Weekend Round Up.

Dubai: Djokovic d. Youzhny 7-5, 5-7, 6-3

That trophy’s a ship, but viewed side on it’s very Burj-ul Arab no?

Yes that distant wail that could be heard over the horizon for the best part of today was the sound of the moaners and haters crooning in unison. Myself at their helm.

"It's a very mental game," said the Serb. "People don't realize how much tension you have to go through throughout the match. It took a lot of energy for me. Stopping and playing, and coming back and then again stopping the match last night because of the rain."

…

"Today was another good example of how much I believe in myself and how much I fight till the end," added Djokovic, who gained swift revenge for Youzhny's straight sets victory in the semi-finals of the Rotterdam Open earlier this month.

(Fox News)

I’ve said all I want to say about Djoko coming out on top against a field of also rans on Twitter – the fact remains he still had to go out there and win it.

The fact also remains however, that I’d like to see him kick butt at the Masters 1000’s and Slams -- something I don’t deem him unqualified for -- and a front on which, outside of clay, I remain fundamentally dissatisfied.

Acapulco: Williams d. Hercog 2-6 6-2 6-3

Mexico seems to agree with V. Only at Wimbledon itself is she more radiant.

After that unceremonious outage in Oz, she’s gone from strength to strength, winning her second successive title in two weeks

As Mr Wertheim pointed out in the TwitterSphere earlier, Dubai, Acapulco and the Billie Jean Cup in Madison Square Garden on March 1st makes a total of three events in 8 days.

Meditate on that thought for a while the next time you want to accuse her of only caring about the Slams.

Acapulco: Ferrer d. Ferrero 6-3 3-6 6-1

After beating his compadre in Buenos Aires last week, Ferrero fails to make it three in a row.

No matter. I treat Ferrero's return and the news of Ferrer winning titles in South America, as a sign that our stock of functioning clay courters not named Nadal is in nothing less than full working order.

I’m sizing the next few months up as Armageddon on clay.

Kuala Lumpur: Kleybanova d. Dementieva 6-3, 6-2

I’m almost relieved to see Dementieva lose at a tier two/three event.

Maybe it’ll prompt her to attend to that less ennobling Grand Slam record of hers.

Probably not.

Kleybanova gets all sorts of wierd grief about her size – but she’s too good a player not to have won a title.

Venus Defends, Ferrer Topples Ferrero

Reuters


Reuters

The men's final just began on Tennis Channel as I type this and there was no live feed for the women's final at all. But Venus Williams rallied from a set down against Polona Hercog to retain her Albierto Mexicano crown 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, and David Ferrer found a way past the red-hot but weary Juan Carlos Ferrero in a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to exact revenge from last week's final to win his first title since 2008.

::

Men's Doubles Final
[1] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace 60 60

Women's Doubles Final
(4) Hercog/Zahlavova Strycova (SLO/CZE) d. Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) 26 61 10-2

::


Reuters

Malaysian Open

Singles - Final
(4) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. (1) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 63 62

Doubles - Final
(2) Chan/Zheng (TPE/CHN) d. Rodionova/Rodionova (AUS/RUS) 67(4) 62 107

::


Reuters

Dubai Tennis Championships

Singles - Final
[2] N Djokovic (SRB) d [7] M Youzhny (RUS) 75 57 63

Stop the presses: the Serb finally defended a title.

Doubles - Final
S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) d [2] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) 62 63

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Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Singles - Semifinals
[2] I Karlovic (CRO) d M Fish (USA) 62 63
E Gulbis (LAT) d J Nieminen (FIN) 64 64

Doubles - Semifinals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d [WC] T Dent (USA) / R Harrison (USA) 67(6) 75 10-4
P Marx (GER) / I Zelenay (SVK) d B Becker (GER) / L Mayer (ARG) walkover

Misunderstood?

Thanks for these Yolita!

I haven’t taken the time to verify them, but I’m guessing the figures will be fine (considering they were produced by a mathematician – *ulp*).

Below are the ATP points accumulated at Masters events by the top ten over the course of 2009.

Nadal 5280
Djokovic 4480
Murray 3600
Federer 3360
Del Potro 1880
Davydenko 1640
Roddick 1100
Verdasco 1100
Soderling 565
Cilic 470

Only Nadal fares better than Djoko – with Djoko a full 24.44% ahead of his nearest competitor.

Four finals, two semis and of course that title he picked up at the end of the year in Paris, hardly suggest he’s dragging his feet.

And yet for some reason I just don’t remember it that way!!

I remember Djoko having an faultless clay court season (which also accounts for two of those finals) - outside of that I’ll be the first to admit things begin to get a little hazy.

What’s probably contributed to this skewed and incredibly unfair perception are the very tame performances he’s delivered in the finals of hard court events.

He barely seemed to trouble Murray in Miami, and Federman virtually swept the court with him (and Murray) in Cincinnati.

Maybe that’s what bothers me – the old consistency vs. quality debate – Djoko’s commitment to reaching those finals has been admirable but his performances upon making them rather subdued.

It all falls rather short of what I’ve come to expect from him.

And yet the facts are irrefutable: barring Nadal, Djoko performed consistently better than anyone else – better than anyone you probably had down as a high performer.

But it’s in interesting question is it not, why Djoko -- his tennis, and the man behind the tennis -- remain so very misunderstood.

Face Of The Day

Reuters

Fernando González of Chile reacts during his semi-final match against David Ferrer of Spain at the Albierto Mexicano Telcel tennis tournament in Acapulco February 26, 2010.

Men's Singles - Semifinals
[3] D Ferrer (ESP) d [2] F Gonzalez (CHI) 67(4) 60 64
[4] J Ferrero (ESP) d [7] J Monaco (ARG) 75 ret. (abdominal strain)

Men's Doubles - Semifinals
[1] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d [3] M Damm (CZE) / F Polasek (SVK) 75 64
F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) d J Monaco (ARG) / H Zeballos (ARG) w/o (Monaco - abdominal strain)

Women's Singles - Semifinals
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 64 26 62
(8) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. (5) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 63 75

Women's Doubles - Semifinals
Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. (1) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) 67(6) 76(4) 10-8
(4) Hercog/Zahlavova Strycova (SLO/CZE) d. (2) Uhlirova/Voracova (CZE/CZE) 62 64

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Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Singles - Quarterfinals
[2] I Karlovic (CRO) d [7] J Blake (USA) 63 67(5) 61
J Nieminen (FIN) d [3] B Becker (GER) 75 36 76(5)
M Fish (USA) d [4] J Chardy (FRA) 64 63
E Gulbis (LAT) d L Mayer (ARG) 76(2) 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d J Nieminen (FIN) / B Reynolds (USA) 61 64
P Marx (GER) / I Zelenay (SVK) d [WC] J Blake (USA) / R Kendrick (USA) 67(5) 64 10-6

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Malaysian Open
Saturday, February 27, 2010

Singles - Semifinals
(1) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (6) Sybille Bammer (AUT) 61 63
(4) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. Ayumi Morita (JPN) 64 61

Doubles - Semifinals
(2) Y.Chan/Zheng (TPE/CHN) d. (3) Kudryavtseva/Voskoboeva (RUS/KAZ) 64 60

Dubai: Final Line Up and my ‘Notes on a Scandal’

There’ll be no further reposting of what I’ll only gingerly be referring to as “the video”.

