After the first day of Davis Cup play, Russia went up 2-0 and found itself clearly in the drivers seat. On Saturday, India played its experienced doubles team of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. Bhupathi and Paes were able to give India a lifeline after their straight-set victory over Igor Kunitsyn and Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Looking to close, Mikhail Youzhny was able to shut it down today with his 6-2 6-1 6-3 win over Somdev Devvarman. Russia now advances to play Argentina. If Argentina can get healthy, this could be a problematic matchup for the Russians.

Sunday’s Results
R4 – Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 6-2 6-1 6-3
R5 – Rohan Bopanna (IND) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 7-6(5) 6-4

(Image: AP)

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)

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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(Image: Barclays Dubai Tennis Championship)

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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(Images: AFP/Getty Images /Paul Crock)

Third-seed Mikhail Youzhny defeated Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(5) 6-0 6-4. Youzhny’s win keeps the title in Russia, where Russians have won the title for six-consecutive years. This is the world no. 30’s first title of the year and sixth-career title.

On the doubles side, third-seeds Pablo Cuevas and Marcel Granollers upset top-seeds Frantisek Cermak and Michal Mertinak 4-6 7-5 10-8. This is their first title together.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. 6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-7(5) 6-0 6-4

Doubles Final
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. 1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 4-6 7-5 10-8

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 6-2 6-1
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) 6-1 6-4

Doubles Semifinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 10-6

(Images: AP)

All of the usual suspects and the grand majority of seeds advanced during the first day of the play. Twenty-sixth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu was the first-seeded casualty of the US Open. After losing the opening set, Mikhail Youzhny rallied to defeat the Frenchman 2-6 7-5 6-0 6-2. He will now meet qualifier Marco Chiudinelli in the second round. The two players have never met in ATP or grand slam action.

Later on in the afternoon, American John Isner sent home twenty-eighth seed Victor Hanescu. He beat the Romanian 6-1 7-6(14) 7-6(5). Isner and his big serve now advance to play qualifier Marsel Ilhan of Turkey.

(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Fifth-seed Jeremy Chardy defeated Mikail Youzhny in Gstaad today. He was able to get passed the Russian 6-3 5-7 6-3. The Frenchman will play another Russian, Igor Andreev in the quarterfinals. Chardy leads their head-to-head 2-1 with the Frenchman winning the last two matches.

(Image: AP)

Juan Carlos Ferrero was able to dismiss Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 7-6(3) 6-3. The former World No. 1 played well and looked like he was in good form. The Spanish veteran will meet Fabrice Santoro in the second round. Ferrero is 4-2 over Santoro, with the Frenchman winning their last meeting in this year's Australian Open.

(Image: PA Photo)

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)

Andy Murray was able to win his first title on grass and become the first Brit to win the Queen's Club tournament in 71 years. He defeated James Blake 7-5 6-4. This is the Scotsman’s twelfth career title and fourth title of the year. More importantly, the win should give Murray some momentum going into Wimbledon.

On the doubles side, Wesley Moodie and Mikhail Youzhny upset sixth-seeds Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa 6-4 4-6 10-6. This is their first pairing and title.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
1 Andy Murray (GBR) def. 6 James Blake (USA) 7-5 6-4

Doubles Final
W. Moodie (RSA)/M. Youzhny (RUS) def. 6 M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-4 4-6 10-6

(Images: Julian Finney/Getty Images, Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images)

With the top-six seeds out of the way for the Russian, the title is his (Mikhail Youzhny) to lose.

-me

Youzhny went on to lose to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 1-6 7-6(5) in today’s semifinals. Garcia-Lopez is now 3-0 over the Russian. The Spaniard will now play lucky loser Julien Benneteau in the finals.

(Image: Gepa/Osterauer)

Seventh-seed and ATP world number 46 Mikhail Youzhny defeated Stefan Koubak 6-2 6-4 in front of the Austrian’s hometown fans. The win for the Russian sets up a quarterfinal meeting against another Austrian and second-seed, Jurgen Melzer.

Melzer, who beat Agustin Calleri 6-4 7-5, has been playing well lately, so the matchup should be a good one. The two players are even at 2-2 in their head-to-head matchup, with Youzhny winning their last two meetings.





