Name: St. Petersburg Open
City: St. Petersburg, Russia
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Andy Murray
2008 Doubles Champions: Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek
Featured Players: Mikhail Youzhney, Victor Hanescu, Viktor Troicki, Jeremy Chardy, Igor Andreev, Evgeny Korolev, Pablo Cuevas, Horacio Zebellos, Marat Safin, Richard Gasquet, Igor Kunitsyn, Fabio Fognini and Ernest Gulbis

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Bank Austria TennisTrophy
City: Vienna, Austria
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Philipp Petzschner
2008 Doubles Champions: Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram
Featured Players: Marin Cilic, Radek Stepanek, Gael Monfils, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Almagro, Feliciano Lopez, Jurgen Melzer, John Isner, Jarkko Nieminen, Jan Hernych, Janko Tipsarevic, Andreas Seppi, Lukasz Kubot and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon
City: Lyon, France
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Robin Soderling
2008 Doubles Champions: Michael Llodra and Andy Ram
Featured Players: Jo-Wilfied Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Ivan Ljubicic, Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Benjamin Becker, Albert Montanes, Olivier Rochus, Arnaud Clement, Nicolas Kiefer, Michael Llodra,

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Third-seed Mikhail Youzhny defeated Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(5) 6-0 6-4. Youzhny’s win keeps the title in Russia, where Russians have won the title for six-consecutive years. This is the world no. 30’s first title of the year and sixth-career title.

On the doubles side, third-seeds Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers upset top-seeds Frantisek Cermak and Michal Mertinak 4-6 7-5 10-8. This is their first title together.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. 6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-7(5) 6-0 6-4

Doubles Final
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. 1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 4-6 7-5 10-8

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-2 6-1
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) 6-1 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 10-6

(Images: AP)

Marcos Bagdatis topped Olivier Rochus 6-1 7-5 for the IF Stockholm title. The Cypriot has struggled for the last couple of years. Unable to advance past the second round this year, he went back to the challenger circuit and managed to win three titles. The world no. 66 was able to take advantage of the opportunities presented this week to win his first title of the year and third-career title.

Championship
Singles Final
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-1 7-5

Doubles Final
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 6-4 7-6(4)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 1 Robin Soderling (SWE) w/o
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3

Doubles Semifinal
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. 4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) 6-4 7-5

(Image: Soren Andersson/AFP/Getty Images)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-4
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 2-6 6-1
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) 7-6(4) 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Semifinal
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) 6-1 6-2

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)

Doubles Semifinal
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) vs. 4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS)

Saturday’s Order of Play

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q S Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3 6-93
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. 5 Pablo Cuevas (URU) 4-6 6-1 6-4
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Robbie Ginepri (USA) 6-3 6-3
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 0-6 6-2 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. 2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA)
6-4 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. A. Golubev (KAZ)/E. Korolev (RUS)
7-6(1) 7-5

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs. Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR)

Doubles Semifinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) vs. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB)

Saturday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. A. Seppi (ITA) 6-1 6-3
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. 2 Tommy Haas (GER) w/o (flu)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. 8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 4-6 6-4 6-1
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Robert Kendrick (USA) 6-2 6-2
Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. Q Michael Berrer (GER) 3-6 7-6(7) 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/M. Lopez (ESP) 6-2 6-1
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. B. Becker (GER)/D. Skoch (CZE) 6-4 6-3
A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) def. 3 J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) 6-4 6-2
4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) def. A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 7-6(3) 3-6 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-4 2-1 ret. (illness)
Robbie Ginepri (USA) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-0
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-3 6-4
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-1 1-6 6-4
E Korolev (RUS) d M Safin (RUS) 6-4 7-6(4)

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/ M. Mertinak (SVK) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/D. Koellerer (AUT) 6-0 6-3
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. K. Beck (SVK)/F. Polasek (SVK) 6-4 6-2

Friday’s Order of Play

I guess not. After knocking out the top-seed yesterday and opening the draw for himself, Marat Safin played his last Kremlin Cup match today in Moscow. He lost his second-round match to Evgeny Korolev 6-4 7-6(4).

