Trouble For The Top Three

It was not an easy day at the office for the top three. Julien Benneteau upset top seed Roger Federer 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4. In their two previous meetings, the Frenchman never topped the current world no.1, but he broke through today. Hopefully, the 27 year old makes a run this week in front of the hometown crowned.

Benneteau continues the tricolor surge. He will play compatriot Gael Monfils in the third round. Monfils leads their head-to-head matchup 3-1.

Second-seed Rafael Nadal had never lost to Nicolas Almagro in their four previous meetings, but Almagro almost put an end to all of that today. Nadal was not helped by the fact that he really struggled in the first part of the match. The Majorcan was able to steer the ship clear of disaster after he saved five match points in the second set. After three hours and 15 minutes of play, he staved off disaster by beating Almagro 3-6 7-6(2) 7-5. Nadal will now meet another compatriot Tommy Robredo in the next round.

Novak Djokovic's day was not as tragic as the other two, but Juan Monaco did give him a test. The world no. 3 had an easy first set against Monaco, but the Argentine made him work for it in the second. Djokovic topped the Argentine 6-3 7-5. Arnaud Clement, who upset Tommy Haas in three sets today, will be the Serbs next opponent.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 1 Roger Federer (SUI) 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4
2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 3-6 7-6(2) 7-5 - Saved 5 M.P.
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-3 7-5
4 Andy Murray (GBR) def. James Blake (USA) 6-3 6-7(5) 7-6(4)
5 Juan Del Potro (ARG) def. WC Marat Safin (RUS) 6-4 5-7 6-4
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-4 7-6(6)
10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. John Isner (USA) 7-5 7-6(3)
12 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Q Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-4 6-0
14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-4 6-4
15 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Q David Guez (FRA) 6-4 7-5
Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. 16 Tommy Haas (GER) 5-7 6-3 7-6(8) - Saved 1 M.P.

Doubles Second Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 6-4 6-7(6) 10-7
J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) def. 4 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) 6-7(5) 6-4 10-5
M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. 5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 6-4 7-5
7 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) 6-4 7-6(5)
8 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 6-3 6-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

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(Images: AP)