Gilles Simon gained notice in 2008 when the Frenchman sent Roger Federer home in the second round of Toronto. Putting in an impressive performance over the year, Simon shot up to a career-high ranking of 6. Last year was not so kind to the Frenchman where he struggled to live up to expectations.

To add to his troubles, the Frenchmen was struck with tendinitis last year -- I guess it's contagious. His knee ailments forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open this year. Hopefully, he will get better at least in time for Rotterdam because he has been missed on the tour.

The ATP put up a nice interview of Simon, so it was nice to see him to get some love.

During the first-two days of the Paris tournament, the French had lost five-straight matches. To start out the third day of play, Jeremy Chardy lost his hard-fought match against Juan Monaco. Things were looking bleak for the French fans.

Out of nowhere, French qualifier and world no. 179 David Guez upset Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets. Julien Benneteau beat Philip Petzschner in a tight match. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga then had a routine win over Albert Montanes to kick off the evening matches.

Gilles Simon had a difficult matchup with Ivan Ljubicic. The Croat has been playing really well of late and had caused a lot of trouble during the indoor circuit. He was especially troublesome for French players. In the last month, Ljubicic picked off Paul-Henri Mathieu, Julien Benneteau, Gael Monfils, Florent Serra, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra. Plus, it did not help matters that Gillou has played victim to the Croat in all three of their previous meetings.

On paper, it looked like he might cause trouble for Simon again. Instead, the 24 year old played well for the most part of the match. The Frenchman was finally able to post his first win over the veteran able by surpassing Ljubicic 6-3 3-6 7-6(4) in a three-set thriller. Gilliou now advances to play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in an evil matchup of compatriots in third round.

After hemorrhaging matches for the first-two days, the French ended day three 4-1. Things are starting to look up for the tricolor.

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) def. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-2 6-4
[Q] David Guez (FRA) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-3 6-4
Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 7-6(6) 7-5
Julien Benneteau (FRA) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 4-6 7-5 6-3
[Q] Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-3 6-1
Singles Second Round
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-2 6-1
7 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) def. Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-7(3) 6-4 6-4
8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-1 7-5
11 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 6-3 3-6 7-6(4)

Doubles First Round
B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. P. Cuevas (URU)/O. Marach (AUT) 6-1 7-6(6)
M. Granollers (ESP)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. J. Del Potro (ARG)/F. Gonzalez (CHI) 7-6(2) 6-2
C. Kas (GER)/P. Kohlschreiber (GER) def. J. Monaco (ARG)/R. Nadal (ESP) 4-6 7-5 15-13 - saved 2 M.P.
J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) def. M. Damm (CZE)/J. Erlich (ISR) 6-3 6-4
J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) def. WC S. Grosjean (FRA)/F. Santoro (FRA) 6-3 3-6 10-5

Wednesday’s Order of Play

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• The tour is now in Asia.
• Novak Djokovic (pictured) won the Beijing Open this weekend and will overtake Andy Murray in the rankings next week.
• The musketeers did well. Gael Monfis won his first title of the year at the Open de Moselle. Not to be outdone, Gilles won his first title this year in Thailand the following week. Now this weekend, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Japan Open – his third title of the year. After four months off, Gasquet went to the semifinals in Metz where he lost to Monfils and the quarterfinals in Malaysia where he lost to Fernando Verdasco.
• Nikolay Davydenko was tops in Malaysia.
• Albert Montanes won the BCR Open in Romania.
• All is not bad for the Brits with Murray’s drop in the rankings. Ken Skupski and Colin Fleming won the doubles title at the Open de Moselle.
• Rafael Nadal and Kobe Bryant model new track jackets for Nike (New York Mag)
• Speaking of Nadal, he returns to the tour in Beijing after pulling out of the Thailand. The Spaniard advanced to the semifinals where he took a pretty-bad beating from the surging Croat, Marin Cilic. He lost 6-1 6-3.
• The Chinese held a farewell party for Marat Safin. I am sure there were tears (China Daily)
• Juan Monaco leads the tour in clay court wins with 28 this year. (Buenos Aires Herald)
• Spain will host Switzerland in the first round of Davis Cup next year (Latin American Herald Tribune)
• Federer pulled out of Japan Open and the Shanghai Masters due to fatigue. Murray withdraws from Shanghai (Open Court)
• There is rift in Australia (or misunderstanding) between Lleyton Hewitt and up-and-comer Bernard Tomic. I guess Tomic used the swine flu as an excuse not to hit with Hewitt. The Aussie youngster denies it, but it would be kind of hysterical if it turns out to be true (The Age)
• Simon exposed (Crazy World of Tennis)
  

(Image: Elizabeth Dalziel/AP)

Musketeer extraordinaire, Gael Monfils during his tricolor match with Jeremy Chardy.

