TennisToday

Richard Gasquet Wins 2013 Doha Title

ATP 250 Doha - Men's Final

2 Richard Gasquet d Nikolay Davydenko - 36 76(4) 63

Turn the beat around: Reee-shard was down a set and a break.

In winning the Falcon trophy he picks up his 8th ATP title.

Time flies: When the hell did he get to be 26?

Post match: I'm really happy with the way I played and fought.

He was playing fast in the first set.

I just try to keep focused and to fight a lot, and I did it.

I’m really happy with the way I won. It's important for me to win the final.

Richard made the 4R of all 4 Slams last year...

Can he better that in a couple weeks in Melbourne?

He'll likely be seeded #9 so he'll need some draw luck errr, chanceux.

Djokovic, Del Potro, Davydenko Weekend Winners

Belgrade ATP 250 - Final

1 Novak Djokovic d Feliciano Lopez - 76(4) 62

Wow: 27-0 on the year while winning 5 straight tournament titles.

Let's how this streak translates to clay.

Novak got a decent draw in Madrid - a Rafa/Novak final would be sweet.

***

Estoril ATP 250 - Final

8 Juan Martin Del Potro d 2 Fernando Verdasco - 62 62

And that folks is DelPo's 2nd title of the season as he goes 25/6.

With the win he moves up to #32.

The big boys can breathe easier - he'll be seeded at Roland Garros.

***

Munich ATP 250 - Final

7 Nikolay Davydenko d 5 Florian Mayer - 63 36 61

Nice move: The win bumps Niko up 12 places in the rankings to #28.

Title 21 equates to winning at least 1 title for 9 consecutive years.

Novak Djokovic Get a Great Gift from His Fans

Great. And perfect. Way to go gals.

Novak posted this pic to his Facebook page yesterday.

Four Upsets Mark Day 1 of Australian Open

Australian Open - ATP 1st Round

Lukasz Kubot d 18 Sam Querrey - 57 62 36 61 86

Florian Mayer d 23 Nikolay Davydenko - 63 46 76(4) 64

Tough: I sure did not expect either of these boys to lose this early.

This is the 3rd consecutive year Sam has been bounced in the 1st round.

He seems to excel in the 250's but the bigger tournies not-so-much. Yet.

8-6 in the 5th has to hurt like hell.

He and Isner might've considered a doubles run...

As for Niko... with Qf points last year that ranking's gonna go south.

And this loss, just weeks after beating (an ill) #1 Rafa in Doha.

As for Kubot remember he made it to the 4th round here in 2010.

And Mayer, in his 8th Aussie Open, was a 3rd rounder last year.

***

Australian Open - WTA 1st Round

Barbora Zahlavova Stycova d 17 Aravane Rezai - 60 36 75

Regina Kulikova d 28 Daniela Hantuchova - 76(3) 36 97

Those are two 3rd set scores that'll sting for awhile. Nuf said.

Photos: Reuters/Getty Images

Roger Federer Wins Doha Title and Set's Himself Up at the Favorite at the Australian Open

Doha ATP 250 - Men's Final

2 Roger Federer d 4 Nikolay Davydenko - 63 64

Roger wins his 3rd title in Doha and 67th ATP singles trophy overall.

And did so in amazing fashion - Niko never once pushed him to deuce.

In fact, Roger saved all 7 break points he faced this entire tournament.

AND: 6 of those 7 BP's were in his 1st round match.

***

So, if I'm a betting man I'd surely wager on Roger for the Aussie Open.

Since the US Open he has certainly become the class of the field.

Roger has won 4 of the 6 tournaments he has entered - Rafa only 1 of 5.

Ranking points since the US Open: Roger = 3,490, Rafa = 1,770.

Add to that the serving stats I mentioned before - and well...

I'm not hating on Rafa but surely these stats scream at a high volume.

Photo: Reuters

Robin Soderling & Michael Llodra Set-Up Semifinal Match at Paris Masters 1000

Put some gloves on 'em and let 'em duke it out tomorrow.

Paris ATP Masters Series 1000 - Semifinal Preview

4 Robin Soderling vs Michael Llodra - H2H: 0-2

3 of their 5 sets have gone to TB's so expect one or two tomorrow.

Home crowd: Can they carry their man Llodra thru to the final?

Neither man has played a Masters 1000 final - this is only Robin's 3rd 1000 Sf.