(Image: AP)

Wednesday's Results
Singles Second Round
WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) def. 4 J. Monaco (ARG) 6-4 6-4
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Simon Greul (GER) 6-3 7-5
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 7-5 3-6 6-3

Singles First Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. LL Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-3 6-0
2 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-4 6-2
8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 6-4

Doubles First Round
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. S. Greul (GER)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-4 6-1
A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) def. R. Kendrick (USA)/L. Mayer (ARG) 6-4 1-6 10-8
A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) 6-4 6-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

Wednesday's Results
Singles Second Round
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-1 6-1
5 Paul Cuevas (URU) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 3-6 6-1 6-4
Q Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) def. 7 Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 7-5 6-1

Singles First Round
Marat Safin (RUS) def. 1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4-6 6-4 6-2
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Denis Istomin (UZB) 1-6 6-4 4-1 ret. (throat infection)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-6(6) 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) def. M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) 6-4 7-5

Doubles First Round
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. L. Friedl (CZE)/J. Levinsky (CZE) 6-3 3-6 10-6
K. Beck (SVK)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. S. Lipsky (USA)/R. Wassen (NED) 1-6 6-4 10-6
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. J. Cerretani (USA)/V. Hanescu (ROU) 7-6(2) 6-2
I. Andreev (RUS)/ D. Koellerer (AUT) def. WC T. Gabashvili (RUS)/A. Manegin (RUS) 4-6 6-2 10-3

Thursday’s Order of Play

Juan Carlos Ferrero gives the gas face in his 6-4 6-2 loss to Marcos Baghdatis.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Marat Safin upset top-seed Nikolay Davydenko in his first-round matchup with the recent Shanghai champion at the Kremlin Cup. The retiring veteran has not been playing well as of late, but he is always dangerous when he is feeling it. I guess today was one of those days.

The upset marks the fifth exit of the seeded players. Only Mikhail Youzhny, Pable Cuevas and Janko Tipsaravic are left in the draw. With the upset of the top seed, the draw is now wide open on Safin’s side of the draw.

The big Russian now has a good shot at winning his first Kremlin Cup trophy. He will have to get past his second-round match with Anna Kournikova’s cousin, Evgeny Korolev first. The two players have never met in ATP or grand slam competition.

(Image: AP)

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. 5 Andreas Beck (GER) 6-4 6-2
Q Michael Berrer (GER) def. Q Henri Kontinen (FIN) 7-5 7-6(7)
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Q Frederick Nielsen (DEN) 7-6(6) 6-3
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. WC Anreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 6-3 6-2
Robert Kendrick (USA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. WC Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-0 6-2
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-4 6-1

Doubles First Round
1 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. WC P. Brydolf (SWE)/A. Siljestrom (SWE) 7-6(1) 6-3
3 J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) def. M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-2 6-1
B. Becker (GER)/D. Skoch (CZE) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) 6-0 7-6(3)
F. Lopez (ESP)/M. Lopez (ESP) def. G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP)/P. Luczak (AUS) 7-5 6-3

Wednesday’s Order of Play

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. 2 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 5-7 7-5 6-4 - saved 1 M.P.
Robbie Ginepri (USA) def. 4 Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-3 6-7(9) 7-6(1)
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 6-4 6-3
7 Fabrice Santoro (FRA) def. WC Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 4-6 6-2 6-2
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) def. 8 Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 7-5 6-3
Q Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) def. WC Mikhail Biryukov (RUS) 6-0 6-2
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-4 5-7 6-4
Christophe Rochus (BEL) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 7-5 ret. (sore throat)
Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Q Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 6-4 1-0 ret. (lower back pain)

Doubles First Round
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. F. Santoro (FRA)/M Youzhny (RUS) 7-6(6) 7-5
2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) def. I. Kunitsyn (RUS)/M. Safin (RUS) 6-2 6-4

Wednesday’s Order of Play

The 18-year-old up-and-comer from Bulgaria is hailed as the second coming of Federer. He even employs Federer’s old coach, Peter Lundgren who thinks Dimitrov is better than Federer when he was that age. Last year, the Bulgarian won the Wimbledon and US Open junior titles. This year, he is trying to transfer to the professional tour this year. As in any transition to the pros, there are a lot of losses.

So far, he has made it to the quarterfinals on the challenger circuit in Cremona, Nottingham, and Segovia. On the pro circuit, he made it to the second round in Queen’s Club and Rotterdam where he upset Tomas Berdych. Yesterday, he was 4-5 on the pro circuit.

Today, he met Jarkko Nieminen in Stockholm. The Fin returned to the tour after being sidelined with injury, so it would have been a good opportunity for the Bulgarian to upset the veteran. Nieminen instead spanked the Bulgarian teen 6-0 6-2 after just 50 minutes of work. The loss brings Dimitrov’s year-to-date record to 4-6, as the season comes to a close. It will be interesting to see Dimitrov's progress next year.