We’ve all seen the video – correction, we’ve all experienced, the video.

You don’t need me to do another “me too” post about it.

Though the following must be gotten off my chest.

A collection of my choicest reactions over the last 15 hours.

• “Oh Rafa – What will your mother say!?”
• “What will Xisca say!?”
• “You did ask her?”
• “$$$***$$#####”
• “Your ingénue appeal is forever lost.”
• “No wonder your knee hurts!”

All I need now is for Murray to do a cover of “You can call me Al” (in the role played by Paul Simon of course), and my life will be complete.

***

Speaking of my life being complete – as of yet it’s only half way there.

Headbanger came through in straights against Melzer who’s yet to form any meaningful impression on me.

Djoko’s just put out Baggy – to which I say pesh-tosh.

It also means I’ll be firmly ensconced in Camp Headbang tomorrow.

You might think it strange for me to be rooting against Djoko, but rest assured I have his best interests at heart.

A win for him here will benefit precisely no one.

Not him, and certainly not tennis.

The way I figure it, he might get a little too complacent, maybe a little too content with winning the odd 500 event now and again, when he should be pitching his tent at the Masters and Slams. At least that’s what I thought the agenda was.

Quote For The Day

by Craig Hickman


Reuters

Tennis champion Serena Williams laughs during her visit to the Serena Williams Wee Secondary School in Emali, east of Kenya's capital Nairobi February 23, 2010. Williams is in Kenya to oversee her humanitarian projects in her capacity as a global ambassador for Hewlett-Packard.

::

"Kids ran in the streets with palm branches chanting my name saying "Yes we can Serena, Yes we can!" Thousands of people have traveled 15miles by foot - most without shoes. One girl said it was 2 weeks before it was her bath day. But she cleaned up and took a bath 2 weeks early. This was an occasion for them. This was also an occasion for me.

"This time for this school we added more. We added a hearing impaired class with a teacher to work with the deaf students. My heart was moved, and my eyes became swollen with tears when one boy named Maythia as he frantically signed to me. "I will finally be able to talk and speak all the things that are in my head!!" --Serena Williams


Reuters

Welcomed by Akamba traditional dancers upon her arrival.


Reuters

Arriving to present a talk on technology at the Strathmore University in Nairobi.


Reuters

Showing the children how to use a laptop computer in the classroom.

(Thanks, Pamela)

::

Related Posts
Serena Williams In Kenya
Serena Williams: Humanitarian

Face Of The Day

by Craig Hickman


Reuters

Last night, Venus Williams rallied from 1-5 down in the final set to give herself a chance to defend another title while Nicolas Almagro failed in his attempt to pull a hat trick at the Albierto Mexicano Telcel. I didn't get to see much of it, but what about Juan Carlos Ferrero? Who's going to beat the old man on clay this spring?

Singles - Quarterfinals
[7] J Monaco (ARG) d [1] [WC] F Verdasco (ESP) 75 63
[2] F Gonzalez (CHI) d [Q] E Schwank (ARG) 36 63 75
[3] D Ferrer (ESP) d P Cuevas (URU) 75 64
[4] J Ferrero (ESP) d [6] N Almagro (ESP) 61 57 62

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[1] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d P Cuevas (URU) / F Gonzalez (CHI) 64 62
F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) d [2] M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA) 62 36 10-7
J Monaco (ARG) / H Zeballos (ARG) d [WC] S Gonzalez (MEX) / N Massu (CHI) 75 61

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. (Q) Laura Pous Tio (ESP) 46 63 75
(8) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. (2) Agnes Szavay (HUN) 64 01 ret. (left adductor strain)
(5) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. (3) Gisela Dulko (ARG) 61 76(4)
Edina Gallovits (ROU) d. Sharon Fichman (CAN) 75 62

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
(1) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) d. (WC) Cirstea/Cornet (ROU/FRA) 57 75 106
(2) Uhlirova/Voracova (CZE/CZE) d. Fichman/Washington (CAN/USA) 75 61
(4) Hercog/Zahlavova Strycova (SLO/CZE) d. Osterloh/Tatishvili (USA/GEO) 75 62

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Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Singles - Second Round
[2] I Karlovic (CRO) d D Brands (GER) 76(8) 76(6)
[3] B Becker (GER) d W Odesnik (USA) w/o (ankle)
[4] J Chardy (FRA) d S Giraldo (COL) 75 46 75
J Nieminen (FIN) d [5] E Korolev (KAZ) 57 61 60
[7] J Blake (USA) d R Haase (NED) 63 61
M Fish (USA) d M Zverev (GER) 62 64
E Gulbis (LAT) d T Gabashvili (RUS) 61 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
B Becker (GER) / L Mayer (ARG) d R de Voest (RSA) / R Wassen (NED) 63 63
[WC] T Dent (USA) / R Harrison (USA) d J Cerretani (USA) / J Chardy (FRA) 63 76(4)

Doubles - First Round
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d L Friedl (CZE) / D Skoch (CZE) 63 62
[WC] J Blake (USA) / R Kendrick (USA) d E Butorac (USA) / D Martin (USA) 63 64
J Nieminen (FIN) / B Reynolds (USA) d J Coetzee (RSA) / S Lipsky (USA) 63 46 10-7

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Malaysian Open

Friday, February 26, 2010

Singles - Quarterfinals
(1) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (7) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 60 63
(4) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 46 63 64
(6) Sybille Bammer (AUT) d. Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 36 63 63
Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 63 75

Doubles - Semifinals
Rodionova/Rodionova (AUS/RUS) d. Dzehalevich/Malek (BLR/GER) 61 61

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(2) Chan/Zheng (TPE/CHN) d. Diatchenko/Scheepers (RUS/RSA) 64 64

Serena Williams In Kenya

by Craig Hickman

MAKUENI, Kenya - Just over a year after visiting Kenya to open the Serena Williams Secondary School in Matooni, Kenya, Serena Williams returned to the country to follow up on her humanitarian efforts. Williams arrived on February 22 for a three day charity mission where she will inaugurate the Wee Secondary School in Makueni, Eastern Province, Kenya.

