Ernests Gulbis won his first title of his career. Gulbis is actually a peer of Novak Djokovic but has struggled due to lack of focus and training. The 21 year old went through a hot mess period, but it now looks like the Latvian could be looking forward to a new era.

This fall, Gulbis hired Hernan Gumy, who was Marat Safin’s last coach and turned the Russian champion around after he lost focus. The current world no. 72 had never been past the quarterfinals of a tournament until last week in Memphis where he made it to the semifinals.

Gulbis was able to mount another impressive run this week in Delray Beach. He made it to the final without dropping a set. Despite drawing the always-troublesome Ivo Karlovic, he made easy work of the Croat with a 6-2 6-3 victory to secure the first title of his career.

Hopefully, Hernan can continue to turn the Latvian’s career around. It would be a shame if Gulbis did not live up to his potential.

(Image: AP)

Juan Carlos Ferrero was on a 14-game winning streak before last night's final in Acapulco. The Spaniard attempted to go for his third-consecutive title. The current world no. 16 had to first get past David Ferrer, his compatriot, friend and business partner.

This final was rematch of their championship matchup in Buenos Aires, which the 30 year old got the best of his friend that time. This time, Ferrer outlasted Ferrero 6-3 3-6 6-1. The title is Ferrer’s eighth-career title.

Both players will unite to take on Switzerland in Davis Cup next week. Spain will go for their third-consecutive title.

(Images: Mexport)

Novak Djokovic successfully defended his title and points in Dubai this week. After being forced to play the final over two days because of a rain delay, Djokovic eventually overcame Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 5-7 6-3. The victory is the Serb’s 16th title.

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Novak Djokovic made it into the final by the skin of his teeth. The world no. 2 again had a slow start. He staved off a charge from Marcos Baghadatis but was ultimately victorious with a 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4 win. The win was not pretty, but it was enough to advance.

The Serb will now defend his title against Mikhail Youzhny tomorrow. The Russian has been playing well but has not been tested this week since his quarterfinal opponent, Janko Tipsaravic sent home Andy Murray in the second round.

It should be an interesting matchup with Djokovic still struggling and Youzhny playing well. Their head-to-head record is 3-3 with the world no. 15 winning their last meeting in the Rotterdam semifinals.

Friday's Results
Singles Semifinals
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-7(2) 6-3 6-4
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 7-5 7-6(4)

Doubles Semifinals
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) def. C. Kas (GER)/D. Norman (BEL) 2-6 7-6(6) 10-7
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 6-2 3-6 14-12

Championship Saturday
Singles Final
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)

Doubles Final
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS)
Saturday's Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel – 10:00 AM ET

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Janko Tipsarevic upset third-seed Andy Murray 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4. After losing the first set, Murray rallied to win the second set, but the world no. 39 was able to hold off the current world no. 4. It is a solid victory for the third-ranked Serb, who has had a so-so year so far. The two-match streak this week brings his record this year to 4-2.

He is the second Serb to book a spot in the quarterfinals after Novak Djokovic was able to skirt trouble from another Serb, Viktor Troicki. Tipsarevic will play seventh-seed Mikhail Youzhny in the quarterfinals. The 25-year-old Serb leads Youzhny 2-1 in their head-to-head meetings.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 3-6 6-4 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. 3 Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6(3) 4-6 6-4
Michael Berrer (GER) def. 4 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6-3 RET. (left wrist)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 5 WC Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 7-5 6-3
6 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Q Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-2 7-6(6)
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Bjorn Phau (GER) 7-6(2) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3 7-5
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) 6-3 3-6 6-1

Doubles First Round
F. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. 1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) 6-3 3-6 10-7
A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. WC R. Bopanna (IND)/A. Qureshi (PAK) 5-7 7-6(5) 10-8
4 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. 4 N. Davydenko (RUS)/I. Kunitsyn (RUS) walkover (Davydenko - left wrist)

Doubles Quarterfinals
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Mirnyi (BLR) 6-4 6-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

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Tennis Channel 5:00 AM ET – 9:00 AM ET, 10:00 AM ET – 2:00 PM ET

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship)

Wednesday's Results
Singles First Round
7 James Blake (USA) def. Taylor Dent (USA) 6-1 3-6 6-3 (resumed from Tuesday night)

Singles Second Round
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. 6 Florian Mayer (GER) 6-4 76(4)

Doubles First Round
P. Marx (GER)/I. Zelenay (SVK) def. 3 R. Hutchins (GBR)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-7(8) 6-1 10-8

Thursday's Order of Play

> The rest of the day's matches were postponed due to rain.