(Images: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images)

Well, well, well. Rafael Nadal made the top 10 list of America’s most-liked sports figures. He came in fourth behind Shawn Johnson, Larry Johnson, and Kurt Warner with 68% percent of people who liked him. Tiger Woods is two spots behind Nadal at number six with 65%. And no, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick did not make the list.

Despite America’s tennis community’s groupthink, Nadal is not only the most popular player worldwide, but he is also the most likeable player in America, which is a big deal. Our tennis writers, announcers, and pundits generally prefer Federer and think that because they do, so do you.

So when you are watching that match and someone like Brad Gilbert is acting like Federer is the biggest star on tour, now you know he is full of it. It is just HE really likes him best because America actually prefers Nadal.

(Image: Nike Sportswear)

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-2 5-7 7-5
Simon Greul (GER) def. 6 Benjamin Becker (GER) 2-6 6-3 7-5
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. 7 Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-4 6-3
WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-5 6-2

Doubles First Round
4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) def. WC H. Kontinen (FIN)/J. Nieminen (FIN) 2-6 6-3 10-6

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1 7-6(5)
5 Paul Cuevas (URU) def. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 6-4 6-2
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Karol Beck (SVK) 3-6 6-4 6-4
Potito Starace (ITA) def. WC Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 6-3 6-3

Doubles First Round
A. Golubev (KAZ)/E. Korolev (RUS) def. 4 R. Hutchins (GBR)/H. Tecau (ROU) 7-6(4) 2-6 10-8
M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. WC I. Belyaev (RUS)/P. Davydenko (RUS) 6-1 6-3

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Nicolas Kiefer returns to the tour after being out with an injury. The current world no. 104 had to qualify for the Kremlin Cup this weekend. He gained entry into the tournament today by beating Russian Dmitri Sitak 6-1 6-4 for one of the four qualifying births.

Kiefer draws a good opponent for his comeback in Spaniard Marcel Granollers for the first round. The two players have never met in ATP or grand slam competition. The other qualifiers are as follows:

. . . And The Kremlin Cup Qualifiers Are . . .
Nicolas Kiefer (GER), Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR), Mikhail Kukushkin (RUS), Ilya Marchenko (UKR)

. . . And The Stockholm Qualifiers Are . . .
Michael Berrer (GER), Arnaud Clement (FRA), Henri Kontinen (FIN), Frederick Nielsen (DEN)

(Image: AP)

Swedish authorities have detained two tennis players by allegedly soliciting prostitutes:

Two tennis players planned to warm up for the Swedish Open by having sex with prostitutes, police claim.

The names of the players have not been released, but we are given clues to whom it might be. Both are tennis players, but one is actually playing in the tournament. They are also foreigners, so that rules out any of the Swedes.

I am dying to know who it is. And NO, it is not Safin. Luckily for him, he is playing in Moscow. We shall find out soon enough.

Colombian up-and-comer Santiago Giraldo won the Natomas challenger title last week. The 21 year old won his third challenger title this year and six for his career. Let's hope he makes a speedy transition to the pros (Sacramento Bee)

Nadal warns of tour overload and thinks the season is too long. After all the nine retirements in Shanghai this week, you would think the ATP might want to be proactive about the situation (Guardian)

Roddick chimed in about the season (BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic takes both sides into account (The Independent)

Marat Safin adds that he was talking about the season length five years ago. The Russian took time to slam Roddick for his newfound position on the matter, and then takes a swipe at Berdych too. Boy, I am going to miss him (The Globe and Mail)

Maybe they should get rid of the Race (The Globe and Mail)

Andy Roddick will be out with a knee injury for three weeks (NYT)

Czech Ivo Minar is banned for eight months in a doping ban (Fox Sports)

Safin feels the love in Shanghai (Open Court)

The many sides of Djokovic (ESPN)

The case for Juan Carlos Ferrero to play against the Czech Republic for the Spanish Davis Cup Team (Times Online)

Juan Martin del Potro wants to build on his success (CBS)

Novak Djokovic almost played for Great Britain (Times Online)

You wouldn’t know if from tennis common "wisdom" in the States, but Nadal is actually the most popular player worldwide on tour. They pretend it is Roger Federer (CCTV)

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

City: Stockholm, Sweden
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: David Nalbandian
2008 Doubles Champions: Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett

Defending champion, David Nalbandian is still off the tour and recovering from surgery, so he will not defend his title this year. Robin Soderling, Tommy Haas, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Juan Monaco, Andreas Beck, Benjamin Becker, Albert Montanes and Feliciano Lopez are the top seeds at this tournament.

