The Week Of Living Dangerously

Rafael Nadal was hopefully praying to Jesus after his match with Tommy Robredo. Robredo served for the match in the third set at 5-4. Some kind of way, Robredo let Nadal get back into the match and sneak off with the victory.

While living on the edge this week, Nadal managed to advance into the quarterfinals to play the defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The current world no. 2 leads their head-to-head 3-1. This matchup could be dangerous for the Spaniard, as Tsonga tries to qualify for the year-end championship. Tsonga did pull out of doubles today with a wrist injury, so we shall see how it all unfolds tomorrow.

While Nadal escaped defeat today, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko and Fernando Verdasco were not so lucky. These top-seeds lost today. Verdasco is now out of the running for the year-end championship. The current US Open Champion Juan Martin del Potro slid through the draw after fighting off seven match points from Fernando Gonzalez. Gonzalez retired at the end of the second set with a leg injury to allow the Argentine to advance.

Thursday’s Results
Singles Third Round
2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3 3-6 7-5
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-2 6-2
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. 4 Andy Murray (GBR) 1-6 6-3 6-4
5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. 10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-7(6) 7-6(6) ret. (leg) - saved 7 M.P.
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-3 3-6 6-4
12 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 7 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 3-6 6-3 6-4
8 Jo-Winfried Tsonga (FRA) def. 11 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-2 6-3
15 G. Monfils (FRA) def. J. Benneteau (FRA) 6-4 6-3

Doubles Second Round
1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. WC A. Clement (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) 6-3 6-4
2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) w/o - Tsonga (wrist)
C. Kas (GER)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) def. 6 J. Knowle (AUT)/A. Ram (ISR) 7-5 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
8 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) 6-2 6-4

Friday’s Order of Play

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