Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied from behind to beat Novak Djokovic in the final quarterfinal of Wednesday evening. The last Frenchman in the draw upset the third-seed 7-6(8) 6-7(5) 1-6 6-3 6-1 after 3 hours 52 minutes of work on the court. The tenth-seed was out for the count until Djokovic came down with a mystery illness and was visibly ill on the court.
According to Djokovic:
It was unfortunate that I couldn't perform on the level that I wanted to in the fourth and fifth set. I don't want to find excuses for my loss, but, you know, I went to vomit and I had diarrhea before the match. Just a terrible feeling. You know, it's been a great tournament for me, so it's just a bad way to not to be able physically go through the whole match.
…………………………
I had a little problems with the stomach even before the match as I said. No, the big deal I started feeling after third set when I just I couldn't hold on.
After two games I had to go to the toilet. There was no way, otherwise I would throw up on the court. That's when I had to do it.
With the win, Tsonga books a date with the world no.1 Roger Federer, who pretty much dismantled Nikolay Davydenko in four sets, in tomorrow's other semifinal. The two players are 1-1 in head-to-head meetings with the Frenchman winning their last meeting in Montreal last year. Tsonga is trying to be the first Frenchman to win the tournament since Jean Borotra won in 1928. It would be nice to see a Frenchman win the trophy, but Tsonga has two tests to past first.
Doubles Quarterfinals 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. A. Clement (FRA)/J. Erlich (ISR) 6-4 1-6 7-6(6) I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) 6-3 6-4
Thursday’s Matches Singles Semifinals 5 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. 14 Marin Cilic (CRO) Doubles Semifinals 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB)
Australian up-and-comer Bernard Tomic draws fire for criticizing the scheduling at the Australian Open (Reuters)
Tomic is also in the market for a new coach. He is looking at Brad Gilbert and Darren Cahill. If there is a god, he will pick Gilbert. Gilbert has been terrorizing American television audiences for years with his crack “analysis.” I have been praying for someone to hire him for years (Tennis)
Andy Murray took out Rafael Nadal 6-3 7-6(2) 3-0. Murray was in the lead when Nadal retired in the third set with more of his dreaded knee problems. With the retirement, Murray secured his spot in the semifinals.
Nadal will drop to the third or fourth spot in the rankings next week since he will lose points for not successfully defending his title this year. Let’s hope the former no. 1 gets better to defend the rest of his titles this year. Poor thing.
On the other side, Marin Cilic upset Andy Roddick 7-6(4) 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 after 3 hours and 50 minutes of play. This is the Croat’s first grand-slam semifinal appearance of his short career. Cilic will now face Andy Murray in the first semifinal on the men’s side. Murray leads their head-to-head 3-1, but the 6’6” Croat won their last meeting at the US Open in the round of 16.
The outcome of this semifinal is not a forgone conclusion. On paper, Murray should win. He has the experience, and he has been playing well these last two weeks. The Scotsman has come up short in the grand slams, and it is beginning to look like a mental block. It is a just matter of whether Cilic can turn it up to another level and upset another top player or if Murray can overcome his grand slam jitters. It’s a toss up.
Tuesday's Results Singles Quarterfinals 5 Andy Murray (GBR) def. 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 6-3 7-6(2) 3-0 RET. (right knee) 14 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 7 Andy Roddick (USA) 7-6(4) 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3
Doubles Third Round I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. 5 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 2-6 7-6(11) 7-6(4)
Doubles Quarterfinals 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) 7-5 4-6 7-6(2) M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) def. F. Gonzalez (CHI)/I. Ljubicic (CRO) 4-6 6-1 2-0 RET. (Ljubicic: right thigh)
Wednesday’s Matches Singles Quarterfinals 1 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)
Doubles Quarterfinals 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. A. Clement (FRA)/J. Erlich (ISR) 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB)
Nikolay Davydenko has been the best player on tour from the since the indoor season. Since last year’s US Open until now, the Russian has won four tournaments. Added to that, the world no. 6 has not dropped a set for the first-three rounds of the tournament.
