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)

City: Moscow, Russia
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Igor Kunitsyn
2008 Doubles Champions: Sergiy Stakhovsky and Potito Starace

Defending champion, Igor Kunitsyn will defend his title this year. He will participate in the Moscow tournament along with top-seeds Nikolay Davydenko, Victor Hanescu, Mikhail Youzhny, Igor Andreev and Pablo Cuevas. In the 18 years of this tournament, Russians have dominated singles by winning 12 of the 18 titles awarded.

Top-seed Nikolay Davydenko will try to win this title for a fourth time coming off of his win in Shanghai. He will also try to go for his fifth title of the season, thus tying Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray as the top title holders of the year.

Marat Safin will also participate in the tournament for the final time. The veteran has never won this title and was runner up last year. I am sure he will be a sentimental favorite of the crowd. Janko Tipsarevic, Fabio Fognini, Evgeny Korolev and the retiring Fabrice Santoro round out the draw.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: Kremin Cup)

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)

Leonardo Mayer is having a pretty good run in New Haven. Today the 22-year-old Argentine and world no. 65 beat Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals where he will play seventh-seed Igor Andreev. The two players have never met in ATP competition, so tomorrow's matchup should be a good test for Mayer.

(Image: EFE)

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

(Image: Elsa/Getty Images)

City: Gstaad, Switzerland
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Victor Hanescu
2008 Doubles Champions: Jaroslav Levinsky and Filip Polasek

Stanislas Wawrinka, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Igor Andreev, Victor Hanescu, Jeremy Chardy, Nicolas Kiefer, Feliciano Lopez and Paul-Henri Mathieu are the top-seeds at this tournament. This week could be a good opportunity for top-seed and hometown favorite Stanislas Wawrinka to win his first title this year, but Jeremy Chardy has been hot of late. We shall see how it all shakes out this week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

(Images: Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad)

Tommy Haas continues to prevail in a march that began with his round of 16 appearance at Roland Garros and continued with his title in Halle a couple of weeks ago. Now, the German veteran has improved on his French grand slam appearance by advancing into the Wimbledon quarterfinal. He beat Igor Andreev 7-6(8) 6-4 6-4.

Haas now draws a tricky matchup with Novak Djokovic in the next round. Djokovic leads their head-to-head matchup 2-1. The 31-year-old veteran won their last meeting in Halle this year, when Haas stunned the Serb for the title. We shall see if the German's win was an aberration or a trend. Wednesday’s rematch should be titillating.

(Image: AFP)

City: Eastbourne, Great Britain
Surface: Outdoor Grass
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Igor Andreev
2008 Doubles Champions: Bruno Soares and Kevin Ullyett

Igor Andreev is the top-seed and will defend his title against Dmitry Tursunov, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Mikhail Youzhny, Janko Tipsarevic and Ivan Ljubicic. Youzhny has had the hot hand of late, and he could possibly give Andreev some trouble in the quarterfinals.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

City: Dusseldorf, Germany
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: World Team Cup
2008 Champions: Sweden

Sweden received a wildcard to defend its title this year. Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Serbia and the USA will also participate in the tournament. Most of the top players are not around since this tournament is a week before the French Open. In the case of France, Argentina and Germany, they have part of the their Davis Cup teams participating in the tournament.

Russia has a good team of Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov with Evgeny Korolev rounding it out. France has another good team with Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jeremy Chardy, but the French have been inconsistent this year. Argentina is in a good position to take the tournament. It is basically their new Davis Cup team since David Nalbandian is out with hip surgery. Juan Martin del Potro and Juan Monaco should do a lot of damage this week.

Tournament Draw
Round Robin

(Image: ARAG ATP World Team Championship)

Top-seed Novak Djokovic debuted in his second round match with Janko Tipsarevic in an all-Serbian affair. The ATP world no. 63 was able to take a set from Djokovic, who is currently having a good clay-court season. The current world no. 3 took care of business in the final set by winning at love and outlasting Tipsarevic 6-2 4-6 6-0.

