Thursday’s Results
Singles Round of 16
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-1 6-0
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-4 6-1
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-1 6-1
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. 10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-2 6-7(5) 6-3
6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-5 6-4
Q Mischa Zverev (GER) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-4 6-1
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 3-6 6-3 7-5
Q Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 15 Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Round of 16
1 B. Bryan (USA)/Mike Bryan (USA) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-4 6-3
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) 6-3 4-6 10-6
3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/Leander Paes (IND) def. Alt. I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB) 6-1 6-1
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. Alt. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 7-6(5) 2-6 10-3
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-2 6-4
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) 7-5 6-3
7 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) def. WC D. Bracciale (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) 7-5 6-3
8 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. WC F. Cipolla (ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA) 6-1 7-5

Friday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Q Mischa Zverev (GER)
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG)
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Q Juan Monaco (ARG)

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. 7 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR)
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. 8 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS)
3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/ L. Paes (IND) vs. 5 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM)
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) vs. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL)

Friday’s Order of Play

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Most of the seeded players advanced easily. The top-three picked apart their opponents and got off the court quickly. Fifth-seed Juan Martin del Potro and twelfth-seed Fernando Gonzalez made it through after dropping their first sets. Both rallied and won their matches to advance into the next round.

The seeded casualties were eight-seed Gilles Simon and fifteenth-seed Marin Cilic. Both were victims of qualifiers Mischa Zverev and Juan Monaco respectively. Zverev is officially troublemaker of Rome. If he upsets Federer tomorrow, he will be troublemaker of the year.

Novak Djokovic gave Tommy Robredo drubbing at 6-1 6-1 after 63 minutes of play. Djokovic is definitely back to form, which is bad news for Roger Federer and Andy Murray. His improvement makes the race for number two more up for grabs.

If Djokovic was back to form, then Rafael Nadal was in super-form. He met up with the crotchety, Swede Robin Soderling. The last time these two played, Soderling ended up doing this. Fast-forward two years later, the score looks like this: 6-1 6-0.

Do not tell me Nadal did not remember the Swede’s little episode. This was beyond a beatdown. It was a kneecapping, and the Spaniard took no mercy on Soderling. After his match of shame, I doubt the Swede will be doing Nadal impressions any time soon. This is truly the beauty of Nadal.

(Image: AP)

Wednesday 's Results
Singles First Round
Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 7-6(2) 6-4
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) def. 11 David Ferrer (ESP) 6-3 2-6 6-2
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Florent Serra (FRA) 7-6(1) 4-6 7-5

Singles Second Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-2 6-3
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-4 6-4
Q Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 4 Andy Murray (GBR) 1-6 6-3 7-5
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 1-6 6-3
6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 6-4 7-5 6-6-3
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. 7 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 7-5 7-6(5)
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-7(6) 6-2 6-3
10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-3 7-6(5)
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Janko Tiparevic (SRB) 6-4 6-4
13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 7-5 7-6(5)
15 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-0 5-7 6-2
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-2 6-1
Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Q Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-1 6-7(2) 6-1
Q Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-0
Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 1-6 6-4

Doubles First Round
Alt I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/S. Huss (AUS) 7-6(6) 5-7 10-8
J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) def. S Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) 7-6(4) 6-1
D. Bracciali (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) def. A. Montanes (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 6-2 7-6(8)
M. Melo (BRA)/A.Sa (BRA) def. R. Lindstedt (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE) 7-5 6-2
Alt. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) - walkover
WC F. Cipolla (ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/N. Kiefer (GER) 7-6(2) 6-4

Thursday’s Matches
Singles Round of 16
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Robin Soderling (SWE)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 16 Radek Stepanek (CZE)
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 13 Tommy Robredo (ESP)
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. 10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)
6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Q Mischa Zverev (GER) 12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 15 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Q Juan Monaco (ARG)

Doubles Round of 16
1 B. Bryan (USA)/Mike Bryan (USA) vs. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT)
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA)
3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/Leander Paes (IND) vs. Alt. I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB)
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) vs. Alt. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA)
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) vs. M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA)
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA)
7 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) def. WC D. Bracciale (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA)
8 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) vs. WC F. Cipolla (ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA)

Thursday’s Order of Play

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The weather behaved today, and the tournament was able to complete all of its singles matches. Three first-round matches had to be played in the afternoon, and the winners had to play again in the evening. The completion of matches was not good news for some of the seeded players. Five seeds were sent home, and some received scares.

Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated last week’s Barcelona Open’s finalist. This is one of the first-round matches that was not completed yesterday. Mathieu upset the eleventh-seed David Ferrer 6-3 2-6 6-2 in their first-round match.

The veteran Frenchman turned around in his second-round match and was upset by German qualifier Mischa Zverev 3-6 7-6(5) 6-0. The 21-year-old already denied Juan Carlos Ferrero in the qualifying rounds and beat Tomas Berdych in the first round. He is probably this tournament's troublemaker.

Jurgen Melzer upset seventh-seed Nikolay Davydenko. Davydenko had played well last week in Barcelona, but Melzer dismantled the Russian 7-5 7-6(5). The Austrian will now play Fernando Gonzalez, who is playing well and coasted through his match.

Richard Gasquet took out ninth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his first-round match. He and Radek Stepanek were able to win their first-round matches in the afternoon and then won their second-round matches in the evening. Gasquet then beat Ernest Gulbis in his second-round match after the Latvian rallied to get back into the match.

The Frenchman now advances to play Fernando Verdasco. Gasquet leads in their head-to-head matchup 4-2. Verdasco has won their last two meetings, but Gasquet has won all of their meetings on clay. The Frenchman played solidly today but has played a lot of tennis with the two matches. He may not have enough left in the tank to withstand the Spanish onslaught.

Gilles Simon, Juan Martin del Potro and Fernando Verdasco had scares, but all got it together enough to advance into the next round. Simon beat Italian Fabio Fognini in front of his hometown crowd.

Old faithfuls Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer won their respective matches quite easily. Nadal will play Robin Soderling in the next round. The two have not played since their infamous match at Wimbledon in 2007. Federer will play the Radek Stepanek in the next round. The Swiss leads 7-2 in their head-to-head matchup. The last time Stepanek beat Federer was last year in this very tournament.

With all the upsets in Federer’s quarter, he is almost guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. Gilles Simon is his only obstacle in the quarterfinals if the Frenchman can get past the German troublemaker Zverev in the third round. Simon will have to raise his level of play to stay undefeated against the Swiss.

(Images: AP, Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images)

The Argentine will play fourth-seed Andy Murray in the next round, who has improved his clay court play, in the second round. It will be a rematch of their second-round match in Miami, where Murray prevailed in straight sets. Monaco has recovered from injury and did exact revenge on Tommy Robredo in Monte-Carlo for his loss in Argentina. The Scotsman should proceed with caution, as the Argentine may strike again.

-me

Juan Monaco rallied to upset the fourth-seed Andy Murray 1-6 6-3 7-5.

(Image: AP)

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Mardy Fish (USA) def. Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-3 4-6 7-6(2)
Q Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 7-5 6-4
11 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 3-6 1-0 To Finish
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-1
13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Marat Safin (RUS) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-2
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Florent Serra (FRA) 5-6 To Finish
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 4-6 6-1 6-0
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Sam Querrey (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-4 6-2
Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-0
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-3 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 3-6 6-2 6-3
Q Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4-6 6-2 7-5
WC Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. WC Filippo Volandri (ITA) 6-7(3) 6-1 7-6(4)
Ernest Gulbis (LAT) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2

Singles Second Round
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Albert Montanes (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-0

Wednesday 's Matches
Singles First Round
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
11 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 3-6 1-0 To Finish
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Florent Serra (FRA) 5-6 To Finish

Singles Second Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
4 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Q Juan Monaco (ARG)
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)
6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Mardy Fish (USA)
7 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Fabio Fognini (ITA)
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) or Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Q Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
11 David Ferrer (ESP) or Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs. Q Mischa Zverev (GER)
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Janko Tiparevic (SRB)
13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
15 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Florent Serra (FRA) To Finish 56
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Q Victor Crivoi (ROU)

Doubles First Round
N. Almagro (ESP)/D. Ferrer (ESP) vs. F. Cermak (CZE)/S. Huss (AUS)
WC F. Cipolla (ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA) vs. T. Berdych (CZE)/N. Kiefer (GER)
J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) vs. S Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)
A. Montanes (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) vs. D. Bracciali (ITA)/Potito Starace (ITA)
Alternate vs. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) (M. Safin and I. Andreev must have pulled out.)

