Name: St. Petersburg Open
City: St. Petersburg, Russia
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Andy Murray
2008 Doubles Champions: Travis Parrott and Filip Polasek
Featured Players: Mikhail Youzhney, Victor Hanescu, Viktor Troicki, Jeremy Chardy, Igor Andreev, Evgeny Korolev, Pablo Cuevas, Horacio Zebellos, Marat Safin, Richard Gasquet, Igor Kunitsyn, Fabio Fognini and Ernest Gulbis

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Bank Austria TennisTrophy
City: Vienna, Austria
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Philipp Petzschner
2008 Doubles Champions: Max Mirnyi and Andy Ram
Featured Players: Marin Cilic, Radek Stepanek, Gael Monfils, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Almagro, Feliciano Lopez, Jurgen Melzer, John Isner, Jarkko Nieminen, Jan Hernych, Janko Tipsarevic, Andreas Seppi, Lukasz Kubot and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

Name: Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon
City: Lyon, France
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: Robin Soderling
2008 Doubles Champions: Michael Llodra and Andy Ram
Featured Players: Jo-Wilfied Tsonga, Gilles Simon, Ivan Ljubicic, Juan Monaco, Julien Benneteau, Paul-Henri Mathieu, Benjamin Becker, Albert Montanes, Olivier Rochus, Arnaud Clement, Nicolas Kiefer, Michael Llodra,

Draws: Singles | Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

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)

Marcos Bagdatis topped Olivier Rochus 6-1 7-5 for the IF Stockholm title. The Cypriot has struggled for the last couple of years. Unable to advance past the second round this year, he went back to the challenger circuit and managed to win three titles. The world no. 66 was able to take advantage of the opportunities presented this week to win his first title of the year and third-career title.

Championship
Singles Final
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-1 7-5

Doubles Final
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) 6-4 7-6(4)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 1 Robin Soderling (SWE) w/o
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3

Doubles Semifinal
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. 4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) 6-4 7-5

(Image: Soren Andersson/AFP/Getty Images)

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 7-6(4) 6-4
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 6-3 2-6 6-1
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) 7-6(4) 6-3
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) 6-4 6-4

Doubles Semifinal
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) 6-1 6-2

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)

Doubles Semifinal
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) vs. 4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS)

Saturday’s Order of Play

Friday’s Results
Singles Quarterfinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Q S Stakhovsky (UKR) 6-3 6-93
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. 5 Pablo Cuevas (URU) 4-6 6-1 6-4
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Robbie Ginepri (USA) 6-3 6-3
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Evgeny Korolev (RUS) 0-6 6-2 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. 2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA)
6-4 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. A. Golubev (KAZ)/E. Korolev (RUS)
7-6(1) 7-5

Saturday’s Matches
Singles Semifinals
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs. Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR)

Doubles Semifinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) vs. R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB)

Saturday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. A. Seppi (ITA) 6-1 6-3
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. 2 Tommy Haas (GER) w/o (flu)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. 8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 4-6 6-4 6-1
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. Robert Kendrick (USA) 6-2 6-2
Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. Q Michael Berrer (GER) 3-6 7-6(7) 6-1

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 B. Soares (BRA)/ K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. F. Lopez (ESP)/M. Lopez (ESP) 6-2 6-1
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. B. Becker (GER)/D. Skoch (CZE) 6-4 6-3
A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) def. 3 J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) 6-4 6-2
4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) def. A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) 7-6(3) 3-6 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

Thursday’s Results
Singles Second Round
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Christophe Rochus (BEL) 6-4 2-1 ret. (illness)
Robbie Ginepri (USA) def. Marcel Granollers (ESP) 7-6(5) 6-0
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. Wayne Odesnik (USA) 6-3 6-4
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) 6-1 1-6 6-4
E Korolev (RUS) d M Safin (RUS) 6-4 7-6(4)

Doubles Quarterfinals
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/ M. Mertinak (SVK) def. I. Andreev (RUS)/D. Koellerer (AUT) 6-0 6-3
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. K. Beck (SVK)/F. Polasek (SVK) 6-4 6-2

Friday’s Order of Play

I guess not. After knocking out the top-seed yesterday and opening the draw for himself, Marat Safin played his last Kremlin Cup match today in Moscow. He lost his second-round match to Evgeny Korolev 6-4 7-6(4).

