Cincinnati: Well Played, Nole

I don’t get how people can hate on Nole when he’s always so gracious in defeat. (NB: I didn’t see the trophy presentation and am vigorously chair-dancing to Kate Bush right now.)

But this seems sweet to me …

“The closest I was going to get to the first-place trophy is now,” the world’s fourth-ranked player said on the court immediately following the match.

Cincinnati: Four Become One

Sorry about the lack of bloggage this weekend (it’s like roughage, but not as good for you). I was doing some very important drinking and watching of the cricket. Who won, you ask? England I THANK YOU.

Anyway. While I was drinking Pimms, heckling the Aussies and killing brain cells at a rate of knots, some stuff seems to have happened.

Apparently this …

… became this …

And this …

… became this …

… became this …

… and ended in this …

Pithy or what? I should really start a blog or something.

Anyway, concision seems to have been the order of the day as unless I’m very much mistaken, all these things happened in straight sets. Madness.

Congratulations to Fed on his sixteenth Masters series title. That’s an ominous number, eh?

Cincinnati: Bring On The Murderer

It’ll be Andy Murray vs Roger Federer in the first semifinal in Cincinnati. I’m excited already.

Lest anyone should need reminding, the H2H now stands at 6-2 in Murray’s favour, with Murray having won their last 4 previous meetings. The one before that was the US Open final. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen these two play and not really enjoyed it. I’m excited.

Mind, given that Fed rolled over Hewitt in straights and Murray took three sets of shambolic tennis to overcome Julien Benneteau, I may not well get the match or result I want.

And how about a hand for our gallant losers?

Thanks for playing.

Cincinnati: Julien Benneteau, Your Masters Series Quarterfinalist

He is, as well. He beat Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in a epic three-setter which about one person watched to book his spot opposite Murray in the quarters.

Allez, lambykins.

Speaking of the world no. 2, he beat Radek Stepanek 64 61. OK, he has a good record over Stepanek - didn’t he beat him in his Very First Wimbledon as a wee thing? – but still. This is making me nervous now. Things are going so smoothly that he’s got “ripe for an upset” written all over him, and I do NOT want that upset happening in Flushing Meadows. Can we get it out of the way now, please?

Anyway, the other three members of the Big Four (we still call it that, right?) came through as well. That Swiss dude somehow took three sets to beat David Ferrer and, while Ferru was playing OK, bear in mind that in their last 8 sets combined, Federer had dropped just fifteen games. Let’s just say his mind was not on the job. I’m sure he’ll get it there to face his next opponent, as Rusty disposed of Sam Querrey in three to book another quarter-final spot.

Novak Djokovic beat Jeremy Chardy in straight sets that only required one or two racquet smashes and a certain amount of shouting. It’s another Frenchman for him next, as Gilles outlasted Kolya in three sets. This is actually a good result for Gilles, isn’t it? When was the last time he made quarter-finals in a Masters?

 Tomas Berdych will take on Rafa Nadal in the fourth quarter-final. The Czech had a straightforward win over Chris Guccione. Rafa beat Paul-Henri Mathieu, but I don’t have too much insight into this one as Mathieu’s play was maddeningly ragged and I switched over. Still, it would seem that Rafa is getting his game back on track-ish … no?

Results

Singles – Third Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d D Ferrer (ESP) 36 63 64
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d P Mathieu (FRA) 75 62
[3] A Murray (GBR) d [16] R Stepanek (CZE) 64 61
[4] N Djokovic (SRB) d J Chardy (FRA) 75 63
[9] G Simon (FRA) d [8] N Davydenko (RUS) 67(6) 64 64
L Hewitt (AUS) d S Querrey (USA) 61 26 63
[LL] J Benneteau (FRA) d G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 46 64 76(4)
T Berdych (CZE) d [Q] C Guccione (AUS) 64 63

Doubles – Second Round
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) d M Mirnyi (BLR) / A Ram (ISR) 64 62
D Ferrer (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) d [3] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) 62 64
[6] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) d J Chardy (FRA) / G Simon (FRA) 62 64
[8] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d [WC] J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) 46 62 10-8

OOP:

Cincinnati: Tsonga, Roddick Out

Well, the Big Four came through their matches easily enough. Rafa Nadal probably had the hardest time of it in a match against Andreas Seppi that was interrupted by rain perhaps three times, but he maintained his focus and came through in straight sets.

And the world no. 2 won.

I for one cannot believe that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga lost to Chris Guccione. That should never happen. And Roddick was upset by Sam Querrey in the last match of the night. I’m a big fan of Querrey and I thought he played really well, moving great, defending brilliantly and – to quote jb – hitting his forehand “like you dream about”. The commentators were speculating that Roddick was sick and he didn’t look in the best of phsyical condition; however, he described it himself as “just a bad night”.

From the looks of things, it might not be such a bad idea to take the rest of the week off. There’s this thing in New York coming up, yeah?

Results

Thursday’s OOP:

Elf Takes the Catwalk

Well, it doesn’t look like he’s going home, that’s for sure.

From cincinnati.com:

He’s ranked No. 6 in the world, but among more than 400 women at today’s matches at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina may briefly challenge Roger Federer for No. 1 — at least off the court.

Wearing tennis whites, del Potro dropped in at the Macy’s Ladies Day Brunch and Fashion Show, held in a giant tent near center court, and in his halting English worked his Argentine charm by saying he had never before seen so many beautiful  women in one place. If that didn’t do the trick, his promise to return to Mason next year did.

