TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS (5/3) – Belgrade, Estoril, & Munich

Written by: Staff on 3rd May 2012

TODAY'S MEN'S NEWS (5/3) - Belgrade, Estoril, & Munich

Jarkko Nieminen of Finland wipes sweat during his first round match against David Nalbandian of Argentina at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2012. Nieminen retired in the second set. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Belgrade

It wasn’t the greatest day, weather-wise; Jarkko Nieminen’s match had to be postponed, so he will have to do double duty on Friday.

Singles – Second Round: (1) P Andujar def. F Volandri 4-6 7-5 6-2

Given how close this was, you wonder what might have happened had Pablo Andujar not been feeling so confident right now. As it is, he has to win his next match to earn any points.

Singles – Second Round: L Rosol def. V Hanescu 7-6(7-4) 6-3

Victor Hanescu will stay stuck right around #100.

Singles – Second Round: B Paire def. G Garcia-Lopez 4-6 7-5 7-5

This was a dead tie in terms of points, but Benoit Paire picked his spots just a little better….

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Andujar/Garcia-Lopez def. (1) Lindstedt/Tecau 4-6 6-2 11-9 (Match TB)

Estoril

Singles – Second Round: (1) J del Potro def. R Machado 6-1 6-0

This is more reminiscent of what Rui Machado has been struggling with lately. It doesn’t help Juan Martin del Potro, but his next win counts, and a final would take him to #11.

Singles – Second Round: (4) A Ramos def. B Phau 7-5 6-0

Albert Ramos’s fine year has him on the bring of the Top Forty. If he can win his next match, it becomes an effective certainty.

Singles – Second Round: (WC) J Sousa def. (5) D Istomin 3-6 6-3 4-2, retired (back)

Denis Istomin, on the other hand, loses his Top Forty chance. At least, if he has to get hurt, clay is the surface on which to do it.

Singles – Second Round: (7) A Montanes def. B Reynolds 4-6 6-4 6-3

Tougher than it should have been, given the surface, but Albert Montanes continues to make progress in his comeback. It’s just that it’s too slow. Maybe it’s a clay thing…

Doubles – First Round: Brunstrom/Marx def. Fruttero/Klaasen 7-6(8-6) 6-3

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Gasquet/Roger-Vasselin def. (3) Hanley/Melo 5-7 6-1 10-1 (Match TB)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Knowle/Marrero def. Charroin/Marray 7-5 6-4

Munich

Singles – Second Round: (2) F Lopez def. S Stakhovsky 6-4 7-6(7-4)

Feliciano Lopez is another of those guys we’ve been talking about who hasn’t earned any points yet. Anything more he does will count — but he needs a title to improve his ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (4) P Kohlschreiber def. E Gulbis 7-5 6-3

Same story: The next win counts for Philipp Kohlschreiber. And he should hit the Top Thirty if he gets it.

Singles – Second Round: (5) B Tomic def. P Starace 6-1 6-7(4-7) 6-3

Bernard Tomic will almost certainly hit the Top Thirty no matter what. He’s at #29 in safe points.

Singles – Second Round: (Q) M Matosevic def. (Q) R Farah 6-1 6-7(2-7) 6-2

Loss or no loss, this was one of the best results of Robert Farah’s career. Our rough cut is that he will rise above #200.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Cermak/Polasek def. Cilic/Zovko 6-1 6-4

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Cabal/Farah def. Bachinger/Moser 6-4 7-5

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Malisse/Norman def. Kohlmann/Murray 7-6(7-2) 6-3

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Brown/Waske def. Falla/Giraldo 6-2 6-1