Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 7-6(10) 6-1
4 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 4-6 7-6(3) 6-3
5 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) 7-5 6-2
7 Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Gonzalez (ARG) 6-3 3-6 10-8
2 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) def. D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP)/M. Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-3

Saturday's Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. 4 Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
5 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. 7 Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Saturday's Order of Play

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
3 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. 5 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3 6-3
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. 6 Niclolas Kiefer (GER) 3-6 1-0 Ret. (left ankle)
Andreas Beck (GER) def. Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-4 7-6(5)
Marcos Daniel (BRA) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-4 7-6(1)

Doubles Semifinals
1 J. Levinsky (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/L. Friedl (CZE) 7-6(7) 6-2

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
3 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Andreas Beck (GER) vs. Marcos Daniel (BRA)

Doubles Semifinals
Y. Allegro (SUI)/H. Tecau (ROU) vs. M. Chiudinelli (SUI)/M. Lammer (SUI)

Saturday's Order of Play

Juan Carlos Ferrero had a routine win over Maximo Gonzalez 7-5 6-2 today in Umag. He been injury plagued for over four years, but now he is healthy and hence playing well. The Spaniard advances to play Andreas Seppi in the semifinals.

You would think Ferrero would have the upper hand in their head-to-head, but Seppi is actually 2-0 over the former world no. 1. Both wins come from Ferrero’s troubled period. The Spaniard is now healthy, so it should be a good match tomorrow.

Brazilians Marcos Daniel and Thomaz Bellucci booked spots into the Swiss Open semifinals today. Daniels took out Frenchman Florent Serra 6-4 7-6(1). He is become the Francoslayer of the tournament by taking out three-consecutive Frenchmen – Mathieu, Benneteau and now Serra.

Bellucci, on the other hand, was lucky today when Nicolas Kiefer had to retire due to a left ankle injury. The German was up a set at 6-3 but had to withdraw from the match after the first game in the second set.

Poor Kiefer has struggled to consistently stay healthy enough to keep his game on track. This is his second retirement of the year – not including the Hopman Cup. The lack of play has caused the 32 year old’s ranking to drop to 128. He played so well in Stuttgart a couple of weeks ago and was playing well this week. Let's hope for a speedy recovery for the German.

For tomorrow, Daniel will draw third-seed Igor Andreev while Bellucci will play Andreas Beck. None of these players have played one another in ATP competition. Tomorrow should be interesting.

(Images: AP)

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Mardy Fish (USA) def. WC Chris Guccione (AUS) 6-7(3) 7-6(12) 6-4 - Saved 2 M.P.
4 Dudi Sela (ISR) def. Robert Kendrick (USA) 6-4 3-6 6-1
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. 5 Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-6(5) 6-7(7) 6-3
6 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Q Ryan Sweeting (USA) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. I. Kunitsyn (RUS)/M. Safin (RUS) 6-3 6-2
M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Erlich (ISR) 6-1 7-6(9)
D. Istomin (UZB)/L. Mayer (ARG) def. E. Gulbis (LAT)/D. Tursunov (RUS) 7-5 7-6(8)

Friday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-2 6-3
Nicolas Massu (CHI) def. 2 David Ferrer (ESP) 4-6 6-2 6-4
4 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-4 6-3
5 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 1-6 6-3 6-2
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 6 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 7-5 7-6(2)
7 Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 7-5 7-6(5)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-4
Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) 6-1 4-6 12-10 Saved 1 M.P.
2 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) def. F. Fognini (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) 7-6(5) 7-6(6)
P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Gonzalez (ARG) def. 4 J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-4 6-1
D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. J. Cerretani (USA)/T. Rettenmaier (USA) 6-4 6-3

Friday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. 1 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4 6-4
Florent Serra (FRA) def. 4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-4 Ret. (upset stomach)
6 Nicolas Kiefer (GER) def. Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-3 6-7(3) 6-2
Marcos Daniel (BRA) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 7-6(8)