The new school lies roughly 50 kilometers from the first one. While in the country, Williams will follow up on the progress of the Matooni school and will hold a tennis teaching session with the students at both schools.

Williams has partnered with technology giant Hewlett Packard and the Build African Schools initiative. She is a global ambassador for the firm and has also worked with the Starfishgreatheart Charity for orphans in South Africa.

Hewlett Packard will equip the school with computers, printers and internet connectivity, while facilitating the training of the local teachers and students.

Ken Mbwaya, Hewlett Packard's managing director for East Africa, said: "As our ambassador, Serena was touched by the plight of children from these areas. This has made many keen to learn, even with daily challenges and limitations. Education is the best platform to invest in as it empowers whole communities.

"Sixty-two percent of Kenyans live in absolute poverty, which means that some very bright children are hindered from achieving their potential. This is an actual impediment to the realization of Vision 2030 and we need to tackle this before we seek IT penetration into rural Kenya. Education is the best platform to invest in as it empowers whole communities."

(Thanks, Rabbit)

Face Of The Day

by Craig Hickman


Mexsports

Richard Gasquet blew a 4-0 lead in the final set, saved 5 match points overall before succumbing to a determined two-time Abierto Mexicano Telcel defending champion in Nicolas Almagro. Quite a display of claycourt prowess from both sides of the net, but the player with the bigger gonads ultimately prevailed. Best match of the day.

Singles - Second Round
[1] [WC] F Verdasco (ESP) d L Kubot (POL) 64 63
[2] F Gonzalez (CHI) d V Hanescu (ROU) 76(2) 36 61
[3] D Ferrer (ESP) d T Bellucci (BRA) 64 61
[4] J Ferrero (ESP) d I Andreev (RUS) 64 63
[6] N Almagro (ESP) d R Gasquet (FRA) 36 75 76(7)
[7] J Monaco (ARG) d J Chela (ARG) 64 76(4)
P Cuevas (URU) d [8] A Montanes (ESP) 75 63
[Q] E Schwank (ARG) d S Greul (GER) 76(4) 63

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[3] M Damm (CZE) / F Polasek (SVK) d [WC] J Elizondo (MEX) / C Ramirez (MEX) 63 62

Doubles - First Round
J Monaco (ARG) / H Zeballos (ARG) d O Hernandez (ESP) / A Montanes (ESP) 62 75
F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) d J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 63 64

Women's Singles - First Round
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. Kaia Kanepi (EST) 64 64
(2) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. Renata Voracova (CZE) 75 61
(3) Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 75 61
(5) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. (Q) Catalina Castaño (COL) 61 46 62
Edina Gallovits (ROU) d. (6) Sara Errani (ITA) 64 57 64
(Q) Laura Pous Tio (ESP) d. (7) Roberta Vinci (ITA) 63 62
(8) Polona Hercog (SLO) d. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 62 64
Sharon Fichman (CAN) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 62 63

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
(4) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Mattek-Sands/Shaughnessy (USA/USA) 63 46 10-8

Women's Doubles - First Round
(1) Hlavackova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) d. Domínguez Lino/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) 62 46 10-7
(4) Hercog/Zahlavova Strycova (SLO/CZE) d. Johansson/Védy (FRA/FRA) 75 61
Fichman/Washington (CAN/USA) d. Gallovits/Koryttseva (ROU/UKR) w/o (Koryttseva: low back injury)

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Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Singles - Second Round
L Mayer (ARG) d [6] F Mayer (GER) 64 76(4)

Singles - First Round
[7] J Blake (USA) d T Dent (USA) 61 36 63

Doubles - First Round
P Marx (GER) / I Zelenay (SVK) d [3] R Hutchins (GBR) / J Kerr (AUS) 67(8) 61 10-8

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Malaysian Open

Singles - Second Round
(7) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (WC) Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) 64 75
(6) Sybille Bammer (AUT) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 63 60
Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) d. Tatjana Malek (GER) 46 62 63
(7) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. (WC) Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) 64 75

Doubles - Quarterfinals
Rodionova/Rodionova (AUS/RUS) d. (1) Kleybanova/Yan (RUS/CHN) 63 76(5)
(3) Kudryavtseva/Voskoboeva (RUS/KAZ) d. Borwell/Kops-Jones (GBR/USA) 62 76(3) 10-7
Dzehalevich/Malek (BLR/GER) d. (4) Amanmuradova/Kustova (UZB/BLR) 75 76(5)

Twitterati Illuminati and Free Museum Tickets.

First off, observe if you will the newly created twitter feed to the left.

(Credit: wefunction.com)

I’m a Twit. And not quite proud of it.

One day maybe, but right now the only thing I take pride in is how long I held out.

140 character limited dystopia claims another victim.

As you’ve probably noticed it makes the site load slower than Simon Reed’s hate infested inbox, so I’m open to suggestions on any juicy Twitter widgets you may know of (already tried Twitter's own) that can be configured to gel with the look and feel of your site. Until then you'll have to make do with this unsalubrious mess, and it's unTwitter-like date stamps.

Ana Ivanovic has hired Heinz Gunthardt as her new coach.

The Ivanovic management made the announcement, which brings to an end the number 23 player's coaching relationship with the adidas team, still her clothing sponsor.

I know we’ve jumped through this hoop before.

But can we still all breath a great sigh of relief, and take collective solace in this first step in the right direction?

Things really couldn’t get any worse for her, so let’s hope she sees this one through before checking in to Team Adidas once again.

We all know Heinz worked with Steffi Graf. Quite a few of us also know he aided and abetted Brad Gilbert into making Andre and Steffi’s first on court “practice session” a reality.

Just saying. This guys got salubrious history in many spheres.

Muzzard goes down 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 to Tipsarevic.

Undoubtedly a big win for Tipsy, though Muzz was never overly optimistic about his chances at this event, drawing attention instead to the lengthy time he’s spent away in the aftermath of Oz.

"It is always disappointing to lose, but I did not have much expectation from the tournament," Murray said.

"I am coming from a big break after the Australian Open and was not as prepared as I should have been for the tournament. I was still trying out things on the court, rather than playing my normal game."

That may well be true. Some of it, or all of it.

I also think however, that Tipsy is a dangerously underrated player.

Three years back, I thought he was headed for the top ten. Then Nietzsche and a shed load of brain cramps intervened (in any order or all at once).

"One of the biggest wins, surely," he said. "For me, Murray is a contestant to be No. 1 at the end of the season. He played unbelievable tennis at the Australian Open. He was one of the favorites to win the tournament here, for sure."

It’s not nearly as frequent now, but every so often he delivers a performance that makes me hope. Yes, I’m aware it might offend some people’s sensibilities, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Tipsy in the top ten.

