but tricky none-the-less.

Quote from presser today: I'm here to fight for it as any other player.

Hey Nole, there was little doubt.

Donald Young Gains 1st ATP Tour Semifinal at DC

Washinton, DC ATP 500 - Semifinal

Donald Young d 7 Marcos Baghdatis - 63 76(4)

FINALLY.

After soooooo much hype.

Well earned: Donald has taken down 2 top seeds to gain his 1st ATP tour Sf.

He will face another today as he goes against Radek Stepanek - H2H: 0-0.

This is a great shot at a final. Can he do it?

Currently ranked #128 - today's result should get him back in the top 100.

Suprising stat: Yesterday's win was only his 23rd ATP match win: 23-53.

And he's drawn even for the season: 10-10.

Well done Donald, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for today.

Photo: Reuters

Grigor Dimitrov Upsets Marcos Baghdatis at Munich

Munich ATP 250 - Second Round

Grigor Dimitrov d 4 Marcos Baghdatis - 36 76(6) 62

I thought this new lean/mean Bag Man was suppose to make some noice.

He's played 9 tournaments so far in 2011 and has won 6 matches.

That kind of noice is called a fizz.

But today Marcos did lose to a bonafide 'someone-to-watch' player.

It should only be a matter of time before he'll be a fixture within the elite.

In 2008 Grigor won both the Wimbledon & US Open juniors titles.

Edberg & Federer both won the W title 5 years after winning the juniors...

So, maybe we will see Grigor lift the trophy at Wimby in 2013?

Photo: Matthias Huber

Andy Murray Upset in 1st Round at Rotterdam ATP 500

Rotterdam ATP 500 - 1st Round

Marcos Baghdatis d 2 Andy Murray - 64 61

Oh dear, that 's not the way to get that #4 ranking back Andy.

Last year Andy lost in the AO final and took a long break afterward...

This year he lost in the AO final & bounced right back & played Rotterdam.

Hmmm.

***

This makes for Baghdatis' 17th victory over a top 10 player.

He also improves his H2H record over Murray to 3-1.

He will next play Spaniard heart-throb Feliciano Lopez - H2H: 1-1.

Photo: Getty Images

Andy Roddick Wins 2nd Round Match in Brisbane

Brisbane ATP 250 - 2nd Round

2 Andy Roddick d Alexandr Dolgopolov - 64 61

The defending champ breezed into the Qf's in under an hour.

He wil next play 5 Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 2-1/AR.

Interesting that they haven't played in over 3 years.

Heads ups: A lot of fuss has been made over Marcos' conditioning of late.

Could be an interesting match on Friday - stay tuned.

Photo: Getty Images

Semifinals All Set at Abu Dhabi Exihibition

Today matches looked to be entertaining and went like this:

Tomas Berdych d Marcos Baghdatis - 63 36 75

Robin Soderling d Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 64 67(5) 61

***

So the semifinals tomorrow look mouthwateringly like this:

Rafael Nadal vs Tomas Berdych

Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling

***

Yea, Rafa and Roger will surely give us a Happy New Year!

Mikhail Youzhny & Marcos Baghdatis Visit Bird Park in Kuala Lumpur

Cool video, but why did they need their tennis rackets?

Thanks to C Note for the heads up.

Arnaud Clement Upsets Marcos Baghdatis at US Open

US Open - Men' First Round

Arnaud Clement d 16 Marcos Baghdatis - 63 62 61 64 75

Out of gas: I wrote last week that Marcos shouldn't be playing in New Haven.

Score one for the old guys - at 32, Arnaud is an old man on tour these days.

He'll improve is #68 ranking as he lost in the quallies a year ago.

Arnaud last beat a top 20 player at a Slam - the US Open in '02: Grosjean.

He'll next face Eduardo Schwank - H2H: 0-0.

Photo: Getty Images

Semifinals All Set for ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati

Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 - Semifinal Preview

3 Roger Federer vs Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 6-1

Marcos won their last match in IW.10 to finally erase the 0 in their H2H.

This is their 2nd meeting in Cincy - Roger won it in '07.

This is Roger's 4th trip to the Sf's: 3-0. He's won here 3 times: '05, '07, '09.

***

9 Andy Roddick (above) vs WC Mardy Fish - H2H: 9-2

Mardy won their last match just a month ago in Atlanta.

Re-match: They played a great final here in '03 - Andy won in a 3rd set TB.

But this is decidedly a story of two very different Summers...

Since the French Mardy's W/L is 21-3 including 2 titles in 3 finals.

Andy's suffered from a 'mini-mono' & has gone 11-4 since the French.

A betting man might just go with Mardy in this one.

