Just remind me why they play Paris so late in the year again? Doesn’t really seem like anyone is interested in playing there… except Julian Bennetau. Federer suffered a terrible loss to an on-fire Bennetau in the first round. Embaressing, to say the least. Good news for Roger fans is that Muzz lost to Stepanek today in the battle of the two uglies. That side of the draw is wide open for del Potro if he decides he could do with winning a Masters, (he could, just saying).

Nadal saved multiple match points in his first round victory over Almagro, world’s biggest choker. He is currently playing in a third set against Robredo. Not really players he should be challenged by, even on the fast courts of Paris.

Back to Federer’s loss. He posted on facebook earlier in the week that he had been practising at Roland Garros. Here’s an idea. When you are about to play in a tourny on a fast hardcourt, it is a wise idea to practise on one. Hard court, at least. Not CLAY. Seriously, clay?? Why did he bother entering?

Davydenko has qualified for the WTF, and he bloody deserves it. He may have lost in Paris to Soderling, (who is still in the hunt), but he will have a real shot at the end of year finals. Especially if Nadal, Muzz, and Fed remain uninterested.

Verdasco’s end of season has been as bad as Federer’s … but he didn’t win two Slams and make all four finals this year so it baffles me why he seems to be running out of steam. If he is going to play this averagly, I  don’t want him in WTF. Give it to Soderling, who is playing well and deserves it.

Speaking of playing well, Cilic beat Verdasco today and boy is just looking better and better. He is going to be a real contender next year.

Safin retired after losing against delPo, but I’ll post on him properly later in the week. Delpo takes on Gonzy next … please win.

EDIT: Well Nadal snuck through that one 7-5 in the third… I’ll reserve further judgement.

You know it is the end of the season when you are not getting nervous about matches anymore. Federer has cruised through his first two rounds in Basel, swiftly beating Seppi 3 and 3 today. That man gets the worst draws. Wawrinka overcame Ljubicic in a tough three setter, and is due to meet Marin Cilic next. Cilic has an outsider’s chance to get to the WTFs. He has to win Basel though. A field with both Roger and Novak. Mmm. Good luck with that one.

Tsonga retired against Youzhny this morning in Valencia. I guess this makes his WTF chances basically nil. Monfils also lost to Garcia-Lopez (embaressing). Verdaso cruised and Simon beat my man Berdych in three sets.

Over in Bali, the pretty Sabine Lisicki lost to Rezai. Wickmayer, Stosur, and Bartoli all won.

Can you just sense my enthusiasm for these end of year tournaments through my blogging? Yeah, though so. The men really should be playing the WTFs right now. Season. Too. Long.

Even Roger’s shirt is boring. Geez.

Speaking of shirts… Mandy Murray is ditching Fred Perry for adidas. Cannot WAIT to see what colourful creations they pop on him. Mandy in orange? Mandy in blue? Mandy in lime green? Very excited.

Nole is still rumoured to be going to K-Swiss (bad bad bad move).

That is all for now… will update at the end of Basel. Unless some super exciting news comes along… (any more excerpts, Agassi?)

The love of my life, my PC, Charlotte, has had a minor accident. She doesn’t want to turn on for some reason and so she is being sent away to the PC hospital today. Hopefully she will be back around mid next week. I am currently blogging off my flatmate’s MAC (which is an awkward piece of machinery to say the least) but I will not be able to use this much at all. I have work computers and what not, but needless to say I will be blogging fairly seldom until Charlotte is back. I will try and get the Year In Review Kuznetsova blog out ASAP as that is the last one of that series of blogs. But yeah, I should be back soon and I will keep you updated on Charlotte’s health.

Just a few quick words on Shanghai:

I almost feel Andy Roddick pulled out of last night’s match against Stan Wawrinka to prove a point. He has been moaning a lot about the schedule of late. I agree that something needs to be done to give the players a larger off season. It would be best if the season could finish at the start of November and not commence until January. However, people like Nadal moan about the season and then go and play lucrative exhibition tournaments like Abu Dhabi. It just doesn’t make his case look very good at all.

Very angry and upset and disappointed Ernests Gulbis lost to Fabio Fognini on a hard court. Typical Gulbis.

Pleased to see Tomas Berdych take out Cilic and also to see Safin win another match. They play each other tonight, I am going for Berdych but will be nice to see either of them go through. Nadal vs Blake probably won’t live up to the hype, and hopefully del Potro manages to get his act together this time. Would be awful if he lost early again.

Hope everyone is having a good week.

