Championship Sunday
Singles Final
2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) def. 1 Andy Roddick (USA) 3-6 7-5 7-6(6)

Doubles Final
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. 5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 7-5 7-6(3)

(Images: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Getty Images)

Juan Martin del Potro successfully defended his title in Washington D.C. He rallied to beat Andy Roddick 3-6 7-5 7-6(6). The Argentine youngster successfully defended this title, won his second title of the year, and is now 5-6 against the top eleven players this year.

It looks like someone might be turning a corner.

(Image: AP)

Saturday‘s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Andy Roddick (USA) def. John Isner (USA) 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5
2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) def. 4 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 7-6(2) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. 2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) walker (Nestor-triceps)
5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) 7-6(6) 7-6(5)

Championship Sunday
Singles Final – 3:00 PM EST
1 Andy Roddick (USA) vs. 2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)

Doubles Final – 12:30 PM EST
5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE)

Watch Live
ESPN2 – 3:00 PM EST
The Tennis Channel – 8:00 PM EST – Delayed Doubles
ESPN360 – 3:00 PM EST

The world no. 6 player and world no. 11 player met in an all-South American semifinal today in Washington D.C. Argentine Juan Martin del Potro had never beaten Chilean Gonzalez and his forehand before this match.

The 20 year old is at a crossroads in his career where he needs to ratchet it up a notch to seriously contend with the top-tier players. Luckily for him, he is the most talented youngster at the moment. Right now, he wins the matches he should win but needs to win the big matches against the top players. He was 2-6 against the top four and 3-6 against the top eleven this year before this match.

In the beginning, the Argentine started to move Gonzalez around court, which was trouble for the Chilean. He was also better at going from defense to offense in points. Del Potro was able to strike first with a break in game five, but Gonzalez returned the favor in eighth game to level the set at 4-4.

Gonzalez and his forehand got hot and began to make crazy shots that left the Argentine flat-footed. Unfortunately for the Chilean, unforced errors crept into his game because of the risk-taking. After fighting off three set points, del Potro was able to hold serve to take the opening set into a tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Del Potro was aided by unforced errors from Gonzalez. He took the advantage on the fourth point of the tiebreak with a minibreak. The Argentine was just more consistent and cut down on the errors and cruised to take the first set 77 minutes into the match.

In the second set, Gonzalez completely lost steam and del Potro took advantage. He immediately struck first again in the second game and quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Gonzalez took one break back in the sixth game of the set, but it was a little too late to make a charge. The Argentine was able to wrap up the match and end his drought against Gonzalez for the win at 7-6(2) 6-3 after 126 minutes of play.

He is now 1-3 against Gonzalez and 4-6 against the top eleven. The Argentine youngster now awaits the winner of the Roddick-Isner match and books a spot in his second final of the year.

(Image: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Andy Roddick (USA) def. 11 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 7-6(4) 7-6(5)
2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) def. 5 Robin Soderling (SWE) walkover (right elbow)
4 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. 10 Tommy Haas (GER) 7-5 6-4
John Isner (USA) def. 8 Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3 6-7(10) 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. F. Gonzalez (CHI)/T. Robredo (ESP) 6-3 6-4
T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. WC C. Guccione (AUS)/L. Hewitt (AUS) 6-2 6-2

Saturday‘s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Andy Roddick (USA vs. John Isner (USA)
2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) vs. 4 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)

Doubles Semifinals
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) vs. M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE)
5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK)

Saturday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
The Tennis Channel – 3:00 PM EST
ESPN2 – 7:00 PM EST
ESPN360 – 7:00 PM EST

Tommy Haas was on a streak of late, but it ended today. Fernando Gonzalez topped the German 7-5 6-4 after almost 90 minutes of play. The Chilean now awaits the winner of the Soderling-del Potro match.

Update: Robin Soderling pulled out of the tournament today due to an elbow injury. Juan Martin del Potro received a walkover and will face Gonzalez in a South American semifinal. Gonzalez is 3-0 over the young Argentine.