***

Quarterfinal Results

Marcos Baghdatis d 1 Rafael Nadal - 64 46 64

3 Roger Federer d 6 Nikolay Davydenko - 64 75

WC Mardy Fish d 4 Andy Murray - 67(7) 61 76(5)

9 Andy Roddick d 2 Novak Djokovic - 64 75

Photo: Reuters

Marcos Baghdatis Upsets Rafael Nadal at ATP 1000 in Cincinnati

Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal

Marcos Baghdatis d 1 Rafael Nadal - 64 46 64

This match was a real dog-fight... And very entertaining.

Marcos advances to his 5th Sf of the year: 2-2.

This is only his 2nd time in a Masters 1000 Sf following Paris in '07.

Marcos has now beaten 2 #1 players this year: also Federer in Indian Wells.

And he'll get another shot at Federer again tomorrow night.

US Open tidbit: Rafa just doesn't seem to like these night matches.

Photo: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Saves Match Point to Win in Cincinnati

Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 - Third Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Julien Bennetaeu - 57 76(6) 62

Rafa saved a match point in the TB & denied Julien a big upset.

Julien would have been the 1st player outside the top 20 to beat Rafa as #1.

Damn cramps. Cost him the TB and then the match.

This is the only Masters 1000 Rafa has not played a final.

He'll need to up the ante to have a shot at it this year.

Tomorrow he wil play Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 6-0/RN.

Rafa fact: he has been to the Qf's of every Masters played this year: 6-0.

Photo: Getty Images

David Nalbandian Wins ATP 500 Title in DC

Washington, DC ATP 500 Winner

WC David Nalbandian d 8 Marcos Baghdatis - 62 76(4)

David earns his 11th career title & 1st since Sidney in January '09.

He will add 500 ranking points and move from #117 to about #45.

A couple of decents weeks in the upcoming Masters 1000's...

He has no point to defend - seeded by the US Open?

It'll be tough in Toronto tho as he faces #10 David Ferrer in the 1st round.

He's also in the Andy Murray/Robin Soderling quarter.

I'm guessing tho that David is not a player any of them want to play early.

But the real question is: can he stay healthy for the next month or so?

***

Marcos will begin play in Toronto against Jeremy Chardy.

He is in the Novak Djokovic/Nicolay Davydenko quarter.

Let's hope both players can avoid the tour curse...

Play the weekend one week - lose early the next.

Photo: Reuters

Nalbandian & Baghdatis to Play for DC ATP 500 Title

Washington, DC ATP 500 - Final

8 Marcos Baghdatis vs WC David Nalbandian - H2H: 3-1

David won their 1st match in '05 since then it's been all Marcos.

He is looking for his 11th title and 1st since Sydney '09.

A win today will make 6 straights years with at least 1 title.

Marcos is looking for his 5th title and 2nd of '10. He is 4-4 in finals.

Neither man has ever won a title on US soil.

This has all the makings of great entertainment.

***

Semifinal Results

WC David Nalbandian d 4 Marin Cilic - 62 62
8 Marcos Baghdatis d Xavier Malisse - 62 76(4)

Photo: Reuters

David Nalbandian Leads Semifinalists at DC ATP 500

In watching Nalbandian last night - he looked a lot thinner.

Washington DC ATP 500 - Semifinals

8 Marcos Baghdatis vs Xavier Malisse - H2H: 0-0

Once the tour moved to grass Xavier has been winning a lot more.

Since Queens Clubs he's 13-5 - with 2 Sf showings: 0-1.

This is Marcos' 4th Sf of '10: 2-1. He won Sydney in January.

He has put together a healthy looking W/L this year: 30-17.

It's almost twice the number of match wins he enjoyed last year.

And the reason he's #25 and moving up on Monday.

***

4 Marin Cilic vs WC David Nalbandian (above) - H2H: 0-1

That win was back in '06 - in a Davis Cup blowout.

David is playing in only his 5th tourney of the year & 1st Sf.

He's been to 2 Qf's and has won all 3 Davis Cup matches this year.

David is looking to advance to his 21st career ATP final: 10-10.

Marin had a great January - 2 ATP 250 titles & Sf at Aussie Open.

Since, he has lost a lot of matches & has only been to 2 Sf's: 1-0.

At the least this should be a great match.

***

Quarterfinal Results

Xavier Malisse d 1 Tomas Berdych - 64 36 62
8 Marcos Baghdatis d 3/WC Fernando Verdasco - 76(3) 64
4 Marin Cilic d Janko Tipsarevic - 76(4) 64
WC David Nalbandian d 13 Gilles Simon - 36 62 63

Photo: Getty Images

No Americans Through to DC ATP 500 Quarterfinals

Andy Roddick (above), Mardy Fish & John Isner all tried yesterday - all failed.

This is the 1st time in the Open Era no Americans in Qf's in DC.

***

Washington, DC ATP 500 Quarterfinals

1 Tomas Berdych vs Xavier Malisse - H2H: 1-1

They split matches back in 2006. Berdych is a much deffierent player now.

