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)

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)

Fernando Verdasco beat “Pistol” Pete Sampras 6-3 7-6(2) in their exhibition match in San Jose last night.

(Image: AP)

Hola TV has video of Fernando Verdasco's Calvin Klein shoot. You can also vote in their poll. Verdasco is slightly behind Kellan Lutz.

Fernando Verdasco has officially arrived. Like his predecessor Mark Wahlberg, the world no. 12 is apart of Calvin Klein’s latest global advertising campaign for its male underwear collection, X. Twightlight star Kellan Lutz anchors the campaign with actor Mehcad Brooks and Japanese athlete Hidetoshi Nakata.

The multimedia campaign launches March 1 and will feature behind-the-scenes videos and 3-D-effect versions of the adverts. That should be interesting.

(Via: Marie Claire UK) Thanks , Mrs. P.!

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 Order of Play

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

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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.

Saturday’s Results
Singles Third Round
1 Roger Federer (SUI) def. 31 Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-3 6-4 6-4
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-1 6-1 6-2
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 30 Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-0 6-3 6-4
9 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def Q Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-1 ret. (illness)
10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. 18 Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 3-6 6-1 7-5
Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. 20 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) walkover (right wrist)
22 Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 6-0 4-2 ret. (right shoulder)
26 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Alejandro Falla (COL) 6-4 6-3 6-4

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)

Sunday’s Order of Play

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Spain swept the Czech Republic 5-0 to cap off the weekend. Despite clinching the title, Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer still played in their respective dead rubbers to in Barcelona.

Sunday’s Results
R5: David Ferrer (ESP) def. Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) 6-4 6-2
R4: Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Jan Hajek (CZE) 6-3 6-4

Saturday’s Results
R3: F.Lopez/F. Verdasco (ESP) def. T. Berdych/R. Stepanek (CZE) 7-6(7) 7-5 6-2

Friday’s Results
R2: David Ferrer (ESP) def. Radek Stepanek (CZE) 1-6 2-6 6-4 6-4 8-6
R1: Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 7-5 6-0 6-2

(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

Spain successfully defended their title and captured their fourth Davis Cup title of the decade. The last team to successfully defend their title was Sweden in 1998. The Spaniards won the most titles of this decade -- the US came in second with two titles. The title also moves Spain into the sixth place on the number of Davis Cup titles won: USA 32, Australia 28, France 9, Great Britain 9 and Sweden 7. Not bad for a country that won its first Davis Cup title in 2000.

The win this weekend was impressive. Each player carried his own weight. No one flaked out and relied on Rafael Nadal to carry the team. Nadal played wonderfully yesterday, and David Ferrer showed a lot of heart by rallying from two sets down to win when he was not playing particularly well yesterday.

Today, Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez stepped up to the plate and effectively shutdown Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych. A weak point for the Spanish duo is Verdasco’s volleying and Lopez’s serve. These issues were not a factor at all today. In fact, they both played really well and kept their errors to a minimum. Plus, Verdasco hit a lot of winners from all over the court.

Most importantly, there were no mental hiccups. In the tiebreak, the Spaniards served for the first set at 6-3. They allowed the Czechs to go on a 4-point run. As a consequence, the Czechs turned the tables and had a set point at 7-6. It looked like the Czech team would take advantage of the situation. Verdasco and Lopez instead took care of business and won the next two points. The next time they saw set point, they converted.

In the second set, the Spanish team played solidly. They did not make any major mistakes and again had no mental letdowns. They stayed with the Czechs and actually broke in game 11. Lopez then held serve for the second set.

From there, the wheels came of the Czech bus. The Spaniards broke in the first and fifth games of the third set. Stepanek and Berdych were completely despondent by game four. The second break effectively closed the door on the Czechs, who had successfully taken advantage of a lot of teams this year. Verdasco and Lopez ultimately won in dominant fashion 7-6(7) 7-5 6-2 after two hours and 46 minutes of play.

Spain wins it in three to cap a dominant performance this year. Congrats to the Czech runners-up, who went on the road and upset France, Argentina and Croatia. They definitely deserved to be in the final but ultimately ran into a team that was all business this year.

(Images: Denis Doyle/Getty Images, LLuis Gene/AFP/Getty Images)

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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Top-seed Rafael Nadal passed James Blake 6-3 6-7(4) 6-4 after 2 hours and 11 minutes of play. Blake gave the Spaniard trouble last week in Beijing and proved to be slightly problematic again this week.

It looked like the Spaniard might wrap up the match quickly after taking the first set and getting a break in the second set. Blake, who is not known for having a plan B or C, was able to change up his tactics a bit and also started to play better. Blake broke back in the second set and was able remain on serve. He finally walked away with the second set in the tiebreak.