Top-seed Fernando Verdasco had to rally to beat Italian Fabio Fognini. The Spaniard eventually overcame the world no. 57 2-6 6-4 6-0 in just under two hours of play. The world no. 10 will play Pole Lukasz Kubot in the second round.

Once a doubles specialist, Kubot had a good year last year and is off to a promising start this year. The Pole is enjoying his best career ranking at world no. 48 to date. Kubot could be trouble for Verdasco if he does not clean it his act by tomorrow.


Singles First Round
1 WC Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2-6 6-4 6-0
2 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
3 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-2 6-4
4 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Q Diego Junqueira (ARG) 6-2 6-3
Simon Greul (GER) def. 5 John Isner (USA) 7-6(4) 7-5
6 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-1 7-6(0)
7 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Q Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-7(6) 7-5 6-2
8 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 7-5 4-6 6-2
Pablo Cuevas (URU) def. Marcos Daniel (BRA) 1-6 7-5 7-6(8) - saved 3 M.P.
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 6-0 1-6 6-0
Victor Hanescu (ROU) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 7-6(5) 6-3
Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Q Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-3 6-4
Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1 6-2

Doubles First Round
WC S. Gonzalez (MEX)/N. Massu (CHI) def 4 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) 6-2 6-7(2) 11-9
WC J. Elizondo (MEX)/C. Ramirez (MEX) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/T. Bellucci (BRA) 7-6(5) 4-6 10-8

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Mexsport/Hector Rivera)

Spain vs. Switzerland
Team Spain:
Juan Carlos Ferrero, David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Marcel Granollers
Notably Missing: Rafael Nadal, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez
Team Switzerland:
Stanislas Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli, Michael Lammer and Yves Allegro
Notably Missing: Roger Federer

France vs. Germany
Team France:
Jo-Wilfied Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau
Notably Missing: Gilles Simon
Team Germany:
Philipp Kohlschreiber, Benjamin Becker, Simon Greul and Christopher Kas
Notably Missing: Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer

Russia vs. India
Team Russia:
Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Teimuraz Gabashvili and Igor Kunitsyn
Notably Missing: Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov
Team India:
Somdev Devvarman, Rohan Bopanna, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi

Sweden vs. Argentina
Team Sweden:
Robin Soderling, Andreas Vinciguerra, Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt
Team Argentina:
Juan Monaco, Horacio Zeballos, Leonardo Mayer and Eduardo Schwank
Notably Missing: Juan Martin del Potro and David Nalbandian

Croatia vs. Ecuador
Team Croatia:
Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Ivan Dodig and Antonio Veic
Notably Missing: Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic
Team Ecuador:
Nicolas Lapentti, Giovanni Lapentti, Ivan Endara and Julio-Cesar Campozano

Serbia vs. USA
Team Serbia:
Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic
Team USA:
John Isner, Sam Querrey, Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan
Notably Missing: Andy Roddick and James Blake

Chile vs. Israel
Team Chile:
Fernando Gonzalez, Nicolas Massu, Paul Capdeville and Jorge Aguilar
Team Israel:
Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram

Belgium vs. Czech Republic
Team Belgium:
Olivier Rochus, Xavier Malisse, Steve Darcis and Christophe Rochus
Team Czech Republic:
Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Jan Hajek and Lukas Dlouhy

World Group Draw

Columbian Santiago Giraldo defeated American wildcard Vincent Spadea 6-2 6-3. Today's win brings his year-to-date record to 4-3. The 22 year old, who turned pro four years ago, is off to a respectable start this year.