The top-seed Robin Soderling will try for his first title in Stockholm. The hometown favorite is enjoying his most successful year and is probably the favorite for the title. None of the top tier players are competing, so all of his threats will not be around to keep the title away from him.

The title is not a foregone conclusion for the Swede. Tommy Haas could easily stand in his way. The German, who had a good summer this year, returns from the tour after battling injury at the end of the summer. If he is good form, it could spell trouble for Soderling.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Thomaz Bellucci, Ernest Gulbis and Grigor Dimitrov round out the draw in what should be a good week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: If Stockholm Open)

City: Moscow, Russia
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Igor Kunitsyn
2008 Doubles Champions: Sergiy Stakhovsky and Potito Starace

Defending champion, Igor Kunitsyn will defend his title this year. He will participate in the Moscow tournament along with top-seeds Nikolay Davydenko, Victor Hanescu, Mikhail Youzhny, Igor Andreev and Pablo Cuevas. In the 18 years of this tournament, Russians have dominated singles by winning 12 of the 18 titles awarded.

Top-seed Nikolay Davydenko will try to win this title for a fourth time coming off of his win in Shanghai. He will also try to go for his fifth title of the season, thus tying Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as the top title holders of the year.

Marat Safin will also participate in the tournament for the final time. The veteran has never won this title and was runner up last year. I am sure he will be a sentimental favorite of the crowd. Janko Tipsarevic, Fabio Fognini, Evgeny Korolev and the retiring Fabrice Santoro round out the draw.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: Kremin Cup)

Nikolay Davydenko out-hit Rafael Nadal today to upset the Spaniard 7-6(3) 6-3 after a little more than two hours of play. The Russian captured his first Masters title and fourth title of the year. Davydenko becomes the first player to win a Masters title that is not named Nadal, Federer and Murray.

In doubles, French troublemakers Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset Polish duo and sixth-seeds Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2 6-4. Les enfants problèmes had to knock off some tough teams along their way to the championship, mainly 1 Nestor/Zimonjic and 3 Bhupathi/Knowles.

This is their fourth pairing and first title together. They should stay together since it looks like the pairing is working. The French need another doubles couple since Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra towards the end of their careers.

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
6 Nikolay Davydenko def. 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7-6(3) 6-3

Doubles Finals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-2 6-4

(Images: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images, Andy Wong/AP)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-1 3-0 ret. (foot)
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(1)

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-1 6-4

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko

Doubles Finals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA)

Sunday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel – 4:30 AM ET

Nadal had no troubles dismissing Feliciano Lopez 6-1 3-0 today in Shanghai. Lopez had problems with his ankle in the first set and retired at 3-0 in the second set after just 50 minutes of play. This is the eighth retirement in the tournament this week.

Though the match was not very competitive, Nadal was able to get in some target practice. The Spaniard really started to feel it with his shots, which will be bad news for is opponent tomorrow. If this continues, he could really light it up tomorrow.

In the first semifinal of the day, somehow Novak Djokovic let Nikolay Davydenko get passed him at 4-6 6-4 7-6(1). To Davydenko’s credit, the Russian has a good all-around game and is always dangerous. The win marks his first final appearance in a Masters tournament or grand slam this year. The world no. 8 will now try for his fourth title and first Masters title of the year.

Should he win tomorrow, he would be the first player outside of the Nadal-Federer-Murray axis to win a Masters title this year. To do so, he will have his work cut out of for him tomorrow against Nadal. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head matchup 4-2.

The current world no. 2 is trying for his fourth Masters title of the year. The final will not be a shoe-in for Nadal since he is still trying to get back to top form, but he should be able to win another title if he continues to improve his shotmaking capabilities as he did today.

