21st week
Serbia weakened by the lack of Novak Djokovic, for the second time in the last three years claimed World Team Cup. It was a perfect tournament for both singles players: Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki, who won all their 4 singles matches, especially the former showed great form winning 17 straight games (!) at the start of the tournament (Zovko, Bogomolov), then beating Kohlschreiber in a dramatic duel (needed seven match points) and finally 
taking a revenge on Berdych for three defeats in the last six months. Tipsarevic saved set points in both sets of his 7-5 7-6 victory over the best Czech player, having lost to him four tight sets in succession! “We both played very solid. I was a bit lucky at the end of both sets,” said Tipsarevic about his last singles encounter. “In the second set, his string broke on a very important point, but I felt I deserved to win. I was the better player today in the crucial moments of the match.” Japan made its debut in the event, but without the best player – injured Nishikori.
Nice. Nicolas Almagro successfully defended the title (No. 12th in his career), but the runner-up was a hero of the week – the 27 year-old American, Brian Baker, who returned to professional tennis in July 2011 at the Pittsburgh Futures event while unranked, after a 4-year-break (!) in a consequence of different injuries (three hip, one elbow, one sports hernia surgeries). In France he made amazing things in terms of mental stamina, came back from a set down in three matches [he was *4:5 (0/30) in the deciding set of the first round against Stakhovsky; saved m.p. against Kukushkin in quarters; was 6-7 1:3 down against Davydenko in semis], also saved a couple set points in the 2nd set overcoming Gael Monfils 6-3 7-6(9); these wins allowed him to jump from No. 216 to 141: “It was a great week. Every time you go onto court you want to win. I am a competitor, I hate losing. But, when you look at the week as a whole, it has been an unbelievable week.” In his previous tournament, in April he won in Savannah (Challenger) as a qualifier, so the defeat to Almagro was his first loss after 15-match winning streak! Stats of the final
Finals
Dusseldorf (WTC)
Serbia d. Czech Republik 3-0
Nice (250)
S: (3)Nicolas Almagro d. (q)Brian Baker 6-3, 6-2
D: (1)B.Bryan/Mike Bryan d. O.Marach/F.Polasek 7-6(5), 6-3
Choker of the week:
Robin Haase had plenty of opportunities to beat Juan Carlos Ferrero in the first round in Nice: was serving at 5:4 in the 2nd set, had a match point in the tie-break, led 30/15 at 5:4 & 6:5 in the 3rd set and 5:4 in the tie-break to lose 6-4 6-7(6) 6-7(6) – it’s been his 7th defeat in a row in matches which went to 5-all in the deciding set.
# Points obtained for the WTC winning team (1 singles, 0.5 doubles) during the week:
4.5 – Janko Tipsarevic
4 – Viktor Troicki
0.5 – Nenad Zimonjic
0 – Miki Jankovic
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Hello Voo de Mar,
Few words about Brian Baker, qualified and finalist in Nice after he saved match point versus Kukushkin in Qf… Is one of incredible player, he make this year his come back on the professional tour, his last tournament was in the US open 2005 vs Malisse and today for the 1st tour of Roland Garros, he won his first match in a Grand Slam versus Malisse again! 7 years later to come back like that! Incredible! He won in 3 sets today… 🙂
Yeah, amazing story, I saw a couple points of his match with Gaudio (UO ’05) and completely forgot about the guy…
…I almost forgot the double, especially The Bryans, they won their 78th tournaments, but the most important stat about the twins is on Mike Bryan. With his victory at Nice, he reached his 80th tournaments won in his career and he’s close to Todd Woodbridge with his 83 trophies, the record with the most double title in open era! Tennis history is written by them too! 🙂
Good day Voo de Mar!
Bravo à Baker (Comeback of the decade ?) mais Simon va le battre 😉
Maybe the comeback of the decade, we’ll see that at the end of the season, but I think this guy is a very strong player (especially mentally) and Roger Federer himself wish sincerely play against him during the tour, he was impressed by his game and his incredible come back, 7 years after his last tournament in a grand slam!!!
Simon a battu Baker, cependant c’était un match très difficile pour Simon qui jusqu’au début du cinquième set n’était pas sûr de gagner… Ce qui était encore incroyable est que l’américain joué son match un cinquième set en bousculant l’un des meilleurs joueurs au monde, une tête de série!
(english translation)… 🙂
Well, it was hard match for Simon, the frenchman was doubted all the time front of Baker and what is incredible, the american player played his first 5th set, threatening seriously the french seed player! Simon was scared to lose and he stayed in the doubt a very long time… Baker is one of player to follow this year if he builds a good physical condition, with his solid game and his strong mental, he could succeed a lot of good thing, a really good surprise for the tennis.