The current world no. 98 will advance to play Jeremy Chardy in the next round. Chardy took out in straight sets Xavier Malisse, who has been playing pretty well of late.

Giraldo and Chardy have never played each other before in ATP competition. The Frenchman is not having the greatest start this year. His record is currently 2-5 for the year, so their second-round match could be an interesting one tomorrow.

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
2 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-3 7-6(3)
3 Benjamin Becker (GER) def. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 6-3 1-6 6-0
4 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-3 7-6(5)
6 Florian Mayer (GER) def. Q Nick Lindahl 6-4 6-1
7 James Blake (USA) leads Taylor Dent (USA) 6-1 3-6 5-3 (to continue Wednesday)
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. 8 Michael Russell (USA) 6-4 3-6 7-5
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. Q Kevin Anderson (RSA) 7-6(7) 7-6(2)
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) def. Q Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-4 7-6(5)
Robin Haase (NED) def. Q Robert Kendrick (USA) 7-6(4) 7-6(0)
Mardy Fish (USA) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 5-7 6-3 3-3 RET.
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) 6-3 6-4
Daniel Brands (GER) def. WC Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 3-6 6-3 6-2
Santiago Giraldo (COL) def. WC Vincent Spadea (USA) 6-2 6-3

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

Tommy Robredo beat last week’s Open 13 singles finalist and doubles champion. The Spaniard had an easy time with Julien Benneteau 6-2 6-1 after just 44 minutes of work. Benneteau double’s partner from last week and the Open 13 champion did not fare much better today. Michael Llodra had to withdraw from his match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga with a hamstring injury.

Robredo will advance to play Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the second round. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head 4-3. The new world no. 23 dropped 6 spots this week and has struggled this year. He is 2-4 before his match today. Since he was last year’s Juan Carlos Ferrero, he lost 500 points for not defending or replacing his championship points in Costa Do Sauipe and Buenos Aires.

Tuesday’s Order of Play
Singles First Round
4 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1
5 WC Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Michael Llodra (FRA) 7-6(9) RET. (left hamstring)
6 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-2 6-4
7 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Lukas Lacko (SVK) 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-1
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6(4) 7-5
Michael Berrer (GER) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-4 7-6(3)
Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-2 6-1
Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-4 7-5
Q Bjorn Phau (GER) def. WC Mohammad Ghareeb (KUW) 3-0 RET. (back)

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. N. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Vemic (SRB) 6-4 6-3
J. Tipsarevic (SRB)/V. Troicki (SRB) def. F. Serra (FRA)/G Simon (FRA) 7-6(4) 6-0
C. Kas (GER)/D. Norman (BEL) def. I. Ljubicic (CRO)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-4 7-6(4)

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)

In a horrible case of tournament evils, Richard Gasquet and Carlos Moya faced off in a Monday night first-round matchup at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament. Both players were on hiatus from the tour last year for various reasons. They returned to the tour this year and are now trying to get back to their winning ways.

Moya, who won this tournament in 2002 and 2004, won the first set. Gasquet then rallied to beat the Spanish papa-to-be 4-6 6-3 6-2. The Frenchman will play the winner of the Sela-Almagro match in the second round.

Monday's Results
Singles First Round
Q Eduardo Schwank (ARG) def. WC Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) 7-6(4) 7-6(4)
Ricard Gasquet (FRA) def. WC Carlos Moya (ESP) 4-6 6-3 6-2
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-3 6-2



Doubles First Round
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. I Andreev (RUS) / D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-2 6-4
2 M. Melo (BRA)/B. Soares (BRA) def. J. Erlich (ISR)/A. Ram (ISR) 6-2 6-4
3 M. Damm (CZE)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. S. Huss (AUS)/J. Levinsky (CZE) 6-3 6-2
P. Cuevas (URU)/F. Gonzalez (CHI) def. V. Hanescu (ROU)/D. Sela (ISR) 7-6(3) 6-2

Tuesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Mextenis)

Teimuraz Gabashvili upset top-seed Tommy Haas 7-6(3) 7-5 in last night’s match in Delray Beach. Upon observation, Haas is now 1-3 since becoming an American citizen. His record was 2-1 this year before his new citizenship change. It is too early for judgment, but it is a curious development.