A look at Monfils, Tsonga, Simon & Ouanna's bond on and off the court. They, as a group, put in a respectable showing at Flushing Meadows after having a rough last couple of months. Two of the four are now into the second week (NYT)

An examination of Safin’s career that was plagued by questions of what if (SI)

The top ten dominate, but really the top three REALLY dominate (WSJ)

The always smart and thoughtful, Mats Wilander likes Juan Martin del Potro (Busted Racquet)

His run for the USO title my be difficult and hampered, but Nadal is winning the shirtless poll hands down (PopSugar)

A crazy story about Canada’s Peter Polansky's freak accident and recovery (NYT)

What a difference 18 months makes for Serbian players (New York Observer)

Rafa-mania at the USO (Straight Sets)

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

Unlike the Spaniards (Verdasco lost, Lopez lost), the Frenchies had a good day today in Cincinnati. Ninth-seed Gilles Simon was able to subdue a tough charge from the Russian Igor Andreev. Simon secured a spot in the round of 16 with a 7-6(5) 6-7(6) 6-1 victory. He now awaits the winner of the Davydenko-Kunitsyn match.

In doubles, Micheal Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga topped Jurgen Melzer and Radek Stepanek 7-6(2) 6-7(6) 6-1 in their Cincinnati debut. They will now have the opportunity to meet the fifth-seeds Bruno Soares and Kevin Ullyett in the round of 16.

(Images: Denise/tennisfiend)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga rallied to beat Roger Federer today in Montreal after the Swiss champion was up 5-1 in the third set. The Frenchman came from behind in the last set to tie and then put away the match 7-6(5) 1-6 7-6(3) after 2 hours and 19 minutes of play.

It was a good win for the Tsonga, and it is good to see a Frenchman in the mix. At the beginning of the year, there was talk of the Musketeers, but that has not lived up to fruition between Gasquet’s suspension, Monfils injuries and Simon’s lackluster play. Tsonga won two titles in Johannesburg and Marseille earlier this year, but his season stalled. After Miami, he has yet to advance into the round of 16 until now.

Tomorrow, Tsonga will play Murray in the first semifinal match of the day. Hopefully, he can build on this win and give Andy Murray some trouble. The two players are even at 1-1 with Tsonga winning their last meeting in Australia in 2008. Tomorrow’s match should be a good one.

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

Tommy Robredo is surprisingly the last Spaniard left in the draw. Robredo helped the Spanish cause today by taking out German Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 5-7 7-6(4) 6-2. The Spaniard now continues into the quarterfinals to play fifth-seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Del Potro is looking fierce of late and took out Frenchman and Musketeer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets. The 19 year old currently leads Robredo 1-0 in their career matchup. Their face off on Wednesday should be a good one.

(Image: FFT)

Gael Monfils upset Andy Roddick 6-4 6-2 6-3 in just under two hours of play. The Frenchman now advances into the quarterfinlas to play Roger Federer, who went down to the wire with a resurgent Tommy Haas in five sets. Federer leads their head-to-head matchup 4-0.

Let’s hope La Monf get inspired by the home crowd on Wednesday.

(Image: FFT)

It was a battle of the big men and their serves. The two players had never met in ATP competition. In the end, ninth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga bested Marat Safin 6-4 7-5 and dismissed the retiring Russian, who was playing in his last Madrid Open.

The match was close, but the difference was that Safin could not a make on dent on the Frenchman’s serve. He only had one break opportunity the entire match. Tsonga, on the other hand, had six opportunities and was able to take advantage twice.

Tsonga will now play Ivan Ljubicic in the next round. Tsonga leads Ljubicic 1-0 in their match-up. The Frenchman beat the Croat this year in the second round of the Australian Open.

