Men’s Tennis Update – Memphis tennis news

Written by: Staff on 24th February 2012

Singles – Second Round: (1) J Isner def. D Young 7-6(7-3) 6-4

John Isner is at #11 in safe points, which is as high as he can go this week. He has yet to clinch even that. But he is improving the odds that he will in fact rise to #11. Donald Young, even with the loss, should make the Top Forty.

Singles – Second Round: (3) R Stepanek def. R Sweeting 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-4)

This was one of those “just couldn’t close the deal” sort of matches. Ryan Sweeting threatened a lot — then saved multiple break points in the eleventh game of the third set, but couldn’t save the last one. Sweeting had break points on Stepanek as Stepanek served for the match — and converted to make the tiebreak. Only to suffer a minibreak on the first point of the tiebreak. Then he got the point right back. And on it went. And, after all two hours and twenty minutes of that, and several blown match points before finally converting, Radek Stepanek still hasn’t earned enough points to improve his ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (4) M Raonic def. S Stakhovsky 6-4 6-4

Milos Raonic remains the Superman of Spring. He is now about a hundred points away from returning to the Top Thirty. In other words, a semifinal just might do it; a final would guarantee it. And he is the only seed left in the bottom half of the Memphis draw.

Singles – Second Round: S Querrey (WC) def. (7) K Anderson 7-6(7-4) 6-4

Let’s hope this means Sam Querrey is really and truly starting to come back. The loss means no Top Thirty spot for Kevin Anderson.

Singles – Second Round: J Melzer def. I Dodig 2-6 6-3 7-6(7-5)

We knew this part of the draw would be tough, but this is ridiculous…. And it doesn’t even count toward Melzer’s ranking yet.

Singles – Second Round: L Kubot def. P Petzschner 7-6(7-5) 6-2

Lukasz Kubot came in at #54, Philipp Petzschner at #57. Thus the winner had a real shot at the Top Fifty. But Petzschner had had the tougher match the day before.

Singles – Second Round: O Rochus def. (WC) R Harrison 6-4 7-5

Olivier Rochus should have served this out at 5-4 in the second set. Instead, Harrison broke for 5-5. But Rochus managed to finish it off after that, which ought to spell a Top Fifty spot.

Singles – Second Round: B Becker def. X Malisse 7-6(7-4) 6-4

More evidence that Benjamin Becker is finally getting back into form. Either that, or it’s evidence of how far Andy Roddick has fallen, since Becker beat Malisse who beat Roddick….

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Mirnyi/Nestor def. (WC) Harrison/Kudla 7-6(11-9) 3-6 10-8 (Match TB)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Fleming/Hutchins def. (3) Cermak/Polasek 6-3 3-6 10-3 (Match TB)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Dodig/Melo def. Benneteau/Rochus 6-3 6-4

Topics: Donald Young, John Isner, milos raonic