Their last meeting occurred at the Australian Open two years ago when del Potro was just eighteen years old. A lot has changed with del Potro since then, so their semifinal should be interesting tomorrow.

(Image: AP)

Thursday’s Results
Singles Third Round
1 Andy Roddick (USA) def. 16 Sam Querrey (USA) 7-6(4) 6-4
2 Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) def. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
4 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-2 6-4
5 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 7-5 5-7 6-3
8 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Philipp Petzschner (GER) 4-6 6-3 6-3
10 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 7-5 2-6 6-1
11 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) 7-5 6-1
John Isner (USA) def. Q Sebastien de Chaunac (FRA) 6-2 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) 6-4 7-5

Friday Order of Play

Defending champion Juan Martin del Potro had a scare today. He had to rally to beat Lleyton Hewitt 4-6 6-3 7-6(2). The Aussie pushed the 20 year old to the wire, but the Argentine was able to wrap up the match in the tiebreak.

Del Potro will now see Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals. The two players are even at 1-1 in their head-to-head matchup. This will be another must-see match. Hopefully, it is televised.

(Image: AP)

Tommy Haas was able to surpass Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 2-6 6-1. Both players have been playing well of late, and unfortunately someone had to win today. Now, Haas will play Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals. Gonzalez is 2-1 over the German, though Haas won their last meeting at Indian Wells two years ago.

This should be a good match if you can catch it.

(Image: AP)

Wednesday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Andy Roddick (USA) def. Benjamin Becker (GER) 6-3 6-2
John Isner (USA) def. 3 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-6(4)
4 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) def. Q Alejandro Falla (COL) 7-5 7-5
5 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) 6-3 6-1
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) def. 7 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Philipp Petzschner (GER) def. 9 Mardy Fish (USA) 1-6 6-4 6-1
11 Ivo Karlovic (CRO) def. Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-4 7-5
Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. 12 Viktor Troicki (SRB) 3-0 Ret. (right foot)
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. 13 Igor Andreev (RUS) 2-6 7-5 6-4
Q Sebastien de Chaunac (FRA) def. 14 Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 3-6 7-6(3) 7-5
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. 15 Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-3 2-6 6-2
16 Sam Querrey (USA) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 6-3 6-4

Doubles Quarterfinals
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 3-6 6-1 16-14

Doubles First Round
5 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. T. Berdych (CZE)/L. Dlouhy (CZE) 7-5 6-3
T. Parrott (USA)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 6-4 6-7(1) 10-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

American John Isner upset third-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington D.C. last night. In addition to Tsonga, 7 Tommy Robredo, 9 Mardy Fish, 12 Viktor Troicki, 13 Igor Andreev, 14 Dmitry Tursunov and 15 Dudi Sela were all bounced out of the tournament last night. Only seven seeds remain: 1 Andy Roddick, 2 Juan Martin del Potro, 4 Fernando Gonzalez, 5 Robin Soderling, 8 Tomas Berdych, 10 Tommy Haas and 11 Ivo Karlovic.

(Image: AP)

Seventh-seed Tommy Robredo catches air in his losing effort against fellow-Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3 6-2. Ferrero reaches the round of 16 to play tenth-seed Tommy Haas. Ferrero’s record is 3-1 against the German with Haas winning their last meeting four years ago in Halle.

After years of injuries, Ferrrero and Haas are now healthy and playing well. The match tomorrow should be a good showdown between the two players. Too bad this match is not going to be televised.

(Image: AP)

German Philipp Petzschner rallied to take out ninth-seed Mardy Fish 1-6 6-4 6-1. He now moves on to play eighth-seed Tomas Berdych in the next round. The two players have never played in ATP competition.