Novak Djokovic caps his return to the world number three ranking by lifting the China Open trophy after victory over Marin Cilic…. From BBC News. Full story

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Nole Djokovic nella finale del china open in corso di svolgimento a Pechino sconfige il croato Mario Cilic in due set con il punteggio di 6-2 7-6.Il serbo dopo essersi aggiudicato il primo set facilmente, nel secondo prende il largo nel tie-break vincendo lo stesso 7-4

1. O Aberto da China tem uma música tema.
Não tô brincando.

2. Colocou tudo que é jogador pra dar autógrafos.

Karlovic assinou uma camiseta que nunca será lavada, Zvonareva fingiu ser emocionalmente estável, Chardy posou pra foto com uma foto do Federer (??), Cilic assinou falsificações chinesas das bolas gigantes do US Open.

3. E colocou jogadores pra fazerem… outras coisas.

Essas fotos se explicam por si mesmas. (Ou não)

4. E pra variar, teve um festéénha pros jogadores, é claro.

Detalhe pra a) pessoas bonitas, roupas feias (quando você tem certeza que são tenistas); b) Marat, o gigante;  c) 1:04; d) o fim fora da casinha desse video.

5. Foi em Pequim que Serena Williams finalmente conseguiu o seu verdadeiro lugar no ranking.

E agora só tem 5 pontos a mais do que Dinara, já que é claaaro, depois que foi confirmado que ela seria a nº1 do mundo, ela perdeu a próxima partida. Eu sei Serena, que a última coisa no mundo que tu quer é o topo do ranking, mas um pouco de esforço não vale nada. Olha há quanto tempo a Safina tá te dando chances de pegar o lugar dela. Aposto que ela até comemorou um poquinho.

6. Nole também voltou pro número 3 no Aberto da China.

Desse modo o topo volta à ser Federer-Nadal-Djokovic. Murray continua sem um Slam. E o mundo está em paz novamente.

7. Mas o fato mais importante é: ninguém sabe o que realmente acontece nas conferências de imprensa do torneio.

Marin Cilic reaches the final of the China Open with an impressive 6-1 6-3 victory against world number two Rafael Nadal…. From BBC News. Full story

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Another absolute heartbreaker for Ernests Gulbis fans last night. After winning a brilliant first set against Tsonga, Gulbis squandered break point oppertunities in the first game of the second set and Tsonga never looked back. As his serve started clicking, Gulbis’s mental game began to falter and he dropped the last two sets. It has been the best week of 2009 for Gulbis, coming through qualifying to reach the quarter finals. It is hard not to be disappointed despite this result, as he had a really good chance to beat Tsonga in straights. With his new coach and hopefully new found remembrance on how to play tennis, we can only hope Gulbis continues to improve and play well throughout 09.

Marat Safin was completely disappointing in his routine 3 and 1 loss to Nadal. Nadal played well, but Safin was nothing short of woeful. I only saw the first set, but I saw him hit many a routine forehand long. Makes me grateful I am not a Safin fan.

Elena Dementieva was another disappointment in Beijing, losing 5 and 3 to twelth seed, Radwanska. Despite playing brilliantly up until this stage of the tournament, Dementieva couldn’t make her serve count when it mattered. A very disappointing performance from a girl who had a chance to claim another title in Beijing.

Petrova struggled against the gutsy Peng, but eventually prevailed 6-2 in the third.  Bartoli prevailed over a potentially exhausted Zvonareva, as did Kuznetsova, Soderling, Cilic and Bartoli over their opponents. A good win for Novak Djokovic, who didn’t play his best tennis 63 16 61 win over Verdasco, but he played well enough to give himself a very good shot to reclaim the number three ranking, (which he will if he wins his next match against Soderling). Djokovic still seems slightly too scared to go for his trademark down the line shot when it really matters, his first serve needs to go in the box more, and his forehand was spraying a touch much. Hopefully he can improve for his next match against the always tough Soderling.

Another exciting night of tennis… but not exactly the match ups I was hoping for… *tear*

It is not a secret that I have little love for Andy Murray. Andy Murray is everything I dislike about tennis. He is a pusher, he is immature, he whines a lot, he fist pumps double faults, he has zero charm or grace, and his relationship with Roger Federer is shakey at best. You would be correct in guessing I was cheering for Cilic in this years forth round encounter at the US Open. You would be right in assuming I celebrated his loss with much yelling and smiling. What might suprise you, however, is the way I have been feeling for Murray since. I have certainly suprised myself.