(Image: AP)

Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 3-6 6-3 ret. (left hip)
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3 2-6 6-2
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-1 4-6 6-1
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 9 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(4) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 7-6(2) 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. 5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 4-6 7-6(6) 10-6

Saturday's Matches

Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) - 8:00 AM ET
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4:30 AM ET

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT)

Saturday's Order of Play

Watch Live
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Feliciano Lopez knocked off sixteenth-seed David Ferrer in the second round, and today he took out ninth-seed Robin Soderling 7-6(4) 6-3. The Spaniard's semifinal appearance is his best showing in a Masters event or grand slam EVER. The current world no. 41 will play against his friend and top-seed Rafael Nadal in a lefty showdown tomorrow.

Lopez will have his work cut out for him, as Nadal has beaten him four-consecutive times. Anything is possible since Lopez did beat Nadal once in 2003. It should be a good match tomorrow.

On the other side of the draw, Novak Djokovic held off Gilles Simon 6-3 2-6 6-3 in probably the best match of the tournament -- the second best was Blake-Nadal. Nikolay Davydenko defeated Radek Stepanek 6-1 4-6 6-1. Djokovic and Davydenko will now face off in the other semifinal tomorrow. The Serb leads this matchup 2-1. It what should be another good match tomorrow.

(Image: Phillipe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Singles Third Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-1 6-4
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-4 6-2
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-3 6-3
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3 7-5
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 11 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2 3-0 Ret. (back)
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 3-6 7-6(5) 4-2 Ret. (abdominal strain)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1

Singles Quarterfinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. 2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) 6-1 5-7 10-8
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. 8 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 4-6 6-3 10-5
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 3-6 6-4 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

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Feliciano Lopez stretches it out during his victory over Jurgen Melzer 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1. This is the Spaniard’s best result in an ATP tournament this year. Lopez will now meet Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals. They have not played in three years, but Lopez leads their head-to-head 3-2. It would be nice to see the Spaniard pull off the upset tomorrow.

(Image: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Novak Djokovic and Gilles Simon advanced into the Shanghai quarterfinals. Djokovic had an easy time dismissing German veteran, Rainer Schuettler 6-4 6-2. The Serb has quietly been advancing through the draw and looks, by far, the most solid of all the players in the field.

On the other side, Gilles Simon had no trouble with the usually problematic Tomas Berdych. He topped the Czech 6-3 6-4 after 90 minutes of play. Both players had been battling injuries this week, but the Frenchman was able to pull this one out.

Simon will meet Djokovic next. The second-seed looks good and leads their head-to-head 3-1. All meetings were on hard surfaces with the Serb winning the last three. It should be a good matchup tomorrow.

(Images: AP)

Singles Second Round

1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. James Blake (USA) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-4

2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-3 6-1 

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. 3 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) 7-5 2-1 Ret. (right wrist)

5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. WC Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) 6-3 6-3 

Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 7 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-4 7-6(6)

8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 6-4

9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-4 7-5

11 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 4-6 6-4 6-2

14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Q Florin Mayer (GER) 4-6 7-6(10) 6-4 - Saved 3 M.P.

Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. 15 Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 Ret. (right shoulder)

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 16 David Ferrer (ESP) 4-6 7-5 6-1 

Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. WC Marat Safin (RUS) 3-6 6-4 6-4



Doubles Second Round 

J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) 6-4 6-4

2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 6-3 6-2

3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) 7-5 3-6 10-4

J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. 4 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 5-7 6-3 10-7

5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) W/O (Verdasco knee)

6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. L. Dlouhy (CZE)/P. Petzschner (GER) 6-2 7-6(3)

F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. 7 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 5-7 6-3 10-5
8 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. B. Becker (GER) /T. Haas (GER) W/O (Haas - right shoulder)

Thursday’s Order of Play

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Eighth-seed Gilles Simon had a routine win against Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-4. Despite having tendinitis in his knees, the Frenchman soldiers on to the next round. He will meet DC Terror Twin, Tomas Berdych, who retired Marat Safin today.

The two players are even at two games apiece, but Berdych won their last two meetings. Their last meeting was earlier this year at um . . . Davis Cup. It looks like the Frenchman will have his hands full tomorrow.

(Image: AP)

Top-seed Rafael Nadal passed James Blake 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 after 2 hours and 11 minutes of play. Blake gave the Spaniard trouble last week in Beijing and proved to be slightly problematic again this week.

It looked like the Spaniard might wrap up the match quickly after taking the first set and getting a break in the second set. Blake, who is not known for having a plan B or C, was able to change up his tactics a bit and also started to play better. Blake broke back in the second set and was able remain on serve. He finally walked away with the second set in the tiebreak.