(Image: AP)

City: Kitzbuhel, Austria
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Nicolay Davydenko
2008 Doubles Champions: Marcelo Melo and Andre Sa

Nikolay Davydenko will defend his title and is also the top seed. The Russian has been playing pretty well this clay-court season since his return from injury. Second-seed Jurgen Melzer is also playing pretty well this season and should do well in front of his hometown audience. Mikhail Youzhny, who is the seventh-seed, should go deep in the draw. He is on Melzer’s side of the draw, and the two could meet in the quarterfinals.

There are other players who have had good tournaments, but there is still a lot of inconsistency, so it will be interesting to see who steps up this week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

And The Qualifiers Are . . .
Mario Ancic (CRO) def. Alexander Peya (AUT) 6-2 6-3
Robin Vik (CZE) def. Julien Benneteau (FRA) 6-4 7-6(5)
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) def. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 5-5 Ret’d
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) def. Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 7-6(4) 7-6(4)

Singles First Round
5 Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-2 6-4
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Bjorn Phau (GER) 6-3 6-2

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: Deco Pires)

It was a great day for the Czechs. Czech Tomas Berdych managed to outlast Mikhail Youzhny of Russia to capture the BMW Open title 6-4 4-6 7-6(5). It is his first title of the year and his fifth career title. In addition to the title and 71,700 euros, Berdych also won a BMW Z4 Roadster. Not bad, for a week’s worth of work.

In addition to singles, Czech pair Jan Hernych and Ivo Minar upset second-seeds Ashley Fisher and Jordan Kerr of Australia 6-4 6-4. The title is their first title of their careers and first title together.

Championship Sunday
Singles Final
4 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-4 4-6 7-6(5)

Doubles Final
J. Hernych (CZE)/I. Minar (CZE) def. 2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-4 6-4

(Image: AP)

It was a rough day for the seeds and the German players. Mikhail Youzhny sent third-seed Nicolas Almagro packing, and Jeremy Chardy ousted sixth-seed Nicolas Kiefer. On the doubles side, the Czech pair of Jan Hernych and Ivo Minar upset the top-seeds Mike and Bob Bryan. The Bavarian audience also witnessed three German singles players go down.

All was not so bad for the Germans. The German doubles pair of Michael Kohlmann and Alexander Waske defeated Italian Simon Bolelli and German Christopher Kas 6-4 4-6 10-8. They will play Hernych and Minar in the quarterfinals.

Second-seed Marin Cilic restored order by giving German Philipp Kohlscheiber a nasty beating 6-0 6-4 after 77 minutes of play. The Croatian is in the hunt for his third title of the year and will play Jeremy Chardy in the round of 16. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

On the other side of the draw, seventh-seed Paul-Henri Mathieu held it down against German Denis Gremelmayr 6-1 6-4. Mathieu will meet Youzhny in the round of 16. Youzhny is currently 3-0 over the Frenchman in their head-to-head match-up.

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
2 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Philip Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-0 6-4
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. 3 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-4 7-6(8)
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) def. 6 Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 6-4 7-6(8)
7 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) def. Denis Gremelmayr (GER) 6-1 6-4

Doubles First Round
J. Murray (GBR)/P. Vizner (CZE) def. P. Petzchner (GER)/A. Peya (AUT) 6-4 3-6 17-15
M. Kohlmann/A. Waske (GER) def. S. Bolelli (ITA)/C. Kas (GER) 6-4 4-6 10-8
J. Hernych (CZE)/I. Minar (CZE) def. 1 B. Bryan/M. Bryan 1-6 6-2 11-9

Doubles Second Round
2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. E. Gulbis (LAT)/I. Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-5 7-6(3)

Thursday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs. Potito Starace (ITA)
Andreas Beck (GER) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Julien Benneteu vs. Daniel Brands (GER)
Theimo De Bakker (NED) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Doubles Second Round
R. Bopanna (IND)/T. Parrott (USA) vs. J. Cerretani (USA)/J. Chardy (FRA)
J. Hernych (CZE)/I. Minar (CZE) vs. M. Kohlmann (GER)/A. Waske (GER)
J. Murray (GBR)/P. Vizner (CZE) vs. D. Gremelmayr/D. Meffert (GER)