Wednesday's Order of Play

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Rain and wind again foiled the Roman tournament today. The rain caused delays, but most of the first round matches managed to be completed. There are three first-round matches that will be finished tomorrow. All doubles matches were cancelled for the day and moved to Wednesday.

Of the completed matches, Feliciano Lopez prevailed over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-4 6-2. It was a good win for the Spaniard, who is 5-8 this year and has had five first-round losses. Lopez made it to the round of 16 in Barcelona last week, so maybe he has turned over a new leaf. He now awaits the winner of the Stepanek-Serra match.

One second-round match was completed. Novak Djokovic beat Albert Montanes 7-6(5) 6-0 in quite convincing fashion. The Serb will have a day off tomorrow and awaits the winner of the Robredo-Kohlschreiber match.

(Image: AP)

Normally a player, when he sees that the situation is 4-1, 30-0 and the other one is serving against him, they would think that they've lost the match,” said Robredo. “But then Marat let me break, and so I went to 4-2, and then I went 4-3. At 5-4, my serve, he made some mistakes. That's when I was able to go 5-all. We were still quite close, and it was really only on 6-5 that I realized that had match was going my way.

Obviously when I won the second set I thought that it was my time right now, because I know Marat,” Robredo explained. “When things like that happen to him, maybe sometimes it's tough for him to keep playing the same level. In the first game, I had 0-15 and a couple of chances to win the points, and then I did stupid mistakes. But then the second time he was serving I broke him, and that was helpful for the end of the match.

-Tommy Robredo on his comeback 2-6 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Marat Safin

(Image: AP)

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3 6-4
Q Victor Crivoi (ROU) def. 14 James Blake (USA) 7-5 6-3
16 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. WC Flavio Cipolla (ITA) 6-2 6-2
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 6-3
Q Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 6-2 6-3
Christophe Rochus (BEL) def. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-1 6-2
Albert Montanes (ESP) def. WC Potito Starace (ITA) 7-6 6-4
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Q Jan Hernych (CZE) 4-6 6-4 6-2

Doubles First Round
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. R. Hutchins (GBR)/A. Murray (GBR) 6-4 6-4
J. Chardy (FRA)/G. Simon (FRA) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-2 6-1

Tuesday’s Matches
Singles First Round
Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Igor Andreev (RUS) To finish 3-3
Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) vs. Q Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) To Finish 7-5 5-4
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
11 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Marat Safin (RUS)
16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Florent Serra (FRA)
WC Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. WC Filippo Volandri (ITA)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA)
Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. Sam Querrey (USA)
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
Q Mischa Zverev (GER) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP)
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs. Jose Acasuso (ARG)
Julien Benneteau (FRA) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Ernest Gulbis (LAT)

Singles Second Round
4 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Q Juan Monaco (ARG)
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Albert Montanes (ESP)
15 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)

Doubles First Round
R. Lindstedt (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE) vs. M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA)
N. Almagro (ESP)/D. Ferrer (ESP) vs. F. Cermak (CZE)/S. Huss (AUS)
I. Andreev (RUS)/M Safin (RUS) vs. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP)
WC F. Cipolla (ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA) vs. T. Berdych (CZE)/N. Kiefer (GER)
J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) vs. S Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)

Tuesday’s Order of Play

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The weather was uncooperative today. Wind and rain disrupted play. A little more than half of the matches were completed with the rest of the matches moved to Tuesday.

Of the matches that were completed, Juan Monaco was able to get off to a good start in the tournament. Monaco won easily over Nicolas Kiefer. He dismissed the German 6-2 6-3 after 73 minutes of play.