Interesting that Llodra has two titles to Soderling's one this season.

***

Quarterfinal Results

4 Robin Soderling d 8 Andy Roddick - 75 64

Well, Andy did what he needed to do in Paris: qualify for London.

Which bracket would these guys rather get placed at the O2, Rafa or Roger?

Hint: Roger is on fire right now. Rafa is coming off an injury...

Michael Llodra d 10 Nikolay Davydenko - 75 61

ND led the 1st set 5-3 then came unglued losing 10 of the next 11 games.

Gotta tell ya tho - watching Llodra play all-court tennis was refreshing.

Quarterfinals Set at Masters 1000 Paris Tomorrow

Paris ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal Preview

1 Roger Federer vs 11 Jurgen Melzer - H2H: 2-0

Interesting that both are 29 and have only played twice - this year.

They played at Wimbledon & US Open - Roger won all 6 sets. Kinda easily.

3 Andy Murray vs 12 Gael Monfils - H2H: 3-1

Both have a similar W/L records this year: 44/15 for Andy, 43/18 for Gael.

4 Robin Soderling vs 8 Andy Roddick - H2H: 2-2

Andy has won both of their matches this season. 4 matches - 5 tie-breaks.

This might just be the match of the day.

10 Nikolay Davydenko vs Michael Llodra - H2H: 4-1

So Llodra gave us a preview of the Davis Cup final beating Novak today.

Note to Team Serbia: Slow down the courts.

Photo: AP

Top 8 Seeds in Action Tomorrow at Paris Masters 1000

All 8 are in action in the 3rd round tomorrow in Paris.

1 Roger Federer vs Radek Stepanek - H2H: 9-2

2 Novak Djokovic (above) vs Michael Llodra - H2H: 1-0

3 Andy Murray vs 13 Marin Cilic - H2H: 4-1

4 Robin Soderling vs Stanislas Wawrinka - H2H: 1-2

5 Tomas Berdych vs 10 Nikolay Davydenko - H2H: 1-8

6 Fernando Verdasco vs 12 Gael Monfils - H2H: 0-1

7 David Ferrer vs Jurgen Melzer - H2H: 3-1

8 Andy Roddick vs Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 2-0

5 of the 8 are playing for 3 spots in London. All could be settled tomorrow.

DVR set. Gonna be a long day tomorrow!

Photo: Getty Images

Top 6 Men's Players in Action Tomorrow in Shanghai

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 - Men's Second Round

1 Rafael Nadal vs Stanislas Wawrinks - H2H: 6-0

Stan has never taken a set from Rafa.

2 Novak Djokovic vs Ivan Ljubicic - H2H: 6-2

They are 2-1 for Novak on 2010.

3 Roger Federer vs John Isner - H2H: 1-0

Easily the match of the day.

4 Andy Murray vs Yan Bai - H2H: 0-0

Bai is ranked #465.

5 Robin Soderling vs Janko Tipsarevic - H2H: 1-0

They played once in 2006.

6 Nikolay Davydenko vs Mischa Zverev - H2H: 0-0

Nikolay is the defending champ.

***

There are some potential great matches on tap tomorrow.

Damn good day to have a ticket.

Nikolay Davydenko Wins 400th ATP Match in Beijing

Beijing ATP 500 - Men's Second Round

4 Nikolay Davydenko d Marin Cilic - 75 75

In winning today Nikolay enters the 400 club - his career W/L is 400-243.

He is the 8th active player with at least 400 ATP match wins.

25 of those 400 have come this year including a title in Doha.

He is ranked #6 - but has a lot of points to defend down the homestretch...

Remember, he won at Shanghai & the tour finals last year. 

He will next play John Isner - H2H: 2-0/ND.

Photo: AP

A Bit of a Recap of Day 4 at the US Open

Sorry guys, I wasn't around much today. And only have time for this quickie.

I'll be fully focued tomorrow - jut in time for the rain. I hate rain delays!

***

US OPEN - SECOND ROUND MATCHES

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Kai-Chen Chang - 60 60

Caro has lost a whopping 2 games in 2 matches. Uh, steamrolling.

Arnaud Clement d Eduardo Schwank - 63 5-5 ret.

The old boy wins again. It's his 6th time to the USO 3rd round: 4-1.