Thursday’s Order of Play

(Image: Matthias Huber)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 2-6 7-5 6-3
Mischa Zverev(GER) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 67(7) 64 75
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 6-3 6-0
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-3 6-3
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 6-3 6-4
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) def. Andreas Beck (GER) 1-6 6-3 7-6(5)
Victor Crivoi (ROU) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 7-5 6-4

(Image: Internazionali BNL D’Italia)

Juan Monaco has no trouble with Marat Safin, who is playing in his last Barcelona Open tournament. Monaco dismissed the Russian 6-4 6-1 after 65 minutes of play. The Argentine will play the Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the next round. The two players have never met in ATP action.

Nicolas Lapentti had a more difficult time overcoming from fellow-veteran Paul-Henri Mathieu. The Ecuadorian qualifier persevered and bested the Frenchman 6-3 2-6 6-2. Lapentti had a good week in Monaco but will play Fernando Verdasco play in the next round. The Spaniard leads Lapentti 4-2 though Lapentti won their last meeting in Cincinnati in 2008.

On the other hand, Fabio Fognini did not survive after having a good week in Monte-Carlo last week. Fellow-qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver beat the Italian pretty handily 6-1 6-3. The Spaniard plays Juan Monaco in the second round.

Gaston Gaudio beat fellow Argentine Diego Junquiera 6-4 3-6 6-4. The 2004 Roland Garros champion will meet sixth-seed Tommy Robredo in the next round. The Argentine leads their match-up 4-3 with Gaudio winning their last meeting in Monte-Carlo in 2006.

The match of the day was Mikhail Youzhny versus Viktor Troicki. It looked like the Serb would take the match, but the Russian rallied from behind to send the Serb home 6-7(5) 7-6(6) 6-3 after 163 minutes of play. Youzhny will now play Stanislas Wawrinka, who made it to the semifinals in Monte-Carlo last week. The Russian is 1-0 over Wawrinka.

In doubles, all three Spanish teams lost today, plus Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez lost yesterday. Doubles team, Travis Parrot and Filip Polasek rallied to beat Frantisek Cermak and Mertinak Mertinak 6-7(4) 6-2 10-7. They will play top-seeds Bryan brothers in the next round. The Bryan brothers and Travis Parrott are the only American players currently playing on the European clay circuit.

(Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images)

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)

Mikhail Youzhny pulled one out against Jeremy Chardy. The two players were locked in a dead even match until Youzhny broke in game eight of the third set. The Russian then successfully held serve to win the match after almost two hours of play. Tomas Berdych is up next for Youzhny where he holds a 5-2 lead in their head-to-head matchup.


Singles First Round
Michael Youzhny (RUS) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-4 3-6 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 6-2
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. Tommy Haas (GER) 6-4 6-4
WC Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. LL Dudi Sela (ISR) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-4 6-4
Agustin Calleri (ARG) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-4 3-6 6-3
Jan Hernych (CZE) def. WC Brendan Evans (USA) 6-4 6-3
Q Robert Kendrick (USA) def. Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-3 7-6(5)
Q Frank Dancevic (CAN) def. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4 7-6(5)
Fabrice Santoro (FRA) def. Q Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 6-4 4-6 6-1
Q Taylor Dent (USA) def. Q Ricardo Mello (BRA) 6-1 6-3
Diego Junqueira (ARG) def. WC Yuki Bhambri (IND) 6-4 6-3
Q Kevin Kim (USA) def. Michael Llodra (FRA) 6-3 Ret’d groin muscle
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-3 6-3
Q Michael Russell (USA) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 7-6(4) 6-3
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 3-6 6-3 6-4

Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny won both of their matches in straight sets. Russia is now in the driver's set and only needs one more win.

Davis Cup Results:
R1 – Marat Safin (RUS) def. Victor Crivoi (ROU) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-4
R2 – Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-4 6-2 6-4

(image: Mihai Barbu)