Nicolas Kiefer and Marat Safin were both upset at Wimbledon today. Frenchman Fabrice Santoro sent Kiefer home 6-4 6-2 6-2 in a battle of the veterans. Santoro is playing in his last Wimbledon tournament, as he is retiring this year. American Jesse Levine took out Safin 6-2 3-6 7-6(4) 6-4 in the Russian's final Wimbledon appearance.

Also, Dmitry Tursunov retired against German Mischa Zverev 6-4 6-2 3-0. He injured his ankle in last Saturday's Eastbourne final. He promised to play in Wimbledon but was not able to make it through his first-round match.

(Images: Carl De Souza/AFP/Getty Images, AP)

The Germans are playing on their home soil in Halle, Germany. To the delight of the hometown fans, the Germans won every match they played in today. There are currently seven Germans still active in the draw.

Wildcard Mischa Zverev saved two match points before rallying to upset fifth-seed Tomas Berdych. Philipp Kohlschreiber took out sixth-seed Dmitry Tursunov. Another wildcard, Benjamin Becker upset countryman and eighth-seed Rainer Schuettler.

The biggest upset of the day was the Tommy Haas victory over fourth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He triumphed over the Frenchman 6-3 7-6(3) after 79 minutes of play. The current ATP world no. 41 has struggled with injuries, and his ranking dropped to no. 87 last March. Over the last month, he is looking like he has recovered and is back in shape. Last week, Haas made it to the round of 16 at Roland Garros, where he eventually lost to Roger Federer.

Haas now advances to the quarterfinals to play fellow German Mischa Zverev. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

On the doubles side, Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev defeated Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki in dominate fashion 6-1 6-1. They head to the semifinals and await the winner of the Gicquel/Tsonga-Beck/Chiudinelli match.

(Images: PMK)

The German doubles team of Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev saved one match point to eventually beat Robert Lindstedt and Robin Soderling 7-6(4) 4-6 13-11. The win gave the Germans a 2-1 victory over the defending Swedish champions.

They have now booked their place in the finals. The Germans will host the Serbians, so it should be good times tomorrow.

Friday's Round Robin Results
Argentina Beat Russia 3-0
Fri - Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 6-3 3-6 6-3
Fri – M. Gonzalez (ARG)/J. Del Potro (ARG) def. E. Korolev (RUS)/D. Tursunov (RUS) 2-2 Ret’d (Korolev - left ankle)
Thu - Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-3 7-6(3)

Germany Beat Sweden 2-1
Fri - Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) def. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 6-1 6-2
Fri - N. Kiefer (GER)/M. Zverev (GER) def. R. Lindstedt (SWE)/R. Soderling (SWE) 7-6(4) 4-6 13-11 - Saved 1 M.P.
Thu - Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-0 6-0

USA Beat France 2-1
Thu - Sam Querrey (USA) def. Gilles Simon (FRA) 7-5 6-3
Thu - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Robby Ginepri (USA) 3-6 6-2 6-4
Thu - M. Fish (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) def. J. Chardy (FRA)/G. Simon (FRA) 2-6 6-4 10-7

Serbia Beat Italy 2-1
Fri- Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Francesco Piccari (ITA) 6-2 6-3
Fri – N. Zimonjic (SRB)/V. Trocki (SRB) def. F. Piccari (ITA)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-0 7-6(5)
Thu - Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-1 6-4

Saturday’s Order of Play

(Images: Getty Images)

The Germans beat the French team 3-0. Yesterday Rainer Schuettler beat Gilles Simon 6-4 6-4. Today Philipp Kohlschreiber rallied from losing the first set to upset France’s toughest competitor, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-7(2) 6-3 6-3. To add insult to injury, Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev defeated Jeremy Chardy and Gilles Simon 6-0 6-4.

The German team has only lost one match in two round robins of play. The team is currently 5-1 in the tournament. Defending champion, Sweden is 4-2, as is Argentina. The surprise of the tournament is Serbia. The Serbs share the same record as the Germans at 5-1.

(Image: ARAG ATP World Team Championship)

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Team Germany at the Player's Night at the ARAG World Team Championship in Dusseldorf, Germany.

