1st week
The new season kicked off with an enforcement of a rule considering time for preparation between points – since first tournaments of 2013, a time violation between points (25 seconds) has been penalized in the first instance with a warning. For the second and all subsequent violations, the penalty will be a fault for the server and a point penalty for the receiver.
The first biggest “victim” of the enforcement rule: Marcos Baghdatis. He wasn’t allowed to have two serves at 2-all in the deciding tie-break against Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane. The Cypriot lost his temper due to that decision of the umpire (Eva Asderaki) and almost immediately dropped two points in the consequence. Afterwards he came back to 5-all but lost the match anyway sending the Bulgarian to his first ATP final (three semifinals last year). Dimitrov held a set point there, however, Andy Murray responded with a 209 kph ace and never looked back capturing 25th title. In Doha, Nikolay Davydenko [44] was on a verge of winning the title not dropping a service game throughout the week! The Russian stunned David Ferrer in semifinals and led 6-3 4:2* in the 2nd set against Richard Gasquet [10] in the final having two break points – the Frenchman survived and snapped Davydenko’s 43-game winning streak on serve. When they met for the first time eight years ago in Monte Carlo, Gasquet beat Davydenko in similar circumstances (4-6 7-5 6-2 being 5:3 down in the 2nd set). “I’m really happy with the way I played and fought,” said Gasquet claiming his 8th title. “He was playing fast in the first set. I just try to keep focused and to fight a lot, and I did it. I’m really happy with the way I won. It’s important for me to win the final.” Gasquet was also close to lose his second round encounter as he found himself within two points of elimination from the event. In Chennai triumphed Janko Tipsarevic (4th title), who lost in India a dramatic final last year. A surprising runner-up, 24-year-old Roberto Bautista Agut [80] is a new face on the tour, in 2011 he didn’t even play a match at the main level. Other novice, Aljaz Bedene notched first ATP semifinal… It wasn’t a week of title defenders, only Murray bothered to return to a place where he won in 2012. Last year’s Doha champion (Tsonga) chose Hopman Cup; Chennai’s champion Raonic arrived unsuccessfully in Brisbane; in turn Berdych, who co-triumphed at Hopman Cup ’12, participated this week at the Aircel Chennai Open.
Finals
Doha (250)
S: (2)Richard Gasquet d. Nikolay Davydenko 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
D: C.Kas/P.Kohlschreiber d. (2)J.Knowle/F.Polasek 7-5, 6-4
Brisbane (250)
S: (1)Andy Murray d. Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(0), 6-4
D: M.Melo/T.Robredo d. (1)E.Butorac/P.Hanley 4-6, 6-1, [10-5]
Chennai (250)
S: (2)Janko Tipsarevic d. Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-1, 6-3
D: B.Paire/S.Wawrinka d. A.Begemann/M.Emmrich 6-2, 6-1
Hopman Cup
Spain d. Serbia 2-1 (Fernando Verdasco, Anabel Medina Garrigues)
Choker of the week:
Grega Zemlja led 5:2* (30-all) in the 3rd set against Richard Gasquet in Doha. The Frenchman prevailed 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(3).
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Nice start for my compatriot Gasquet !
He have the game for all surface.
I hope for him and the fan, a 1/4 in GS and why not a victory in Masters 1000 (not in France or Monaco, like Forget in Cincinnati 1991). One title in a ATP500 it’s enought to !
You know i’m fan of Gilles Simon and i want for him a great year.
The same for Dolgopolov, Ferrer, Del Potro, Almagro, Goffin, Dimitrov, Baker And PHM, Robredo.
Happy New Year 2013 for you Voo de Mar.
Merci JanJan.
Gasquet showed this week fighting spirit, maybe it’s a good sign for his 2013 season 🙂