(Image: AP)

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Q Sebastien de Chaunac (FRA) def. Denis Istomin (UZB) 6-3 7-6(7)
Boris Becker (GER) def. Robby Ginepri (USA) 7-6(3) 6-7(1) 7-6(4)
Juan Carloa Ferrero (ESP) def. LL Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) 6-4 6-7(5) 6-0
Rainer Schuettler (GER) def. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5)

Singles Second Round
2 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. Y en-Hsun Lu (TPE) 4-6 6-3 6-2
Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) def. 6 Marin Cilic (CRO) 7-5 6-4
8 Tomas Berdych (CZE) def. Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 7-6(6)
10 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Frank Dancevic (CAN) 6-1 4-6 6-4

Doubles First Round
2 D. Nestor (CAN)/N. Zimonjic (SRB) def. J. Coetzee (RSA)/J. Erlich (ISR) 4-3 Ret.
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. M. Mirnyi (BLR)/A. Ram (ISR) 7-6(6) 2-6 10-7
WC C. Guccione (AUS)/L .Hewitt (AUS) def. 4 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) 4-6 7-5 12-10 - saved 2 M.P.
M. Damm (CZE)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 7-5 7-5
F. Gonzalez (CHI)/T. Robredo (ESP) def. WC J. Isner (USA)/S. Querrey (USA) 3-6 7-6(5) 10-6
S. Huss (AUS)/R. Hutchins (GBR) def. Alt M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-1 6-4

Wednesday's Order of Play

In an evil first-round matchup, Juan Carlos Ferrero and lucky loser Nicolas Lapentti had to play one another early in the tournament. The world no. 29 took the first set, but the Ecuadoran was able to sneak off with the second set in the tiebreak. Ferrero then got his act together and steamrolled Lapentti in the third set for a 6-4 6-7(5) 6-0 victory after playing 150 minutes.

JCF moves on to play countryman Tommy Robredo in another evil matchup in second round. The two players are even at 2-2 in their head-to-head matchup with Ferrero winning their last meeting in Cincinnati three years ago.

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Robert Kendrick (USA) 7-5 3-6 6-1
Phillipp Petzschner (GER) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) def. Frederico Gil (POR) 7-6(1) 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) def. WC Donald Young (USA) 7-5 6-2
Frank Dancevic (CAN) def. Q Santiago Giraldo (COL) 6-4 6-3
Q Somdev Devvarman (IND) def. Q Yuichi Sugita (JPN) 6-0 7-6(6)
Yen-Hun Lu (TPE) def. WC Michael Russell (USA) 4-6 6-1 7-5
Marc Gicquel (FRA) def. WC Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 7-5 2-6 6-4
Q Alejandro Falla (COL) def. Q Jesse Witten (USA) 6-1 6-4
John Isner (USA) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 7-6(8) 6-3

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Sunday's Results
Singles First Round
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 4-6 6-2 6-4
Ernest Gulbis (LAT) def. Kevin Kim (USA) 7-5 3-6 6-3

And The Qualifiers Are . . .
Alejandro Falla (COL), Somdev Devvarman (IND), Yuichi Sugita (JPN), Santiago Giraldo (COL), Sebastien De Chaunac (FRA), Jesse Witten (POL)

Monday’s Order of Play

City: Washington, D.C., USA
Surface: Outdoor Hard
Championship Points: 500
2008 Singles Champion: Juan Martin del Potro
2008 Doubles: Marc Gicquel and Robert Lindstedt

Second-seed Juan Martin del Potro will defend his title. This year, he will have stiff competition from Andy Roddick and Robin Soderling. The Argentine could have his hands full with Robin Soderling, who currently has the hot hand on tour, in the quarterfinals.

Top-seed Andy Roddick has a good draw. Luckily for him, all of the real threats are on del Potro’s side of the draw. In addition to Soderling, Fernando Gonazalez could get the hot hand this tournament. The Chilean has a good quarter of the draw could cruise into the semifinals.

Roddick should not take his draw for granted, as he has some real sleepers on his side of the draw. Tomas Berdych is perfectly capable of surprising people and putting together a run. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga returns to the tour after taking a break after Wimbledon. He has struggled this year, but he can turn his season around at anytime.

It should be a good tournament and a taste of things to come in the run up to the US Open.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Sunday's Order of Play

(Image: Getty Images)