Davydenko had the unfortunate task of drawing Fernando Verdasco in the fourth round. The Spaniard does not have the consistency of the Russian, but he seems to save his best play for Australia.
The sixth seed was able to get the best of Verdasco in the first-two sets. The Spaniard had his back against the wall and came out swinging in the third set. Verdasco was then able to win the next two sets. In the final set, both players stayed on serve until the sixth game where Davydenko broke for the final time to effectively close the door on the match. He won 6-2 7-5 4-6 6-7(5) 6-3 after 3 hours and 57 minutes of play.
Now, he is faced with the monumental task of playing Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Federer, who crushed the Aussie dreams of a Lleyton Hewitt resurgence, beat the 22-seed 6-2 6-3 6-4 after just 1 hour and 55 minutes of play. Davydenko has effectively been on the court two hours longer than the top seed. On top of that, Federer leads their head-to-head 12-2 with Davydenko winning their last-two meetings.
Monday’s Matches Singles Round of 16 1 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 22 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-2 6-3 6-4 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-1 6-2 7-5 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 9 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-2 7-5 4-6 6-7(5) 6-3 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. 26 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-7(6) 9-7 Doubles Quarterfinals 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) def. J. Isner (USA)/S, Querrey (USA) 6-3 7-5 F. Gonzalez (CHI)/I. Ljubicic (CRO) def. 11 S. Aspelin (SWE)/C. Kas (GER) 6-4 6-3 M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 4-6 7-6(3) 7-6(6)
Tuesday's Matches Singles Quarterfinals 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 5 Andy Murray (GBR) 7 Andy Roddick (USA) vs. 14 Marin Cilic (CRO)
Doubles Third Round 5 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic(SRB)
Doubles Quarterfinals 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) vs. F. Gonzalez (CHI)/I. Ljubicic Watch Live Tennis Channel - 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET Tennis Channel - 7:00 PM ET ESPN2 – 9:00 PM ET ESPN360 - 7:00 PM ET (Image: AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama)
Juan Martin del Potro covers his head during his fourth-round loss to Marin Cilic. Too bad he had to meet the Croat in the round of 16. Maybe next year.
Marin Cilic upset fourth-seed Juan Martin delPotro 5-7 6-4 7-5 5-7 6-3 after 4 hours of 38 minutes of play. The young Croat finally beat delPotro, who was 2-0 over the fourteenth seed. His quarterfinal appearance this week will match his best grand slam performance at last year’s US Open, where he lost to Juan Martin delPotro.
Now, the Croat will play Andy Roddick next, who was able to overcome Fernando Gonzalez in five sets. They are currently 1-1 in head-to-head action with Cilic winning their last meeting in 2008 in Toronto. It would be nice to see the Croatian youngster make it to the semifinals.
Sunday’s Results Singles Round of 16 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. IvoKarlovic (CRO) 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 14 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. 4 Juan Martin delPotro (ARG) 5-7 6-4 7-5 5-7 6-3 5 Andy Murray (GBR) def. John Isner (USA) 7-6(4) 6-3 6-2 7 Andy Roddick (USA) def. 11 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3 3-6 4-6 7-5 6-2
Doubles Third Round 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. 17 J. Melzer (AUT)/P. Petzschner (GER) 7-6(1) 6-4 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. P. Marx (GER)/I. Zelenay (SVK) 6-4 6-2 Arnaud Clement (FRA)/J. Erlich (ISR) def. J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) 6-3 0-6 7-5 Monday’s Matches Singles Round of 16 1 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 22 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 3 NovakDjokovic (SRB) vs. LukaszKubot (POL) 6 NikolayDavydenko (RUS) vs. 9 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 10 Jo-WilfriedTsonga (FRA) vs. 26 Nicolas Almagro (ESP)
Doubles Third Round 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. J. Isner (USA)/S, Querrey (USA) 11 S. Aspelin (SWE)/C. Kas (GER) vs. F. Gonzalez (CHI)/I. Ljubicic (CRO) M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) vs. Simone Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA)
Rafael Nadal had the large task of meeting Ivo Karlovic, the biggest server on the tour, in the round of 16. The 6’10” Croat had already taken out Radek Stepanek and Ivan Ljubicic in earlier rounds. The Spaniard had some problems returning serve this week. These factors could have been a problematic for the returning champ.