In the third set, the players remained on serve until Nadal broke in the fifth game of the third set. Blake was able to break back in game seven. After holding serve at love, Nadal went on attack in game ten. The attack proved too much for the American, and Nadal finally closed out the match.

Nadal now advances to the round of 16 to play compatriot Tommy Robredo. The Majorcan was also aided today when his draw opened up after third-seed Juan Martin del Potro retired in his match with Austrian Jurgen Melzer. The recent US Open champion has had Nadal's number of late, so the Spaniards's possible trip to the final has been made a lot easier.

Fifteenth-seed Tommy Haas also retired to allow Rainer Schuettler to advance. Other downed seeds today include Fernando Verdasco and David Ferrer, who loss to Feliciano Lopez no less. Lopez will play Melzer in the next round.

(Image: Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic celebrates after beating Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2) 1-6 7-5 6-2 in yesterday’s quarterfinal match. Roger Federer will get a chance to test the Serb in the next round. Djokovic is currently 4-8 against the Swiss champion. It will be a tough task tomorrow, but he is very capable of beating Federer.

(Image: Darron Cummings/AP Photo)

After his 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory against Radek Stapenek, Novak Djokovic had a little fun by first challenging his new coach, Todd Martin to a tennis duel and then John McEnroe. The Serb then treated the crowd to his McEnroe impression, which was pretty spot on.

It was nice to see him connect with the New York audience, and they gave him some love in return. Last year, it was painful when they turned on him. Granted, some of it was his fault.

Djokovic will now play Fernando Verdasco in the quarterfinals. Both players performed well yesterday, so it should be an exciting match on Wednesday. Djokovic leads their head-to-head matchup 3-2, with the world no. 4 winning the last three meetings. He is going to have his hands full though, as Verdasco is starting to play like he did in the Australian.

Usually John Isner gives a lot of players trouble, as we witnessed when he beat Roddick on Saturday night. Fernando Verdasco was patient and able to hang with the big guy and his serve. After losing the first set, he picked apart the American’s game and rallied to secure his quarterfinal appearance at 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.

The Spaniard played well, and we got a glimpse of the player who took Australia by storm earlier this year. He now waits for the winner of tonight’s Djokovic-Stepanek match.

(Image: AP)

Tommy Robredo asks server James Blake for a little more time before receiving. Robredo eventually stopped the American’s forward progress in the tournament by beating him 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4 in Saturday’s night match.

Robredo will now have the opportunity to meet Roger Federer in the round of 16. Federer leads their matchup 8-0. Good luck to the Spaniard in tomorrow’s match.

In other match news, John Isner and his big serve sent fifth-seed Andy Roddick home last evening in a five-set serving thriller. Isner will face Fernando Verdasco, who had his own five-set thriller. The two players have never played in ATP or grand slam action.

Thanks, Mrs. M & Family!
(Image: Denise/tennnisfiend)

After rain delayed the singles semifinals yesterday, the tournament pushed the missed action to Saturday morning. By the end of the afternoon, Sam Querrey and Fernando Verdasco were left standing and had the opportunity to face-off this evening for the title.

The two players had never met in an ATP play, but the world no. 10 managed to walk away with his first win over the world no. 23. Verdasco managed to pass the American 6-4 7-6(6) after 95 minutes of play. New Haven is the Spaniard’s first title of the year, first hardcourt title and third career title.

Now, Querrey and Verdasco will head to the US Open. They are both playing well now, so they will definitely be in the mix in next week. Hopefully, the tournament delays do not impact their games.



Championship Saturday
Singles Semifinals
2 WC Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. 7 Igor Andreev (RUS) 7-6(4) 7-6(5)
6 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Jose Acasuso (ARG) 6-3 6-4

Singles Final
2 WC Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. 6 Sam Querrey (USA) 6-4 7-6(6)

Doubles Final
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 6-4 7-6(3)

(Image: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

City: New York, NY USA
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 2000
2008 Singles Champion: Roger Federer
2008 Doubles: Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan

This is the final grand slam of the year, and Roger Federer will go for his sixth-consecutive US Open title. Between Rafael Nadal’s rehabilitation and everyone else just flaking out, this is the first tournament in two years where I am pretty certain Roger Federer will win. Federer is the most consistent player on tour at the moment. He has also won 16 grand slam titles, so he knows he has that advantage over the others in the slams, with the exception of a top-form Nadal.

Once again, Federer has an easy quarter where he could possibly take meet Robin Soderling or Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals. Davydenko had problems this week in New Haven with his wrists, so he should not really be a threat. Soderling is capable of being dangerous, but it looks like he does not know it yet.