Andy Murray is under pressure. Intense pressure. If you thought the pressure at Wimbledon was bad, it is nothing compared to now. After his loss at Wimbledon, Murray was disappointed, but not forlorn. The US Open has always been his favourite surface and tournament, he has had great runs on hard courts all year, winning five Masters titles, including the recent Montreal. Last year he made the final at the US Open only to fall to the more experienced Federer. Everyone expected him to make the semis this year, many expected him to make the final. It is fair to say Andy Murray was the player considered second most favourite to win coming into this open.

We all know what happened. Murray played too defensive. He served poorly. He lacked fight and enthusiasm. He looked downright miserable. After his loss he called it the biggest disappointment of his career. He stated he didn’t know how long it would take to get over this loss. That he needed to look ahead to the Australian Open and focus on his chances there. He gave full credit to Cilic. Compare this to the man who was harping on about how he would be number one by now if only he had done a little better in January. Andy Murray seems humbled.

The media have always been a doubled edged sword. They can draw attention to you in the most glorious ways, build up your wins, compare you to the greats, announce you as the next big thing. They can also drag you down, question the future of your career, and compare you to people who are known as sporting failures. Roger Federer and Andy Roddick have experianced a little bit of both. Now, Andy Murray is too.

Take a look at a few of the headlines going around at the moment:

  Andy Murray: Where Is All The Hype Now?
  Why Murray Can’t Win The US Open
  Andy Murray Must Play More Aggressive To Win
  Time Running Out For Andy Murray And His Grand Slam Quest
  Major Doubt Over Sad Murray
  I Can Still Win A Slam, Insists Andy Murray

Andy Murray must be feeling like shit at the moment. He hasn’t tweeted since his loss, which is a shame, considering all the messages of support he must have recieved. Murray is in withdrawl mode, and I don’t blame him.

Murray is 22 and he will learn. He must already be learning the huge difference between winning a Masters and winning a Slam. I don’t believe time is running out for Murray, but I think the media need to set their focus elsewhere. Hopefully, Andy will bounce back strong and prove to the world that he is no Tim Henman or Colin Montgomerie.

Roger Federer believes he can;
“It’s tough. It happens like that. You have to move on from it, get stronger, and give yourself opportunities. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing.”
Federer is not wrong, it was not that long ago the media was calling for his retirement and wondered if he would ever win another slam. His heartbreak at the Australian was as much to do with the cruel words of the media has it was to do with the actual loss. The tears he cried at Roland Garros were as much relief as sheer joy.

There is something else I hope Murray learns how to do. Enjoy himself. He said before the Open that he doesn’t smile on court because it is just a job and nobody really smiles when playing. His first round opponent was Ernests Gulbis. Gulbis cracked up laughing several times during their match. What Murray said is simply not true, Roger Federer often cracks a smile on court, as do Andy Roddick and Novak Djokovic. I am not sure whether the intense pressure Murray is under has something to do with his demenour on court, but I would love to see him relax and enjoy the game.

I would also like to see him win a slam.

Good luck, Andy Murray, I hope you bounce back.

Hoy le ganó a Cilic, que venía de ganarle fácilmente a Murray y se metió en las semifinales del US Open, ahora le tocará jugar con el ganador de Nadal y el chileno González, partido que está suspendido por lluvia. Alcanzó por segunda vez las semifinales de un Grand Slam tras haberlo hecho en Roland Garros 2009. Esperemos que pueda llegar lo más lejos posible y si puede ganar el torneo mejor.

Lo spagnolo Juan Martin Del potro battendo in rimonta il croato Mario Cilic si qualifica per le semifinali dell’us open in corso di svolgimento a flushing meadows con il punteggio di 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-1 In un’incontro che per lo spagnolo non era cominciato bene , Del potro dopo aver perso il primo parziale per 6-4 , ma senza mollare mai la presa rimonta il suo giovane avversario dimostrando una ormai una maturità già evidente da mesi.In semifinale per lui il vincente di Nadal-Gonzales

Watching Marin Cilic vs. Juan Martin del Potro is like watching the next stage of athletic evolution.  Two guys, 6′6″ who can bomb from the baseline, serve and volley, and have the quicks to cover the court like Michael Chang.  It’s ridiculous!  Okay, so saying they’re as fast as Little Miguelito Chang is a tad bit ridiculous but the level these guys play at merits some hyperbole.   Especially Del Potro – his game is incredibly complete and sophisticated for a young dude who could easily be content to lean on that heavy first serve.  He’s well aware of the difference between a one trick pony and true tennis player and he’s pushing himself to be the latter.  With his skill set, increased experience, and growing confidence, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be able to go all the way…well…I suppose there are three reasons - Djokovic…Nadal…and Federer.  UPDATE: After Del Potro’s dismantling of Cilic in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th sets, it looks like the other semifinalists are indeed the only 3 players who have any chance of derailing the Argentine’s run to the title.   And if he wins, the Argentinos  might be able to distract themselves – if only for a moment – from the circus that Maradona has made of the Selección.