Nadal instead turned up the heat on his serve and was able to hold serve. The Spaniard stayed with the Croat and eventually took advantage of any openings. Nadal eventually triumphed over Karlovic 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 after 2 hours and 36 minutes of play. Now, the world no. 2 will face Andy Murray, who beat John Isner, probably the second-best server on tour.
Nadal is currently 7-2 over the Scotsman. The two players have not played since last year in Monaco, but that was before Nadal's physical troubles. Since his return to the tour in Montreal, the Spaniard is 1-9 against top ten players. This week, Nadal has done just enough to win. Murray, on the other hand, has all the skills to win a grand slam but has yet to do so. We shall see if Nadal is ready to ratchet his play up enough to surpass the Scotsman or if Murray can finally cross the threshold to win his first grand slam. (Image: AP/Andy Wong)
Saturday was marked with retirements and walkovers. Qualifier Stefan Koubek retired against Fernando Verdasco. Twentieth-seed Mikhail Youzhny withdrew with a wrist injury that developed during his epic match with Richard Gasquet in the first round. The Russian's withdrawal gave Pole Lukasz Kubot a walkover.
In the States, everyone’s favorite tennis sportscasters hyped the Hewitt-Baghdatis match as the match of the century. With their delusional pronouncements last night, the viewer would have had the impression that Marcos Baghdatis had actually won a grand slam. The reality is Baghdatis has won four career titles, with no grand slams or masters titles among them. After all the hype, the match ended with a whimper with Lleyton Hewitt trouncing Baghdatis and the Cypriots’ subsequent withdrawal in the second set from the match. Assholes.
The rest of the seeded players progressed pretty easily in straight sets with Djokovic and Davydenko moving quickly and quietly through the draw. The match of the day was 10-seed Jo-Wilfred Tsonga versus 18-seed Tommy Haas.
The two players met once before in Halle last year with the German veteran winning that meeting on grass. Tsonga had an easy time progressing through the first rounds this week. Haas, on the other hand, had a much difficult road by drawing Janko Tipsarevic in the second round and getting caught in a five-set match with the Serb.
Tsonga and Haas started evenly with both players staying on serve. In the ninth game of the first set, Tsonga broke Haas and was able to win the opening set. The German returned the favor in the second set. In the third set, errors crept into the 18-seed’s game. Tsonga took advantage by breaking Haas twice and taking control of the match.
In the fourth and final set, the two players traded breaks and were even at 5-5. Haas had a sloppy game eleven, and 10-seed broke the veteran for the final time. The Frenchman held at love for the set and the match. After 2 hours and 28 minutes, Tsonga sealed the deal 6-4 3-6 6-1 7-5.
Tsonga will now meet 26-seed Nicolas Almagro in the round of 16. The two players have never met in ATP competition.