Djokovic advances into the next round where he will play another Serb Viktor Troicki, who had a routine win over Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-4. Troicki is currently 1-0 over Djokovic in their head-to-head match-up. Their last meeting was on clay in Croatia in 2007.

On the other side of the draw, third-seed Igor Andreev retired after just five games due to a rib injury. Lucky loser Lukasz Kubot now advances into the round of 16 and will face Kristof Vliegen, who upset eighth-seed Christophe Rochus in an all-Belgian battle.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Q Flavio Cipolla (ITA) def. WC Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 1-6 6-3 6-1
Brian Dabul (ARG) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-2 -1
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-3 6-2

Singles Second Round
1 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-2 4-6 6-0
LL Lukasz Kubot (POL) def. 3 Igor Andreev (RUS) 3-2 Ret’d
5 Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Kristof Vliegen (BEL) def. 8 Christophe Rochus (BEL) 3-6 6-4 6-3

Doubles First Round
3 S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) def. J. Levinsky (CZE)/J.C. Scherrer 7-6(6) 6-4
R. Wassen (NED)/I Zelenay (SVK) def. R. Karanusic (CRO)/I Karlovic (CRO) 7-6(4) 4-6 10-7
J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) def. C. Rochus (BEL)/L. Zovko (CRO) 6-2 6-3

Thursday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
2 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs. Brian Dabul (ARG)
4Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. Leonardo Mayer (ARG)
6 Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs. Marcos Daniel (BRA)
7 Arnaud Clement (FRA) vs. Q Flavio Cipolla (ITA)

Doubles First Round
1 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. M. Djokovic (SRB)/D. Madjarovski (SRB)
2 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. J. Tipsarevic (SRB)/V. Troicki (SRB)
M. Granollers (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) - S. Querrey(USA)/S. Roitman (ARG)

Thursday's Order of Play

(Image: Serbia Open)

Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez of Spain (pictured left) beat the Russian duo of Marat Safin and Igor Andreev (pictured right watching the Cilic match with Youznhy before their doubles match) 7-6(3) 6-4. The Spaniards will meet the fourth-seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles in the next round.

Not to be outdone, the Serbian team of Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troiki took out the Brazilian doubles-specialists Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa 6-1 6-4. In the second round, the Serbs will encounter the eighth-seeds Jeff Coetzee and Jordan Kerr.

(Images: Montreal Gazette)

Juan Carlos Ferrero pulled out a tight match against top-seed Igor Andreev. He upset the Russian 7-6(9) 6-3. The two players traded two breaks apiece in the first set, and then Ferrero was able to squeak by Andreev in the tiebreaker. There were no breaks in the second set until Ferrero broke Andreev in the eighth game. He was able to hold serve for the set and the match.

Ferrero now advances to the final against fifth-seed Florent Serra, who upset Spaniard Albert Montanes earlier. Serra leads Ferrero 2-0 in their head-to-head matchup. Their last meeting was this year on the hard surfaces of Brisbane, and the other meeting was at ‘s-Hertogenbosch on grass. This will be their first meeting on clay. For Ferrero, this will be his first final since Auckland in 2008. Should he win, it will be his first title since his 2003 ATP Masters Series Madrid title.

After his 2003 French Open win and 2003 US Open final appearance, Ferrero’s career has been plagued with injuries. It all started when Spaniard came down with the chicken pox after a trip to the 2004 Australian Open semifinals. After being off the tour for two months, he fell during practice injuring his rib and wrist in May 2003. From there his year was shot, and he went from being ranked world number 2 to world number 31. In the years 2005-2007, he played more consistently and was able to end each year ranked somewhere within the top twenty-five.

For 2008, the last half of the year was marred with injuries (muscles, leg, and shoulder), which caused him to sit out most of the late summer. Ferrero retired from a second-round Wimbledon match and missed Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open. This year, he sat out two months after suffering a leg injury in Argentina. His ranking has suffered since he has not consistently played in the last calendar year, and he is now ranked 115.

Tomorrow’s final appearance will move the Spaniard within the top 100, and a win will move his ranking to the 70s range. Win or lose tomorrow, let’s hope he is able to play consistently for the rest of the year.