If for no other reason than that he’s a dead ringer for a buddy of ours that used to work in the Natural History Museum.

Every time I see Tipsy – I think free museum tickets.

So now you know.

It ain’t November yet people…

With Fed, Delpo and Nadal already sidelined, and further withdrawals from Davy (wrist) and Llodra (thigh strain), you might be forgiven for thinking it’s already nearing the end of the season.

Tsonga was only spared my virginal wrath on the TwitterSphere, when I was reminded he continues to struggle with a stomach injury he sustained in Oz. Not that I find it difficult to celebrate any time Ljubicic wins big,

It’s further opened up a draw already containing several prominent gaping holes.

I was at first thinking how this would offer up yet another opportunity for Djoko to clean up, except I saw Djoko play today (he won in three against Troicki), and I’m not that convinced he’s about to clean up anything.

There’s also the ‘Red Hot Cilic Pepper’ effect to consider of course. He’s not in Djoko’s half of the draw so the two could meet in the final.

All of that assumes order and harmony.

Except my recent uptake of Twitter has tapped in to a latent primeval desire for chaos and disarray.

Which is why I’ll be rooting for Baggy and Youzhny. Both have been away for far too long, and it’s not for want of effort.

Though there’s also Tipsy and the lure of free museum tickets.

Down And Out In Acapulco

That's what Sam Querrey and John Isner can say about their plans to get some claycourt matches under their belt at the Albierto Mexicano Telcel before traveling to Serbia for Davis Cup in the coming weeks.

Since both have played a lot of tennis of late, winning their first doubles title as a pair in Memphis on Sunday after contesting the singles final, this comes as no surprise, the court surface notwithstanding. Still, Querrey managed to get Fernando González to a third set breaker before bowing out in the first round, while Isner couldn't even manage to win a tiebreak in his straight-set defeat to German veteran Simon Greul.

Would love to have seen Richard Gasquet defeat Carlos Moya in three close sets on Monday. Up next for the Frenchman is defending champion Nicolas Almagro. Two exquisite one-handed backhands go at it later today.

::

Singles - First Round
[1] [WC] F Verdasco (ESP) d F Fognini (ITA) 26 64 60
[2] F Gonzalez (CHI) d S Querrey (USA) 64 36 76(2)
[3] D Ferrer (ESP) d P Starace (ITA) 62 64
[4] J Ferrero (ESP) d [Q] D Junqueira (ARG) 62 63
S Greul (GER) d [5] J Isner (USA) 76(4) 75
[6] N Almagro (ESP) d D Sela (ISR) 61 76(0)
[7] J Monaco (ARG) d [Q] A Martin (ESP) 67(6) 75 62
[8] A Montanes (ESP) d D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 75 46 62
P Cuevas (URU) d M Daniel (BRA) 16 75 76(8) - saved 3 M.P.
J Chela (ARG) d P Luczak (AUS) 60 16 60
V Hanescu (ROU) d F Gil (POR) 76(5) 63
I Andreev (RUS) d [Q] V Crivoi (ROU) 63 64
L Kubot (POL) d H Zeballos (ARG) 61 62

Doubles - First Round
[WC] S Gonzalez (MEX) / N Massu (CHI) d [4] J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) 62 67(2) 11-9
[WC] J Elizondo (MEX) / C Ramirez (MEX) d L Arnold Ker (ARG) / T Bellucci (BRA) 76(5) 46 10-8

Women's Singles - First Round
(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 62 63
(3) Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. (Q) Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 61 26 61
(5) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. (Q) Greta Arn (HUN) 60 60
(7) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 26 63 64
Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. (WC) Alejandra Granillo (MEX) 60 61
Edina Gallovits (ROU) d. (WC) Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 63 63
Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) 57 75 64
(Q) Catalina Castaño (COL) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 57 64 75
(Q) Laura Pous Tio (ESP) d. Patricia Mayr (AUT) 26 62 61

Women's Doubles - First Round
(2) Uhlirova/Voracova (CZE/CZE) d. Craybas/Pelletier (USA/CAN) 76(8) 26 10-6
Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. (3) Dulko/Szavay (ARG/HUN) 63 63
Mattek-Sands/Shaughnessy (USA/USA) d. Kondratieva/Lefèvre (RUS/FRA) 62 61
Osterloh/Tatishvili (USA/GEO) d. Savchuk/Woerle (UKR/GER) 16 60 12-10
(WC) Cirstea/Cornet (ROU/FRA) d. (WC) Hermoso/Muñoz Gallegos (MEX/MEX) 61 60

::

Delray Beach International Tennis Championships

Singles - First Round
[2] I Karlovic (CRO) d P Petzschner (GER) 63 76(3)
[3] B Becker (GER) d K Nishikori (JPN) 63 16 60
[4] J Chardy (FRA) d X Malisse (BEL) 63 76(5)
[6] F Mayer (GER) d [Q] N Lindahl 64 61
[7] J Blake (USA) vs T Dent (USA) 61 36 53 - to resume Wednesday
M Zverev (GER) d [8] M Russell (USA) 64 36 75
L Mayer (ARG) d [Q] K Anderson (RSA) 76(7) 76(2)
E Gulbis (LAT) d [Q] R Harrison (USA) 64 76(5)
R Haase (NED) d [Q] R Kendrick (USA) 76(4) 76(0)
M Fish (USA) d C Rochus (BEL) 57 63 33 ret. (back)
J Nieminen (FIN) d P Lorenzi (ITA) 63 64
D Brands (GER) d [WC] S Grosjean (FRA) 36 63 62
S Giraldo (COL) d [WC] V Spadea (USA) 62 63

::

Malaysian Open
Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Singles - Second Round
(1) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) 62 63
(4) Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 67(4) 63 64
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) d. Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) 62 62
Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. (WC) Yan Zi (CHN) 62 61

Doubles - First Round
(2) Y.Chan/Zheng (TPE/CHN) d. (WC) Basuki/Sema (INA/JPN) 61 36 103
(3) Kudryavtseva/Voskoboeva (RUS/KAZ) d. Chang/Klepac (TPE/SLO) 76(5) 63
Dzehalevich/Malek (BLR/GER) d. C.Chan/Rybarikova (TPE/SVK) 75 62
Borwell/Kops-Jones (GBR/USA) d. Jurak/Marosi (CRO/HUN) 76(5) 62

Ana Ivanovic Hires New Coach

by Craig Hickman


Reuters

Serbia's Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic play a shot against Russia's Alisa Kleybanova and Svetlana Kuznetsova during their Fed Cup tennis match in Belgrade February 7, 2010.

::

For fans of the former No. 1 and Roland Garros champion and women's tennis alike, this development must be considered good news.