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 J. Levinsky (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. N. Kiefer (GER)/M. Youzhny (RUS) 6-3 7-6(3)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
3 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. 5 Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
6 Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Andreas Beck (GER) vs. Victor Crivoi (ROU)
Marcos Daniel (BRA) vs. Florent Serra (FRA)

Doubles Semifinals
1 J. Levinsky (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) vs. L Arnold Ker (ARG)/L. Friedl (CZE)

Friday's Order of Play

Thomaz Bellucci stunned top-seed Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4 6-4. The Brazilian lefty and world no. 119 surprised Wawrinka in front of his hometown audience.

Bellucci started the year out strong with an appearance in the final of the Brazilian Open. He eventually lost that match to Tommy Robredo, who had the hot hand at the time, and soon faded on the tour soon afterward. Bellucci then went back on the challenger tour and won a tournament in Italy a couple of weeks ago.

Now, the 21 year old will play sixth-seed Nicolas Kiefer in the quarterfinals. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

Before Bellucci’s surprise, Marcos Daniel, another Brazilian upset Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-3 7-6(8). Daniel will play another Frenchman Florent Serra. Serra leads their match-up 1-0.

(Images: AP)

Nicolas Kiefer poses with the ballboys and ballgirls at the Allianz Suiss Open in Gstaad today.

(Image: AP)

Wednesday Results
Singles Second Round
1 Tommy Haas (GER) def. WC Jesse Levine (USA) 6-1 6-3
Q Carsten Ball (AUS) def. 3 Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 6-4 0-1 ret. (back)
8 Marat Safin (RUS) def. Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 2-6 6-3 6-4
John Isner (USA) def. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-3 7-6(11)

Doubles First Round
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. WC C. Ball (AUS)/K. Van't Hof (USA) 7-5 6-2
E. Gulbis (LAT)/D. Tursunov (RUS) def. 2 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 6-2 6-4
J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Erlich (ISR) def. 3 M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 6-4 6-4
D. Istomin (UZB)/L. Mayer (ARG) def. E. Butorac (USA)/S. Lipsky (USA) 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 10-4
M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) def. R. Ginepri (USA)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-3 6-2
B. Becker (GER)/F. Moser (GER) def. J. Isner (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) walkover (Isner - left ankle)

Thursday’s Order of Play

Wednesday Results
Singles Second Round
1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-2 6-2
2 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 6-1 6-7(2) 6-3
Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) def. 3 Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-4 3-6 7-6(6)
6 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Q Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-1 6-3
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 7-6(3) 6-1
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def WC Filippo Volandri (ITA) 6-1 6-4
Alberto Martin (ESP) def. Q Martin Klizan (SVK) 6-4 6-4
Nicolas Massu (CHI) def. WC Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 5-7 6-3 6-2

Doubles First Round
2 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) def. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-3 6-4
J. Cerretani (USA)/T. Rettenmaier (USA) def. 3 D. Skoch (CZE)/I. Zelenay (SVK) 7-5 4-6 12-10
B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) def. J. Delgado (GBR)/J. Murray (GBR) 6-1 7-6(5)
D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. J. Chela (ARG)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 6-3 6-3

Thursday’s Order of Play

Wednesday Results
Singles Second Round
3 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-4 6-1
5 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-3 5-7 6-3
Victor Crivoi (ROU) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-4 6-4
Andreas Beck (GER) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 7-6(3) 1-6 7-6(3)

Doubles Quarterfinals
WC M. Chiudinelli (SUI)/M. Lammer (SUI) def. 2 M. Kohlmann (GER)/S Prieto (ARG) 6-4 6-4
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/L. Friedl (CZE) def. 4 C. Kas (GER)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) 7-6(7) 6-2

Doubles First Round
1 J. Levinsky (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. M. Daniel (BRA)/R. Wassen (NED) 4-6 6-1 11-9 - Saved 2 M.P.
3 Y. Allegro (SUI)/H. Tecau (ROU) def. S. Bohli (SUI)/J. Scherrer (SUI) 6-2 5-7 10-6

Thursday’s Order of Play

Not known for his consistency, Marat Safin – pictured keeping it real – rallied to prevail over Latvian Ernest Gulbis 2-6 6-3 6-4 in Los Angeles today. The Russian, who is retiring this year, has now won two matches in a row to advance into the quarterfinals. Let’s hope he continues his winning ways this week.

