Quarterfinals Set in Basel and Valencia

Bit of a mad day in Basel today. Four of the six matches went three sets and of the two that didn’t, one was a double bagel courtesy of Novak Djokovic. Come in, Jan Hernych, your time is up.

Djokovic will take on Wawrinka, one of three Swiss in the final eight, after he beat Jarkko Nieminen 61 in the third. And give it up for wildcard Marco Chiudinelli, who beat Michael Lammer in three sets to set up a match with Richard Gasquet, one of today’s match-point savers; he fought off two in defeating John Isner 62 in the third.

Also in the match-point-saving gang? My man Marin, who beat Troicki 76(7) 67(8) 76(6) in what looks like a fairly amazing match. Sadly it was on an unstreamed court. He’ll take on Steps, while the unenviable task of facing Federer in the quarters goes to Evgeny Korolev, who had to kill my buzz by taking out Chardy. Whatever.

In Valencia, it was more woe for the owners of the tournament, as Ferru was forced to give a walkover to Albert Montanes due to a hamstring injury that may well keep him out of Paris. Montanes will be taking on Andy Murray, who overcame visible rust to beat Horseface 63 in the third. Mayer showed some really good stuff, I thought, coming to net with great results, but Murray was just that little bit more solid in the decider.

Feliciano Lopez got off to a flier against Tommy Robredo, but then his tennis unaccountably deserted him, losing in the third, while Fernando Verdasco beat Tipsarevic 63 63 for his quarterfinal spot. And Kolya beat Pico, despite needing the trainer in the second set. Even an animated chat with Mo couldn’t save Pico.

Basel

Singles – Second Round
[2] N Djokovic (SRB) d J Hernych (CZE) 60 60
[4] [WC] M Cilic (CRO) d V Troicki (SRB) 76(7) 67(8) 76(6) – saved 3 M.P.
[6] S Wawrinka (SUI) d J Nieminen (FIN) 75 26 61
R Gasquet (FRA) d J Isner (USA) 46 76(9) 62 – saved 2 M.P.
[Q] E Korolev (RUS) d J Chardy (FRA) 64 76(1)
[WC] M Chiudinelli (SUI) d [Q] M Lammer (SUI) 26 63 63

Doubles – Quarter-finals
[1] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) d J Cerretani (USA) / A Qureshi (PAK) 64 64
C Kas (GER) / V Troicki (SRB) d S Lipsky (USA) / F Polasek (SVK) 64 62
M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) d L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) 63 64

Valencia

Singles – Second Round
[1] A Murray (GBR) d L Mayer (ARG) 64 36 63
[2] N Davydenko (RUS) d J Monaco (ARG) 63 75
[4] F Verdasco (ESP) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) 63 63
[7] T Robredo (ESP) d F Lopez (ESP) 46 63 64
A Montanes (ESP) d [8] D Ferrer (ESP) w/o (hamstring)
M Youzhny (RUS) d P Cuevas (URU) 62 26 61

Doubles – Quarter-finals
[3] F Cermak (CZE) / M Mertinak (SVK) d J Coetzee (RSA) / S Huss (AUS) 36 64 13-11
V Hanescu (ROU) / H Tecau (ROU) d P Cuevas (URU) / J Monaco (ARG) 75 61
M Knowles (BAH) / M Llodra (FRA) vs M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP)