Marin, My Avenging Angel
Posted by gauloises1 on October 31, 2009
I have so been short-changing the men this week. I know this. But the women are right there, on my TV, being by turns awesome and woeful. And it’s the last time we’ll see the top girls for like a month or something, so, you know. Sue me. Or go to a different blog. (Do not go to a different blog.)
Anyway. Marin made me the happiest woman alive for about five seconds today by beating my second least-favourite player, Feliciano Lopez, into a bloody pulp like a red-headed stepchild in straight sets to make the semis of Lyon today. He’ll face Philipp Kohlschreiber, who’s beaten him once this year, so that should go well. The other semi-final will be contested between homeboy Jurgen Melzer, who took out second seed Radek Stepanek, and Janko Tipsarevic, who somewhat bizarrely beat Gael Monfils 63 in the third. Could this be Tipsy’s second ATP final – in as many weeks, no less? Stay tuned.
Lyon probably gets the ‘WTF?’ award for the day, as Arnaud Clement (who had lost about fifteen matches in a row until recently) beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, saving a match point or two along the way. He’ll face sole non-painting-slasher Ivan Ljubicic in the semis. The other one will be contested between Gilles Simon and wildcard Michael Llodra, who seems to do bizarrely well at this small(er) tournaments on home soil. So we’ll see.
And in St Petersburg, Marat Safin is into the semifinals after a typically lopsided victory over Uzbekistan’s finest, Denis Istomin. He’ll be joined by Argentine Horacio Zeballos, Igor Kunitsyn and Sergiy Stakhovsky. But hey … Marat!
Lyon
Singles – Quarter-finals
[WC] A Clement (FRA) d [1] J Tsonga (FRA) 57 64 76(8) – saved 1 M.P.
[2] G Simon (FRA) d [5] J Benneteau (FRA) 76(5) 63
[3] I Ljubicic (CRO) d F Serra (FRA) 76(6) 62
[WC] M Llodra (FRA) d M Gicquel (FRA) 76(5) 64
Doubles – Semi-finals
[WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA) d M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) 62 67(4) 10-4
St Petersburg
Singles – Quarter-finals
I Kunitsyn (RUS) d [2] V Hanescu (ROU) 63 36 76(6)
[8] H Zeballos (ARG) d E Gulbis (LAT) 76(8) 64
M Safin (RUS) d D Istomin (UZB) 60 76(4)
[Q] S Stakhovsky (UKR) d B Phau (GER) 62 75
Doubles – Semi-finals
J Chardy (FRA) / R Gasquet (FRA) d [WC] M Elgin / T Gabashvili (RUS) 76(3) 61
Vienna
Singles – Quarter-finals
[1] [WC] M Cilic (CRO) d [6] F Lopez (ESP) 61 64
[7] J Melzer (AUT) d [2] R Stepanek (CZE) 62 62
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [3] G Monfils (FRA) 64 67(8) 63
[4] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d [5] N Almagro (ESP) 75 64
Doubles – Semi-finals
[3] L Kubot (POL) / O Marach (AUT) d J Isner (USA) / J Kerr (AUS) 64 36 10-6
Doubles – Quarter-finals
[4] J Knowle (AUT) / J Melzer (AUT) d M Cilic (CRO) / L Zovko (CRO) 76(1) 75
AmyLu said
I’ve been curious this entire week as to why La Monf was playing in Vienna instead of in Lyon? That just struck me as slightly odd…especially since he’s one of the French players that I don’t think minds the pressure of playing in front of his home fans.
irefusetotellyou said
That IS quite curious indeed, AmyLu. I didn’t even really think about it until now, actually … and getting beaten by Tipsy? Huh.
gauloises1 said
I believe he also played Vienna last year, didn’t he? Presumably it’s all about the francs (or, er, the Austrian currency).
AmyLu said
Okay, well, if he’s played there before that makes a little more sense. And, I’m sure it has much to do with money — and to be fair, I’ve heard Vienna is a lovely city. That’s high on the list of places I’d like to visit one day.
gauloises1 said
Yep, he did, I checked because I love you. Lost to Petzhner in the finals in 2008 (after beating Steps, Gonzo and PEHK en route).
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Gael-Monfils.aspx?t=pa&y=2008&m=s&e=0
AmyLu said
Thank you! 🙂
naughty T... step back in time. said
indeed good cakes in Vienna and errr.. Euros.. you know like, the currency everyone in their righ mind uses!!! grrr. Brits.
naughty T... step back in time. said
or even right* well those people who are not pissed out of their skulls..