Doubles Second Round 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L Paes (IND) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/ H. Tecau (ROU) 7-5 6-3 M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) def. C. Fleming (GBR)/K. Skupski (GBR) 3-6 6-4 6-3 A. Clement (FRA)/J. Erlich (ISR) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/R. Schuettler (GER) 6-3 7-5 F. Gonzalez (CHI)/I. Ljubicic (CRO) def. C. Ball (AUS)/S. Huss (AUS) 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5 I. Karlovic (CRO)/D. Vemic (SRB) def. WC K. Hensel (AUS)/ G. Jones (AUS) 3-6 7-5 7-5 J. Isner (USA)/ S. Querrey (USA) def. J. Benneteau (FRA) /S. Darcis (BEL) 6-4 6-0 L. Mayer (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/E. Korolev (KAZ) 6-3 6-2
Sunday’s Matches Singles Round of 16 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 4 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) vs. 14 Marin Cilic (CRO) 5 Andy Murray (GBR) vs. John Isner (USA) 7 Andy Roddick (USA) vs. 11 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) Doubles Third Round 1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. 17 J. Melzer (AUT)/P. Petzschner (GER) 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. P. Marx (GER)/I. Zelenay (SVK) J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)/J. Erlich (ISR)
Rafael Nadal had a sluggish start in his Thursday evening match with German Philipp Kohlschreiber but was able to still able to get into a groove by the second set. The Spaniard jumped out to a two-set lead over the 26 year old.
It looked like another straight-set win for the returning champion until he lost his opening serve in the third set. Kohlschreiber somehow took control of the set causing Nadal to fall out of sorts. Errors uncharacteristically crept into the second-seeds game, and the German managed to keep his tournament hopes alive and win the third set.
They traded breaks in the fourth set but then Nadal stepped up his game in the last two games to win the fourth set and the match. It was not pretty, but he did manage to get pass Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2 2-6 7-5.
Nadal will play Croat Ivo Karlovic, who played at the same time and length in his third-round match with Ivan Ljubicic, in the round of 16. The Mallorcan leads their head-to-head 2-0. The two players have never met on a hardcourt surface before. Dr. Ivo and his giant serve spell trouble on Saturday.
It looked like Frenchman Michael Llodra would upset 30-seed Juan Monaco of Argentina. The Argentine had a slow start while the French veteran had a great start. The veteran serve-and-volleyer frustrated Monaco with his solid net play. Monaco started to pass the veteran but then errors undid any sort of comeback for the Argentine. Before long Llodra was up two sets, and Monaco was sitting on the sideline talking to himself.
Monaco settled down for the third set. He managed to hold stay even with the Frenchman and then broke in game nine. Serving for the match, Monaco immediately lost his serve to Llodra. By this point, the Argentine was beside himself. Looking at 40-0, Monaco fought back and broke the Frenchman again. Now, it iwas Llodra turn to be frustrated. Llodra kicked the court and lost his sneaker in the process.
Monaco served for the third set again, and quickly found himself down 0-40. He erased two break points, but then hit the ball in the net to be broken again and forced to play a tiebreak. In the tiebreak, the two players remained close until 5-5. Monaco won the next two points to win the set and stay in the match.
After the loss of the set, Llodra took an injury time out for his foot. Monaco was able to steamroll the Frenchman in the fourth set. For the final set, Llodra was able to must up some fight, but Monaco was able to seal the deal 3-6 3-6 7-6(5) 6-2 6-3.
Monaco advances to play Nikolay Davydenko, who is probably playing the best at this point in the year. Davydenko leads it 3-1.
Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic triumphed in their second-round matches last night. The previous night, 20-seed Mikhail Youzhny staved off Richard Gasquet in an almost five-hour battle. On Wednesday, del Potro and Cilic found themselves in a similar situation.
Del Potro had the unfortunate task of drawing James Blake. The Argentine is currently battling a wrist injury that has made his playing status questionable leading up to the tournament. Blake, who is the current world no. 45, has battled injuries last year and returned to the tour more fit this year. Blake’s ranking is a misnomer. Plus, the hardcourts are his favorite surface.
Despite these obstacles, the Argentine was able to withstand 81 winners from Blake to beat the American 6-4 6-7(3) 5-7 6-3 10-8 after 4 hours and 17 minutes of play. The fourth-seed will now play German Florian Mayer in the third round. Their head-to-head is one match apiece, with del Potro winning in their last meeting in last year’s Aussie Open.