(Image: AP)

Wednesday's Results
Singles Second Round
WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) def. 4 J. Monaco (ARG) 6-4 6-4
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Simon Greul (GER) 6-3 7-5
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Leonardo Mayer (ARG) 7-5 3-6 6-3

Singles First Round
1 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. LL Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-3 6-0
2 Tommy Haas (GER) def. Florent Serra (FRA) 6-3 6-4
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) def. 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 6-4 6-2
8 Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Ernest Gulbis (LAT) 6-2 6-4

Doubles First Round
2 S. Aspelin (SWE)/P. Hanley (AUS) def. S. Greul (GER)/A. Seppi (ITA) 6-4 6-1
A. Beck (GER)/C. Kas (GER) def. R. Kendrick (USA)/L. Mayer (ARG) 6-4 1-6 10-8
A. Clement (FRA)/R. Lindstedt (SWE) def. J. Brunstrom (SWE)/J. Rojer (AHO) 6-4 6-4

Thursday’s Order of Play

Wednesday's Results
Singles Second Round
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Potito Starace (ITA) 6-1 6-1
5 Paul Cuevas (URU) def. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 3-6 6-1 6-4
Q Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) def. 7 Fabrice Santoro (FRA) 7-5 6-1

Singles First Round
Marat Safin (RUS) def. 1 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4-6 6-4 6-2
Q Ilya Marchenko (UKR) def. Denis Istomin (UZB) 1-6 6-4 4-1 ret. (throat infection)
Evgeny Korolev (RUS) def. Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 7-6(6) 6-3

Doubles Quarterfinals
2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) def. M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) 6-4 7-5

Doubles First Round
3 P. Cuevas (URU)/M. Granollers (ESP) def. L. Friedl (CZE)/J. Levinsky (CZE) 6-3 3-6 10-6
K. Beck (SVK)/F. Polasek (SVK) def. S. Lipsky (USA)/R. Wassen (NED) 1-6 6-4 10-6
R. Bopanna (IND)/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) def. J. Cerretani (USA)/V. Hanescu (ROU) 7-6(2) 6-2
I. Andreev (RUS)/ D. Koellerer (AUT) def. WC T. Gabashvili (RUS)/A. Manegin (RUS) 4-6 6-2 10-3

Thursday’s Order of Play

Juan Carlos Ferrero gives the gas face in his 6-4 6-2 loss to Marcos Baghdatis.

(Image: AFP/Getty Images)

Marat Safin upset top-seed Nikolay Davydenko in his first-round matchup with the recent Shanghai champion at the Kremlin Cup. The retiring veteran has not been playing well as of late, but he is always dangerous when he is feeling it. I guess today was one of those days.

The upset marks the fifth exit of the seeded players. Only Mikhail Youzhny, Pable Cuevas and Janko Tipsaravic are left in the draw. With the upset of the top seed, the draw is now wide open on Safin’s side of the draw.

The big Russian now has a good shot at winning his first Kremlin Cup trophy. He will have to get past his second-round match with Anna Kournikova’s cousin, Evgeny Korolev first. The two players have never met in ATP or grand slam competition.

(Image: AP)

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Q Arnaud Clement (FRA) def. 5 Andreas Beck (GER) 6-4 6-2
Q Michael Berrer (GER) def. Q Henri Kontinen (FIN) 7-5 7-6(7)
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) def. Q Frederick Nielsen (DEN) 7-6(6) 6-3
Olivier Rochus (BEL) def. WC Anreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 6-3 6-2
Robert Kendrick (USA) def. Oscar Hernandez (ESP) 6-3 6-4
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) def. WC Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 6-0 6-2
Andreas Seppi (ITA) def. Victor Crivoi (ROU) 6-4 6-1

Doubles First Round
1 B. Soares (BRA)/K. Ullyett (ZIM) def. WC P. Brydolf (SWE)/A. Siljestrom (SWE) 7-6(1) 6-3
3 J. Kerr (AUS)/T. Parrott (USA) def. M. Melo (BRA)/A. Sa (BRA) 6-2 6-1
B. Becker (GER)/D. Skoch (CZE) def. L. Arnold Ker (ARG)/J. Monaco (ARG) 6-0 7-6(3)
F. Lopez (ESP)/M. Lopez (ESP) def. G. Garcia-Lopez (ESP)/P. Luczak (AUS) 7-5 6-3