Basel, Switzerland - Slumping Serbian former number one Ana Ivanovic Monday turned over what she hopes is a new page in her career by hiring Staffi Graf's former mentor Heinz Gunthardt as coach.

The Ivanovic management made the announcement, which brings to an end the number 23 player's coaching relationship with the adidas team, still her clothing sponsor.

Swiss television commentator Gunthardt, 51, guided Graf to a dozen Grand Slam titles.

The relationship will start next week in a New York exhibition, with 2008 Roland Garros champion Ivanovic replacing Serena Williams in a field with Venus Williams, US Open winner Kim Clijsters and double Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Ivanovic has been in a slump since her last title, earned in Linz in October, 2008.

The 22-year-old last played to a pair of defeats in Fed Cup this month while winning her only match of the season in the Australian Open first round.

It really can't get any worse for the Serb at this point. Here's hoping she can find her service toss.

(Thanks, Savannah)

The No Split Step Serve And Volleyer

First of all, greetings to all and my apologies for having gone AWOL for awhile.

Just general life business. I, of course, did manage to continue studying this exceptional game of tennis which keeps us all enthralled. Frankly, my interests have veered toward the technical, and I'll be sharing some of my thoughts with you on these subjects, as well as my traditional thoughts on competitive play at the club level and on the pro tour.

There are very few serve and volleyers at the club level but, occasionally, you come across one. Sometimes, the serves aren't even particularly good but the players just come charging in so fast that they are on top of the net to volley away winners.

Sometimes, these players seem so tough, regardless of how hard you hit the return, that you wonder how they lose to anyone.

The secret for most of these players is that they don't split step. They just keep charging in full bore to get the net. As long as they don't have to change direction too much, or god forbid, go backwards, they're fine.

Two quick examples of guys I've played.

One is a good senior player in the 50's with a slow kick serve to the backhand, very good foot speed, with average volleying skills. He recently started to serve and volley on his slow serve. He's fast enough and his serve is slow enough that he gets great position for his first volley.

Seems like an unbeatable strategy, right?

Well, if you play guy like this and can't win by using the traditional counters such as returning low or wide, try the lob on the return.

Think about it, the player is charging forward without splitting. Just let him keep charging and then lob over his head. When I tried this, it worked like a charm since he could never get on balance to hit a powerful overhead and actually missed many.

Now, you won't see this on the pro tour because there are very few serve and volleyers, and the ones that there are have great footwork and would destroy a lob return.

The second situation involved a big strong 25 year old with a huge serve. Because of his height and serve, I teased him that he was the Ivo Karlovic of the club.

He hit his huge serve and also came in without splitting, getting incredible net position. And, in this case, a practice match, I resisted trying the lob and kept trying to beat him with great returns.

But his serve was big enough that I couldn't direct the ball as well as I would like so I couldn't break him. Walked of the court after the loss, and thought about the match and playing the guy again.

I vowed that If I had to play him again, I would lob.


Until next time,


Glenn Sheiner M.D. - author of Insider Tennis Strategies Countering The Club Serve And Volleyer guaranteed to make you a smarter tennis player and take your tennis to the next level. Also, check out the world's top tennis humor screensaver
Tennis Cartoon Screensaver. You can download a trial version for FREE.

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Quote For The Day

"Britain's Andy Murray has received such a big clothing contract from adidas — around £15m over five years — that the brand have ditched Novak Djokovic, Marcos Baghdatis and the Bryan brothers to help fund it. So there was understandable meltdown within adidas when Murray turned up for a photoshoot last week at Dubai’s new racecourse wearing a distinctive Hugo Boss-branded polo shirt. Jim Latham, head of adidas tennis, will be making clear his disappointment to the Murray camp." --Charles Sale

Dubai: Ladies Round Up.

Williams d. Azarenka 6-3 7-5

After witnessing probably the worst match contested by a couple of top seeds (Venus v Li Na in the QFs of Oz if you’re still wondering) in the second week of a Slam, I’d more or less consigned Venus to the ‘If you haven’t anything good to say…’ basket.

I’m not sure we’ll ever crack the nut of why performances like this continue to be a feature of Wimbledon and no where else – what I do know is that it’s wholly appropriate for a die hard fan like myself to continue to ask why.

It’s no secret I actually prefer her game over her sister’s – she may not reach top gear that often these days, but heaven help her opponents when she does: performances I believe might actually surpass Serena.

One has to feel something for Vika even it isn’t sorrow, and even if like me, you find it difficult to cosy up to her. Not that I’d ever even dare attempt it.

Her performances have mostly been consistent and she’s truly earnt her top ten position.

Every time in the last 12 months she’s come within clinching distance of what by any other reckoning would qualify as a breakthrough performance (not that different to what Caz-Woz achieved in Flushing), she’s run into Serena playing one of the very many “matches of her life”.

What was scary last week however (most things with Vika usually are), was how frequently she came to the net and how dedicated to the process she appears to be.

Stubborn sorts like Vika take a most unique form of affrontery at being told they can’t do, or aren’t suited to something.

A closer inspection of the facts reveal that coming to the net more is indeed part of the agenda for 2010. She even revealed how hitting with no less an artisan than Stefan Edberg recently in Hong Kong had helped her grow in that sphere.

Whatever. I don’t suddenly expect her to morph into Amelie Mauresmo. At the moment she’s anything but – with nine out of every ten net approaches ending in a drive volley.

Don’t cringe. The drive volley’s here to stay, whatever you might think about it.

It’s also as much a part of tennis as anything seen during Chris Evert’s day.

I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite so elegant as Venus Williams taking on the stroke in full flight.

***

Fed’s absence in Dubai has once again turned it into a two, three or four horse race depending on how far your loyalties extend.

Djoko and Muzzard through comfortably today. Davy and Tsonga with some convincing to do.

Tsonga might have wished for a better opener. Llodra’s fresh from his win in Marseille and Benneteau (the runner up there) was the guy that took Jo out.

I might be wrong but I’d guess he's not that into French Connections right now.

Standing Ovation

Reuters

Nine years after he first won back-to-back titles on the ATP tour -- Nine. Years. -- Juan Carlos Ferrero does it again. Rallying from a set down, he outlasted compatriot David Ferrer 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in a final that could easily end the year as one of the best. Last Sunday, he won the Brasil Open.

“I feel unbelievable after winning two weeks in a row,” Ferrero said after the match. “It is a great feeling. I think the key to my current success is the physical work I have done. I have been working very hard and I know that I can be on the court forever. That helps my game a lot because I get to the ball much earlier and can be more aggressive.

“This also helps me mentally. I feel very strong and know that I have more resources now when playing important points. I have been working with a friend on the mental aspect and all is coming into place.”