The Argentine will play fourth-seed Andy Murray in the next round, who has improved his clay court play, in the second round. It will be a rematch of their second-round match in Miami, where Murray prevailed in straight sets. Monaco has recovered from injury and did exact revenge on Tommy Robredo in Monte-Carlo for his loss in Argentina. The Scotsman should proceed with caution, as the Argentine may strike again.

Someone who probably needed to play on Tuesday was James Blake. The fourteenth-seed managed to lose in the first round in straight sets to Victor Crivoi (pictured), a Romanian qualifier. If you do not invest any time on clay, this is what happens. This is a great example and encapsulates what is currently wrong with American men’s singles tennis.

(Images: AP, Getty Images)

Monday’s Matches
Singles First Round
10 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs.Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)
13 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Marat Safin (RUS)
14 James Blake (USA) vs. Q Victor Crivoi (ROU)
16 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. WC Flavio Cipolla (ITA)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Q Juan Monaco (ARG)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) Christophe Rochus (BEL)
WC Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Albert Montanes (ESP)
Q Jan Hernych (CZE) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO)
Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) vs. Q Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Mardy Fish (USA) vs. Igor Andreev (RUS)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. Sam Querrey (USA)

Doubles First Round
R. Hutchins (GBR)/A. Murray (GBR) vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA)
WC F. Cipolla(ITA)/F. Fognini (ITA) vs. T. Berdych (CZE)/ Nicolas Kiefer (GER)
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) vs. J. Chardy (FRA)/G. Simon (FRA)
R. LindstedtI (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE) vs. M. Melo (BRA)/A.Sa (BRA)

Monday’s Order of Play

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Rafael Nadal beat countryman David Ferrer 6-2 7-5 after 106 minutes of play. Nadal started out strong in the first set. The two players traded breaks, and Nadal was the first one to hold. The Mallorcan began making ridiculous shots and went into total beatdown mode. Nadal made Ferrer go for a lot, which caused the Valencian to hit a lot of unforced errors. The combination allowed Nadal to run off with the set.

Ferrer, always a hustler on the court, persevered on in the second set. The players again traded breaks early in the set, but this time Ferrer held first. Ferrer, more importantly, cut down on the unforced errors, and he started hitting amazing winners of his own to keep the Mallorcan honest. The Spaniards then stayed on serve until 5-5. In game eleven, Nadal had three break points and converted on the third one. He held easily to take the set, match and the championship.

This is Nadal’s fifth-consecutive Barcelona Open title to go with his five-consecutive Monte-Carlo titles. This is Nadal’s second-consecutive title. His record is now 29-3 for the year, which includes four titles. He streak continues with 25-consecutive victories on clay. Today's victory gives him 35 career titles. These are some pretty amazing stats for just a 22-year-old.

In doubles, second-seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic beat Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles 6-3 7-6(0) after 93 minutes of play. This is their third title of the year and second-consecutive title likel Nadal. They pair have now won nine titles together.

Championship Day
Singles Final
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 4 David Ferrer (ESP) 6-2 7-5

Doubles Final
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) def. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 6-3 7-6(0)

(Images: AP/Manu Fernandez)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 2-6 7-5 6-3
Mischa Zverev(GER) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 67(7) 64 75
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-3 6-0
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-3 6-3
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 6-3 6-4
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) def. Andreas Beck (GER) 1-6 6-3 7-6(5)
Victor Crivoi (ROU) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 7-5 6-4

(Image: Internazionali BNL D’Italia)

Yannick Noah won the French Open in 1983 and is the last Frenchman to win the singles title. He became quite the doubles player and won the French Open title in doubles in 1984 with Henri Leconte. As captain, he lead the French Davis Cup team to victory in 1991 and 1996. For obvious reasons, he beloved by the French and tennis enthusiasts.

In 1996, Noah retired from tennis and since has became a pop music star in Europe. The former French Open Champion Yannick Noah will play a show in US this summer. He will play in New York City this June with other francophone artists celebrating chanson française (French song).

