Montpellier Tennis Update (02/07/12)

Written by: Staff on 1st February 2012

Montpellier Tennis Update (02/07/12)

Feliciano Lopez of Spain hits a return in his men's fourth round match against compatriot Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 22 January 2012. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG |

Singles – First Round: (5) F Lopez def. I Kunitsyn 6-4 7-6(9-7)

Based on current rankings, Feliciano Lopez would have gotten a bye here. He probably could have used the rest; he needs a final here to earn any points at all, and a title to earn enough to matter.

Singles – First Round: (7) P Kohlschreiber def. O Rochus 6-1 6-4

Two more wins would put Philipp Kohlschreiber on the verge of the Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: (8) J Nieminen def. M Teixeria (Q) 6-3 3-6 6-4

Given that he suffered an injury in Australia, this can’t have felt too good for Jarkko Nieminen. But he has already matched his eighteenth event score; even one more win would improve his point total and clinch his Top Fifty ranking.

Singles – First Round: P Mathieu (WC) def. C Stebe 6-4 6-4

Paul-Henri Mathieu is off the rankings — no points at all. It has been more than a year since he won a match. To come back with a win over a player who has been rising steadily has to be very encouraging.

Singles – First Round: E Roger-Vasselin def. R Bautista-Agut (Q) 7-5 6-2

Roberto Bautista-Agut stays stuck below #150. Maybe he should have played Vina del Mar….

Singles – First Round: N Mahut def. A Ramos 6-3 6-2

This seems to be the event where the French stick it to the Spanish. Almost sounds like a comment on Euro Zone politics, although the Germans don’t seem to be too deeply involved so far….

Singles – First Round: M Russell def. A Mannarino 6-3 7-5

Adrian Mannarino had a breakthrough early last year, then turned into a pumpkin late in the year. He came here ranked #101, and he was defending semifinalist points, so he’s going to fall even lower. At this rate, he’s going to need a wildcard into Roland Garros.

Singles – First Round: F Cipolla def. M Gicquel (Q) 1-6 6-4 7-5

It’s funny, in a way — the French national retirement system lets them retire at an unsustainably early age, but French tennis players like Arnaud Clement and Marc Gicquel — who turns 35 in two months — never seem to retire. It looks as if it will be a long time before Gicquel can return to the Top Hundred, however.

Singles – First Round: F Serra (Q) def. T Kamke 6-3 6-3

At least one well-seasoned Frenchman made it through….

Doubles – First Round: (3) Hanley/J Murray def. Emmrich/Siljistrom 7-6(10-8) 3-6 10-7 (Match TB)

Topics: Feliciano Lopez