In the third set, the players remained on serve until Nadal broke in the fifth game of the third set. Blake was able to break back in game seven. After holding serve at love, Nadal went on attack in game ten. The attack proved too much for the American, and Nadal finally closed out the match.

Nadal now advances to the round of 16 to play compatriot Tommy Robredo. The Majorcan was also aided today when his draw opened up after third-seed Juan Martin del Potro retired in his match with Austrian Jurgen Melzer. The recent US Open champion has had Nadal's number of late, so the Spaniards's possible trip to the final has been made a lot easier.

Fifteenth-seed Tommy Haas also retired to allow Rainer Schuettler to advance. Other downed seeds today include Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer, who loss to Feliciano Lopez no less. Lopez will play Melzer in the next round.

(Image: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci grimaces after a losing point during his 6-3 6-4 loss to Fernando Gonzalez.

(Image: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Singles First Round
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 6-4
11 Gael Monfils (FRA) def Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) 6-2 6-2
Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. 12 Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-6(8) 3-6 6-4
15 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 7-6(5) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. John Isner (USA) 6-2 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 3-6 6-1
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-7(2) 6-1 7-6(6)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-1 6-2

Singles Second Round
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. 4 Andy Roddick (USA) 3-4 ret. (left knee)
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-4 6-2
10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-3 6-4
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Andreas Beck (GER) 7-5 6-4

Doubles First Round
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. WC W. Gao (CHN)/X. Yu (CHN) 6-3 6-3
L. Dlouhy (CZE)/P. Petzschner (GER) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) w/o (Kohlschreiber - right shoulder)
T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. J. Blake (USA)/J. Isner (USA) 7-5 6-2
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. M. Llodra (FRA) R. Stepanek (CZE) 7-5 7-5

Wednesday’s Order of Play

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One-half of the Czech-Davis-Cup terror duo, Tomas Berdych knocked off twelfth-seed Marin Cilic, who had been playing fantastic over the last couple of months. He bested the Croat 7-6(8) 3-6 6-4. As I was saying yesterday, Spain better heed the warning and take these two seriously. As I digress . . .

Berdych will play Marat Safin in the second-round. Safin leads Berdych 2-0 in their head-to-head match up. Both wins come last year on clay. The big Russian’s final session has not gone well and deteriorates rapidly as he reaches the end of his career, so this could be Berdych’s opportunity to win one before Safin retires.

(Image: Andy Wong/AP)

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James Blake was on The Colbert Report last night hawking his wares. Plugging aside, Colbert has a funny take on the game.

Singles First Round
10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 7-5 6-7(0) 2-2 Ret. (right wrist)
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-3 6-0
14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Q Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-1 6-4
16 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4 6-3
James Blake (USA) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 36 76(4) 63
WC Marat Safin (RUS) def. WC Gong Mao Xin (CHN) 6-4 6-4
Stanilas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Luckasz Kubot (POL) 2-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3)
Q Florian Mayer (GER) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 6-2
Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
Q Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. WC Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 7-6(3) 6-3
Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Q Marcos Chiudinelli (SUI) 7-6(3) 6-4

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) 4-6 6-3 11-9
F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 4-6 7-6(4) 11-9
F. Lopez (ESP)/F. Verdasco (ESP) def. J. Monaco (ARG)/T. Robredo (ESP) 7-5 7-6(5)
B. Becker (GER)/T. Haas (GER) def. WC Z. Li (CHN)/Y. Wang (CHN) 7-6(5) 6-0

Tuesday’s Order of Play

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Spanish Davis Cup captain Alberto Costa has his work cut out for him. He has too many possibilities and not enough spots. The Spanish captain has the luxury to choose from Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Feliciano Lopez for five spots. With the exception of Lopez, all of six of his choices are in the top 21. I am sure the other captains could only wish for such a problem. In the semifinals, he had an easier time choosing because Fernando Verdasco and Rafael Nadal were injured, and he could just activate Juan Carlos Ferrero. Ferrero has been solid and now is 2-0 in Davis Cup action.

The Spaniards will meet the Czech Republic in the finals. To my chagrine, this team has taken out some of my teams this year. Unlike the Spaniards, the team does not have a deep bench and really consists of Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych. To get to three wins, they each play singles and doubles.

This one-two punch has sent the French, the Argentines and the Croats packing on their road to the finals. The Czech duo are 6-2 in singles and 3-0 in doubles in Davis Cup this year. They also can both play on clay. Berdych is no slouch and has won three titles on clay. In the semifinals, the Czechs had no trouble dismissing the Croats 4-1 on clay.

