Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Guillermo Canas and Mariano Zabaleta took part in a Spain vs. Argentina exhibition at the Masters Tennis 2016 Tournament in Burgos, Spain today. The two-day exhibition commemorates the anniversary of Circle Fund, and also promotes the candidacy of Burgos as European Capital of Culture in 2016. At the end of the day one, Canas beat Robredo 7-6 7-6, and Verdasco prevailed over Zabaleta 6-3 6-3.

(Images: AP)

Tommy Haas defeated the defending champion Marcel Granollers 4-6 6-2 6-3. This is a good win for the former ATP world number two. He struggled with injuries over the last couple of years, and he is currently ranked number 86.

Haas will play countrymen Bjorn Phau in the quarterfinals. The two players have never met in ATP play. The bottom part of the draw is starting to open up nicely for Haas, who won the title in 2004.

On the other side of the draw, Evgeny Korolev bested Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-3 7-6(4) after 80 minutes of play. He advances to the quarterfinals to meet Guillermo Canas, who gave Taylor Dent a beatdown today. Canas currently leads Korolev 1-0 in their head-to-head matchup.

Thursday’s Results
Singles Round of 16
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) def. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 6-3 7-6(4)
Bjorn Phau (GER) def. Q Scoville Jenkins (USA) 6-4 7-6(2)
WC Tommy Haas (GER) def. 6 Marcel Granollers (ESP) 4-6 6-2 6-3
Guillermo Canas (ARG) def. WC Taylor Dent (USA) 6-2 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. S. Lipsky (USA)/D. Vemic (SRB) 6-2 6-4
WC J. Levine (USA)/R. Sweeting (USA) def. J. Levinsky (CZE)/P. Vizner (CZE) 7-6(6) 6-4

Friday’s Order of Play


(image: Aaron M. Sprecher/River Oaks CC)

The second day of the tournament was a good day for the Germans. Bjorn Phau, ATP world number 77, upset Mardy Fish 6-3 5-7 6-3. In the next round, Phau will play Scoville Jenkins. The two players have never met in an ATP event.

Veteran player Tommy Haas had a routine win over countryman Denis Gremelmayer 6-3 6-3. Haas, who celebrated his 31st birthday a few days ago, will play the sixth seed Marcel Granollers. The two players have never played in an ATP event, though Haas won the title in 2004.

It was not the best day for the American singles players. The top seeds James Blake and Mardy Fish lost. Fifth seed Sam Querrey pulled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury. Fellow American, Amer Delic replaced Querrey and then lost to Chilean Paul Capdeville after winning the first set.

Taylor Dent, John Isner and Scoville Jenkins won their matches after losing the first set and then rallied to win in three sets. On the doubles side, the reliable Bryan brothers won their match against Jeremy Chardy and Brian Dabul 7-6(5) 6-3.

The last Argentine player left in the singles draw, Guillermo Canas dealt Blake his loss 6-4 6-4. This is the Canas’ second win this year. He will play Evgeny Korolev in the next round. In 2007, Canas came out on top in their only meeting.

The lone Frenchman in the tournament, Jeremy Chardy took no time defeating Jesse Levine 6-3 6-0 after 61 minute of work. He will meet Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round. The two players have never met in ATP play. On paper, Chardy should have no trouble with the Spaniard.

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Guillermo Canas (ARG) def. 1 James Blake (USA) 6-4 6-4
Bjorn Phau (GER) def. 2 Mardy Fish (USA) 6-3 5-7 6-3
4 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. LL Jesse Levine (USA) 6-3 6-0
6 Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Brian Dabul (ARG) 2-6 6-4 6-1
Paul Capdeville (CHI) def. Amer Delic* (USA) 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 6-1
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. 7 Diego Junqueira (ARG) 6-0 6-2
Tommy Haas (GER) def. Denis Gremelmayr (GER) 6-3 6-3
WC John Isner (USA) def. Q Michael Russell (USA) 4-6 6-3 6-2
WC Taylor Dent (USA) vs. Marcos Daniel (BRA)
Sergio Roitman (ARG) def. Agustin Calleri (ARG) 6-3 6-3
Q Scoville Jenkins (USA) def. Q Alexander Peya (AUT) 0-6 6-4 6-3
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Q Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 1-6 6-0 6-2
*Replaces 5 seed Sam Querrey (USA)

Doubles First Round
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. J. Chardy (FRA)/B. Dabul (ARG) 7-6(5) 6-3
2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. J. Melzer (AUT)/A. Peya (AUT) 3-6 6-4 10-7
J. Cerretani (USA)/D. Norman (BEL) def. 4 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 7-5 7-6(6)
J. Levinsky (CZE)/P. Vizner (CZE) def. M. Gonzalez (ARG)/S. Roitman (ARG) 6-1 6-4

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
3 Jurgen Melzer (AUT) vs. Wayne Odesnik (USA)
4 Jeremy Chardy (FRA) vs. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)
WC John Isner (USA) vs. Paul Capdeville (CHI)
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs. Sergio Roitman (ARG)

Doubles First Round
3 L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/M. Damm (CZE) vs. J. Levine (USA)/R Sweeting (USA)
D. Gimeno-Traver (ESP)/D. Junqueria (ARG) vs. S. Lipsky (USA)/D. Vemic (SRB)

Double Second Round
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. J. Isner (USA)/T. Parrott (USA)
J. Blake (USA)/Mardy Fish (USA) vs. J. Cerretani (USA)/D. Norman (BEL)

Wednesday’s Order of Play

(image: Aaron M. Sprecher/ROCC)

City: Houston, Texas, USA
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Marcel Granollers
2008 Doubles Champions: Ernest Gulbis/Rainer Schuettler

Marcel Granollers will be on hand to defend his title. James Blake, Mardy Fish and Lleyton Hewitt will also be there. The tournament is on clay, so there will probably be no trouble from them. Look for Jeremy Chardy to cause a little bit of trouble in the top part of the draw. Also, there is always a possibility that Guillermo Canas could awake from his tennis slumber and surprise someone.

Ernest Gulbis and Rainer Schuettler will not defend their title. The Bryan Brothers, Fisher/Kerr, Ker/Damm and Huss/Hutchins will all be in the mix. Parrott/Polasek are having a good year, but Filip Polasek is not playing in the tournament. Travis Parrott is instead teamed up with the big, serving John Isner. This pairing could be interesting.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Matches
Qualifying Third Round
Donald Young (USA) vs. Scoville Jenkins (USA)
Michael Russell (USA) vs. Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Alexander Peya (AUT) vs. Jesse Levine (USA)
Amer Delic (USA) vs. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU)

Singles First Round
3 Juergen Melzer (AUT) vs. Robert Kendrick (USA)
8 Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) vs. Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP)
Wayne Odesnik (USA) vs. Kevin Anderson (RSA)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) vs. Leonardo Mayer (ARG)

Doubles First Round
D. Martin (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) vs. J. Isner (USA)/T. Parrott (USA)
J. Blake (USA)/M. Fish (USA) vs. A. Delic (USA)/R. Kendrick (USA)

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: Emily Jaschke)