Indian Wells – 2R

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Voo de Mar

Andy Murray [5] after reaching the Australian Open final last year where was beaten in straight sets by Federer, couldn’t back on the right track in the following few months. This year is even worse, after (in some sense) a humiliating defeat in the Australian Open final, he lost very quickly his opening match in Rotterdam (to Baghdatis) and now at Indian Wells suffers the third straight sets loss, to a player whom should have outplayed with ease – Donald Young [143]. The 21-year-old Young, before this weak, hadn’t beaten a player from the Top 30! His biggest scalp came also in Indian Wells, three years ago when he ousted F.Lopez, No. 32 at the time. Young: “It’s by far the biggest win of my career. I’ve had chances before but this is the first I’ve come through and didn’t let my nerves get the better of me.” The other main contenders to the title (Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Soderling) won their matches easily, albeit Federer was two points away from losing both sets against Igor Andreev, even though was keeping the match under control throughout. Soderling, in turn, found himself at *5:6 in the 2nd set against Michael Berrer, despite a 4:1 lead with a double break.
Nikolay Davydenko‘s slump continues. The Russian fell in the ranking 34 places in the last five months (from 6 to 42)! He almost can’t win a tie-break during the last 12 months and paradoxically before that, he had a career best tie-break streak (17-1), since Australian Open ’10 it’s been 5-22! Yesterday against Stanislas Wawrinka [14], he was leading 5:3* in the 2nd set and was two points away from winning the encounter at *5:5 in the tie-break, Wawrinka won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, taking the last three games of the match. Also dramatic matches won Juan Ignacio Chela (4-6, 3:5*, 15-30 against P.Petzschner), Ernests Gulbis (saved a match point on serve in the 2nd set tie-break against YH.Lu) and Philipp Kohlschreiber, who unexpectedly had a very difficult match against T.Smyczek, won from a triple match point down in the 12th game of the final set. The defending champion Ivan Ljubicic [16] had the worst possible draw in the second round and lost 7-5, 4-6, 2-6 to Juan Martin del Potro [90], who seems to back to his 2009 form. Ljubicic: “It’s not an easy draw, of course. He’s a great player, and it was a great match. It was great entertainment for the crowd. We had some great points. I came up short in the end.” Del Potro’s first three set match after 14 consecutive two-setters!

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Scud gets another title

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Voo de Mar

34-year-old Mark Philippoussis won his second successive title in ATP Champions Tour beating two years older Tim Henman in straight sets in the final of the  BNP Paribas Zurich Open. The semi-retired Australian, two weeks ago triumphed in Delray Beach … Continue reading →

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Indian Wells – 1R

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Voo de Mar

The 25th edition of ‘BNP Paribas Open’ at Indian Wells started on Thursday, for the seventh straight year with a 96 draw (’56 draw’ in the years 1987-1999 and ’64 draw’ in the years 2000-2003). This year’s draw is excellent, with all the Top 10 best players in the word (32 out of 35 best players).
The first round was successful for qualifiers and “wild cards”, 6 out of 12 qualifiers advanced to the next round, 4 players with “wild cards”, including this year’s revelation Milos Raonic who ousted in straight sets Marsel Ilhan [120], the young Canadian lost his serve serving for the match but quickly rebuilt himself and won a tie-break easily, recording his first ‘Masters 1000’ victory. I’m looking forward to his potential fourth round clash with Federer. “It’s been two weeks since I played a tournament, so I was happy to be back feeling like I’m playing a lot better,” says Raonic [37], “I didn’t serve that well today, but I feel compared to Memphis and San Jose I’m playing another level from the baseline. I feel like it just gives me a lot more comfort that I’m improving that aspect.” The other young gun – Ryan Harrison [152] had a tricky match with one of the Davis Cup heroes of the last weekend – Jeremy Chardy [49]. Harrison already led 5:0* (30-0) in the 3rd set, but the Frenchman got 3:5 (deuce) after saving two match points. Harrison: “These are always big mental matches because it’s so tight. And especially the first two sets being 7-6, to come out on top and to really get out there ahead in the third, really it could have been a 6-0 third set.”
The best four players in the world, Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, won their doubles matches. Especially Federer’s win (teamed up with Wawrinka) is impressive – 6-1, 6-2 over amazing doubles players – Mirnyi and Nestor.

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9th WEEK – Davis Cup (1R)

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Voo de Mar

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Three nations (Sweden, Argentina & Spain -> Rafael Nadal’s first matches [straight sets victories] since Australian Open) secured their quarter-finals berth after the first two days of the weekend. Perhaps easy win Sweden over Russia is a bit surprising if … Continue reading →

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Karlovic hits 251 kph!

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Voo de Mar

Zagreb. Ivo Karlovic established today a new record in the fastest serve, delivering a 251 kph serve in a Davis Cup doubles match between Croatia and Germany. Karlovic along with Ivan Dodig, lost to the German pair, Christopher Kas and … Continue reading →

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Ancic quits

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Voo de Mar
26-year-old Mario Ancic, former No. 7 in the world, lost his biennial battle with mononucleosis and chronic back problem – announced retirement from professional tennis. The Croat due to his illness played only seven tournaments in 2009 and nine tournaments last year (only three of them at the main level). “This is a difficult, emotional day for me,” said Ancic last week. “However, I don’t want it to be a sad day and I would like to still be remembered for everything I did in tennis and for the glory I brought to both Split and Croatia“. Along with Ivan Ljubicic he won for Croatia the bronze medal at the Olympics in Athens (2004), Davis Cup (2005) and World Team Cup (2006).
My MTF tribute thread
In the picture 19-year-old Ancic plays backhand in his second round five-setter against Andre Agassi at Roland Garros 2003.
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8th WEEK

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Voo de Mar

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In the initial period of the 2011 season, three players are in the form of their lives: Novak Djokovic, Robin Soderling and Nicolas Almagro. Djokovic [3] elevated by the triumph in the Davis Cup final ’10, followed that success with … Continue reading →

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Scud’s first title

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Voo de Mar
34-year-old Mark Philippoussis won yesterday his first Champions Tour title beating nine years older Aaron Krickstein without troubles in the Delray Beach final. “Everything came together for me tonight,” said Philippoussis. “I actually used to live in Delray Beach a few years ago. I’ve missed it and it’s been nice to be back.” The defending champion Pat Rafter didn’t play this year… I think it’s a good occasion to add to my blog all scorelines of the ATP Champions Tour of the last seven years. Check them out here.
Philippoussis’s road to the title:
rr Pat Cash 6-7(5), 6-3, [8-10]
rr Mats Wilander 6-4, 6-3
rr Mikael Pernfors 6-2, 6-2
W Aaron Krickstein 6-3, 6-2
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7th WEEK

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Voo de Mar

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It was another very interesting week – all title winners of the 6th week, advanced to the finals again! Two of them (Soderling & Almagro), clinched their second titles in the fortnight… Andy Roddick [8] captured his 30th career title … Continue reading →

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38 aces of Raonic

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Voo de Mar

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Milos Raonic‘s [59] fairytale continues… The young Canadian after winning a tournament in San Jose, went to Memphis where in the first round played with his San Jose’s final opponent – Fernando Verdasco. Raonic won again, this time in three … Continue reading →

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