Malisse beat Isner 76(5) in the 3rd last night.

3/WC Fernando Verdasco vs 8 Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 0-0

They've both been on tour for so long it's surprising they haven't played.

Fern is looking for his 6th Sf on the year - Marcos, his 4th.

4 Marin Cilic vs Janko Tipsarevic - H2H: 4-0

Janko tweeted that he didn't get back to his hotel til 2:30AM - factor?

Add to that the H2H and it's not looking too good for Janko.

Marin went 3 last night too (d Fish) - but Janko got the latest start of all.

Stupid rain.

13 Gilles Simon vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 0-0

Again, surprised these two haven't played one another before.

No idea what to expect from these comeback kids...

A sign: Gilles sure crushed Roddick (63 63) last night.

Photo: AP

Semifinals are all set for Los Angeles ATP 250

Los Angeles ATP 250 - Semifinals

1/WC Andy Murray vs 4 Feliciano Lopez - H2H: 2-0

Oddly enough Andy is still looking for his first title of the season.

In fact, in 11 tournies played this year he's only been to Sf's 3 times: 1-1.

This is Feli's 3 semi too: 1-1. He went on to win the title in Johannesburg.

This match feels ripe for an upset - just have a feeling.

***

2 Sam Querrey vs 6 Janko Tipsarevic - H2H: 1-0

The only match they played was 4 years ago in Indy: 3 tight sets.

Janko has yet to win an ATP tour title... I wouldn't mind it happening here.

Defending champ Sam has 3 titles in '10 - & looking for a 5th final this year.

***

Quarterfinal Results

1/WC Andy Murray d Alejandro Falla - 76(3) 61
2 Sam Querrey d Rainer Schuettler - 62 36 76(4)
6 Janko Tipsarevic d 3 M Baghdatis - 63 75
4 Feliciano Lopez d WC James Blake - 36 76(6) 64

Gotta feel for Rainer and James - all those chances blown.

Marin Cilic Leads Semifinalists at Munich ATP 250

Tomorrow's Semifinals

1 Marin Cilic vs Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 1-0

They played in Miami in March - Cilic won in straights.

Marin is looking to win a 3rd title this season - it'd be the most on the year.

2 Mikhail Youzhny vs Philipp Petzschner (above) - H2H: 1-0

Mikhail has been to two finals this season - losing both.

To make a 3rd he will face a partisan home crowd as they cheer their Philipp.

*****

Quarterfinal Results

1 Marin Cilic d 6 Nicolas Almagro - 64 67(2) 62

That is almost a surprising result.

2 Mikhail Youzhny d Jan Hajek - 61 63

Mikhail is in the throes of a good year.

Philipp Petzschner d 3 Tomas Berdych - 16 63 64 

And the defender is out.

5 Marcos Baghdatis d 4 Philipp Kohlschreiber - 63 64

Sorry guys - you only get one Philipp with 2 P's in the semis.

***

Photo: Philipp Petzschner - Getty Images

Roger Federer Losses a Tight Match in Indian Wells

27 Marcos Baghdatis d 1 Roger Federer - 75 57 76(4)

On his seventh try Marcos Baghdatis claimed his first victory over #1 Roger Federer - and he saved 3 match points (2 in the 2nd, 1 in the 3rd) to do it. Losses just don't come any closer than this but wow, somewhere in the middle of the 2nd set Roger started spraying balls all over the place. Get to Miami and work on that backhand Rog.

It is so rare (and shocking) for Roger to exit a tournament this early. Hmm, this year he took to practicing on a court off-site - maybe that wasn't such a good call?

Last week Greg Garber wrote a piece for ESPN.com with a theory that Roger Federer doesn't burn for the Masters 1000 events like he used to and that he focuses only on the majors. I think he is wrong. The next major (Roland Garros) isn't until May, why would Roger show up in Indian Wells and Miami in March not wanting to very badly win it? He thrives on beating up one these guys.

I think the thing that is happening here is clearly the difference in the matches - Slams are best-of-five, Masters and the smaller events are best-of-three. It's much much easier (if you'll allow me the use of that word) to beat Roger in a shorter match. Even last night I doubt Baghdatis would have won it even going up two-sets-to-one in a best-of-five match. Except for you-know-who, it's nearly impossible to take three sets off of Roger in a single match. Just ask Davydenko, he can surely testify to my theory.

Photo: Reuters

Novak Djokovic & Mikhail Youzhny to Play for Dubai Title

semifinal result >>> final match - h2h:

2 Novak Djokovic (above) d. Marcos Baghdatis - 67(2) 63 64

Defending the hard way- but getting it done.

>>> Djokovic vs Youzhny - h2h 3-3 including one this year for Youzhny

7 Mikhail Youzhny (below) d. Jurgen Melzer - 75 76(4)

Always with that strange salute-y thing.

Photos: Reuters