Meanwhile on center court, fourteenth-seed Marin Cilic received a serious challenge from Aussie up-and-comer Bernard Tomic in their second-round night match. After trading sets, the 21-year-old Croat pulled it out in the final set. He surpassed the 17-year-old Aussie 6-7(6) 6-3 4-6 6-2 6-4 after 3 hours 48 minutes of play.
Cilic did not get off of the court until the early morning. He now gets treat of having to turn around and play nineteenth-seed Stanislas Wawrinka, who played earlier and two hours less than Cilic. Wawrinka leads their matchup 4-1. The Croat did win their last meeting a couple weeks ago on the hardcourts of Chennai.
Rafael Nadal put on a clinic in this second round match on Wednesday. The unfortunate recipient of this instruction was Slovakian up-and-comer Lukas Lacko. The Spaniard ran through his match and defeated Lacko 6-2 6-2 6-2 after 1 hour and 51 minutes of play.
The world no. 2 is beginning to look like the Nadal of old. His movement and shot making are a lot better. He is beginning to win points he really should not have, which is bad news for the rest of the tour. There is still some room for improvement, for him, so it should be interesting to see if he can peak at the right time.
Next up for the Mallorcan slugger will be 27-seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. Nadal currently leads their head-to-head matchup 4-0.
On Monday, Ivo “Dr. Ivo or MC Ivo” Karlovic took out 13-seed Radek Stepanek. The Czech became the first casualty of the Australian Open. The opening day was a rather harmless when compared to day two of the tournament.
Tuesday was a fragile day for seeded players. Twenty-third-seed Juan Carlos Ferrero and 25-seed Sam Querrey lost their Aussie debuts. A big stunner was 16-seed Tommy Robredo’s exit. The Spaniard is usually so consistent. Perhaps the biggest stunner of them all was eighth-seed Robin Soderling.
Columbian Santiago Giraldo (pic. left) took out Tommy Robredo. The world no. 114 did not qualify at last year’s US Open, but he was able to surpass handily the Spaniard on 6-4 6-2 6-2. Giraldo now advances Pole Lukaz Kubot in second round.
Robin Soderling lost to world no. 113 Marcel Granollers (pic. right) of Spain. The Spaniard rallied to eventually kneecap Soderling 5-7 2-6 6-4 6-4 6-2. The 23 year old will meet Columbian Alejandro Fallo in the next round.
Soderling’s departure now opens his quarter of the draw and gives Spaniard Nicolas Almagro a good shot at the round of 16. The 26 seed has never made it to the round of 16 in a grand slam on hardcourt. He did make it to the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2008, which is his best grand slam result to date.
Rafael Nadal advanced after a tight first set. He beat Aussie Peter Luczak 7-6(0) 6-1 6-4 after 2 hours and 34 minutes of play. The Spaniard looked pretty good but still has room for improvement. If anyone can play their way into a tournament, it would be the Mallorcan.
Nadal could meet Andy Murray in the quarterfinals. Murray, on the other hand, was a little more efficient in his 97-minute win over South African Kevin Anderson 6-1 6-1 6-2. Nadal and Murray were fortunate as they played in Rod Laver Stadium with a roof.
Other players were not so lucky. Rain delays plagued the outer courts, and the tournament canceled 12 men's matches with 9 other matches suspended. Play resumes today for the rest of yesterday’s matches and rest of the first round action. Rain is already in the forecast, so it should be another precarious day for the tournament.