Consider that the 30-year-old former Roland Garros champion and world No. 1 won his first title in 6 years just last season. Consider that the Spaniard had to battle a debilitating bout with chicken pox during the prime of his championship career. Consider that he has been regarded as nothing more than expensive wallpaper in the tapestry of the Spanish Armada ever since falling out of the Top 10 years ago.

“My goal is to get back to the Top 10. This victory makes me believe in this goal. I don’t have much to defend in Acapulco, Indian Wells and Miami so I hope I will do well, get extra points and move up in the rankings.”

I remain on my feet applauding wildly.

Bravo, Mister Ferrero.

Other champions this weekend include:


Reuters

Micheal Llodra holds aloft the Open 13 trophy after dismissing compatriot Julien Benneateau in the final. Afterward, he and his vanquished foe won the doubles title.


Reuters

Sam Querrey holds aloft the Regions Morgan Tennis Championships trophy after dismissing compatriot John Isner in the final. Afterward, he and his vanquished foe won the doubles title.

Is there an echo in here?

Still can't believe Isner, up 5-2 in the second set tiebreak, choked so badly. Well, yes I can. The top American male players could all benefit from an injection of mental fortitude.

Reuters

If you go to Memphis instead of Dubai, which I really have no issue with, you better win. Maria Sharapova routed Swedish qualifier Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-1 to take the Regions Morgan Tennis Championships crown yesterday.

Is yellow the official color of the WTA this year?

All-Country Finals

Already today, Michael Llodra defeated Julien Benneateau in the All-French final at the Open 13 in Marseille.

Later today, David Ferrer will face off against Juan Carlos Ferrero in the All-Spanish final at the Copa Telmex in Buenos Aires.

And Sam Querrey will take the court against John Isner in the All-American final at the Region Morgan's Keenan Championships in Memphis for the "next big thing in American tennis" bragging rights.

Who you got?

Venus Defends Dubai

Getty

But I don't.

Look. I couldn't bring myself to watch a single point. Won't watch one next week either. As Venus Williams might say, I'm not trying to be down with Dubai. Shahar Pe'er gets her previously denied visa to enter the country and perform, but even when she plays the defending champ -- the defending champ, the kind of defending champ that gives this kind of event serious stature in tennis -- she's relegated to an outer court? Which means the stature-giving defending champ is relegated to an outer court also.

That's some straight-up bullshit.

Hey, Venus. Why you still so down with Dubai?

I don't care how much the players on both tours like the event, it simply shouldn't exist and I wish it didn't.

But it does, so....

I give it lip when it crowns a champion.

Oy.

Face Of The Day

Reuters

Carlos Moya of Spain returns the ball to Horacio Zeballos of Argentina during their tennis match at the ATP Buenos Aires Open, February 18, 2010.

::

Regions Morgan Keenan Championships

Men's Singles - Second Round
[1] A Roddick (USA) d Y Lu (TPE) 76(2) 64
[5] T Berdych (CZE) d M Russell (USA) 36 63 62
[8] S Querrey (USA) d L Mayer (ARG) 64 60
I Karlovic (CRO) d X Malisse (BEL) 64 64
L Lacko (SVK) d J Chardy (FRA) 76(4) 21 Retired (stomach illness)

Men's Doubles - Quarterfinals
[2] M Fish (USA) / M Knowles (BAH) d S Huss (AUS) / J Levinsky (CZE) 46 63 10-4
[WC] S Lipsky (USA) / D Martin (USA) d E Butorac (USA) / R Ram (USA) 46 76(5) 10-7
R Hutchins (GBR) / J Kerr (AUS) d M Kohlmann (GER) / J Nieminen (FIN) 62 64
J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) d L Mayer (ARG) / D Sela (ISR) 76(6) 64

Women's Singles - Quarterfinals
(1) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (8) Elena Baltacha (GBR) 62 75
(Q) Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. (2) Melanie Oudin (USA) 61 63
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. (3) Kaia Kanepi (EST) 16 63 76(0)
Anne Keothavong (GBR) d. Karolina Sprem (CRO) 64 63

Women's Doubles - Quarterfinals
(2) Niculescu/Zalameda (ROU/USA) d. Barrois/Woerle (GER/GER) 75 46 10-8
Oudin/Perry (USA/USA) d. Cohen-Aloro/Kucova (FRA/SVK) 62 63
Mattek-Sands/Shaughnessy (USA/USA) d. Fedossova/Lykina (FRA/RUS) 63 60

::

Copa Telmex

Singles - Quarterfinals
[5] A Montanes (ESP) d D Nalbandian (ARG) walkover (right abductor)

Singles - Second Round
[1] D Ferrer (ESP) d F Gil (POR) 63 60
[4] J Monaco (ARG) d J Chela (ARG) 76(3) 46 62
[6] I Andreev (RUS) d M Granollers (ESP) 36 63 64
[8] H Zeballos (ARG) d [WC] C Moya (ESP) 64 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
S Greul (GER) / P Luczak (AUS) d [1] P Cuevas (URU) / M Granollers (ESP) 63 64
D Ferrer (ESP) / R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d I Andreev (RUS) / D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 62 75
N Almagro (ESP) / S Ventura (ESP) d D Koellerer (AUT) / O Marach (AUT) 57 61 10-7

::

XVIII Copa BBVA Colsanitas

Singles - Second Round
(7) Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 16 63 64
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. (WC) Catalina Castaño (COL) 62 64
Mariana Duque Marino (COL) d. (Q) Kristina Antoniychuk (UKR) 76(3) 76(10)

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(1) Koryttseva/Pelletier (UKR/CAN) d. (WC) Botto/Duque Marino (PER/COL) 64 62
(2) Dulko/Gallovits (ARG/ROU) d. Hercog/Parmentier (SLO/FRA) 76(5) 64
Savchuk/Yakimova (UKR/BLR) d. (4) Fichman/Washington (CAN/USA) 62 67(5) 10-7

::

Open 13

Singles - Second Round
[1] R Soderling (SWE) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) 67(5) 63 64
[3] G Monfils (FRA) d A Seppi (ITA) 76(4) 36 76(3)
[WC] G Rufin (FRA) d [Q] Y Mertens (BEL) 63 26 62
[LL] I Marchenko (UKR) d O Rochus (BEL) 61 36 62

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[1] J Knowle (AUT) / R Lindstedt (SWE) d S Ratiwatana (THA) / S Ratiwatana (THA) 64 76(9)
R Bopanna (IND) / J Coetzee (RSA) d [3] M Lopez (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) 46 61 21-19

Dubai: Poetry and Time Travel.

Another day, a fresh new round of WTA upsets.

Except nowadays I’m not so sure of what qualifies as an upset.