(Image: ARAG ATP World Team Championship)

The troublemaker of Monte Carlo and the troublemaker of Rome squared off in their first round match. Both players represent the future hopes of German tennis. When all was said and done, wildcard Andreas Beck ended up besting Mischa Zverev 6-3 6-4 after 87 minutes of play.

The 23-year-old Ravensburger is now 2-0 over the 21-year-old Hamburger in ATP events. Beck will play fourth-seed Tomas Berdych in second round. The two players have never met in ATP competition.

In other news, Lleyton Hewitt defeated German Philipp Petzschner 6-2 7-6(2) 7-6(8) in a hard-fought match. The win marks Hewitt's 500th win. The Aussie will play the Dutch qualifier Thiemo De Bakker in the second round.

Tuesday’s Matches
Singles First Round
2 Marin Cilic (CRO) def. Q Dieter Kindlmann (GER) 6-3 6-2
4 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Q Sascha Kloer (GER) 7-6(0) 6-4
Q Thiemo De Bakker (NED) def. 5 Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-3 6-3
7 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) def. LL Lamine Ouahab (ALG) 6-3 6-2
Potito Starace (ITA) def. 8 Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-5 5-7 6-3
WC Andreas Beck (GER) def. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-3 6-4
Denis Gremelmayr (GER) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 5-1 Ret’d
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Q Alexander Peya (AUT) 2-6 7-6(5) 7-5
WC Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 6-2 6-7(2) 7-6(8)
WC Daniel Brands (GER) def. Stefan Koubek (AUT) 6-3 7-6(2)
LL Stephane Bohli (SUI) def. Simone Bolleli (ITA) 3-6 6-2 6-3

Doubles First Round
2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) def. Alt M. Crugnola (ITA)/C. Haggard 6-3 6-2
J. Cerretani (USA)/J. Chardy (FRA) def. N. Kiefer (GER)/M. Zverev (GER) 6-7(4) 7-6(4) 10-7

Wednesday’s Matches
Singles Second Round
7 Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs. Denis Gremelmayr (GER)
3 Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
2 Marin Cilic (CRO) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)

Doubles First Round
P. Petzchner (GER)/A. Peya (AUT) vs. J. Murray (GBR)/P. Vizner (CZE)
M. Kohlmann/A. Waske (GER) vs. S. Bolelli (ITA)/C. Kas (GER)
B. Bryan/M. Bryan vs. J. Hernych (CZE)/I. Minar (CZE)

Doubles Second Round
2 A. Fisher (AUS)/J. Kerr (AUS) vs. E. Gulbis (LAT)/I. Kunitsyn (RUS)

Wednesday's Order of Play

(Image: dpa)

Preview: BMW Open
City: Munich, Germany
Surface: Outdoor Clay
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Fernando Gonzalez
2008 Doubles Champions: Michael Berrer and Rainer Schuettler

Fernando Gonzales was set to defend his title this year but has pulled out of the tournament. He sprained his ankle in his Roman quarterfinal match with Juan Monaco. He did play in the semifinal against Rafael Nadal, but his ankle was still sore. The Chilean was playing well and would have been the odds on favorite this year.

The withdrawal now opens the draw. Marin Cilic, the second seed, should be the favorite, but he is not as proficient on clay as some of the others. He should have a good shot at the semifinals, but I would not be surprised if he was tripped up in the earlier rounds.

Lleyton Hewitt is back on tour after taking a break from the tour after his first round loss in Monte Carlo. He did win on clay in Houston and should have no trouble getting to the quarterfinals. From there, he could meet Andreas Beck or Mischa Zverev in the quarterfinals, and I think the Aussie might lose that battle. It is a shame these German upstarts have to play each other in the first round. They are both looking to breakthrough and what better time than in front of an eager German audience. Berdych is also in this quarter and could do well.

Julien Benneteau now breathes a sigh of relief, as he was scheduled to play Gonzalez in the first round, but now plays a lucky loser. Clay is not really his surface, and I would not be surprised if someone tripped him up in the early rounds. His portion of the draw is now the least predictable.