Wednesday’s Order of Play

Tuesday’s Results
Singles First Round
Wayne Odesnik (USA) def. 2 Victor Hanescu (ROU) 5-7 7-5 6-4 - saved 1 M.P.
Robbie Ginepri (USA) def. 4 Igor Andreev (RUS) 6-3 6-7(9) 7-6(1)
6 Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) def. Daniel Koellerer (AUT) 6-4 6-3
7 Fabrice Santoro (FRA) def. WC Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) 4-6 6-2 6-2
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) def. 8 Martin Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 7-5 6-3
Q Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) def. WC Mikhail Biryukov (RUS) 6-0 6-2
Q Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) def. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-4 5-7 6-4
Christophe Rochus (BEL) def. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 7-5 ret. (sore throat)
Marcel Granollers (ESP) def. Q Nicolas Kiefer (GER) 6-4 1-0 ret. (lower back pain)

Doubles First Round
1 F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) def. F. Santoro (FRA)/M Youzhny (RUS) 7-6(6) 7-5
2 E. Butorac (USA)/R. Ram (USA) def. I. Kunitsyn (RUS)/M. Safin (RUS) 6-2 6-4

Wednesday’s Order of Play

The 18-year-old up-and-comer from Bulgaria is hailed as the second coming of Federer. He even employs Federer’s old coach, Peter Lundgren who thinks Dimitrov is better than Federer when he was that age. Last year, the Bulgarian won the Wimbledon and US Open junior titles. This year, he is trying to transfer to the professional tour this year. As in any transition to the pros, there are a lot of losses.

So far, he has made it to the quarterfinals on the challenger circuit in Cremona, Nottingham, and Segovia. On the pro circuit, he made it to the second round in Queen’s Club and Rotterdam where he upset Tomas Berdych. Yesterday, he was 4-5 on the pro circuit.

Today, he met Jarkko Nieminen in Stockholm. The Fin returned to the tour after being sidelined with injury, so it would have been a good opportunity for the Bulgarian to upset the veteran. Nieminen instead spanked the Bulgarian teen 6-0 6-2 after just 50 minutes of work. The loss brings Dimitrov’s year-to-date record to 4-6, as the season comes to a close. It will be interesting to see Dimitrov's progress next year.

(Images: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images)

Well, well, well. Rafael Nadal made the top 10 list of America’s most-liked sports figures. He came in fourth behind Shawn Johnson, Larry Johnson, and Kurt Warner with 68% percent of people who liked him. Tiger Woods is two spots behind Nadal at number six with 65%. And no, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick did not make the list.

Despite America’s tennis community’s groupthink, Nadal is not only the most popular player worldwide, but he is also the most likeable player in America, which is a big deal. Our tennis writers, announcers, and pundits generally prefer Federer and think that because they do, so do you.

So when you are watching that match and someone like Brad Gilbert is acting like Federer is the biggest star on tour, now you know he is full of it. It is just HE really likes him best because America actually prefers Nadal.

(Image: Nike Sportswear)

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
4 Juan Monaco (ARG) def. Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-2 5-7 7-5
Simon Greul (GER) def. 6 Benjamin Becker (GER) 2-6 6-3 7-5
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) def. Alberto Martin (ESP) 6-3 6-2
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) def. 7 Albert Montanes (ESP) 6-4 6-3
WC Joachim Johansson (SWE) def. Peter Luczak (AUS) 7-5 6-2

Doubles First Round
4 J. Coetzee (RSA)/S. Huss (AUS) def. WC H. Kontinen (FIN)/J. Nieminen (FIN) 2-6 6-3 10-6

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Monday’s Results
Singles First Round
3 Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-1 7-6(5)
5 Paul Cuevas (URU) def. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 6-4 6-2
Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) def. Karol Beck (SVK) 3-6 6-4 6-4
Potito Starace (ITA) def. WC Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 6-3 6-3

Doubles First Round
A. Golubev (KAZ)/E. Korolev (RUS) def. 4 R. Hutchins (GBR)/H. Tecau (ROU) 7-6(4) 2-6 10-8
M. Vassallo Arguello (ARG)/H. Zeballos (ARG) def. WC I. Belyaev (RUS)/P. Davydenko (RUS) 6-1 6-3

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Nicolas Kiefer returns to the tour after being out with an injury. The current world no. 104 had to qualify for the Kremlin Cup this weekend. He gained entry into the tournament today by beating Russian Dmitri Sitak 6-1 6-4 for one of the four qualifying births.