Peer d. Li Na 7-5 3-0 (Ret.)

Wickmayer, Razzano, Wozniacki and Li Na. That’s some kinda run.

(MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

I just find the whole of ShaharGate tiresome - only a little less so than those overly simplistic and mostly inane analyses that continue to pretend we live in a world without root causes.

Poetic justice is the way I heard her run here described.

Really?

I suppose they still think sport and politics don’t mix.

Try telling Arthur Ashe that.

What I don’t find tiring and infinitely more poetic, is how players like Peer and Safarova appear to have rediscovered their form of late 2007. Back then they were heading up the second tier.

Could they have somehow profited from Fed’s glory in Oz?

Seems he’s not the only one intent on turning the clock back three years.

I figure his incredible victory over Murray delivered a massive EMF burst, that has partially reconfigured the universe back to what it was in 07.

With the return of the Pre-Safinite Sisterhood, and with Fed once again delivering beatdowns that leave your eyebrows singed, it does seem suspiciously déjà vu.

Zvonareva d. Jankovic 6-3 6-2

Smokin’ hot and smokin’ not.

(MARWAN NAAMANI/AFP/Getty Images)

Vera came into this event on a high having carried over the larger part of her most potent form from Thailand.

With Indian Wells (and all those points to defend) only weeks away, it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Jelena carried over the most potent parts of precisely nothing.

This time last year, I was predicting for her to win her first Slam at RG – nowadays one wonders whether she’ll even be in top ten contention by then.

I’d actually like to see Vera go on and win this thing – though she’s a set down to Vika as we speak.

Kulikova d. Kuznetsova 7-5 6-7 (2-7) 4-6

Not poetic. Not poetic at all.

Face Of The Day

AP

James Blake wins a difficult point against Andy Roddick during their match at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championship tennis tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. Roddick squeaked by.

::

Singles - Second Round
E Gulbis (LAT) d [3] R Stepanek (CZE) 76(5) 75
[6] J Isner (USA) d J Nieminen (FIN) 67(3) 64 64
P Petzschner (GER) d E Korolev (KAZ) 76(5) 76(5)

Singles - First Round
[1] A Roddick (USA) d J Blake (USA) 63 46 76(3)
X Malisse (BEL) d [4] T Haas (GER) 64 36 64
[8] S Querrey (USA) d R Ram (USA) 62 63
L Mayer (ARG) d M Fish (USA) 64 60

Doubles - First Round
[WC] S Lipsky (USA) / D Martin (USA) d B Becker (GER) / J Chardy (FRA) 75 62

Women's Singles - Second Round
(1) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (WC) Bethanie Mattek-Sands 61 61
(2) Melanie Oudin (USA) d. Lilia Osterloh (USA) 62 61
(3) Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. (WC) Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) 46 61 63
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Michaella Krajicek (NED) 64 75
(Q) Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. (7) Vania King (USA) 36 64 62
(8) Elena Baltacha (GBR) d. (Q) Valérie Tétreault (CAN) 64 64
Karolina Sprem (CRO) d. (WC) Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) 36 62 60
Anne Keothavong (GBR) d. Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) 63 61

I see Miss 100% is building her confidence in the minor leagues. This could be a good thing for her game.

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(3) King/Krajicek (USA/NED) d. Daniilidou/Woehr (GRE/GER) 64 76(3)

Women's Doubles - First Round
(2) Niculescu/Zalameda (ROU/USA) d. Glatch/Haynes (USA/USA) 16 64 10-6
Oudin/Perry (USA/USA) d. Domachowska/Keothavong (POL/GBR) 63 64

::

Sopa Telmex

Singles - Second Round
[2] J Ferrero (ESP) d M Daniel (BRA) 62 64
[5] A Montanes (ESP) d [Q] P Andujar (ESP) 63 62
[Q] S Ventura (ESP) d [7] V Hanescu (ROU) 64 76(10)
D Nalbandian (ARG) d D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) 67(5) 64 76(7)

Will Ferrero go two in a row?

Doubles - First Round
[1] P Cuevas (URU) / M Granollers (ESP) d R Gasquet (FRA) / M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 57 64 10-4
D Koellerer (AUT) / O Marach (AUT) d [2] A Sa (BRA) / H Tecau (ROU) 61 64
D Ferrer (ESP) / R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d [3] L Friedl (CZE) / D Skoch (CZE) 57 62 10-6
S Greul (GER) / P Luczak (AUS) d F Gil (POR) / E Schwank (ARG) 64 61
N Almagro (ESP) / S Ventura (ESP) d F Fognini (ITA) / P Starace (ITA) 57 62 10-3

::

XVIII COPA BBVA Colsanitas

Singles - Second Round
(1) Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 62 75
(3) Sara Errani (ITA) d. Sílvia Soler Espinosa (ESP) 63 61
(5) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) 76(2) 64
(6) Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) d. Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 62 62
(8) Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) d. Patricia Mayr (AUT) 57 76(5) 64

Doubles - Quarterfinals
(3) Domínguez Lino/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) d. Bratchikova/Thorpe (RUS/FRA) 63 63

Doubles - First Round
(2) Dulko/Gallovits (ARG/ROU) d. Castaño/Jidkova (COL/RUS) 62 64
(WC) Botto/Duque Marino (PER/COL) d. Cetkovska/Zakopalova (CZE/CZE) 63 76(4)
Savchuk/Yakimova (UKR/BLR) d. Cabeza Candela/Dentoni (ESP/ITA) 64 63
Hercog/Parmentier (SLO/FRA) d. Mayr/Zec Peskiric (AUT/SLO) w/o (Mayr: right elbow injury)

::

Open 13

Singles - Second Round
[2] J Tsonga (FRA) d [LL] J Ouanna (FRA) 76(9) 64
M Zverev (GER) d [4] T Robredo (ESP) 62 36 61
M Llodra (FRA) d [7] M Baghdatis (CYP) 76(6) 64
[8] J Benneteau (FRA) d F Serra (FRA) 64 64

I was wondering where Ouanna has been since last year's Roland Garros. Must have been some first set.

First Round
[Q] Y Mertens (BEL) d J Hajek (CZE) 76(8) 61
[WC] G Rufin (FRA) d [LL] L Recouderc (FRA) 75 46 76(2)

*[LL] L Recouderc (FRA) replaced M. Youzhny (RUS) - right hip

Doubles - Quarterfinals
[2] J Benneteau (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) / R Wassen (NED) 62 62
A Clement (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA) d R de Voest (RSA) / A Qureshi (PAK) 63 75

First Round
R Bopanna (IND) / J Coetzee (RSA) d C Rochus (BEL) / O Rochus (BEL) 62 61

::

ATP World Tour Awards Announced

I'm way late with this news as I've already been planting in my greenhouse. Spring is coming early to Maine this year and I've got to be ready.