Singles First Round 2 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-6(0) 6-1 6-4 4 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) def. Michael Russell (USA) 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 5 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-1 6-1 6-2 7 Andy Roddick (USA) def. Thiemo de Bakker (NED) 6-1 6-4 6-4 11 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-1 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. 13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 2-6 7-6(5) 6-4 3-6 6-4 24 Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. Jason Kubler (AUS) 6-1 6-2 6-1 Bernard Tomic (AUS) def. Guillaume Rufin (FRA) 6-3 6-4 6-4 Andrey Golubev (KAZ) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 6-2 1-6 6-3 6-3 Florian Mayer (GER) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 0-6 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-2 Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-2
To Finish Matthew Ebden (AUS) even 12 Gael Monfils (FRA) 2-2 14 Marin Cilic (CRO) leads Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 7-5 4-2 27 Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) leads Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1 4-3 29 Viktor Troicki (SRB) leads Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 4-6 6-3 6-2 5-3 Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) leads Nick Lindahl (AUS) 6-2 7-5 5-4 David Guez (FRA) leads Julien Benneteau (FRA) 4-0 Marsel Ilhan (TUR) leads Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 6-4 4-2 Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) leads Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-1 2-6 3-2 Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) leads Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-3 7-5 4-6 3-2
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur took part in the Hit for Haiti fundraiser at Rod Laver Arena yesterday afternoon. The 90-minute exhibition has brought in over $200,000 so far.
City: Melbourne, Australia Surface: Outdoor Hard Championship Points: 2000 2009 Singles Champion: Rafael Nadal 2009 Doubles Champions: Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan
It is the first grand slam of the season. This particular tournament should be an interesting affair because there are many more players who can get passed Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal this year. Rafael Nadal defends his title this year, but any of the top six could take it.
From the end of last season until the present, Nikolay Davydenko looks like the one to beat. The Russian has won four Masters titles and 16 other titles in his career but has yet to convert at the grand slam. Some players do well all year but then come up empty-handed in the grand slams. Andy Murray fits into this category as well, but Davydenko is playing more solidly at this point in the year. Federer and Nadal are the only two, until very recently, who can consistently win on the big stage. Federer’s dominance wanes. To his credit, the Swiss master prolonged it for two years. With Nadal, we will truly see what condition he is in. If he is in back to his dominant form, then this will greatly complicate things for the others. With more able players, the draw is even for the first time in years. No one will waltz into the semis or the final this year. It will definitely be on from the quarterfinals onward. Whoever wins this title is going to have to a long slog ahead of him. This is bad news for whomever, but good news for us.
Tournament Evils 16 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Santiago Giraldo (COL) 20 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA) Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Pablo Cuevas (URU) Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) (Image: Getty Images)
Brisbane International Singles: Andy Roddick Doubles Jeremy Chardy and Marc Gicquel
Aircel Chennai Open Singles: Marin Cilic Doubles: Marcel Granollers and Santiago Ventura
Qatar ExxonMobil Open Singles: Nikolay Davydenko Doubles: Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Albert Montanes
Medibank International Sydney Singles: Marcos Baghdatis Doubles: Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic Heineken Open Singles: John Isner Doubles: Marcus Daniel and Horia Tecau
Though the season is already a couple of weeks in, I decided to take some extra time this year, as I overdosed on tennis last year. With some rest, I am back to overindulging on tennis this year. Last year started out great but then when to the dogs. It was hard to see Rafael Nadal go from winning the Australian Open to not being able to defend his title at Wimbledon in just four-short months later due to an extreme case of tendinitis.
Other low points last year include:
Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek broke up
Richard Gasquet’s suspension
Andre Agassi’s biography. Some of the revelations revealed the subsequent ridiculousness of Gasquet’s predicament
The tricolor charge did not live up to expectation. Let’s hope this year will be better
The year did improve with some things:
Juan Martin del Potro won the US Open
Spain repeated its Davis Cup championship
Novak Djokovic finally got his act together and is back to living up to his potential
Nikolay Davydenko’s rise again as force to be reckoned with
Gasquet cleared up his troubles and can now focus on tennis
Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer turned out the Valencia Open. It went from to some tiny tournament to a definite must-go-to stop on the tour. See for yourselves:
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied from behind to beat Novak Djokovic in the final quarterfinal of Wednesday evening. The last Frenchman in the draw upset the third-seed 7-6(8) 6-7(5) 1-6 6-3 6-1 after 3 hours 52 minutes of work on the court. The tenth-seed was out for the count until Djokovic came down with a mystery illness and was visibly ill on the court.
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