TennisToday

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for Feb 27, 2011 - Welcome Back to Winners Circle Juan Martin Del Potro!

Dubai: 2 Novak Djokovic d 1 Roger Federer - 63 63

Very impressive win for Novak as he remains undefeated this year.

This marks the first time in his career he's done a 3-peat.

He also becomes the 7th active player to win at least 20 titles.

A lot of tennis headlines have been sounding the Fed & Nadal 'end of era'.

Too soon: Let's hold off and revisit that after Wimbledon, shall we?

***

Acapulco: 1 David Ferrer d 3 Nicolas Almagro - 76(4) 67(2) 62

David makes it 2 in-a-row in Acapulco - he likes that giant pear trohpy!

As he denies Nico a 3rd title in this years Golden Swing thru Latin America.

***

Delray: Juan Martin Del Potro d Janko Tipsarevic - 64 64

Look out guys: Someone's comeback just got a solid shot in the arm.

This is Juan's 1st title since winning the US Open in '09.

He was sidelined for most of 2010 with a career-threatening wrist injury.

Delray Beach represented his 5th tournament this season.

He's rocking a nice 13-4 W/L - which includes Sf's in San Jose & Memphis.

His ranking just spiked to #89 - FOUR weeks ago he was ranked #485.

It was a matter of time - but who knew it would be this fast?

Doha: 2 Vera Zvonareva d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 64

Vera improves her finals record to 11-16 and H2H with Caro to 4-4.

Acapulco: 4 Gisella Dulko d Arantxa Parra Santonja - 63 76(5)

This is Gisella's 4th WTA title - but perhaps she had a bigger week for this:

She & Flavia became co-#1's on the the women's doubles rankings.

Photos: AP/Reuters/Getty Images

David Ferrer Wins 2nd Acapulco ATP 500 Title

Acapulco ATP 500 - Final

1 David Ferrer d 3 Nicolas Almagro - 76(4) 67(2) 62

This is David's 2nd consecutive title in Acapulco & 11th of his career.

This is the 2nd year he has denied a player 3 Golden Swing clay titles.

Remember, last year he stopped Juan Carlos Ferrero here as well.

David's had a great start to the season... His W/L is an impressive 14-2.

He's won 2 titles (also at Auckland) and a Sf showing at the Aussie Open.

David post-match: I hope I can continue like that this season.

David will head to Belgium this week to play #2 singles in Davis Cup.

Then he'll jet to Indian Wells where he lost in the 2nd round last year.

In fact, outside the clay Master's events last year he was pretty dismal.

Jet-lag has to play a factor at some point... Look at his '11 interary so far:

Auckland-Melbourne-Rotterdam-Acapulco-Belgium-Indian Wells-Miami.

Now, I love the way this boy moves his feet but...

That's some serious globe trottin'. Yikes.

Photo: Jorge Reyes

Nicolas Almagro Wins ATP Title at Buenos Aries

Buenos Aires ATP 250 - Final

1 Nicolas Almagro d Juan Ignacio Chela - 63 36 64

Nico collects his 9th ATP title & 2nd title in 2 weeks, following Brazil Open.

It won't help his ranking any as he'll stay put at #13.

Can he win a for 3rd straight week?

He's heading to Acapulco next week where he's won twice - in '08 & '09.

He'll play Victor Hanescu in the opening round - H2H: 2-0/NA.

Here is a great photo of Nico & Stan Wawrinka during a rain delay...

These guys can't help but compete.

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.

Nicolas Almagro & Thomaz Bellucci Promote This Weeks Brazil Open

I love these promotional gimmicks and Costa do Sauipe looks quite nice.

It'll be interesting to see if Dolgopolov will continue his winning form here.

He has a good draw & is in Montanes half. Is his 1st final in the offing?

Brazil Open ATP 250 - Seeded Players

1. Nicolas Almagro - 2008 Winner

2. Albert Montanes - '04, '07, '08, '10 Round of 16

3. Thomaz Bellucci - '09 Runner-Up

4. Alexandr Dolgopolov - Debut

5. Juan Ignacio Chela - '07 Sf'ist

6. Tommy Robredo - 2009 Winner

7. Potito Starace - '07 Qf'ist

8. Victor Hanescu - '10 Round of 16

Australian Open Day 3: A Quick Summary

I've been to busy to keep up. So here is one giant post.

As you read keep in mind all of yesterday's matches were second round...

2 Roger Federer d Gilles Simon - 62 63 46 46 63

A genuine bonafide thriller.

Roger hadn't been dumped from a Slam this early since RG '03.

He improved his career record of winning with a 2 set lead to 166-0.

Gilles still remains 1 of 3 active players with a winning H2H over Fed.