The main beneficiary of the Gonzalez withdrawal is Nicolas Almagro. He is an excellent clay court player and the most proficient in the tournament, but has not had a great year. He did successfully defend his title in Mexico, but his European clay season has been a disaster. This could be a good opportunity for another title and build some confidence for Madrid. His only problem is Mikhail Youzhny, who he could meet in the second round. If he can pass the Russian, he has a pretty good shot at the title.


Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Tournament Malfeasance
Andreas Beck (GER) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER)
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs. Ernest Gulbis (LAT)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) vs. Jeremy Chardy (FRA)

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)

The top three advanced easily into the semifinals. Rafael Nadal did enough to beat compatriot Fernando Verdasco, who was pestered by a leg injury throughout the match. Roger Federer ended Mischa Zverev’s run by sneaking passed the German qualifier in the first set tiebreaker and winning easily in the second set. Novak Djokovic played great against Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine could not raise his game to really challenge the Serb.

The match of the day was Fernando Gonzalez versus Juan Monaco. It turned into quiet the battle. Gonzalez has been playing well for the last two weeks, and Monaco is resurging after returning to the tour from injury. The two players split sets, and battled it out in the final set. Gonzalez was able to break in the last set to take the match.

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 6 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 6-3 6-3
2 Roger Federer (SUI) def. Q Mischa Zverev (GER) 7-6(3) 6-2
3 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 6-3 6-4
12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Q Juan Monaco (ARG) 2-6 6-3 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) def. 7 M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 4-6 6-4 11-9
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. 8 J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Kerr (AUS) 6-4 6-4
4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-3 6-4
5 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. 3 L. Dlouhy (CZE)/ L. Paes (IND) 7-5 6-3

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 12 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)
2 Roger Federer (SUI) vs. 3 Novak Djokovic (SRB)

Doubles Semifinals
1 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) vs. 5 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM)
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. 4 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH)

Saturday’s Order of Play

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The weather behaved today, and the tournament was able to complete all of its singles matches. Three first-round matches had to be played in the afternoon, and the winners had to play again in the evening. The completion of matches was not good news for some of the seeded players. Five seeds were sent home, and some received scares.

Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated last week’s Barcelona Open’s finalist. This is one of the first-round matches that was not completed yesterday. Mathieu upset the eleventh-seed David Ferrer 6-3 2-6 6-2 in their first-round match.

The veteran Frenchman turned around in his second-round match and was upset by German qualifier Mischa Zverev 3-6 7-6(5) 6-0. The 21-year-old already denied Juan Carlos Ferrero in the qualifying rounds and beat Tomas Berdych in the first round. He is probably this tournament's troublemaker.

Jurgen Melzer upset seventh-seed Nikolay Davydenko. Davydenko had played well last week in Barcelona, but Melzer dismantled the Russian 7-5 7-6(5). The Austrian will now play Fernando Gonzalez, who is playing well and coasted through his match.

Richard Gasquet took out ninth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his first-round match. He and Radek Stepanek were able to win their first-round matches in the afternoon and then won their second-round matches in the evening. Gasquet then beat Ernest Gulbis in his second-round match after the Latvian rallied to get back into the match.

The Frenchman now advances to play Fernando Verdasco. Gasquet leads in their head-to-head matchup 4-2. Verdasco has won their last two meetings, but Gasquet has won all of their meetings on clay. The Frenchman played solidly today but has played a lot of tennis with the two matches. He may not have enough left in the tank to withstand the Spanish onslaught.

Gilles Simon, Juan Martin del Potro and Fernando Verdasco had scares, but all got it together enough to advance into the next round. Simon beat Italian Fabio Fognini in front of his hometown crowd.

Old faithfuls Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer won their respective matches quite easily. Nadal will play Robin Soderling in the next round. The two have not played since their infamous match at Wimbledon in 2007. Federer will play the Radek Stepanek in the next round. The Swiss leads 7-2 in their head-to-head matchup. The last time Stepanek beat Federer was last year in this very tournament.

With all the upsets in Federer’s quarter, he is almost guaranteed a spot in the semifinals. Gilles Simon is his only obstacle in the quarterfinals if the Frenchman can get past the German troublemaker Zverev in the third round. Simon will have to raise his level of play to stay undefeated against the Swiss.

(Images: AP, Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images)