Kiefer draws a good opponent for his comeback in Spaniard Marcel Granollers for the first round. The two players have never met in ATP or grand slam competition. The other qualifiers are as follows:

. . . And The Kremlin Cup Qualifiers Are . . .
Nicolas Kiefer (GER), Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR), Mikhail Kukushkin (RUS), Ilya Marchenko (UKR)

. . . And The Stockholm Qualifiers Are . . .
Michael Berrer (GER), Arnaud Clement (FRA), Henri Kontinen (FIN), Frederick Nielsen (DEN)

(Image: AP)

Swedish authorities have detained two tennis players by allegedly soliciting prostitutes:

Two tennis players planned to warm up for the Swedish Open by having sex with prostitutes, police claim.

The names of the players have not been released, but we are given clues to whom it might be. Both are tennis players, but one is actually playing in the tournament. They are also foreigners, so that rules out any of the Swedes.

I am dying to know who it is. And NO, it is not Safin. Luckily for him, he is playing in Moscow. We shall find out soon enough.

Colombian up-and-comer Santiago Giraldo won the Natomas challenger title last week. The 21 year old won his third challenger title this year and six for his career. Let's hope he makes a speedy transition to the pros (Sacramento Bee)

Nadal warns of tour overload and thinks the season is too long. After all the nine retirements in Shanghai this week, you would think the ATP might want to be proactive about the situation (Guardian)

Roddick chimed in about the season (BBC Sport)

Novak Djokovic takes both sides into account (The Independent)

Marat Safin adds that he was talking about the season length five years ago. The Russian took time to slam Roddick for his newfound position on the matter, and then takes a swipe at Berdych too. Boy, I am going to miss him (The Globe and Mail)

Maybe they should get rid of the Race (The Globe and Mail)

Andy Roddick will be out with a knee injury for three weeks (NYT)

Czech Ivo Minar is banned for eight months in a doping ban (Fox Sports)

Safin feels the love in Shanghai (Open Court)

The many sides of Djokovic (ESPN)

The case for Juan Carlos Ferrero to play against the Czech Republic for the Spanish Davis Cup Team (Times Online)

Juan Martin del Potro wants to build on his success (CBS)

Novak Djokovic almost played for Great Britain (Times Online)

You wouldn’t know if from tennis common "wisdom" in the States, but Nadal is actually the most popular player worldwide on tour. They pretend it is Roger Federer (CCTV)

(Image: Denise/tennisfiend)

City: Stockholm, Sweden
Surface: Indoor Hard
Championship Points: 250
2008 Singles Champion: David Nalbandian
2008 Doubles Champions: Jonas Bjorkman and Kevin Ullyett

Defending champion, David Nalbandian is still off the tour and recovering from surgery, so he will not defend his title this year. Robin Soderling, Tommy Haas, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Juan Monaco, Andreas Beck, Benjamin Becker, Albert Montanes and Feliciano Lopez are the top seeds at this tournament.

The top-seed Robin Soderling will try for his first title in Stockholm. The hometown favorite is enjoying his most successful year and is probably the favorite for the title. None of the top tier players are competing, so all of his threats will not be around to keep the title away from him.

The title is not a foregone conclusion for the Swede. Tommy Haas could easily stand in his way. The German, who had a good summer this year, returns from the tour after battling injury at the end of the summer. If he is good form, it could spell trouble for Soderling.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Thomaz Bellucci, Ernest Gulbis and Grigor Dimitrov round out the draw in what should be a good week.

Tournament Draw
Singles / Doubles

Monday’s Order of Play

(Image: If Stockholm Open)

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)

Nikolay Davydenko out-hit Rafael Nadal today to upset the Spaniard 7-6(3) 6-3 after a little more than two hours of play. The Russian captured his first Masters title and fourth title of the year. Davydenko becomes the first player to win a Masters title that is not named Nadal, Federer and Murray.

In doubles, French troublemakers Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset Polish duo and sixth-seeds Mariusz Frystenberg and Marcin Matkowski 6-2 6-4. Les enfants problèmes had to knock off some tough teams along their way to the championship, mainly 1 Nestor/Zimonjic and 3 Bhupathi/Knowles.

This is their fourth pairing and first title together. They should stay together since it looks like the pairing is working. The French need another doubles couple since Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra towards the end of their careers.

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
6 Nikolay Davydenko def. 1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7-6(3) 6-3

Doubles Finals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) 6-2 6-4

(Images: Philippe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images, Andy Wong/AP)

Saturday’s Results
Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 6-1 3-0 ret. (foot)
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4-6 6-4 7-6(1)

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) 6-1 6-4

Championship Sunday
Singles Finals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko

Doubles Finals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA)

Sunday’s Order of Play

Watch Live
Tennis Channel – 4:30 AM ET

Nadal had no troubles dismissing Feliciano Lopez 6-1 3-0 today in Shanghai. Lopez had problems with his ankle in the first set and retired at 3-0 in the second set after just 50 minutes of play. This is the eighth retirement in the tournament this week.