(Image: Getty Images/Stephen Dunn)

Second-seed David Ferrer should have had an easier time against Austrian Koellerer in his opener today in Umag. He instead had more of a battle on his hands when the world no. 82 was able to sneak off with the second set. The Spaniard was able to wrap up the match and beat Koellerer 6-1 6-7(2) 6-3.

Ferrer will now encounter Nicolas Massu of Chile in the second round. They two players have played twice before in ATP competition with Ferrer winning both of them.

(Image: ATP Studena Croatia Open)

Fifth-seed Jeremy Chardy defeated Mikail Youzhny in Gstaad today. He was able to get passed the Russian 6-3 5-7 6-3. The Frenchman will play another Russian, Igor Andreev in the quarterfinals. Chardy leads their head-to-head 2-1 with the Frenchman winning the last two matches.

(Image: AP)

(Image: AP)

Mariano Zabaleta played Tommy Robredo in day two of the Masters Tennis 2016 Tournament on Tuesday. Robredo ultimately won the exhibition match by defeating the Argentine 7-5 6-1. Though he lost, it is nice to see Zabaleta. Of late, he has been playing on the challengers series, so we do not see much of him at the main tournaments.

In 1995, Zabaleta ended the year as the top junior. The Argentine had a hard time transitioning to the seniors tour from the juniors tour. He would eventually do well enough on tour and was consistently ranked in the top 100 from 1998 to 2006, with his highest ranking being 21 in 2000.

Zabaleta suffered from a foot injury in 2005 and then suffered a knee injury in 2006. His career has never been the same, and he slid out of the top 100. Today the 31 year old is currently ranked 440.

Though his professional tennis career has suffered, he created the most flawless show ever. Zabaleta started the show Tenis Pro in 2004 where he and Juan Ignacio Chela, armed with a video camera, interview players on the ATP tour. The Tennis Channel could certainly spruce up its programming by airing re-runs of this truly fantastic show.

You can see clips here, here, here and here, but I leave you this little gem:

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
5 Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) 7-5 6-2
6 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-2 6-0
8 Marat Safin (RUS) def. SE Robby Ginepri (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-4
John Isner (USA) def. 7 Benjamin Becker (GER) 7-6(8) 7-6(3)
Ernest Gulbis (LAT) def. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 7-5 6-2
Q Carsten Ball (AUS) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-2 7-6(8)
Q Ryan Sweeting (USA) def. WC Taylor Dent (USA) 6-4 2-6 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def SE Frank Dancevic (CAN) 7-6(3) 6-3
Florian Mayer (ARG) def. Q Josselin Ouanna (FRA) 6-2 6-3

Doubles First Round
Y. Lu (TPE)/D. Vemic (SRB) vs 4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 6-3 6-7(4) 10-6

Wednesday’s Order of Play

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
4 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Brian Dabul (ARG) 6-3 7-5
5 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-3
7 Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Q Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-4 2-6 6-3
Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. 8 Mischa Zverev (GER) 2-6 6-3 6-4
Pablo Cuevas (URU) def. WC Ivan Dodig (CRO) 6-3 6-1
Frederico Gil (POR) def. Sergio Roitman (ARG) 7-5 6-2
Potito Starace (ITA) def. *LL Grega Zemlja (SLO) 6-1 6-3
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Q Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 7-6(7) 3-6 6-0
*LL Grega Zemlja (SLO) replaced Simon Greul (GER) (dizziness)

