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)

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)

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)

Tommy Robredo of Spain won his second title in two weeks. The win was well deserved since he and Argentine Juan Monaco were locked in a battle royale in Buenos Aires for the title. Robredo beat Monaco 7-5 2-6 7-6(5) in a 164 minute match.

Robredo won the first set by breaking Monaco late in the set. In what looked like divine intervention on behalf of Juan Monaco, rain forced a delay at the beginning of the second set. Monaco came out from the delay to break the Spaniard three times and take the second set. The Argentine then jumped ahead to a 3-0 lead in the third set and looked as if he were going to cruise to victory.



Robredo rallied to tie the match at 4-4 and then jumped ahead 5-4 to serve for the match. Monaco saved three match points to tie it up at 5-5. The two players battled back and forth to bring the match to a third-set tiebreak. Robredo jumped ahead in the tiebreak, but the Argentine made a run to try to tie it up. In the end, Robredo was able to hold off Monaco to take the title and win his ninth career title.

Singles Championship
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Juan Monaco (ARG) 7-5 2-6 7-6(5)

Doubles Championship
M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) def. N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-3 5-7 10-8

(images: Copa Telmex)

Copa Telmex

Tommy Robredo and Juan Monaco will see each other on Sunday. It could be Robredo’s second title in two weeks. Robredo defeated Jose Acasuso in straight sets to advance.


Copa Telmex

Juan Monaco, on the other hand, had a more daunting task. He had to play the top seed and defending champion, David Nalbandian. Nalbandian won the first set and was serving for the match when Monaco went on a tear and won three games in a row to clinch the second set. The third set was closer, and the two traded breaks. Monaco eventually won the third set tiebreak and upset the defending champion.

Tommy Robredo and Juan Monaco will face off in the final. Their head-to–head is even at 1-1. Monaco won this tournament in 2007, and Robredo is currently on a hot streak. The final should be good tomorrow.

Match Results:
Singles Semifinals
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 1 David Nalbandian (ARG) 2-6 7-5 7-6(2)
3 Tommy Robredo def. 5 Jose Acasuso 6-4 7-6(3)

Doubles Semifinals
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) 2-6 6-3 14-12

Sunday’s Matches:
Singles Championship
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)

Doubles Championship
M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) vs. N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP)

Juan Monaco won pretty easily over countryman Maximo Gonzalez 6-2 6-3. He will play David Nalbandian in the semifinals, so he will have his hands full tomorrow.



Poor Juan Carlos Ferrero. The Spaniard had to retire in the second set against David Nalbandian due to a right leg injury. Let's hope he makes a speedy recovery in time for Acapulco.



Top seed David Nalbandian has played well this tournament and looks like the person to beat this week. He was ahead 6-3 3-0 when Ferrero retired. The Argentine will meet Juan Monaco in the semifinals and currently leads their head-to-head 2-0.


Tommy Robredo beat Brazilian Franco Ferreiro 6-4 7-6(4) and will now reach the semifinals. The Spaniard is poised to win his second title in a row, but he will first have to beat Jose Acasuso to reach the final. Robredo currently leads Acasuso in their head-to-head 4-3.

Complete Match Results:
Singles Quarterfinals:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-3 3-0 Ret’d
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA) 6-4 7-6(4)
5 Jose Acasuso def. Oscar Hernandez 6-1 6-2
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Q Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) 6-2 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals:
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP) 6-1 6-0

Doubles Semifinals
M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) def. A. Calleri (ARG)/P. Starace (ITA) 6-1 1-6 10-5

Saturday's Matches:
Singles Semifinals:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Juan Monaco (ARG)
3 Tommy Robredo vs. 5 Jose Acasuso

Doubles Semifinals:
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) vs. B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG)

(images: Copa Telmex/Sergio Llamera)

Singles Round of 16:
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. wc Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 6-2 3-6 6-4
5 Jose Acasuso (ARG) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-4 6-3
Q Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) def. Brian Dabul (ARG) 6-3 6-1
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-4 2-6 6-2
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Diego Junqueira (ARG) 3-6 7-6(5) 6-0

Doubles Quarterfinals:
M. Granollers /A. Martin def. wc E. Schwank /H. Zeballos 6-1 6-1
A. Calleri (ARG)/P. Starace (ITA) def. D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP)/I. Navarro Pastor (ESP) 6-1 7-6(4)
B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) def. J. Acasuso (ARG)/M. V. Arguello (ARG) w.o.