Though the match was not very competitive, Nadal was able to get in some target practice. The Spaniard really started to feel it with his shots, which will be bad news for is opponent tomorrow. If this continues, he could really light it up tomorrow.

In the first semifinal of the day, somehow Novak Djokovic let Nikolay Davydenko get passed him at 4-6 6-4 7-6(1). To Davydenko’s credit, the Russian has a good all-around game and is always dangerous. The win marks his first final appearance in a Masters tournament or grand slam this year. The world no. 8 will now try for his fourth title and first Masters title of the year.

Should he win tomorrow, he would be the first player outside of the Nadal-Federer-Murray axis to win a Masters title this year. To do so, he will have his work cut out of for him tomorrow against Nadal. The Spaniard leads their head-to-head matchup 4-2.

The current world no. 2 is trying for his fourth Masters title of the year. The final will not be a shoe-in for Nadal since he is still trying to get back to top form, but he should be able to win another title if he continues to improve his shotmaking capabilities as he did today.

(Image: AP)

Singles Quarterfinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 3-6 6-3 ret. (left hip)
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. 8 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-3 2-6 6-2
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-1 4-6 6-1
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. 9 Robin Soderling (SWE) 7-6(4) 6-3

Doubles Semifinals
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. 3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) 7-6(2) 6-2

Doubles Quarterfinals
J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT) def. 5 W. Moodie (RSA)/D. Norman (BEL) 4-6 7-6(6) 10-6

Saturday's Matches

Singles Semifinals
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) - 8:00 AM ET
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. 6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 4:30 AM ET

Doubles Semifinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) vs. J. Knowle (AUT)/J. Melzer (AUT)

Saturday's Order of Play

Watch Live
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Feliciano Lopez knocked off sixteenth-seed David Ferrer in the second round, and today he took out ninth-seed Robin Soderling 7-6(4) 6-3. The Spaniard's semifinal appearance is his best showing in a Masters event or grand slam EVER. The current world no. 41 will play against his friend and top-seed Rafael Nadal in a lefty showdown tomorrow.

Lopez will have his work cut out for him, as Nadal has beaten him four-consecutive times. Anything is possible since Lopez did beat Nadal once in 2003. It should be a good match tomorrow.

On the other side of the draw, Novak Djokovic held off Gilles Simon 6-3 2-6 6-3 in probably the best match of the tournament -- the second best was Blake-Nadal. Nikolay Davydenko defeated Radek Stepanek 6-1 4-6 6-1. Djokovic and Davydenko will now face off in the other semifinal tomorrow. The Serb leads this matchup 2-1. It what should be another good match tomorrow.

(Image: Phillipe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)

Singles Third Round
1 Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. 14 Tommy Robredo (ESP) 6-1 6-4
2 Novak Djokovic (SRB) def Q Rainer Schuettler (GER) 6-4 6-2
9 Robin Soderling (SWE) def. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 6-3 6-3
6 Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) def. 10 Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) 6-3 7-5
8 Gilles Simon (FRA) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 6-3 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) def. 11 Gael Monfils (FRA) 6-2 3-0 Ret. (back)
13 Radek Stepanek (CZE) def. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 3-6 7-6(5) 4-2 Ret. (abdominal strain)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) def. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1

Singles Quarterfinals
6 M. Fyrstenberg (POL)/M. Matkowski (POL) def. 2 B. Bryan (USA)/M. Bryan (USA) 6-1 5-7 10-8
3 M. Bhupathi (IND)/M. Knowles (BAH) def. 8 L. Kubot (POL)/O. Marach (AUT) 4-6 6-3 10-5
J. Benneteau (FRA)/J. Tsonga (FRA) def. F. Cermak (CZE)/M. Mertinak (SVK) 3-6 6-4 10-7

Friday’s Order of Play

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Feliciano Lopez stretches it out during his victory over Jurgen Melzer 5-7 7-6(3) 6-1. This is the Spaniard’s best result in an ATP tournament this year. Lopez will now meet Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals. They have not played in three years, but Lopez leads their head-to-head 3-2. It would be nice to see the Spaniard pull off the upset tomorrow.

(Image: Eugene Hoshiko/AP)