Doubles First Round
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. S. Stakhovsky (UKR)/L. Zovko (CRO) 4-6 7-5 10-5
4 J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. D. Koellerer (AUT)/C. Rochus (BEL) 3-6 6-4 10-2
F. Fognini (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) def. WC M. Djokovic (SRB)/N. Djokovic (SRB) 6-0 7-5
P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Gonzalez (ARG) def. WC I. Dodig (CRO)/I. Ljubicic (CRO) 6-4 6-2

Wednesday’s Order of Play

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
1 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Federico Del Bonis (ARG) 6-4 7-5
4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) def. Ivo Minar (CZE) 6-2 6-2
5 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. Q Thierry Ascione (FRA) 6-3 6-3
6 Nicolas Kiefer (GER) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 7-6(5) 6-2
Marcos Daniel (BRA) def. 8 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 7-6(3) 7-6(6)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) def. Q Farrukh Dustov (UZB) 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. WC Stephane Bohli (SUI) 7-6(4) 7-5
Florent Serra (FRA) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-3 6-2
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. *LL Michael Lammer (SUI) 67(5) 76(5) 64
*[LL] Michael Lammer (SUI) replaced Kristof Vliegen (BEL) (left hip)

Doubles First Round
2 M. Kohlmann (GER)/S. Prieto (ARG) def. WC A. Sadecky (SUI)/R. Valent (SUI) 6-2 7-5
4 C. Kas (GER)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) def. J. Hernych (CZE)/I. Minar (CZE) 6-1 5-7 10-4
L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/L. Friedl (CZE) def. D. Martin (USA)/A. Motti (ITA) 6-4 6-2

Wednesday’s Order of Play

American qualifier Ryan Sweeting had a successful opener against Taylor Dent today in Los Angeles. Dent returned to the tour after being out with an ongoing back injury. The 27 year old is now looking to jump start his season but was not so lucky against Sweeting today. The 22 year old was able to get past his compatriot 6-4 2-6 6-3.

(Image: Getty Images/Stephen Dunn)

Fifth-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero is healthy and back to form of late. The former world no. 1 had an easy time against Christophe Rochus. Ferrero defeated the Belgian 6-2 6-3 in his Umag debut today.

The Spaniard now draws Potito Starace in the second round. Ferrero leads their head-to-head 4-1.

(Image: ATP Studena Croatia Open)

Nicolas Kiefer successfully debuted in Gstaad today. He beat Argentine Jose Acasuso 7-6(5) 6-2 in under 90 minutes of play. Next up for the German will be Ivan Navarro of Spain in the second round. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

(AP/Peter Schneider)

Pete Sampras and Marat Safin played an exhibition match at the LA Open last night. Safin prevailed over the tennis great 6-4 3-6 1-0. The Russian ended up being double winner for the evening when he defeated Marcos Baghdatis and Dudi Sela in doubles with partner Igor Kunitsyn 6-7(6) 6-2 11-9.

Let’s hope he can extend his winning ways to this evening when he plays Robby Ginepri in his singles opener.

(Image: Getty Images/Stephen Dunn)

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
WC Chris Guccione (AUS) def. Kevin Kim (USA) 6-1 6-4
WC Jesse Levine (USA) def. Bobby Reynolds (USA) 6-2 6-3
Robert Kendrick (USA) def. Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-0 6-0

Doubles First Round
I. Kunitsyn (RUS)/M. Safin (RUS) def. WC M. Baghdatis (CYP)/D. Sela (ISR) 6-7(6) 6-2 11-9

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
Victor Crivoi (ROU) def. 2 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4 6-0
3 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Diego Junqueira (ARG) 7-5 6-4
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def 7 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4 6-7(4) 6-3
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 1-6 7-6(3) 6-3
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. Flavio Cipolla (ITA) 6-1 6-0