For the Russian, he opens up the top-half of the draw for himself, Evgeny Korolev and Ernests Gulbis. The current world no. 104 now awaits the winner of the Harrison-Gulbis match.

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
1 WC Tommy Haas (GER) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 7-6(3) 7-5
5 Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) def. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 6-2 1-6 6-1
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. Rajeev Ram (USA) 6-3 6-2

Doubles First Round
B. Becker (GER)/L. Mayer (ARG) def. 2 M. Kohlmann (GER)/P. Petzschner (GER) 7-6(4) 6-4
J. Cerretani (USA)/ J. Chardy (FRA) def. 4 A Sa (BRA)/H. Tecau (ROU) 6-2 6-3
R. de Voest (RSA)/R. Wassen (NED) def. D. Brands (GER)/F. Mayer (GER) 7-6(6) 5-7 10-6
WC T. Dent (USA)/R. Harrison (USA) def. C. Fleming (GBR)/K. Skupski (GBR) 7-6(5) 6-4

Tuesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Feliciano Lopez looked remarkably photo ready in his Dubai debut against Austrian Stefan Koubek today. The Spaniard unfortunately fell victim to the qualifier and lost 7-6(4) 6-4. Lopez may have been defeated today, but he sure looked good bouncing out of the tournament.

(Image: Getty Images)

Poor Gilou continues to struggle this year. His knees have been giving him trouble for some time. Gilles Simon already pulled out of the Australian Open and Rotterdam this year.

The 25-year-old Frenchman drew Marcos Baghdatis is his opening-round match in Dubai. Baghdatis has been in good shape of late and has already played spoiler to David Ferrer and Lleyton Hewitt this year. The Cypriot today reprised his role of spoiler and upset Simon 7-6(3) 6-4.

Simon played his first match of the year last week in Marseille and lost in the first round. Today’s loss brings the Frenchman’s record to 0-2 this year. Not playing and then losing in the first rounds is killing his ranking. Thirteen months ago, he was ranked sixth in the world. Now, he is ranked eighteenth after his fell two spots today.

Singles First Round
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6-4 6-4
3 Andy Murray (GBR) def. Q Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-2 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-6(3) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-1 7-5
Viktor Troicki (SRB) def. WC Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-3 6-4
Q Stefan Koubek (AUT) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. LL Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-2 6-7(3) 6-4

Doubles First Round
2 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/L. Paes (IND) def. M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 7-6(7) 6-3
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Mirnyi (BLR) def. WC M. Al Baloushi (UAE)/A. Magdas (KUW) 7-5 6-0

Tuesday’s Order of Play

(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships)

Name: Barclay Dubai Tennis Championships
City: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 500
2009 Singles Champion: Novak Djokovic
2009 Doubles Champions: Rik De Voest and Dmitry Tursunov
Featured Players: Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Nikolay Davydenko, Marin Cilic, Jo-Wifried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Tommy Robredo, Mikhail Youzhny, Viktor Troicki, Michael Llodra, Julien Benneteau and Feliciano Lopez
Withdrawals: Roger Federer (lung infection)

. . . And The Qualifiers Are: Stephan Koubek (AUT), Igor Kunitsyn (RUS), Bjorn Phau (GER) and Somdev Devvarman

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Abierto Mexicano Telcel
City: Acapulco, Mexico
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 500
2009 Singles Champion: Nicolas Almagro
2009 Doubles Champions: Frantisek Cermak and Michak Mertinak
Featured Players: Fernando Verdasco, Fernando Gonzalez, David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sam Querry, Nicolas Almagro, Juan Monaco, Albert Montanes, Fabio Fognini, Richard Gasquet, Thomaz Bellucci and Carlos Moya
Tournament Evils: Carlos Moya (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA), Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs. Fabio Fognini (ITA)

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Delray Beach International Tennis Championships
City: Delray Beach, FL
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2009 Singles Champion: Mardy Fish
2009 Doubles Champions: Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan
Featured Players: Tommy Haas, Ivo Karlovic, Benjamin Becker, Tomas Berdych, Jeremy Chardy, Evgeny Korolev, Florian Mayer, James Blake, Michael Russell, Jarkko Niemanen, Nicolas Lapentti, Santiago Giraldo

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero faced off in the final of the Copa Telmex. The two Spaniards slugged it out in a 2-hour-and-32-minute match. Ferrero had to rally but eventually outlasted his friend and business partner 5-7 6-4 6-3. To be fair, Ferrer played a lot of tennis over the last two days and had to pull out of doubles yesterday due to fatigue.