(Image: El Khiat)

After previously having two drag-out matches, Igor Andreev took less than an hour disposing of Marc Gicquel. He bested the Frenchman 6-1 6-3. Andreev will now face the former world number one, Juan Carlos Ferrero in the semifinals.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. 6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6-1 6-3
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 7-6(5) 6-4
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 4 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 7-5
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-0 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE) 6-2 4-6 12-10

Saturday’s Schedule
Singles Semifinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. 5 Florent Serra (FRA)

Doubles Final
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. 2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS)

Saturday’s Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

Top-seed Igor Andreev has really battled his way through the last two rounds. First, he had a tight match with hometown favorite Rabie Chaki. Today, he had a drag-out fight with Frenchman Nicolas Devilder. In the end, Andreev prevailed 6-7(11) 7-6(5) 6-4 after 197 minutes of play. There were no breaks of serve in the first set, and they traded breaks in the second set. Andreev eventually broke Devilder and held in the final set for the win.

Andreev will meet sixth-seed Marc Gicquel in the quarterfinals. Andreev currently leads their head-to-head 2-1, where all of the Russian’s wins were on hard surfaces. Gicquel’s only victory over Andreev was on clay in Bucharest in 2007.

Thursday's Results
Singles Second Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def Nicolas Devilder (FRA) 6-7(11) 7-6(5) 6-4
5 Florent Serra (FRA) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-3 6-3
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 7-5
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE) def 4 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) 6-4 6-3
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) def. A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP) 6-4 4-6 10-6

Doubles Semifinals
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. 3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) 7-5 6-2

Friday’s Matches
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. 6 Marc Gicquel (FRA)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
4 Victor Hanesco (ROU) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
5 Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)

Doubles Semifinals
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. D. Skoch (CZE)/L Friedl (CZE)

Friday’s Order of Play

(Image: El Khiat)

Juan Carlos Ferrero successfully returned to the circuit after being sidelined with a leg injury for six weeks. He beat the seventh-seeded Christophe Rochus 6-2 6-3 after just 61 minutes of play. Up next for the Spaniard is Potito Starace from Italy. Ferrero currently leads their head-to-head 3-1, but Starace won their last meeting in Rome in 2007.

Unlike Ferrero, Igor Andreev had a more difficult time overcoming a wild card. He had to rally in three sets to beat Rabie Chaki, the hometown favorite 3-6 6-3 7-5. Andreev served for the match at 5-4 in the third set but managed to lose his serve. He persevered and wrapped up the match three games later.

Andreev will play Frenchmen Nicolas Devilder in the next round. The two players have never met in an ATP event.

Tuesday's Results
Singles First Round
1 Igor Andreev (RUS) def. WC Rabie Chaki (MAR) 3-6 6-3 7-5
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) def. 2 Rainer Schulettler (GER) 6-4 7-6(5)
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) def. WC Reda El Amrani (MAR) 6-2 7-5
6 Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. Kristof Vliegen (BEL) 7-5 6-3
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 7 Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. WC Mehdi Ziadi (MAR) 4-6 6-2 6-1
Potito Starace (ITA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 4-6 6-3
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-2 6-1
Santiago Ventura (ESP) def. Q Oliver Marach (AUT) 6-1 6-1
Nicolas Devilder (FRA) def. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 6-3 6-4
Mischa Zverev (GER) def. Flavio Cipolla (ITA) 6-2 3-6 6-3

Doubles First Round
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) def. Y. Allegro (SUI)/A. Clement (FRA) 7-6(9) 6-3
4 J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J.J. Rojer (AHO) vs. F. Cipolla (ITA)/P. Storace* (ITA) 6-4 7-6(2)
T. Bellucci (BRA)/E. Butorac (USA) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/L. Zovko (CRO) 7-6(4) 6-3
F. Gil (POR)/ H. Tecau (ROU) def. M. Gicquel (FRA)/F. Serra (FRA) 5-7 6-4 11-9
*Replaced T. Gabashvili (RUS)/S. Stakhovsky (UKR)

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
3 Albert Montanes (ESP) vs. Santiago Ventura (ESP)
4 Victor Hanesco (ROU) vs. Ivan Navarro (ESP)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Potito Starace (ITA) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