Preview: Internazionali BNL d'Italia
City: Rome, Italy
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 1000
2008 Singles Champion: Novak Djokovic
2008 Doubles Champions: Mike Bryan & Bob Bryan

The top ATP playes will be in contention. Most of the American singles players will be in attendance. Andy Roddick, Gael Monfils, David Nalbandian and Mario Ancic have all withdrawn.

Rafael Nadal is clearly the one to beat. He has already won two of the three Masters tournaments this year and is having another ridiculous year. The only way he loses if he is injured or gets struck by lightening. Though I noticed, his half of the draw is loaded with all the dangerous players (Murray, Verdasco, Davydenko). This is the same tournament where Juan Carlos Ferrero unexpectedly snapped Nadal's winning streak on clay last year, so anything could happen.

Aside from Nadal, it is the usual suspects of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. Djokovic won the tournament last year and looked good in the Monte-Carlo final against Nadal. I think he is the better bet on clay than Murray.

Andy Murray has improved greatly on clay but comes down with the case of Nadalitis when he plays the Spaniard. It happens on clay as well as other surfaces, despite the conventional wisdom from the Jason Goodalls of the world. Murray is also in Nadal’s half on the draw.

Roger Federer is having a bad year and is in rapid decline, but he is always dangerous. The Swiss did get it together last year to win the US Open when everyone wrote him off like a bad check. It is also beneficial to him that his quarter of the draw is pretty friendly to him. He only has to get past Djokovic in the semifinals.

I will keep hope alive that Gilles Simon will get it together in time (if he no one upsets him) for the quarterfinals to challenge Federer. Simon is currently 2-0 over the Swiss. I would like to see if he really has Federer’s number. As for the other Musketeers, Tsonga has been battling injury over the last couple of weeks, and Gasquet just lacks courage. Tsonga and Gasquet play each other in the first round and are in Nadal’s quarter.

There are also the next-tier players who could break at any time. They include Juan Martin del Potro, Fernando Verdasco and Stanislas Wawrinka. Veterans Fernando Gonzalez and Nikolay Daveydenko could also be trouble if they get hot for the week. There are also the other three Spaniards of David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro, who are great on clay but are kind of harmless when the top-four are around.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Tournament Malfeasance
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. Richard Gasquet
Nicolas Almagro vs. Ernest Gulbis
Tommy Robredo vs. Marat Safin
Nicolas Kiefer vs. Q Juan Monaco - Updated

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(Images: Internazionali BNL D’Italia/Costantini)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-3 6-2
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. 5 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 2-6 6-2 7-6(5)

Doubles Semifinals
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) 6-2 6-7(5) 10-7
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) 7-6(1) 7-6(8)

Championship Day
Singles Final
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 4 David Ferrer (ESP)

Doubles Final
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) vs. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH)

Sunday’s Order of Play

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After being out with a series of injuries, Nikolay Davydenko had a pretty good tournament in Monte-Carlo last week. This week, he is having a great tournament and is back to form.

Davydenko held easily in his first-two service games and had three break points in Nadal’s first-two service games. Unfortunately for the Russian, he did not convert. In game five, Nadal was presented with two break points, and the Spaniard converted on the second one. Nadal then ran off with the set.

It looked like Nadal would be off to the races instead the Russian hunkered down in the second set. The two players then slogged it out in each game with plenty of break points in each of their service games. Nadal eventually broke in game four giving the Spaniard a pathway for the match. He then cruised to take the match 6-3 6-2 after 106 minutes of play. Nadal will play in his fifth-consecutive Barcelona Open final and will play his compatriot David Ferrer.

Fernando Gonzalez and his forehand had dismissed two Argentines and a Spaniard on his way to the semifinal. Like yesterday, Gonzalez struck first and broke Ferrer in his opening service game. He trounced the Spaniard from the baseline to take the first set 6-2.

In the second set, Ferrer changed his game plan. He broke Gonzalez in the second game of the set and jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The 27-year-old won the set easily at 6-2.

In the third set, Ferrer struck first in the fourth game after it looked like Gonzalez would hold easily. He handed Ferrer the game with a couple of unforced errors. Ferrer was able to hold on. While Ferrer was serving for the match, Gonzalez finally broke back in game nine after having some break opportunities in Ferrer’s previous service game. The Chilean then held to even the set at 5-5.