Vanguard of the next generation

JMDP (3 sets – 1) @ 3.50 - Update – WIN – [6] J del Potro (ARG) d [16] M Cilic (CRO) 46 63 62 61

JMDP hasn’t had too much trouble so far in the Open, the only set he has lost is because of a lapse in concentration against Koellerer. He should still have a lot of energy in the tank to put away Cilic. Cilic played the match of his career to put away Murray in straight sets but Cilic is known for his inconsistency and inability to stay focussed, so I doubt he will be able to play at a high enough level to win 3 sets against big hitting JMDP. He will only win 1 set 76 or 75 but JMDP should not lose anymore.

Reparem nas minhas habilidades no Photoshop. :')

E a primeira zebra do US Open chegou! (Levando em conta só o torneio masculino, já que se a gente contar as zebras do feminino foi praticamente uma manada. Ou só uma super zebra chamada Melanie Oudin). Sério mesmo, quem, QUEM achava que Muzza ia pra casa na 4ª rodada, e ainda contra o Mario Cilic? E ainda em 3 sets. 3 SETS. Já passou um dia e eu ainda estou chocada.

Coisas que mudaram agora:

• Sem chance de duas finais consecutivas Federer-Murray. Ballboys comemoram.
• Consequentemente Roger continua confortável com seus 15 Slams e 1º no ranking. Nenhum escocês juntando pontos por enquanto, só perdendo.
• Sem chance de uma partida Murray-del Potro. Mães de ambos estão felizes, sem briguinha meninos.
• NOVO NÚMERO 2! Provavelmente. Tanto pode ser o Rafa, como pode ser o Nole, pulando lá do nº4. Rankins são confusos, o melhor é esperar pra ver.

Uma coisa que eu gostei de ver:

• Murray não teve aquela lenga-lenga de “Eu perdi a partida para mim mesmo” na  conferência de imprensa depois do jogo. Ficaram batendo na tecla de uma problema no pulso e ele continuava dizendo que isso noi foi o problema e elogiu várias vezes o Cilic.

Marin Cilic raggiunge per la prima volta in carriera i 1/4 di un major eliminando dal torneo una dei protagonisti più attesi lo scozzese Andy Murray , un po scarico e poco incisivo, con il severo punteggio di 75 62 62

La sconfitta di Murray , ha mio parere meno sorprendente di quello che a apparenza può apparire proprio per il valore potenziale di Cilic, toglie comunque dal us open 2009 uno dei protagonisti dell’anno.

Murray che non ha mai dato l’impressione di poter in qualche modo far girare la partita,è apparso piuttosto scarico , privo di idee e un pò in confusione rispetto a quello che abbiamo ammirato in recente passato.Una delle più grosse delusioni della sua carriera , avrebbe poi comentato in conferenza stampa.

Per Cilic , invece la più importante soddisfazione della sua giovane carriera.

Levine @ 5.35 - Update – LOSS – [16] M Cilic (CRO) d J Levine (USA) 46 26 60 63 60 – Close but no cigar.

First meeting between these 2 but Levine should be able to trouble Cilic with his LH game, while Cilic has been very inconsistent of late losing to Youzhny and Devvarman in the last month.

Ferrero (2 sets – 0) @ 2.40 – Update – LOSS – [14] M Cilic (CRO) d J Ferrero (ESP) 63 64

Ferrero is just in better form at the moment, Cilic has lost his last 2 hardcourt matches, both in the first round. Ferrero had a good run at Montreal, only stopped by eventual winner Murray. This is the first meeting between the 2 and both are pretty comfortable with the hardcourt, JC just has the form and confidence right now.

Isner @ 1.69 - Update – LOSS – M Youzhny (RUS) d J Isner (USA) 67(8) 61 63 – Last few weeks have caught up to Isner and he couldn’t continue his form.

Tough match to pick, Youzhny upset Cilic in the first round so his confidence will be on the up whereas Isner easily dispatched fellow American Jesse Levine. Isner has played alot of tennis in the last few weeks and has been in good form on the hardcourts, hopefully he has not run out of steam. If Isner can get more than 60-65% first serves in then I can’t see him losing this one.