Monday's Results
Singles First Round
9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) def. Marat Safin (RUS) 6-4 7-5
11 Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) def. Q Marco Crugnola (ITA) 6-2 6-0
12 David Ferrer (ESP) def. Q Guillermo Canas (ARG) 6-2 6-2
WC Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-4 7-5
Oscar Hernandez (ESP) def. Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6-3 6-3
WC Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. Q Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6-3 6-2
Mardy Fish (USA) def. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 7-6(3) 6-4
Simone Bolelli (ITA) def. Q Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 7-5 7-6(3)
Q Tommy Haas (GER) def. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 5-7 7-5
Florent Serra (FRA) def. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-2 6-4
Robin Soderling (SWE) def. LL Ivan Navarro (ESP) 6-4 6-2

Doubles First Round
S. Huss (AUS)/R .Hutchins (GBR) def. WC P. Andujar (ESP)/G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 4-6 7-5 10-7
F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-2 7-5

Tuesday’s Order of Play

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(Image: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images)

Richard Gasquet has acknowledged that he tested positive for cocaine, a banned substance. The Frenchman maintains his innocence:

An independent laboratory has tested a sample of Gasquet’s hair and, he claims, found no traces of cocaine. “Given the complexity of the case I am gathering all the evidence of my innocence and will set a date to make a further announcement later,” he said.

If the results hold, Gasquet could face up to a two-year suspension, which would have an adverse effect on the 22-year-old’s professional career. Gasquet has already struggled with injury this year and has been criticized throughout his career for his mental fortitude on the court.

A few years ago, he was the top French player. He is now the ranked fourth after Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils. A prolonged suspension would further complicate matters for the Frenchman.

(Image: Reuters)

Les Mousquestaires is a docu-series that follows Gilles Simon, Richard Gasquet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils around on tour. This episode follows the foursome from their Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Luckily, it ends before the apocalypse of Monte-Carlo.

To warn you, it is in French, but I am sure you will get the gist of it even if you do not speak French. More than anything, it is pretty funny.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

It is a bad day for the Musketeers and another bad day for France in general. Yesterday, French hopefuls Julien Benneteau and Jeremy Chardy were bounced from the tournament. Today, Argentine David Nalbandian dismissed Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-5 3-6 6-3.

Ninth-seed Gael Monfils crashed out of the tournament after 67 minutes of play. He lost to Serbian Janko Tipsaravic, ATP world number 56, 6-1 6-3. Sporting a new haircut, the Frenchman was up a break 3-1 in the first set until Tipsarevic rattled off five straight games to snatch set from the Frenchmen. The Serb then cruised to take the next set and match in front of a stunned crowd.

Qualifier Andreas Beck, the troublemaker of Monaco, already sent Nicolas Kiefer home yesterday. The ATP world number 89 upset sixth-seed Gilles Simon 7-5 6-1.

Beck broke the Frenchman early in the first set, but Simon rallied to tie the set 3-3. Simon did his usual gig of hanging out behind the baseline while Beck punished any short return and cut off points quickly. The German then broke Simon in the ninth game to serve for the set, but Simon broke back. Beck then struck again to take the Frenchman’s serve, but this time Beck held serve for the first set. In the second set, Simon won the first game and then the 23-year-old qualifier won the next six games for the set and match.

Simon continues to struggle this year. He clearly needs to step up his game and stop hanging out behind the baseline. Luckily for Simon, most of his points are at the end of the season, and he has some time to get it together before he starts really sliding in the rankings.

Monfils has had a pretty good season in the smaller tournaments, but just average in the larger tournaments. Then there is this performance where he is sent home in the first round of a Masters tournament.

If this keeps up, Musketeer Watch might become Musketeer Intervention. There seems to be less swashbuckling and more buckling of late. Luckily, Tsonga is scheduled to play in the next tournament.

(Images: AP)

Fernando Gonzalez decisively beat James Blake 7-5 6-1 in 65 minutes of play. The Chilean will advance to play Roger Federer in the next round.

Fernando Verdasco, in all his super-fauxhawk glory, beat Richard Gasquet handily 6-3 6-2. The Spaniard will play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the next round. Kohlschreiber currently leads their head-to-head 3-1. Their last meeting was in Austria in 2008 where Kohlschreiber won in straight sets. Verdasco is now a different player, so I am sure the German's advantage will begin to fade.

The day was not a total loss for Gasquet. He did win in doubles with Swiss partner Stanislas Wawrinka. The duo will play Fernando Gonzalez and Tommy Robredo in the quarterfinals.

Former world no. 3, Ivan Ljubicic upset Gilles Simon 6-3 7-6(3). The current world no. 74 has struggled of late, and this win puts an end to three-consecutive, first-round losses. Ljubicic awaits the winner of the Tsonga-Andreev match.