In the tiebreak, Ferrer lead with a mini-break at 2-1. Gonzalez and his forehand returned the favor to level it. Ferrer scored another mini-break with a lob that just fell inside the line. Gonzalez and his forehand broke back in ninth point to get back on serve. Gonzalez double-faulted and gave Ferrer a match point. The Spaniard converted on the first chance for the match 2-6 6-2 7-6(5).

Ferrer will now meet Nadal for a rematch of the Barcelona Open final last year. The 22-year-old hopes to win his fifth-straight title. Nadal leads their head-to-head 6-3. Two of Ferrer’s wins come on hard surfaces. The third win was on clay, but it was against an 18-year-old Nadal in 2004.

(Images: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Feliciano Lopez and Olympic medalist Gemma Mengual took part in a tasting competition. The event was a part of various charity events that were taking place on day five at the Barcelona Open Banco Sabadell.

(Image: Barcelona Open)

Andy Murray teams up with David Beckham for an anti-malaria campaign (Sky News)
Wimbledon gets lights and a roof (Herald Sun)
Gael Monfils could miss the French Open with a knee injury (The Guardian)
Other than Daniel Nestor, Canada had a bad tennis week (Open Court)
The India-Australia match will be held in Chennai (Tennis)
An excerpt from Monica Seles's autobiography (Times Online)

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(h/t: Open Court)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
5 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. 2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-3 4-6 6-4
3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 9 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-7(4) 6-2 6-2
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. 6 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) def. 5 B. Soares (BRA)/K, Ullyett (ZIM) 1-6 6-3 10-7
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI) 7-5 6-2
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. R. Stepanek (CZE)/V. Troicki (SRB) 6-4 6-3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. 5 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)

Doubles Semifinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH)
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)

Saturday’s Order of Play

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Fernando Verdasco was trying to become the third Spaniard to advance into the semifinals in front of the hometown crowd. Fernando Gonzalez instead crashed what was to be an all-Spanish semifinal between David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco. In the battle of the Fernandos and their forehands, Gonzalez upset second-seed Verdasco 6-3 4-6 6-4.

Gonzalez broke Verdasco in the second game of the match and silenced the Spaniard’s hometown crowd early. Verdasco had an opportunity to break back, but Gonzalez was able to hold off the Spaniard. Verdasco had another sloppy game, and the Chilean jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Gonzalez was probably surprised at his lead over the young gun because he lost concentration and left an opening for Verdasco, who broke back in the fifth game to get on the board. Verdasco then held to bring the set to 4-2.

Gonzalez‘s backhand began to let him down, and he began to shank more balls into the net. Verdasco had another break opportunity, but Gonzalez was able to hold him off again and keep his break advantage. The Spaniard’s run woke him up and caused the Chilean to keep honest. Gonzalez was able to hold onto his break and took the first set after an easy service game.

In the second set, both players dug in and were evenly matched. Gonzalez had three break points and converted on the fourth. It appeared the Chilean would cruise to victory, but Verdasco quickly replied with a break of his own to level the match. Verdasco broke again in game nine and then held serve for the set.

Now even with a set apiece, the two players battled and remained even after six games. Gonzalez finally seized on an opportunity and broke Verdasco in the seventh game of the third set. Verdasco tried to raise his game, but Gonzalez also raised his game and began to punish the Spaniard with his forehand. He then cruised on his service games to take the set and match after 2 hours and 17 minutes of play.

Gonzalez will now meet the fourth-seed David Ferrer. He leads Ferrer 4-2 in their head-to-head matchup and has won all of their meetings on clay.

After both players rallied to win their round of 16 matches, David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo met in the second quarterfinal of the day. Ferrer beat his compatriot 6-3 6-4 after 82 minutes of play. He now awaits the winner of the Verdasco – Gonzalez match.

Ferrer was ridiculously consistent. Robredo had a couple of bad service games, and Ferrer took advantage each time. It also did not help that Robredo had a lot of unforced errors. With this victory, Ferrer is now 4-2 over Robredo.