Ferrero is now the new Tommy Robredo. Last year, Robredo won the Brazilian and Argentinian legs of the Latin American swing, and now another Spaniard does the same this year. The former world no. 1 has won two titles in a row. The new championship brings his career-titles total to 14.

Almost a year ago, the 30 year old had not won a title in 5 ½ years after struggling for a long time with injuries. In the meantime, the former French Open champion has now won three titles. It is amazing what happens when he is not injured for extended periods of time. This week’s title should move Ferrero inside the top 20 next week.

Ferrero and Ferrer complete the LA swing in Mexico next week. We shall see if Ferrero can pry the title out of Nicolas Almagro’s hands and win his third-straight title.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 1 David Ferrer (ESP) 5-7 6-4 6-3

Doubles Final
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS) 7-5 6-2
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-5 6-1

Singles Semifinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Albert Montanes 6-1 6-1
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 4 Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-2 7-6(7)

Doubles Quarterfinals
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. WC L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/B. Dabul (ARG) 2-6 6-4 10-6

Doubles Semifinals
4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-1 7-6(5)
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) – Walkover (Ferrer – fatigue)

(Image: Copa Telmex)

Michael Llodra won the singles and doubles titles at the Open 13. The singles champion scored his fourth-career singles title and second indoor title.

The French lefty lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga last year. By Friday, it looked like there would be a rematch. Eighth-seed Julien Benneteau instead broke that all up when he took out second-seed Tsonga in the semifinals on Saturday.

Today, Llodra upset the last remaining seed to take the French singles title. He secured the victory with a 6-3 6-4 win over Benneteau and denying the runner-up his first-career title. Don’t feel bad for the singles runner-up though.

As consolation, Benneteau teamed up later with the singles champion to help secure Llodra's third Marseille doubles title (2010, 2009, 2007). The tricolored duo upset top-seeds Julien Knowle and Robert Lindstedt 6-4 6-3. The doubles title is Llodra’s 18th and his second title with Benneteau. Benneteau now has six-career doubles titles of his own.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-3 6-4

Doubles Final
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. 1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 6-4 6- 3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-1 7-6(3)
8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) 7-6 (11) 5-7 7-6(3)

Doubles Semifinals
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA) 7-6(0) 6-4

(Image: Yohan Brandt/Open 13)

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
8 Sam Querrey (USA) def. 6 John Isner (USA) 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-3

Doubles Final
J. Isner (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) def. R. Hutchins (GBR)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-4 6-4

It was only a matter of time before a female musician wised up and pulled an Enrique Iglesias. Shakira stepped up her pimp game and cast Rafael Nadal in her upcoming video, Gypsy. The 33-year-old Colombian singer posted a teaser of things to come on her website yesterday.



From the accompanying stills, it looks Shakira took full advantage of her casting opportunity. The video should be pretty steamy. We shall see, soon enough, how much of it the Spanish champ winds up without his top on or if he is ever in a frame by himself.

(via shakira.com)

Michael Llodra sure loves this tournament. Last year’s singles finalist and doubles champion took down top-seed Robin Soderling. The Swede can ratchet his play up at times, but today Llodra took it up a notch to surpass Soderling 7-6(2) 6-4.

The Frenchman will back on double duty tomorrow with singles and doubles tomorrow. He will play his former partner Arnaud Clement, with whom he won this title twice, for the last spot in the final in the battle of the exes.

In his singles semifinal, he will meet German Mischa Zverev. Llodra leads their head-to-head 2-0.


Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 1 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(2) 6-4
2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) def. LL Illya Marchenko (UKR) 6-3 6-4
8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. 3 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-3 7-5
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) 7-5 6-7(4) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) 6-4 0-6 10-6

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)
2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) vs. 8 Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Doubles Semifinals
2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) vs. A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA)

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Image: AP)

Intense rain cancelled play in Buenos Aires. The rain came during Juan Monaco’s match with Horacio Zeballos. The two players were even at 1-1 15-15.

Before the delay Juan Carlos Ferrero was able to secure his spot in the semifinals after he got into trouble with qualifier Santiago Ventura. He outlasted his compatriot 6-3 3-6 6-2.

Between singles and doubles tomorrow, David Ferrer could have to play three times, and Horacio Zeballos could have to play four times. Things could be hairy for those two tomorrow.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 David Ferrer (ESP) vs. 6 Igor Andreev (RUS) (postponed)
2 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Q Santiago Ventura (ESP) 6-3 3-6 6-2
8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) vs. 4 Juan Monaco (ARG) 1-1 (postponed)

Doubles Quarterfinals
WC L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/B. Dabul (ARG) vs. 4 S. Prieto (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) (postponed)

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Image: Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Andy Roddick (USA) vs. 8 Sam Querrey (USA) - TBD
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) def. 5 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 3-6 6-3 7-6(3)
6 John Isner (USA) def. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 6-1 7-6(7)
Philipp Petzschner (GER) def. Lukasz Lacko (SVK) 6-1 1-6 6-1

Saturday’s Order of Play - TBD

Top-seed David Ferrer cruised into the quarterfinals after pushing aside Frederico Gil. He beat the Portuguese 6-3 6-0 in under an hour. The Spaniard will head to meet sixth-seed Igor Andreev. The Russian leads their career matchup 4-3, but Ferrer has won their last two meetings. However, Andreev has won both of their meetings on clay if that makes any difference.

Albert Montanes will await the winner of the Ferrer and Andreev match tomorrow, as David Nalbandian withdrew from the competition with an abductor injury. The withdrawal is a set back for the Argentine champion who returned to the tour this week after recovering nine months from hip surgery.

On the other side of the draw, fourth-seed Juan Monaco took care of his compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela in the battle of the Juans. He outlasted Chela 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2 after 2 hours and 46 minutes of play. Monaco will play another Argentine, Horacio Zeballos in the quarterfinals.

Monaco is on a collision course with Juan Carlos Ferrero. The two could meet on Saturday in the semifinals.

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 6-3 6-0
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2
6 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 3-6 6-3 6-4
8 Horacio Zeballos (ARG) def. WC Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Singles Quarterfinals
5 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. David Nalbandian (ARG) walkover (right abductor)

Doubles Quarterfinals
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. 1 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-2 7-5
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. D. Koellerer (AUT)/O. Marach (AUT) 5-7 6-1 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

(Images: Copa Telmex)

Jeremy Chardy opened the draw for himself after sending the second-seed Fernando Verdasco packing in Memphis on Tuesday. Today, a stomach illness forced him to withdraw during his second-round match with Slovakian Lukasz Lacko.

Lacko will now head to a quarterfinal meeting with Philipp Petzschner. The German leads their head-to-head 1-0.






Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 7-6(2) 6-4
5 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Michael Russell (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-2
8 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-4 6-0
Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 6-4 6-4
Lukasz Lacko (SVK) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6(4) 2-1 ret. (stomach illness)

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 M. Fish (USA)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. S. Huss (AUS)/J. Levinsky (CZE) 4-6 6-3 10-4
WC S. Lipsky (USA)/D. Martin (USA) def. E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) 4-6 7-6(5) 10-7
R. Hutchins (GBR)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. M. Kohlmann (GER)/J. Nieminen (FIN) 6-2 6-4
J. Isner (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) def. L. Mayer (ARG)/D. Sela (ISR) 7-6(6) 6-4

Friday’s Order of Play

(Image: Ron Angle/Regions Morgan Keegan Championships)

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4
3 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(3)
LL Illya Marchenko (UKR) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-1 3-6 6-2
WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) def. Q Yannick Mertens (BEL) 6-3 2-6 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. S. Ratiwatana (THA)/S. Ratiwatana (THA) 6-4 7-6(9)
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) def. 3 M. Lopez (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) 4-6 6-1 21-19

Friday’s Order of Play

Last week’s champion in Brazil, Juan Carlos Ferrero had a routine win over Marcos Daniel. He bested the Brazilian 6-2 6-4 after 75 minutes of play in the second-round match. The former world no. one will meet qualifier Santiago Ventura, who upset seventh-seed Victor Hanescu today, in the quarterfinals.

