Monte Carlo
Singles – First Round: R Haase def. (11) J Monaco 7-5 0-6 2-3, retired (right ankle)
The big story on this day seemed to be of players coming in from small events and then losing at the big one. Not the smartest strategy; Juan Monaco will not rise above his current #14 and may well fall.
Singles – First Round: (12) K Nishikori def. A Ramos 6-2 7-5
Albert Ramos has been playing very well, and he likes clay — but he came here tired. That may be why this wasn’t closer. The loss means no Top Forty spot for Ramos; indeed, it appears he will fall a spot or two.
Singles – First Round: S Wawrinka def. (10) F Lopez 6-1 6-4
Feliciano Lopez really faced two opponents here: Stanislas Wawrinka, who is tough enough on clay, and jet lag. Little wonder he was so far off! He isn’t likely to fall in the rankings (he has a lead of hundreds of points over the next active players), but he loses any chance of regaining his Top Fifteen spot.
Singles – First Round: (Q) M Kukushkin def. (14) F Mayer 3-6 6-1 6-3
Florian Mayer has seemed pretty fragile this year. We have to suspect he broke down again — although he did win in doubles. In all likelihood he will lose his Top Twenty ranking.
Singles – First Round: A Seppi def. (Q) V Hanescu 6-3 6-1
This isn’t enough points to count for Andreas Seppi, but one more win would take him very close to the Top Forty.
Singles – First Round: F Fognini def. M Llodra 7-5 6-3
This place likes Frenchmen, but Frenchmen often don’t like clay…. Michael Llodra will remain below #45.
Singles – First Round: T Bellucci def. K Anderson 6-4 6-4
This is a mild upset based on rankings, but probably not based on surfaces. It means no Top Thirty ranking for Kevin Anderson, though.
Singles – First Round: (Q) F Gil def. M Youzhny 6-1 6-3
Good news for Frederico Gil, whose ranking just took a big hit. Mikhail Youzhny doesn’t lose any points, but it still appears he will fall a little, simply because a lot of players are adding points.
Singles – First Round: (WC) P Starace def. C Berlocq 4-2, retired (left calf)
Carlos Berlocq seems to be paying for his success earlier this year. At least he should stay Top Forty.
Singles – First Round: F Volandri def. (Q) A Giannessi 7-5 6-3
Alessandro Giannessi has now lost his opener at his last two ATP events. And he only has three events in all!
Singles – First Round: P Andujar def. (Q) F Delbonis 3-6 6-4 6-2
Pablo Andujar just keeps winning — he’s the exception to the rule about last week’s players struggling here. He hasn’t moved much yet (maybe one ranking spot), but any additional wins could take him a lot higher.
Singles – First Round: M Cilic def. (Q) S Bolelli 6-3 6-4
More evidence of progress for Marin Cilic, but he needs a semifinal to get back to the Top Twenty.
Singles – Second Round: (3) A Murray def. V Troicki 6-0 6-3
If Andy Murray can keep this up, he actually will have a chance to overtake Rafael Nadal this spring. Not this week, though. There is a slight chance that this will cost Viktor Troicki his Top Thirty ranking, although all the biggest threats to him have already lost.
Singles – Second Round: (4) J Tsonga def. P Kohlschreiber 6-2 6-4
Philipp Kohlschreiber, for instance, was a Top Thirty threat — but no longer.
Singles – Second Round: (13) F Verdasco def. I Dodig 6-2 6-4
Ivan Dodig was defending Barcelona semifinalist points, so this will probably drop him to around #80.
Doubles – First Round: Murray/Murray def. S Gonzalez/Kas 6-4 6-3
It is rather amazing how many top singles players are in the doubles here. Tuesday alone, we saw five Top 25 players: Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, Fernando Verdasco, Florian Mayer, and Alexander Dolgopolov. The results were rather mixed; three won, two lost.
Doubles – First Round: Mayer/Melzer def. (WC) Clement/Lisnard 7-5 6-4
Doubles – First Round: Granollers/M Lopez def. Qureshi/Rojer 6-4 6-4
Doubles – First Round: Marach/Peya def. Butorac/Soares 6-2 3-6 12-10
We had some pretty strong unseeded teams here. Too bad so many of them faced other strong unseeded teams, as in this match.
Doubles – First Round: Marrero/Verdasco def. Berdych/Dolgopolov 7-5 6-2
Rank &
Prior…Player………..Points
1..(1) Djokovic……….12680
2..(3) Federer…………8880
3..(2) Nadal…………..8725
4..(4) Murray………….7770
5..(5) Tsonga………….4735
6..(6) Ferrer………….4160
7..(7) Berdych…………3810
8..(8) Tipsarevic………2820
9..(9) Isner…………..2770
10.(10) Fish……………2725
11.(11) Del Potro……….2700
12.(12) Almagro…………2175
13.(13) Monfils…………2075
14.(14) Monaco………….2015
15.(15) Simon…………..2005
16.(16) Lopez…………..1855
17.(17) Nishikori……….1625
18.(18) Gasquet…………1590
19.(19) Verdasco………..1565
20.(20) Mayer…………..1540
21.(21) Dolgopolov………1520
22.(22) Cilic…………..1400
23.(23) Stepanek………..1385
24.(24) Raonic………….1335
25.(26) Wawrinka………..1300
26.(25) Granollers………1295
27.(27) Roddick…………1245
28.(28) Soderling……….1210
29.(31) Benneteau……….1205
30.(30) Troicki…………1185
Topics: Andy Murray, Bellucci, Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco, Fognini, Haase, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Kei Nishikori, Monaco, Monte Carlo tennis news, Ramos, Seppi, Sports, Stanlis Wawrinka, Tennis News, Troicki, Wawrinka