(image: DPPI)

Argentine David Nalbandian withdrew from the Barcelona tournament due to an acute inflammation of the right hip. It had been bothering the Argentine over the last couple of weeks, and he irritated the injury yesterday in his victory over Nicolas Almagro.

With this withdrawal, Rafael Nadal receives a walkover into the semifinals. The quarterfinal matchup was to be Nadal’s first big showdown of the tournament and a grudge match of their last meeting in Indian Wells. Nalbandian is one of the few people on tour with a winning record against Nadal. The Argentine still leads Nadal in their head-to-head matchup 2-1.

Thursday's Results
Singles Round of 16
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-0
2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. 15 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 7-5 5-7 6-4
3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 7-6(8) 3-6 6-4
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 4-6 7-5 6-2
5 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG) 7-6(3) 6-3
6 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. 12 Igor Andreev (RUS) 4-6 6-2 6-3
7 David Nalbandian (ARG) def. 10 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-3 6-4
9 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. 8 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4 1-6 7-5

Doubles Round of 16
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) def. J. Melzer (AUT)/J. Knowle (AUT) 7-6(3) 6-1
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K, Ullyett (ZIM) def. G. Alcaide (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) 6-3 6-2
R. Stepanek (CZE)/V. Troicki (SRB) def. 7 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-4 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 6-1 6-2

Friday's Order of Play

Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro will be featured in the May issue of Spanish Elle magazine. The pictures were taken in Key Biscayne, Florida while the players were participating in the Miami Masters tournament.

(h/t: Oh No They Didn't, Elle.es)

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 6-2 6-2
2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Q Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 7-5 6-3
3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 7-6(2) 6-2
5 WC Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-4 6-4
6 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. WC Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 7-6(6) 6-1
7 David Nalbandian (ARG) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-5 6-4
8 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 7-5 6-1
9 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-6(2) 6-0
10 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-3
Christophe Rochus (BEL) def. 13 Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-1 6-7(4) 6-3
Potito Starace (ITA) def. 14 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(5) 2-6 6-2
15 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-24-6 6-3
16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Q Santiago Ventura (ESP) 2-6 6-4 6-3
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 7-5 6-4

Doubles First Round
WC G. Alcaide (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) def. S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 3-6 7-5 10-8

Doubles Second Round
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. T. Parrott (USA) Filip Polasek (SVK) 6-3 6-4
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) def. 3 L.Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) 7-6(5) 7-6(3)
4 M. Bhuthi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. R. Lindstedt (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE) 4-6 6-1 10-8
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-2 6-3
O. Marach (AUT)/L. Kubot (POL) def. 8 M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 4-6 6-1 10-8

Thursday's Matches
Singles Round of 16
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Christophe Rochus (BEL)
2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs.15 Tomas Berdych (CZE)
3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs.16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
4 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Potito Starace (ITA)
5 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)
6 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. 12 Igor Andreev (RUS)
7 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. 10 Nicolas Almagro (ESP)
8 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs. 9 Radek Stepanek (CZE)

Doubles Round of 16
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonijic (SRB) vs. J. Melzer (AUT)/J. Knowle (AUT)
5 B. Soares (BRA)/K, Ullyett (ZIM) vs. G. Alcaide (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP)
7 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) vs. R. Stepanek (CZE)/V. Troicki (SRB)

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT)
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) vs. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI)

Thursday's Order of Play

(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

Last time Federico Gil and Rafael Nadal met, Gil gave Nadal trouble in the first set in Miami. Nadal eventually won in straight sets. Now on clay, Nadal had no trouble dismissing the 24-year-old from Portugal 6-2 6-2. Nadal will play Belgian Christophe Rochus, who surprisingly upset Richard Gasquet, in the round of 16.

At the end of the day all the singles seeds advanced to the round of 16, except Robin Soderling and Richard Gasquet. It was not true on the doubles side. Top-seeds the Bryan brothers were the only seeded team to advance to the next round, as well as fourth-seeds Mahesh Bhuthi and Mark Knowles. The brothers had no trouble sending Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek packing (pictured right) 6-3 6-4. They will play Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach in the quarterfinals.

