TennisToday

Feliciano Lopez Reaches 300th Win Milestone at Memphis

ATP 500 Memphis - Men's Quarterfinal

Feliciano Lopez d W Jack Sock - 64 63

More proof that he's not just a pretty face.

At 31 he's plugged away at reaching the 300 mark.

As of this Qf win his career W-L is 300-293. Hey, it's a winning record.

Longevity: Most years he's won between 20-35 matches.

Post match: It’s good accomplishment and means that I’ve been able to

play a long time without many injuries.

Currently ranked #40 - this result will bump him up a bit.

Well done, Feli.

ATP's Weekend Arm Raisers for Feb 26, 2012

ATP 250 Buenos Aires - Final

1 David Ferrer d 2 Nicolas Almagro - 46 63 62

And that's title #13 in a solid career and his 2nd on the year - so far.

David moves his H2H over countryman Nicolas to 9-0.

He'll continue the Golden Swing of South America at Acapulco this week.

ATP 500 Memphis - Final

Jurgen Melzer d 4 Milos Raonic - 75 76(4)

This marks the 4th time Jurgen has lifted an ATP trophy.

He had a remarkable seed-toppling week also downing 1 Isner & 3 Stepanek.

Moving up: The win bumps him 19 placed to #19.

No rest: Jurgen is playing singles and doubles at Delray Beach this week.

I'm exhausted just typing these 4 sentences.

ATP 250 Marseille - Final

4 Juan Martin Del Potro d Michael Llodra - 64 64

DelPo bags career title #10 on the ATP tour.

He will not defend his title at Delray Beach opting instead to play at Dubai.

He's (rightfully) back playing with the big boys.

Photos: Reuters, AP, Reuters

Andy Roddick Wins ATP 500 Title at Memphis

Memphis ATP 500 - Final

1 Andy Roddick d W/C Milos Raonic - 76(7) 67(11) 75

This was certainly a thriller - but absent from this match was a rally or two.

I jest - some of the rallies toward the end of the match were quite fun.

But with 52 aces between them for awhile there it felt like a serving contest.

Andy collects his 3rd title in Memphis and his 30th ATP career title.

Only 2 other active players have 30+ titles: Federer (67) and Nadal (43).

He also extends his yearly title streak to 11 years - back to Atlanta in '01.

Andy may have hit the greatest match point ever - see video below.

Andy: That is the best shot I have ever hit.

As the #1 seed at Delray Beach next week he'll face Dudi Sela - H2H: 1-1.

***

As for Milos... this effort will take him to a ranking of #37 tomorrow.

Making him the highest ranked Canadian of all time.

Andy to Milos: Coming from an old guy who's seen a lot of players...

You have a very very bright future.

Something tells me Milos' face is gonna be all over Canada soon.

The 3 ATP Titlists from Last Week All Win Tough 2nd Round Matches Today

These boys are breaking the ol' "win one week/lose early the next" curse.

The following are all 2nd round matches moving into the quarterfinals.

***

In Memphis last weeks San Jose champion:

W/C Milos Raonic (above) d Radek Stepanek - 64 67(10) 76(1)

I think someone is starting to enjoy the big time.

***

In Marseille last weeks Rotterdam champion:

1 Robin Soderling d W/C Nicolas Mahut - 76(8) 76 (5)

Sets up Qf meeting with defending champ Michael Llodra - H2H: 2-1/ML.

Llodra actual beat Robin in the Qf here last year.

***

In Buenos Aires last weeks Costa do Sauipe champion:

1 Nicloas Almagro d Leonardo Mayer - 67(3) 61 63

Fun fact: Nico is ranked #13 but is only the #4 player from Spain.

Deja Milos: Raonic Beats Verdasco in Memphis

Memphis ATP 250 - 1st Round

W/C Milos Raonic d 2 Fernando Verdasco - 64 36 76(5)

The 2nd tense and close match between the two in four days.

Remember, Milos beat Fern on Sunday to win the title in San Jose.

Boy, Fern is not going to sleep well tonight.

The good news for him - Milos isn't following him to Acapulco next week.

Milos will next play Radek Stepanek - H2H: 0-0.

If he's not too tired Milos has a good draw to get to another final...

Fun fact: Milos has yet to pass half million dollars in career prize money.