Nadal & Murray are the others. He can only (potentially) face 1 - in the final.

4 Venus Williams d Sandra Zahlavova - 76(6) 60 64

An incredible match of fighting spirit.

V pulled a groin muscle at the end of the tie-break.

She leaves court for treatment only to return to serve-up a bagel.

Although injured V has never retired from a Slam match.

Let's see how that feels tomorrow though.

9 Fernando Verdasco d Janko Tipsarevic - 26 46 64 76(0) 60

This thing was an absolute head-stracher.

Janko served for it twice and completely bungled 3 match points.

And once he lost that 4th set TB - he basically lost all heart to play.

This is probably sting for awhile.

6 Francesca Schiavone d Rebecca Marino - 63 57 97

Yet another of the crazy matches played yesterday.

This is Fran's 6th visit to the 3rd round: 2-3. She's never been to the Qf's.

3 Novak Djokovic d Ivan Dodig - 75 76(8) 60 62

Little signs of struggle and frustration in those 1st 2 sets.

But no doubt Novak is happy with the last 2 sets.

This is his 5th straight year thru to the 3rd round: 4-0.

Nole will next face fellow Serb and good friend Viktor Troicki: 6-1/ND.

Remember, Troicki very nearly got him at the US Open last year.

14 Maria Sharapova d Virginie Razzano - 76(3) 63

The former champion, Maria won the last of her 3 Slams here in 2008.

In the 9 Slams she's played since she has gotten to the Qf's (and lost) once.

Stupid shoulder.

Good news: She lost 1st round last year so her ranking will pop a bit.

8 Andy Roddick d Igor Kunitsyn - 76(7) 62 63

I often wonder if Andy let's himself daydream about tennis w/o Federer.

Cuz they are on yet another collision course to meet here in the Qf's.

Observation: Too many slice backhands. That won't cut it next week.

30 Andrea Petkovic d Anne Keothavong - 26 75 60

From the brink Petko digs deep for the magic.

She has only ventured past the 2nd round at a Slam once before:

Her Sf showing at the US Open last year.

She next plays Venus who, as we mentioned before, is quite injured.

29 Viktor Troicki d Nicolas Mahut - 64 62 16 63

It sure feels like that Davis Cup high has lingered, doesn't it?

Too bad DC teammates must play in the next round.

I wonder whose hair is growing back faster?

Viktor has now been to the 3rd round at all 4 Slams. Never further.

8 Victoria Azarenka d Andrea Hlavackova - 64 64

This is Vika's 14th visit to a 3rd round in a Slam: 6-7.

Remember last year she was wheeled off her Qf match after fainting.

One to watch: She has a legitimate shot at a deep run this year.

14 Nicolas Almagro d Igor Andreev - 75 26 46 76(10) 75

Hey whoa whoa whoa, I thought you were a clay courter.

Even so, this is Nico's 3rd straight year to the 3rd round: 1-1.

One might even fancy his chances in his next round against Ljubicic.

I said: Might.

28 Richard Gasquet d Adrian Mannarino - 63 76(4) 64

Lovely to see Richard winning a couple rounds in a Slam.

He lost 1st round here last year so he'll be happy to be collecting points.

He will next face Tomas Berdych with whom has a winning H2H: 2-1.

That should be a real fun one.

***

Phew, now I can get a few things done before Day 4 begins.

This time difference between Melbourne & Los Angeles is a killer.

Photos: AP/Reuters/Getty Images

David Ferrer Leads Semifinalists at Auckland ATP 250

Auckland ATP 250 - Semifinal Preview

1 David Ferrer vs Santiago Giraldo - H2H: 0-0

David has been to the Sf's or better in 12 of last 22 events he's played: 5-6.

David next heads to the Australian Open as the #7 seed.

Santiago is looking to advance to his 1st career ATP final.

***

2/WC Nicolas Almagro vs David Nalbandian - H2H: 2-2

I'm not entirely convince that much seperates the two in this one.

They are both wonderful shot-makers and may be well worth a stream.

A win would give both guys a little bump in the rankings.

But that won't help their seeding at AO11 - Nico is #14, David is #27.

Photo: Getty Images

Sexy Shirtless Spaniards Practice at ATP 1000 Cincinnati

Great thanks to OleRafa for tweeting these sexy photos!

 

 

 

Nicolas Almagro & David Ferrer are hot in Cincinnati.

 

Nico is playing in Cincy for a 4th time - his best result a Qf in '07.

 

Seeded 14 he will open against Stanislas Wawrinka. He is in Rafa's quarter.

 

David is playing Cincy for a 7th time - best results were the Qf's in '06 & '07.

 

Seeded 10th he has an Alexandr Dolgopolov opener. He's in Roger's quarter.

 

Good luck guapos!