Federer’s possible semifinal matchup could be with Novak Djokovic or Andy Roddick. We know Djokovic is still flakey, and Roddick just cannot beat the Swiss champion for a host of reasons. This quarter of the draw is also chalked full of people. Tommy Haas and Fernando Verdasco should be in the mix. Anyone of the fore-mentioned players could end up in the semifinals, so this is the hardest part of the draw.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray anchor the second half of the draw. Nadal has a good quarter for his predicament since he is still trying to find his original form. His first-round match is with Richard Gasquet, who is probably rustier than Nadal is, so that is a good scenario for him. In the round of 16, the Spaniard could possibly have to contend with Gael Monfils. The Musketeer has been tame this year, but he could start feeling it at any time.

The top half of his quarter is littered with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych and Fernando Gonzalez. These four players are going to have to duke it out for the chance to possibly play Nadal in the quarterfinals. Nadal’s trouble begins here because he has to meet one of them. The old Nadal would have no problem, but the more vulnerable Nadal could have trouble with anyone of these four.

Murray’s quarter is kind of precarious. This first part of it will be very manageable, but his possible quarterfinal meeting with Juan Martin del Potro could be a giant headache for him. Whoever is left standing will have to possibly deal with Nadal -- who could find his form at anytime -- and then head to the final. For this reason, it is probably better for Nadal that he is seated third rather than second.

At the end of the day, the tournament is really Federer’s to lose. Nadal is still nowhere near where he needs to be to be a real threat. The Spaniard probably will not be better until next season to be realistic. When he was playing in Cincinnati, the announcers pointed out that he was still gingerly moving on his forehand side.

As for Murray, he should win this tournament, but he is going to have to stop flaking out in the slams. He wins everything else, so it is time. If we are going to have to be subject to Brad Gilbert, Darren Cahill and Robbie Koening go on-and-on about him, the Scotsman better get it done this year. I still think he should have won Wimbledon this year, but he pulled a flakey-jake routine.

It would be nice if Verdasco found his Australian Open form. It would also be nice to see Andy Roddick solve his Federer riddle. It would be really nice to be pleasantly surprised about Nadal’s form. It would be really, really nice if Juan Martin del Potro took the whole enchilada. I guess a girl can dream. Let’s hope this fortnight is exciting and chalked full of surprises.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Tournament Evils (formerly Tournament Malfeasance)
3 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
4 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
13 Gael Monfils (FRA) vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
26 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)
Michael Llodra (FRA) vs. Nicolas Kiefer (GER)

(Image: Rob Loud/usopen.org)

Sam Querrey is enjoying a good summer and great week. With yesterday’s win, he won the US Open Series and could possibly bank a million bucks. Today, he took out top-seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-3 3-6 6-4 in New Haven.

His win single-handedly opens the draw for the American. Querrey will awaits to play the winner of the Acasuso-Serra match. Either winner should not give him trouble, but Jose Acasuso is the more dangerous of the two. He now has a good shot at the title, and a great opportunity to make it to the final.

On the other side of the draw, Igor Andreev and Fernando Verdasco both advanced into the semifinals tomorrow. Verdasco leads their head-to-head 3-1 with the Spaniard taking all their clay-court meetings and they split their hard-surface meetings. Andreev though did win their last encounter in the third round of the US Open last year.

(Image: AP)

Fernando Verdasco had an easy time with Paul Cuevas today in New Haven. He beat the Chilean 6-0 6-3 after 49 minutes of play. Next up for the Spaniard is Italian Andreas Seppi, who he happens to be 4-0 against. Hopefully for Verdasco, there are no surprises for the second-seed tomorrow.

Though Verdasco had an easy time today, some seeds did not fare as well. Philipp Petzschner and Andreas Beck lost. Ninth-seed Nicolas Almagro -- who has struggled after the South American clay-court season this year -- lost to German Bjorn Phau 2-6 6-3 7-5. Tenth-seed Jeremy Chardy went down in a three setter against compatriot Florent Serra.

The shocker of the day was third-seed Tommy Robredo who lost to Jose Acasuso 3-6 7-5 7-6(5). Those Argentine veterans (Canas, Acasuso) are always trouble, and they strike at the most inopportune time. Acasuso now advances to play Igor Kunitsyn tomorrow. The two players have never met in ATP play.


(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

City: New Haven, CT, USA
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Marin Cilic
2008 Doubles Champions: Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa

Marin Cilic will not defend his title this year. Nicolay Davydenko is the top-seed and the one to beat in this tournament. He has a good draw and should be able to advance into the quarterfinals. Sam Querrey, who has been playing well, could give him trouble there.

In the semifinals, the Russian could possibly meet Tommy Robredo, Jeremy Chardy or Mardy Fish. Their quarter of the draw is probably the most competitive of all the quarters.

Second-seed Fernando Verdasco anchors the other side of the draw. The last-minute wildcard should have no trouble getting through his quarter. The Spaniard could possibly meet Igor Andreev in the semifinals. Andreev has a good quarter and could go far if there are no surprises.

It should be a good week and good warm up for the US Open.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

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