The Spaniard is on course to meet either Carlos Moya or most likely Juan Monaco in the semifinals. Should Ferrero end up meeting Moya, it would be a battle of the former French Open champions and former world no.1s. It would be like the good ole days.

Preview:
City: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2009 Singles Champion: Tommy Robredo
2009 Doubles Champion: Marcel Granollers and Alberto Martin
Draws: Singles | Doubles

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Juan Ferrero (ESP) def. Marcos Daniel (BRA) 6-2 6-4
5 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Q Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Q Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. 7 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-4 7-6(10)
David Nalbandian (ARG) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-7(5) 6-4 7-6(7)

Doubles First Round
1. P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. R. Gasquet (FRA)/M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 5-7 6-4 10-4
D. Koellerer (AUT)/O. Marach (AUT) def. 2 A. Sa (BRA)/H. Tecau (ROU) 6-1 6-4
D. Ferrer (ESP)/R. Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. 3 L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE) 5-7 6-2 10-6
S. Greul (GER)/P. Luczak (AUS) def. F. Gil (POR)/E. Schwank (ARG) 6-4 6-1
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. F. Fognini (ITA)/P. Starace (ITA) 5-7 6-2 10-3

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: Copa Telmex)

Ernests Gulbis took out third-seed Radek Stepanek 7-6(5) 7-5 in their second-round matchup. The Latvian secures a spot in the quarterfinals against the winner of the Russell-Berdych match. The 21 year old has yet to make it to the semifinals in an ATP event so far in his career.

The Latvian showed promise a few years ago when he was at a career-high of 38, but there has not been a lot to write about the Latvian ON the tennis court in the last year. Off the court, he was embroiled in the case of the mystery tennis player busted for solicitation of a prostitute in Sweden last year. Oops.

The Latvian started off this year with a good run in Doha where he lost to Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. He then lost in the opening rounds of the Australian Open and San Jose. This week, the current world no. 99 is off to a good start with two-straight wins.

In the other upset of the day, Xavier Malisse upset fourth-seed Tommy Haas 6-4 3-6 6-4 in the German-American’s Memphis debut. The Belgian now has a large task of dealing with Ivo Karlovic and his big serve in the second round.

Malisse missed most of his 2007 year with a wrist injury. Since the time off the Belgian has struggled on the main tour and played mostly on the Challenger tour for much of 2008. Last week, he sent home Radek Stepanek, the defending champion in San Jose, in the first round but then lost in the following round. This week his victim is Tommy Haas. Now, all the Belgian has to do is follow up his upset with some more wins.

Preview:
City: Memphis, TN, USA
Surface: Indoor Hard

Championship Points: 500
2009 Singles Champion: Andy Roddick
2009 Doubles Champion: Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles
Draws: Singles | Doubles

Wednesday’s Results
Singles First Round
1 Andy Roddick (USA) def. James Blake (USA) 6-3 4-6 7-6(3)
Xavier Malisse (BEL) def. 4 Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 3-6 6-4
8 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Rajeev Ram (USA) 6-2 6-3
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. Mardy Fish (USA) 6-4 6-0

Doubles First Round
WC S. Lipsky (USA)/D. Martin (USA) def. B. Becker (GER)/J. Chardy (FRA) 7-5 6-2

Singles Second Round
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) def. 3 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 7-6(5) 7-5
6 John Isner (USA) def. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4
Philipp Petzschner (GER) def. Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) 7-6(5) 7-6(5)

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image:[Irina])

Michael Llodra was a double winner today. First, he upset seventh-seed Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets in singles. He now awaits the winner of the Soderling-Stakhovsky match for a quarterfinal matchup.