Most people think final match up will be a foregone conclusion for Spain, but I do not think it is going to be that easy for the Spanish with or without Rafael Nadal. If Nadal does not play, I do not think Spain will win.

Today, we had a preview of a possible Davis Cup singles match up. Radek Stapanek and Juan Carlos Ferrero went at it today in Shanghai. Stepanek made an easy work of Ferrero. He beat the Spaniard, who has played well of late, 6-3 6-0 in under an hour of play. This result looks like it could be a foreshadowing of things to come. I think I am need to sign off and take some Tums now.

(Images: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

Spaniards Tommy Robredo and David Ferrer enjoyed wins over Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Richard Gasquet in singles action today in Shanghai.

After suffering from injuries this year, Michael Llodra has dropped in the rankings. He qualified for the tournament this weekend but unfortunately drew Tommy Robredo in the first round in a bad case of tournament evils. Robredo had no trouble dispatching the French qualifier 6-1 6-4 after 105 minutes of play. The Spaniard’s win draws Robredo ahead 2-1 in their head-to-head match ups.

In another case of tournament evils, Richard Gasquet met David Ferrer. Ferrer had no trouble dealing with Gasquet and bested the Frenchman 6-4 6-3 after just 85 minutes of play. Ferrer managed to break him five times during the course of the match. It could have been a larger rout if Ferrer had not allowed Gasquet to break back twice in the first set.

Today’s victory now gives Ferrer a 5-1 lead over Gasquet in their head-to-head meetings. Though the Frenchman is still trying to get back into form, he has a long way to go. Hopefully, he will put in some long hours of training in the off-season.

Robredo will now meet German Florian Mayer in the next round, and Ferrer will encounter compatriot Feliciano Lopez in another evil match up. Robredo should enjoy his relatively easy second-round match because he could be on a collision course with Rafael Nadal in the round after that.

(Images: Andy Wong/AP, Eugene Hoshiko/AP)

The Serb must have won today because he is back to taking his top off. After his win in Beijing, Novak Djokovic threw his shirt into the stands. Djokovic was able to stop Maric Cilic, who happens to be on roll, 6-2 7-6(4) for the title.

(Image: Ng Han Guan/AP)

Singles First Round
Andreas Beck (GER) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 7-6(2) 1-0 Ret. (left knee)
[WC] Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) def. Dudi Sela (ISR) 2-6 6-1 6-4
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Guilmero Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2

Monday’s Order of Play

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• The tour is now in Asia.
• Novak Djokovic (pictured) won the Beijing Open this weekend and will overtake Andy Murray in the rankings next week.
• The musketeers did well. Gael Monfis won his first title of the year at the Open de Moselle. Not to be outdone, Gilles won his first title this year in Thailand the following week. Now this weekend, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Japan Open – his third title of the year. After four months off, Gasquet went to the semifinals in Metz where he lost to Monfils and the quarterfinals in Malaysia where he lost to Fernando Verdasco.
• Nikolay Davydenko was tops in Malaysia.
• Albert Montanes won the BCR Open in Romania.
• All is not bad for the Brits with Murray’s drop in the rankings. Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming won the doubles title at the Open de Moselle.
• Rafael Nadal and Kobe Bryant model new track jackets for Nike (New York Mag)
• Speaking of Nadal, he returns to the tour in Beijing after pulling out of the Thailand. The Spaniard advanced to the semifinals where he took a pretty-bad beating from the surging Croat, Marin Cilic. He lost 6-1 6-3.
• The Chinese held a farewell party for Marat Safin. I am sure there were tears (China Daily)
• Juan Monaco leads the tour in clay court wins with 28 this year. (Buenos Aires Herald)
• Spain will host Switzerland in the first round of Davis Cup next year (Latin American Herald Tribune)
• Federer pulled out of Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters due to fatigue. Murray withdraws from Shanghai (Open Court)
• There is rift in Australia (or misunderstanding) between Lleyton Hewitt and up-and-comer Bernard Tomic. I guess Tomic used the swine flu as an excuse not to hit with Hewitt. The Aussie youngster denies it, but it would be kind of hysterical if it turns out to be true (The Age)
• Simon exposed (Crazy World of Tennis)
  

(Image: Elizabeth Dalziel/AP)