(Images: Getty Images)

Manolo Santana is looking pretty cheeky, as he poses with Rafael Nadal. The two champions exchanged rackets at the Barcelona Open. Santana gave Nadal the racket he used at the 1966 Wimbledon tournament, and Nadal gave Santana the racket he used in Monte-Carlo Open tournament last week. Santana was the only Spaniard to win Wimbledon until Nadal won it last year, 32 years later.











(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 6-2 6-4
Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) def. Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1 6-3
WC Gaston Gaudio (ARG) def. Diego Junquiera (ARG) 6-4 3-6 6-4
Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. Guillermo Canas (ARG) 7-6(0) 6-3
16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-2 6-1
9 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4 2-6 6-4
Q Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) def. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-4 2-6 6-2
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-7(5) 7-6(6) 6-3
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. WC 11 Marat Safin (RUS) 6-4 6-1
13 Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Jan Hernych (CZE) 4-6 6-3 6-2
14 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-1 6-4

Singles Second Round
12 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. WC Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-2 6-2
4 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Doubles First Round
L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 6-3 3-6 10-8
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. N. Davydenko (RUS)/I. Kunitsyn (RUS) 3-6 6-4 10-6
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI) def. N. Almagro (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP) 6-3 6-3
T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 6-7(4) 6-2 10-7
S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA) vs. WC M. Lopez (ESP)/F. Vicente (ESP) 7-6(0) 2-6 12-10

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Q Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
3 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)
5 WC Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs. Jose Acasuso (ARG)
6 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. WC Gaston Gaudio (ARG)
7 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)
8 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
9 Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
10 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)
13 Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs.Christophe Rochus (BEL)
14 Robin Soderling (SWE) vs Potito Starace (ITA)
15 Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
16 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Q Santiago Ventura (ESP)
Juan Monaco (ARG) vs. Q Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP)

Doubles First Round
S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) vs. WC G. Alcaide (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP)

Doubles Second Round
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. T. Parrott (USA) Filip Polasek (SVK)
3 L.Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/W. Moodie (RSA)
4 M. Bhuthi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) vs. R. Lindstedt (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE)
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI)
8 M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) vs. O. Marach (AUT)/L. Kubot (POL)

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

Juan Monaco has no trouble with Marat Safin, who is playing in his last Barcelona Open tournament. Monaco dismissed the Russian 6-4 6-1 after 65 minutes of play. The Argentine will play the Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the next round. The two players have never met in ATP action.

Nicolas Lapentti had a more difficult time overcoming from fellow-veteran Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Ecuadorian qualifier persevered and bested the Frenchman 6-3 2-6 6-2. Lapentti had a good week in Monaco but will play Fernando Verdasco play in the next round. The Spaniard leads Lapentti 4-2 though Lapentti won their last meeting in Cincinnati in 2008.

On the other hand, Fabio Fognini did not survive after having a good week in Monte-Carlo last week. Fellow-qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver beat the Italian pretty handily 6-1 6-3. The Spaniard plays Juan Monaco in the second round.

Gaston Gaudio beat fellow Argentine Diego Junquiera 6-4 3-6 6-4. The 2004 Roland Garros champion will meet sixth-seed Tommy Robredo in the next round. The Argentine leads their match-up 4-3 with Gaudio winning their last meeting in Monte-Carlo in 2006.

The match of the day was Mikhail Youzhny versus Viktor Troicki. It looked like the Serb would take the match, but the Russian rallied from behind to send the Serb home 6-7(5) 7-6(6) 6-3 after 163 minutes of play. Youzhny will now play Stanislas Wawrinka, who made it to the semifinals in Monte-Carlo last week. The Russian is 1-0 over Wawrinka.

In doubles, all three Spanish teams lost today, plus Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez lost yesterday. Doubles team, Travis Parrot and Filip Polasek rallied to beat Frantisek Cermak and Mertinak Mertinak 6-7(4) 6-2 10-7. They will play top-seeds Bryan brothers in the next round. The Bryan brothers and Travis Parrott are the only American players currently playing on the European clay circuit.

(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)