As expected, Roger Federer and the doubles pair of Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan received top honors while John Isner picked up most improved player and MaliVai Washington was named Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year for his charity work for underprivileged children in Florida. Not a bad day for fans of American tennis.

View complete awards.

Face Of The Day

Reuters

Melanie Oudin of the U.S. returns a shot against compatriot Alexa Glatch during their tennis match at the Memphis Championships February 16, 2010.

Regions Morgan Keegan Championships

Singles - First Round
J Chardy (FRA) d [2] F Verdasco (ESP) 76(4) 63
[5] T Berdych (CZE) d [Q] R Sweeting (USA) 62 61
E Korolev (KAZ) d [7] P Kohlschreiber (GER) 75 75
L Lacko (SVK) d [WC] B Reynolds (USA) 26 76(6) 64
E Gulbis (LAT) d [Q] R Kendrick (USA) 64 64
I Karlovic (CRO) d B Becker (GER) 76(6) 76(4)
M Russell (USA) d [WC] W Odesnik (USA) 06 75 64
J Nieminen (FIN) d D Sela (ISR) 62 75
Y Lu (TPE) d [WC] R Ginepri (USA) 46 64 64

Doubles - First Round
E Butorac (USA) / R Ram (USA) d [1] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Mirnyi (BLR) 64 64
[2] M Fish (USA) / M Knowles (BAH) d J Brunstrom (SWE) / J Rojer (AHO) 67(6) 76(5) 13-11
J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) d [3] M Melo (BRA) / B Soares (BRA) 75 46 10-8
S Huss (AUS) / J Levinsky (CZE) d [WC] J Blake (USA) / B Reynolds (USA) 64 64
L Mayer (ARG) / D Sela (ISR) d [Alt.] R Ginepri (USA) / T Rettenamaier (USA) 64 75
M Kohlmann (GER) / J Nieminen (FIN) d I Karlovic (CRO) / D Vemic (SRB) 75 64

*[Alt.] R Ginepri (USA) / T Rettenamaier (USA) replaces P Kohlschreiber (GER) / P Petzschner (GER) - Kohlschreiber (right shoulder)

Women´s Singles - First Round
(2) Melanie Oudin (USA) d. (Q) Alexa Glatch (USA) 62 62
Karolina Sprem (CRO) d. (4) Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 64 64
(8) Elena Baltacha (GBR) d. Renata Voracova (CZE) 75 61
Lilia Osterloh (USA) d. Stéphanie Dubois (CAN) 36 64 64
(WC) Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) d. Laura Granville (USA) 64 62

Women´s Doubles - First Round
Mattek-Sands/Shaughnessy (USA/USA) d. Beltrame/Hradecka (FRA/CZE) 62 75
Daniilidou/Woehr (GRE/GER) d. (WC) Rus/Vaidisova (NED/CZE) 63 61
Barrois/Woerle (GER/GER) d. Granville/Osterloh (USA/USA) 76(5) 64

::

XVIII Cops BBVA Colsanitas

Singles - First Round
(1) Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 64 64
(Q) Kristina Antoniychuk (UKR) d. (2) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 61 64
(WC) Catalina Castaño (COL) d. (4) Polona Hercog (SLO) 75 62
(7) Klara Zakopalova (CZE) d. Lauren Albanese (USA) 46 76(2) 61
Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) d. Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) 64 61
Patricia Mayr (AUT) d. (WC) Paula Zabala (COL) 61 63
Pauline Parmentier d. (Q) Corinna Dentoni (ITA) 63 62
Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) d. (Q) Laura Pous Tio (ESP) 63 16 61
Mariana Duque Marino (COL) d. (Q) Greta Arn (HUN) 26 60 63
Sílvia Soler Espinosa (ESP) d. Lenka Wienerova (SVK) 36 64 62

Doubles - First Round
(3) Domínguez Lino/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) d. Albanese/Kerber (USA/GER) 64 62
(4) Fichman/Washington (CAN/USA) d. (WC) Frantova/Ramírez Rivera (SVK/COL) 61 61

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Open 13

Singles - First Round
O Rochus (BEL) d [5] G Simon (FRA) 75 62
[8] J Benneteau (FRA) d [Q] S Bohli (SUI) 76(5) 76(3)
S Stakhovsky (UKR) d S Bolelli (ITA) 63 36 64
M Llodra (FRA) d [Q] E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 67(5) 63 64
A Seppi (ITA) d A Clement (FRA) 76(2) 75
[LL] I Marchenko (UKR) d [Q] R Bemelmans (BEL) 46 63 62
*[LL] J Ouanna (FRA) d D Istomin (UZB) 64 16 63

*[LL] J Ouanna (FRA) replaces C Rochus (BEL) - lower back

Doubles - First Round
[1] J Knowle (AUT) / R Lindstedt (SWE) d T Ascione (FRA) / M Baghdatis (CYP) 64 76(3)
R de Voest (RSA) / A Qureshi (PAK) d [WC] P Mamata (FRA) / G Monfils (FRA) 61 64
S Ratiwatana (THA) / S Ratiwatana (THA) d D Guez (FRA) / F Serra (FRA) 46 62 10-8
S Stakhovsky (UKR) / R Wassen (NED) d [WC] J Ouanna (FRA) / E Roger-Vasselin (FRA) 63 64

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Copa Telmex

Singles - First Round
[1] D Ferrer (ESP) d S Greul (GER) 62 76(3)
[2] J Ferrero (ESP) d R Mello (BRA) 61 62
[4] J Monaco (ARG) d L Kubot (POL) 64 76(1)
[5] A Montanes (ESP) d P Cuevas (URU) 62 62
[6] I Andreev (RUS) d F Fognini (ITA) 75 76(4)
[8] H Zeballos (ARG) d [WC] G Gaudio (ARG) 63 36 63
[WC] C Moya (ESP) d [Q] F Volandri (ITA) 62 75
J Chela (ARG) d R Gasquet (FRA) 76(3) 75
D Nalbandian (ARG) d P Starace (ITA) 62 76(2)
[Q] P Andujar (ESP) d O Hernandez (ESP) 64 61
M Daniel (BRA) d P Lorenzi (ITA) 61 63
[Q] S Ventura (ESP) d D Koellerer (AUT) 64 62
M Granollers (ESP) d [Q] D Junqueira (ARG) 61 62

Doubles - First Round
[4] S Prieto (ARG) / H Zeballos (ARG) d M Daniel (BRA) / P Lorenzi (ITA) 76(4) 60
I Andreev (RUS) / D Gimeno-Traver (ESP) d [WC] J Brzezicki (ARG) / J Chela (ARG) 64 64