That should/could change this week.

***

Milos: Some guys like to get into a lot of long rallies...

I tried to take that away.

Fern: I hope to play him soon in clay courts.

Photo: Getty Images

Sharapova Wins Memphis - Duque Marina Wins Bogata

Oh yea, the women were not just playing in Dubai...

Memphis: 1 Maria Sharapova d. Q Sofia Arvidsson - 62 61

Maria's 21st title as she inches her way back toward the top 10.

Bogata: Mariana Duque Marina d. 5 Angelique Kerber - 64 63

1st title. #143 now - should move just inside the top 100 tomorrow.

Photo: Reuters

Sam Querrey & John Isner to Play for Title in Memphis

This ought to make Patrick McEnroe happy about his new Davis Cup team.

 And in a draw that included both Andy Roddick and James Blake.

I said it earlier in the week: I like the US over Serbia - even on clay.

*****

semifinal result >>> final match - h2h:

8 Sam Querrey d. Ernests Gulbis - 63 64

>>> Querrey vs Isner - h2h 0-0

This will be the their first match of many.

6 John Isner (above) d. Philipp Petzschner - 75 46 63

Photo: Reuters

Querrey & Isner Lead Players into Semifinals Memphis ATP 500

Lookie there, the new faces of the US Davis Cup team make good!

quarterfinal result >>> semifinal matchup - h2h

8 Sam Querrey d. 1 Andy Roddick - 75 36 61

Ah Andy, too many close ones lately.

>>> Querrey vs Gulbis - h2h 0-1

Ernests Gulbis d. 5 Tomas Berdych - 36 63 67(3)

*****

6 John Isner d. Ivo Karlovic - 61 76(7)

>>> Isner vs Petzschner - h2h 0-0

Philipp Petzschner (above) d. Lukas Lacko - 61 16 61

*****

Photo: AP

Andy Roddick Leads Players into Quarterfinals in Memphis

Today's quarterfinal match - head2head > 2nd round results:

1 Andy Roddick (above) vs 8 Sam Querrey - h2h 4-1

This one is gonna be good!

> Roddick d. Yu 76(2) 64  - Querrey d. Mayer 60 64

***

5 Tomas Berdych vs Ernests Gublis - h2h 1-0

> Berdych d. Russell 36 63 62 - Gulbis d. Stepanek 76(5) 75

********

6 John Isner vs Ivo Karlovic - h2h 0-1

Boom boom boom - blink and you'll miss this one.

> Isner d. Nieminen 67(3) 64 64 - Karlovic d. Malisse 64 64 

***

Lukas Lacko vs Philipp Petzschner - h2h 0-1

> Lacko d. Chardy 76(4) 21 ret. - Petzschner d. Korolev 75 75

Photo: AP

Andy Roddick & James Blake Produce Thriller in 2nd Round of ATP 500 Memphis

First round folks. Remember the days when this would have been a final at an event such as Memphis? The passing of years can seem so cruel in a sport like tennis.

Last night though these old friends turned the clock back and dazzled the crowd in Memphis with a thriller as Andy edged past James, 63 46 76(3).

Andy summed up the match like this, "We've played so many times, and he's beaten me, that there's going to be a sense of belief that most guys ranked 60th in the world probably aren't going to have as much as he has against me."

Defending champion Roddick will face Yen-Hsun Lu in the 2nd round today.

Photo: AP

This Week the ATP Moves to Memphis, Marseilles and Buenos Aires

Marseilles ATP 250 - Top Seeded Players

1. Robin Soderling - Runner-up '04

2. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (above) - Winner '09

3. Gael Monfils - Round of 32 in '05 '06 '06 '09

4. Tommy Robredo - Round of 16 in '02

Memphis ATP 500 - Top Seeded Players

1. Andy Roddick - Winner '02 '09

2. Fernando Verdasco - Debut

3. Radeck Stepanek - Runner-up '09

4. Tommy Hass - Winner '99 '06 '07

Buenos Aires ATP 250 - Top Seeded Players

1. David Ferrer - Quarterfinalist '04

2. Juan Carlos Ferrero - Semifinalist '06

3. Nicolas Almagro - Semifinalist '07

4. Juan Monaco - Winner '07

Photo: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga by Stephan Bollinger