Friday's Schedule:

Singles Quarterfinals:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA)
Juan Monaco (ARG) vs. Q Maximo Gonzalez (ARG)

Doubles Quarterfinals:
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) vs. O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP)

Doubles Semifinals:
A. Calleri (ARG)/P. Starace (ITA) vs. M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP)

Singles Round of 16:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 7-5 6-2
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 7 Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-7(7) 6-0 6-3
Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA) def. Q Pablo Cuevas (URU) 6-2 6-4

Doubles Round of 16:
B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) def. 2 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 7-5 6-2
O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP) def. 3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Gonzalez (ARG) 6-2 6-7(8) 10-8
wc E. Schwank (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. 4 L. Arnold (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) 6-2 7-5
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) def. wc M. Hood (ARG)/S. Prieto (ARG) 6-2 6-2
J. Acasuso (ARG) /M. V. Arguello (ESP) def. P. Andujar (ESP)/C. Moya (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-2

Singles Round of 16:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP)
7 Marcel Granollers (ESP) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
Q Pablo Cuevas (URU) vs. Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA)

Doubles Round of 16:
2 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. B. Dabul (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG)
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Gonzalez (ARG) vs. O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Montanes (ESP)
4 L. Arnold (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) vs. wc E. Schwank (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG)
N. Almagro (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) vs. wc M. Hood (ARG)/S. Prieto (ARG)
P. Andujar (ESP)/C. Moya (ESP) vs. J. Acasuso (ARG) /M. V. Arguello (ESP)

There were a lot of upsets today in Buenos Aires. Second-seed Nicolas Almagro, fourth-seed Carlos Moya, sixth-seed Albert Montanes and eighth-seed Eduardo Schwank lost today. Moya was trying to win his third title this year but was sent packing by Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina in straight sets.

Brazilian Open finalist, Thomaz Bellucci also lost to seventh-seed Marcel Granollers. Last week’s winner in Brazil, Tommy Robredo did manage to win after losing the first set. Robredo rallied in the next two sets to beat Potito Starace of Italy.


Copa Telmex

Juan Monaco of Argentina administered the beat down on countryman, Sergio Roitman. Monaco won every single game to double bagel Roitman in less than 60 minutes of work. He will play Martin Vassallo Arguello of Spain in the next round.

Singles Round of 32:
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. 2 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-2 1-6 6-3
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 5-7 6-3 6-3
Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) def. 4 Carlos Moya (ESP) 6-4 6-4
5 Jose Acasuso (ARG) def. Q Daniel Munoz-De La Nava (ESP) 6-2 7-6(4)
Martin Vassallo Arguello (ESP) def. 6 Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-2 6-3
7 Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-5 7-5
Q Pablo Cuevas (URU) def. 8 Eduardo Schwank 6-3 6-7(4) 6-0
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. wc Sergio Roitman (ARG) 6-0 6-0
Fabio Fognini (ITA) def. Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-3 6-3
Diego Junqueira (ARG) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 3-6 6-4 6-4
Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA) def. Ivan Navarro Pastor (ESP) 1-6 6-4 6-2
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) def. wc Gaston Gaudio (ARG) 6-2 4-6 6-2

Doubles Round of 16:
M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) def. D. Koellerer (AUT)/N. Massu (CHI) 6-3 6-4
A. Calleri (ARG)/P. Starace (ITA) vs. N. Devilder (FRA)/D. Junqueira (ARG) 6-1 7-5

Singles Round of 32:
2 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Oscar Hernandez (ESP)
3 Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Potito Starace (ITA)
4 Carlos Moya (ESP) vs. Q Maximo Gonzalez (ARG)
5 Jose Acasuso (ARG) vs. Q Daniel Munoz-De La Nava (ESP)
6 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ESP)
7 Marcel Granollers (ESP) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
8 Eduardo Schwank vs. Q Pablo Cuevas (URU)
Juan Monaco (ARG) vs. wc Sergio Roitman (ARG)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Pablo Andujar (ESP)
Nicolas Massu (CHI) vs. Diego Junqueira (ARG)
Q Franco Ferreiro (BRA) vs. Ivan Navarro Pastor (ESP)
wc Gaston Gaudio (ARG) vs. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP)

Doubles Round of 16:
D. Koellerer (AUT)/N. Massu (CHI) vs. M. Granollers (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP)
A. Calleri (ARG)/P. Starace (ITA) vs. N. Devilder (FRA)/D. Junqueira (ARG)

City: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: David Nalbandian
2008 Doubles Champions: Calleri/Horna


Copa Telmex

Defending champion, David Nalbandian of Argentina is seated number one. This tournament has the same cast of South American and Spanish players that do the South American clay circuit. Added to to the mix this week is Spaniard Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian. It should be interesting to see if Tommy Robredo and Thomaz Bellucci stay on their roll this week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Updated: Monday's Matches
Singles Round of 32:
1 David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
Brian Dabul (ARG) vs. Nicolas Devilder (FRA)
Antonio Martin (ESP) vs. wc Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. Agustin Calleri (ARG)

Doubles Round of 16:
1 F. Cermak (CZE) /M. Mertinak (SVK) vs. D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP) /I. Navarro (ESP)

Monday's Order of Play