2 Roger Federer d Andreas Beck - 63 64 63

Roger is looking for his 7th straight USO final. He's won 5: '04-'08.

4 Jelena Jankovic d Mirjana Lucic - 64 36 62

Two matches - two 3-setters. Ouch.

Beatrice Capra d 18 Aravane Rezai - 75 26 63

USA's Bea won the second WTA match of her career. This years Believe?

Richard Gasquet d 6 Nikolay Davydenko - 63 64 62

Gasquet keeps giving us hope... Lot's of decent wins this season. Nice.

5 Robin Soderling d Taylor Dent - 62 62 64

Surprisingly, this is only Robins 9th trip to a 3rd round at a Slam: 4-4.

Kei Nishikori d 11 Marin Cilic - 57 76(6) 36 76(3) 61

5 hour match and they both looked like they were going to drop dead.

Photos: Wozniacki - Getty Images. The rest - Reuters

Quarterfinal Matches Set for ATP Masters 1000 CIncinnati

Andy won a thriller in Cincy over Robin Soderling in a 3rd set TB last night.

Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal Preview

1 Rafael Nadal vs Marcos Baghdatis - H2H: 6-0

In sets played they are 12-3 - with a couple of close matches.

Marcos has a #1 scalp already this year d. Federer in Indian Wells in March.

Rafa has not lost before the Sf's in a year's worth of Masters 1000 events.

***

3 Roger Federer vs 6 Nikolay Davydenko - H2H: 13-2

Owing to opponent injury Roger has played but 7 games in Cincy.

Nikolay has played 60 games in back-to-back 3 setters.

Roger won the last encounter - Nikolay got him in the 2 previous matches.

Why can't we see this match live? Why why why why why? Yea thanks ESPN.

***

4 Andy Murray vs WC Mardy Fish - H2H: 3-3

Andy is trying to get the very rare Canada/Cincy double.

He'll have his hands full - Mardy has beaten him twice this year.

Mardy has won 2 tournaments this summer: Newport & Atlanta.

This is going to be an absolute 'not-to-be-missed' match.

Win or loss, with result is enough to get Mardy seeded for the Open.

***

2 Novak Djokovic vs 9 Andy Roddick - H2H: 2-4

6of 7 of their matches have been played in the quarterfinal stage.

Andy has won the last 3 - which represents their 3 matches in '09.

This match will be played in the heat of the day...

Will Novak wilt? Andy played a late 3-setter last night, will he be ready?

Photo: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic & Nicolay Davydenko both need 5 Sets to Advance at Wimbledon

3 Novak Djokovic d Olivier Rochus - 46 62 36 64 62

What a day! I can't remember a Day 1 as exciting as today - ever.

The roof was closed at one point to add light to the match.

It became the latest played match in Wimbledon history - ending at 10:58.

Nick of time too - play at SW19 is mandated to end at 11.

Novak next plays Taylor Dent for the 1st time. An upset may be in the offing.

***

7 Nikolay Davydenko d Kevin Anderson - 36 67 76 75 97

Nikolay is coming back from a layoff owing to a wrist fracture.

A long match like this couldn't have left it feeling very good.

Anderson came really close. Really really close.

This is the only Slam Nikolay has not been at least to the quarters.

Nikolay will next play Daniel Brands - they've never faced one another.

Photos: Reuters

Top Men's Players take to Practice Courts at Wimbledon

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has played only twice at Wimbledon. Best: 4th round '07.

Marin Cilic has played W 3 times - best result: 4th round '08.

Andy Murray has played 4 times - best result: semifinal last year.

Nikolay Davydenko has played 8 times - best result: 4th round '07.

Nice to see him back after a wrist injury laid him off for a bit.

Photos: Wimbledon's Facebook page

Nalbandian, Simon & Karlovic Added to DL for French Open

It sure feels like more top players have pulled out than ever before.

They include 6 top 50 players - 4 of whom would have been seeded.

***

David Nalbandian (above) withdrew yesterday with a hamstring injury.

Gilles Simon says he isn't fit enough after a long knee injury layoff.

Ivo Karlovic withdrew today bothered by a nagging Achilles tendon.

***

They join previously announced withdrawals from: Juan Martin Del Potro,

Nikolay Davydenko, Tommy Haas, James Blake & Igor Andreev.