Doubles First Round
N. Kiefer (GER)/M. Youzhny (RUS) def. P. Pala (CZE)/P. Vizner (CZE) 7-5 4-6 10-3
WC M. Chiudinelli (SUI)/M. Lammer (SUI) def. R. Junaid (AUS)/P. Marx (GER) 2-6 7-6(3) 10-8

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Guillermo Canas and Mariano Zabaleta took part in a Spain vs. Argentina exhibition at the Masters Tennis 2016 Tournament in Burgos, Spain today. The two-day exhibition commemorates the anniversary of Circle Fund, and also promotes the candidacy of Burgos as European Capital of Culture in 2016. At the end of the day one, Canas beat Robredo 7-6 7-6, and Verdasco prevailed over Zabaleta 6-3 6-3.

(Images: AP)

Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez were locked in a first-round scrap. The ATP world no. 39 and the no. 53, respectively, duked it out for 2 hours and 18 minutes in the first match of the day in Gstaad. Garcia-Lopez, a JC Ferro Equilite alum, eventually prevailed 6-4 7-6(4) 6-3 and sent the seventh-seed home in the day’s first upset on the singles side.

Garcia-Lopez will now meet Andreas Beck of Germany in the second round. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

(Images: AP/Peter Schneider)

Sunday’s Results
Singles First Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. WC Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 6-3 5-7 6-4
Andreas Beck (GER) def. Marco Chiudinelli 4-6 7-6(7) 6-4

Doubles First Round
J. Acasuso (ARG)/M. V. Arguello (ARG) def. J. Chardy (FRA)/F. Serra (FRA) 0-6 7-5 10-5

Monday’s Order of Play

City: Umag, Croatia
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Fernando Verdasco
2008 Doubles Champions: Michal Mertinak and Petr Pala

Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer, Viktor Troicki, Jurgen Melzer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Nicolas Almagro, Andreas Seppi and Mischa Zverev round out the seeded players in this tournament. Fernando Verdasco will not defend his title this year. Davydenko is fresh off of his tournament win in Hamburg, and we shall see if he can continue his winning ways.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Tuesday’s Order of Play


(Image: ATP Studena Croation Open)

City: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Juan Martin del Potro
2008 Doubles Champions: Rohan Bopanna and Eric Butorac

Juan Martin del Potro will not defend his title this year. Tommy Haas is the top-seed and the one to beat this week since he has been playing well over the last two months. It could be a good opportunity for the German to pick up another title this year. Mardy Fish is the second-seed and could give the German trouble because the American is best on the hard surfaces.

Marat Safin rounds out the seeded players as the eighth seed. Let's hope he does well in his final LA appearance.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday's Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)

City: Gstaad, Switzerland
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Victor Hanescu
2008 Doubles Champions: Jaroslav Levinsky and Filip Polasek

Stanislas Wawrinka, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Igor Andreev, Victor Hanescu, Jeremy Chardy, Nicolas Kiefer, Feliciano Lopez and Paul-Henri Mathieu are the top-seeds at this tournament. This week could be a good opportunity for top-seed and hometown favorite Stanislas Wawrinka to win his first title this year, but Jeremy Chardy has been hot of late. We shall see how it all shakes out this week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

(Images: Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad)

Nikolay Davydenko took this week's title in Hamburg (SkySports)

Robby Ginepri won the Indy title this week (Miami Herald)

Tommy Haas and Juan Carlos Ferrero are ranked 20th and 34th respectively. Some order is restored (ATP)

Roger Federer is now the father of twins (Huffington Post)

Rafael Nadal is set to return in time for Rogers Cup. Yeah! The ATP needs him desperately, as the tour is pretty dull without him (Rafael Nadal)

Richard Gasquet has been cleared of charges and will return to the tour (ESPN)

Jeremy Chardy won his first career title at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. Jeremy! Jeremy! (Mercedes Cup)

Rober Soderling captured the Swedish Open title. A Parrott-less, Filip Polasek recovered from the swine flu and won the Swedish doubles title with Jaroslav Levinsky. Polasek also made it to the final in this week's Hamburg doubles final (Swedish Open)

Spain, Croatia, Israel and the Czech Republic advanced into the Davis Cup semifinals (Davis Cup)

Roger Federer took the Wimbledon title, broke Pete Sampras' record and retained the ATP No. 1 ranking from an injured Rafael Nadal (Wimbledon)

(Image: Mercedes Cup)

I have been out on vacation and busy with other things for a few weeks. Now, I back and ready to finish out the season.