Then, as he headed off to sign autographs at the tennis complex’s main souvenir and equipment store, del Potro proved that it’s possible for the same person who could stop traffic in Buenos Aires to pass virtually unnoticed in Greater Cincinnati, even among an informed tennis crowd. As he crossed the grounds, only one or two heads turned his way.

Man, I want to live somewhere it’s possible for a gorgeous six foot seven Argentine to be a routine sight.

Maybe Argentina would be a good bet …

Cincinnati: This is Starting to Suck

The Mariners sunk without trace tonight as Marin lost in straight sets to David Ferrer.

In further knees news, Gonzo was forced to retire against Tomas Berdych. Sad face. Two more seeds fell, as Guillermo Garcia-Lopez scored a great – if somewhat baffling – win against Fernando Verdasco, and Hewitt put paid to Robin Soderling in his first tournament back after his elbow injury.

Well done to GG-L. And frankly, given the state of Verdasco’s hair, it was a blessing.

In this photo it looks kind of like an awesome beehive. It wasn’t.

Results

Singles – Second Round
[9] G Simon (FRA) d I Andreev (RUS) 76(5) 67(6) 61
D Ferrer (ESP) d [14] M Cilic (CRO) 76(4) 62

Singles – First Round
T Berdych (CZE) d [10] F Gonzalez (CHI) 64 ret. (knee)
G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d [11] F Verdasco (ESP) 76(4) 76(4)
L Hewitt (AUS) d [12] R Soderling (SWE) 36 76(8) 63 – saved 2 M.P.
[Q] M Youzhny (RUS) d V Hanescu (ROU) 75 62
J Melzer (AUT) d F Lopez (ESP) 57 76(4) 76(7)
A Seppi (ITA) d [Q] J Hernych (CZE) 36 64 61
[Q] C Guccione (AUS) d P Kohlschreiber (GER) 75 26 63
I Kunitsyn (RUS) d J Blake (USA) 76(5) 67(5) 64
P Petzschner (GER) d [Q] S Bolelli (ITA) 76(6) 63
[WC] J Isner (USA) vs T Haas (GER)

Doubles – Second Round
R Lindstedt (SWE) / M Melo (BRA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB)

Doubles – First Round
M Llodra (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) d J Melzer (AUT) / R Stepanek (CZE) 76(2) 64

Wednesday’s OOP:

Cincinnati: Marin Is Like a Box of Chocolates, In Many Ways

Well, one. In that you never know what you’re going to get. He beat Boss in straight sets.

It’s a crazy rollercoaster ride, this Marin business. Jeremy Chardy took out Tommy Robredo and David Ferrer took care of Stanislas Wawrinka, who needs to start winning matches soon. There’s a lot of nappies he needs to pay for.

Sadly Gael Monfils was bounced by Dr Ivo. Although in better news, I’ve now learned how to play the serving game on his website. Ivo actually gave me a fist pump the other day.

Results

Singles – First Round
[9] G Simon (FRA) d [WC] W Odesnik (USA) 63 62
I Karlovic (CRO) d [13] G Monfils (FRA) 64 67(5) 76(2)
[14] M Cilic (CRO) d J Ferrero (ESP) 63 64
J Chardy (FRA) d [15] T Robredo (ESP) 63 75
[16] R Stepanek (CZE) d V Troicki (SRB) 76(2) 10 ret. (foot)
I Andreev (RUS) d N Kiefer (GER) 61 75
B Becker (GER) d M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 63 63
N Almagro (ESP) d D Sela (ISR) 64 10 ret. (groin)
P Mathieu (FRA) d M Zverev (GER) 67(4) 75 63
[Q] I Ljubicic (CRO) d F Serra (FRA) 46 63 64
D Ferrer (ESP) d S Wawrinka (SUI) 75 62
J Acasuso (ARG) d [Q] L Kubot (POL) 64 63
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d [WC] R Ginepri (USA) 75 76(2)
S Querrey (USA) d [Q] Y Lu (TPE) 63 64

Doubles – First Round
F Lopez (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP) d S Huss (AUS) / R Hutchins (GBR) 46 76(2) 10-3
T Berdych (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) d N Davydenko (RUS) / I Kunitsyn (RUS)  57 76(4) 10-7
R Lindstedt (SWE) / M Melo (BRA) d J Coetzee (RSA) / J Erlich (ISR) 76(3) 36 14-12

OOP:

Cincinnati: Now With 100% Less Elf

Elf has withdrawn from Cincinnati, probably as a result of fatigue and lingering injuries from the past couple of weeks.

He will, however be available for phone sex.

Monday OsOP: Cincinnati, Toronto

I seem to have missed the boat on previewing these tournaments … sorry!

Stadium (from 11.00hrs)
1. Vinci vs. Dubois
2. Mauresmo vs. Schiavone (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Suárez Navarro vs. A.Radwanska
4. Petrova vs. Sharapova (NB 20.00hrs)

Grandstand (from 11.00hrs)
1. Azarenka/Zvonareva vs. Hsieh/Peng
2. El Tabakh vs. Stosur
3. Tétreault vs. Szavay
4. Kirilenko/Vesnina vs. Dubois/Marino
5. Kuznetsova/Mauresmo vs. Husarova/Parra Santonja (NB 17.30hrs)

Court 1 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Cornet vs. Rezai
2. Bammer vs. Chakvetadze
3. Senoglu/Shvedova vs. Chuang/Pelletier (NB 14.00hrs)
4. Bartoli vs. A.Bondarenko

Court 3 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Benesova vs. Sugiyama
2. Wickmayer vs. K.Bondarenko (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Koryttseva/Poutchek vs. Amanmuradova/Kudryavtseva
4. Medina Garrigues vs. Schnyder