Tommy Robredo beat Marin Cilic 7-5 7-6(2). The Spaniard ousted the Croat, who has won two ATP titles already this year. Robredo has been on a hot streak of late by winning two South American titles last month. Now on hardcourts, he advances to play Andy Murray into the round of 16. Robredo currently leads their head-to-head 2-0.

(images l-r, l-r: AP, Jeff Gross/Getty Images, Jeff Gross/Getty Images, AP)

My fear came true today. Clearly, I am for Team France and have bought into the whole “New Musketeers” thing. I like the fact that France, like Spain, has a stable of young, top twenty players, and hopefully one of them wins a grand slam some day.

That being said, Tomas Berdych did indeed cause trouble for Team France. He beat Simon in four sets 7-6(3) 4-6 7-6(2) 6-3. Simon again looked irritated, frustrated and uncomfortable. Berdych took advantaged of the situation and was never really in any danger of losing.

From the start of the match, Simon was under pressure. The Frenchman managed to get broken during his first service game. While serving for the set, Berdych lost serve in game eleven but managed to pull out the tiebreak a few games later. Simon did take the second set, and it looked like he was back in the hunt. The two players traded breaks in the third set, and then Berdych snuck off with the third set in the tiebreak. The fourth set quickly went downhill for the Frenchman where Berdych broke him three times.

Luckily, Tsonga was able to beat Radek Stepanek 7-5 6-2 7-6(1). The Frenchman overpowered Stepanek and beat the Czech in straight sets to take the match and level the tie at 1-1.

With a shaky Simon, the French really need to win the doubles match tomorrow to give them some breathing room. French team captain, Guy Forget shares my concern:

“One-all is a good score. I knew that we would not win 3-0. Let’s hope that we win the doubles and then at 2-1 we should be able to win one of two matches on Sunday,” said French team captain Guy Forget.

Hopefully, Simon can shake off the loss today and take Stepanek in the fourth rubber on Sunday. More importantly, let’s hope Llodra and Gasquet can pull out the third rubber and put France in the lead.
(images: AFP)

City: Ostrava, Czech Republic
Surface: Indoor Carpet
Head-To-Head: France 7-6



Team Czech Republic
Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Jan Hernych, Lukas Dlouhy
Team Captain: Jaroslav Navratil
Best Davis Cup Performance: Champion 1980



Team France
Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Michael Llodra
Team Captain: Guy Forget
Best Davis Cup Performance: 9 Time Champions 1927- 1932, 1991, 1996, 2001

Pick: Team France

This is the first Davis Cup teaming of Les Nouveaux Mousquetaires on the French team. All of the four are ranked in the top twenty. On paper, it looks like France should not have any trouble against the Czechs, but Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek could pose a problem for the Musketeers. Stepanek has already won two ATP titles this year. French doubles could also be a problem since they do not have Llodra and Clement, and the Czechs have a doubles specialist in Lukas Dlouhy.

Update: Gael Monfils has pulled out and been replaced by Michael Llodra. Llodra will play doubles with Gasquet.

Individual Head-To Head Match ups:

Stepanek-Simon 1-1 Berdych-Simon 1-2
Stepanek-Tsonga 0-1 Berdych-Tsonga 0-0
Stepanek-Monfils 1-2 Berdych-Monfils 1-0
Stepanek-Gasquet 2-0 Berdych-Gasquet 0-2

Moral to the story: keep Gasquet away from The Worm.

Panoramic

France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga cruised into the quarterfinals with his win over Simone Bolleli of Italy in straight sets. He will face Feliciano Lopez in the quarterfinals. Tsonga currently leads Lopez 1-0 in head-to-head action.


Panoramic

The second musketeer, Gilles Simon had a more challenging time reaching the quarterfinals. He would eventually win 6-4 4-6 6-2 over German Rainer Schuettler. Simon was fine until his serve failed him in the second set, where Schuettler broke him four times. The Frenchmen managed to take care of his serve in the third set and broke Schuettler twice to secure the victory.

He will face off against fellow countryman, Julien Benneteau. They are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head. Simon won their last meeting on clay in Casablanca.


AP Photo/Claude Paris

Lastly, Novak Djokavic beat Czech Jan Hernych 6-4 7-5 in a 92 minute match. He will play Zverev of Germany in the next round.