Sorry for the lack of notice. To make up, I leave for you this funny picture of Feliciano Lopez and Juan Carlos Ferrero after their Davis Cup victory against Germany.

(Image: Davis Cup)

Thursday’s Results
Doubles Semifinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. 9 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 7-6(4) 7-6(3) 6-4
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) 5-7 3-6 6-2 7-6(3) 10-8

Friday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 24 Tommy Haas (GER)
3 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. 6 Andy Roddick (USA)

Friday’s Order of Play

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Wednesday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 22 Ivo Karlovic(CRO) 6-3 7-5 7-6(3)
3 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 7-5 6-3 6-2
24 Tommy Haas (GER) def. 4 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7-5 7-6(6) 4-6 6-3
6 Andy Roddick (USA) def. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-3 6-7(10) 7-6(1) 4-6 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
9 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) def. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles(BAH) 7-6(9) 4-6 7-6(7) 5-7 6-4
J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(5)

Thursday’s Matches
Doubles Semifinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. 9 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL)
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA)

Thursday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
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NBCSports.com

Tommy Haas continues his run. The German managed to upset fourth-seed Novak Djokovic 7-5 7-6(6) 4-6 6-3 and is now 2-0 over the young Serb. Haas will now meet Roger Federer in the next round.

Federer is 9-2 over Haas and is on an 8-0 run against the German. The last time the German prevailed over Federer was in the round of 16 at the Australian Open in 2002.

Haas obviously has an uphill battle to the title. The 31-year-old veteran is trying to become the first German to win since Michael Stich took the title in 1991. I always have a soft spot for the underdog, so I would love to see Tommy take it this year. Djokovic thinks it is possible:

Well, he's very aggressive player. I think he has ‑‑ even in the next match he has good chances if he serves well. He just needs to keep his consistency. Obviously, he has a good serve, good volley.

From the baseline, he hits the ball, he goes for his shots. I think he's a perfect player for this surface.

A girl can dream, right?

(Image: Alastair Grant/AP Photo)

Andy Murray now heads into the semifinals. He beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 6-3 6-2. It was a much easier win compared to his fourth-round match against Stanislas Wawrinka.

Next up for Murray is Andy Roddick, who had a five-setter with Lleyton Hewitt. Murray leads 6-2 in their head-to-head matchup. He is trying to become the first Brit to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry raised the trophy 63 years ago.

For Juan Carlos Ferrero, he had a great run in the tournament. I hope he stays healthy and continues to do well this season. He agrees:

But anyway, I'm happy about the way I played today also. I think it wasn't very far the first two sets. So, you know, only want to play like this all the time in the next tournaments and be a little bit more regular than I was.

(Image: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Three players have caught the swine flu. All of them are doubles players. The pair of Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek are believed to have the virus, as well as Michael Mertinak who plays with Frantisek Cermak.

The tournament became aware of the situation when four ballkids were told to stay home after they were suffering from ‘flu-like’ symptoms:

Mertinak, aged 29, and Polasak, 24, were sharing a hotel room in London for the tournament while Parrott, 28, was Polasek's doubles partner. Mertinak is said to be preparing to fly home in the next couple of days.

They all went out at the second round stage of the men's doubles last week, while Mertinak withdrew from the second round of the mixed doubles because he was feeling unwell.

Last week several ball boys and girls were sent home with flu symptoms but there does not appear to have been any further outbreak of illness, according to an All England Club spokesman.

Let’s hope this is just a few isolated incidents and not an ATP outbreak.