***

Photo: David Nalbandian in Monte Carlo - Reuters

Kim Clijsters, Juan Martin Del Potro & Nikolay Davydenko Withdraw from the French Open

What a shame. Roland Garros has lost three true contenders. Clijsters and Del Potro are the reigning US Open champions and all three have been semifinalists at the French Open (Kim has been runner-up twice).

Kim commented on her website: "It's really a shame to give up on Roland Garros. Paris is so close I always feel a little at home. And that's where I played my first grand slam final. But the foot pain forces me to throw in the towel."

Kim will return for the grass season in Eastbourne which begins June 14 before she heads to Wimbledon.

Juan Martin Del Potro had wrist surgery last week and the world was told he'd be out at least three months. Blog chatter has him out for the rest of the year.

Nikolay Davydenko is also suffering from a wrist injury.

Also confirmed not playing are James Blake, Tommy Haas, Igor Andreev, Sania Mirza and Sabine Lisicki.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer Storms Estoril Looking to Regain Form

Roger Federer is in Estoril looking to reignite his off-form play of late.

He started the year perfectly by winning the Australian Open in January.

But he been shown the door before the quarters at every tournament since.

All of which happened to be Masters events: Indian Wells, Miami & Rome.

The man is in serious need of a confidence boosting week in Portugal.

And he should get it - there is only one other top ten player in the draw.

And he, Nikolay Davydenko, is returning from an injury break.

I would guess that Roger should easily pick up this title...

Hell, the #4 seed is ranked #31 - surely Roger is the fish fish here.

But if he fails to make at least the semi's the man is in some deep doo-doo.

Photos: AP

Serena Williams Joins List of Players to Withdraw from Miami

 

Serena Williams - Left knee has kept her out of action since winning the AO.

Juan Martin Del Potro - US Open champ out with a nagging right wrist injury.

Maria Sharapova - Bruised her right elbow bow last week in Indian Wells.

Dinara Safina - The back injury that doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Nikolay Davydenko - Left wrist injury - I think I heard it was broken.

Photo: Reuters - Serena at an Oscar party.

Indian Wells: A Look at the Men's Draw

You can view the draw HERE.

This year ought to be interesting on the men's side as so many of the top seeds come into the Indian Wells event on the heels of time off for injury. Roger with his lung infection. Rafa and that damn knee. Murray and his mental health time. Roddick and Davydenko with their stuff... How will they hold up? Many questions will be answered in the coming 2 weeks.

Like every once else in the whole entire world I looked first to see where Rafael Nadal fell in the draw and breathed a heavy sigh of relief to see him in the bottom half - I always hold out hope for a Rafa/Roger final.

#1 Roger Federer must be pretty thrilled with his draw - not a lot of upset-worthy names loom in his quarter except possibly Radek Stepanek (he'd have to have a really great day) and Andy Roddick (pray for this match people).

#2 Novak Djokovic will sail into the quarters - there is not a single guy in his draw that will beat him. Fish, Kohlschreiber, Dent, Simon - I don't think so.

#3 Rafael Nadal got handed a very tricky draw - 3 big bombers are in there: Mario Ancic, Sam Querrey and John Isner and that's just to get into the quarters where recent nemesis Davydenko could await. YIKES.

#7 Andy Roddick should get through to face a potential fun 4th round with a few players: Monfils, Gasquet or Nalbandian.

Projected Seeded Quarterfinals:

1 Roger Federer vs 7 Andy Roddick

4 Andy Murray vs 6 Robin Soderling

3 Rafael Nadal vs 5 Nikolay Davydenko

2 Novak Djokovic vs 8 Marin Cilic

It's hard to bet against any of these guys but I would have to say that the quarterfinal least likely to happen would be Nadal vs Davydenko. They both seem vulnerable and they have some very dangerous players they may have to face...

This Week the ATP Moves to Indian Wells

Indian Wells Masters 1000 - Top Seeded Players

1. Roger Federer - Champion '04 '05 '06

2. Novak Dojokvic - Champion '08

3. Rafael Nadal - Champion '07 '09

4. Andy Murray - Finalist '09

5. Nikolay Davydenko - 4th Round '07

6. Robin Soderling - 3rd Round '06 '07

7. Andy Roddick - Semifinalist '05 '07 '09

8. Marin Cilic - 3rd Round '09

Photo: I took it of Roger practicing in Indian Wells last year.