Doubles First Round
1 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) vs. N. Devilder (FRA)/C. Rochus (BEL)
WC R. Chaki (MAR)/R. El Amrani (MAR) vs. L. Friedl (CZE)/D. Skoch (CZE)
WC M. Saber (MAR)/M. Ziadi (MAR) vs. A. Montanes (ESP)/S. Ventura (ESP)

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) vs. T. Bellucci (BRA)/E. Butorac (USA)
3 C. Kas (GER)/R. Wassen (NED) vs. F. Gil (POR)/H. Tecau (ROU)

Wednesday's Order of Play

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(Image: El Khiat)

City: Casablanca, Morocco
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Gilles Simon
2008 Doubles Champions: Albert Montanes/Santiago Ventura

Gilles Simon will not defend his title and will take a much needed break from the tour. Igor Andreev and Ivan Ljubicic will most likely fill the void. Juan Carlos Ferrero returns from being out with an injury, so let’s hope he advances deep in the draw because he needs the points. Also, look out for Thomaz Bellucci, Sergiy Stakhovsky and Frederico Gil as possible troublemakers.

On the doubles side, Albert Montanes and Santiago Ventura will defend their doubles title. They will have to contend with the top Euro teams - Kubot/Marach, Kas Wassen, and Aspelin/Hanley.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Matches
Qualifying Third Round
Santiago Ventura (ESP) vs. Carlos Poch-Gradin (ESP)
Flavio Cipolla (ITA) vs. Lamine Ouahab (ALG)
Olivier Patience (FRA) vs. Olivier Marach (AUT)
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) vs. Boris Pashanki (SRB)

Singles First Round
Arnaud Clement (FRA) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs. Steve Darcis (BEL)
Alberto Martin (ESP) vs. Frederico Gil (POR)
Ivan Navarro (ESP) vs. Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR)

Doubles First Round
O. Hernandez (ESP)/A. Martin (ESP) vs. S. Aspelin (SWE)/ P. Hanley (AUS)

Monday’s Order of Play

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(image: AP)

The last musketeer left standing, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was upset by Russian Igor Andreev last night 7-5 6-4. Andreev will play Ivan Ljubicic in the round of 16 where Ljubicic leads their match-up 3-1.

The Croat won their last meeting in Monaco in 2006, but a lot has changed since then. That year Ljubicic had his best year and was ranked world number three. Since then, Ljubicic has slid in the rankings to 74, and Andreev finished 2008 with his highest ranking at 19.




(image: AP)

Top-seeded Igor Andreev of Russia lost to a qualifier, Ivan Dodig from Croatia. Two other Croatians, Mario Ancic and Ivo Karlovic move through to the next round.

The match-up of the day was the up-and-coming Ernest Gulbis from Latvia and Russian Dimitry Tursunov. The match lasted almost two hours with the Latvian besting the Russian veteran. Gulbis meets Dodig in the next round.


Singles:

Ivan DODIG def. Igor ANDREEV 6-1 6-4
Ernest GULBIS def. Dimitry TURSUNOV 4-6 6-4 6-4
Mario ANCIC def. Lukas Lacko 6-4 6-7(6) 7-5
Jan HERNYCH def. Nikola MEKTIC 6-3 7-5
Mischa ZVEREV def. Andreas SEPPI 7-6(4) 3-6 6-2
Viktor TROICKI def. Simone BOLELLI 6-3 6-4
Sergiy STAKHOVSKY def. Dominik HRBATY 6-2 4-6 6-1
Ivo KARLOVIC def. Philipp PETZSCHNER 6-3 6-4
Evgeny KOROLEV def, Jurgen MELZER 6-4 6-0

DOUBLES:

M. DAMM/R. LINDSTEDT def. I. DODIG/E. ELESKOVIC 6-3 4-6 10-8
F. SKUGOR/J. TOPIC def. M. GICQUEL/P. MATHIEU 4-6 6-4 10-8
C. KAS/R. WASSEN def. M. CILIC/L. ZOVKO 6-4 7-6(11)