Later on in the day, he beat Sergiy Stakhovsky and Rogier Wassen with partner Julien Benneteau in doubles. The Frenchman is trying to defend his doubles title with a different partner. They will next meet play the person he won the title with last year, Arnaud Clement, who is now paired with Nicolas Mahut, in the semifinals.

Not a bad day’s worth of work for Monsieur Llodra.

Preview:
City: Marseille, France

Surface: Indoor Hard
 Championship Points: 250

2009 Singles Champion: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2009 Doubles Champion: Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra
Draws: Singles | Doubles

Wednesday’s Results
Singles First Round

WC Guillaume Rufin (FRA) def. LL Laurent Recouderc (FRA) 7-5 4-6 7-6(2)
Q Yannick Mertens (BEL) def. Jan Hajek (CZE) 7-6(8) 6-1

Singles Second Round

2 Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA) def. LL Joanna Ouanna (FRA) 7-6(9) 6-4 

Mischa Zverev (GER) def. 4 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-2 3-6 6-1

Michael Llodra (FRA) def. 7 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 7-6(6) 6-4

8 Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Doubles First Round

R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Coetzee (RSA) def. C. Rochus (BEL)/O. Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals

2 J. Benneteau (FRA)/M. Llodra (FRA) def. S. Stakhovsky (UKR)/R. Wassen (NED) 6-2 6-2

A. Clement (FRA)/N. Mahut (FRA) def. R. de Voest (RSA)/A. Qureshi (PAK) 6-3 7-5

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: EQ)

Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero won his second-career title in two years last Sunday in Brazil. The Brazilian title brings his career total to lucky thirteen. It’s amazing what happens when he is not constantly injured.

His compatriot, Fernando Verdasco won the San Jose title on the same day. It is his first title of the year and fourth-career title. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a winning streak for the world no. 11.

Other winners:

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Singles Final
3WC Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 6 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-4 2-0 RET. (right hamstring)

Doubles Final
1 D. Nestor/N. Zimonjic def. Aspelin/ Hanley 6-4 4-6 10-7

Brasil Open
Singles Final

1 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. Lukasz Kubot (POL) 6-1 6-0



Doubles Final

2 P. Cuevas/M. Granollers def. 1 L. Kubot/O. Marach 7-5 6-4

SAP Open
Singles Final

2 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. 1 Andy Roddick (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-4



Doubles Final

M. Fish/S. Querrey def. B. Becker/L. Mayer 7-6(3) 7-5

(Images: Koch Tavares/ Brasil Open 2010, SAP Open)

After winning the title in Johannesburg last week, Feliciano Lopez had the unfortunate task of running into second-seed Nikolay Davydenko in the first round. The world no. 6 had his way with the Spaniard and beat him 6-4 6-2 after just 75 minutes of play. The Russian moves on to play Marcos Baghdatis, who beat James Blake. The Cypriot is 2-1 over Davydenko.

Lopez’s compatriot Tommy Robredo did not have much luck either. German Florian Mayer upset the fifth-seed 6-4 3-6 6-3 in their second-round match. Mayer now awaits the winner of the Monfils-de Bakker match.

Despite losing today, Lopez and Robredo still have doubles. They draw the top-seeds Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic tomorrow.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
3 WC Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Q Igor Sijsling (NED) 7-6(6) 6-2
Florian Mayer (GER) def. 5 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-4 3-6 6-3

Singles First Round
2 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4 6-2
4 Gael Monfils (FRA) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 4-6 6-1 6-2
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) def. 8 Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-3 3-0 RET. (right arm)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. James Blake (USA) 6-4 6-2
Michael Berrer (GER) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 7-6(16) 4-6 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Knowle (AUT)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. 3 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-3 4-6 10-8

Doubles First Round
S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. S. Bolelli (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-2 6-3
M. Llodra (FRA)/A. Ram (ISR) def. J. Benneteau (FRA)/A. Clement (FRA) 6-7(0) 6-4 10-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)