Wimbledon – Daily Men Tennis News

Written by: Staff on 25th June 2012

Wimbledon - Daily Men Tennis News

epa03281257 Alejandro Falla of Colombia returns to John Isner of the US during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 25 June 2012. EPA/JONATHAN BRADY |

Wimbledon

Singles – First Round: (1) Djokovic def. J Ferrero 6-3 6-3 6-1

This was too routine for us to have much to say about it, but it means that Juan Carlos Ferrero will remain below #35.

Singles – First Round: (3) R Federer def. A Ramos 6-1 6-1 6-1

By the end of this, Roger Federer was serving and volleying in a way that suggested practice rather than a sense of real competition. It’s Wimbledon win #60 of his career, and it leaves Albert Ramos still stuck below #40.

Singles – First Round: E Gulbis def. (6) T Berdych 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-4) 7-6(7-4)

After this match, Ernests Gulbis wisecracked that he is “known for my mental strength.” As in, he isn’t known for it. But Tomas Berdych wasn’t liking what he was facing. The wind may not have helped either. And Berdych had the trainer out to work on his leg. It all added up to falling just short. That means he will not rise above his current #7 — although there is almost no chance that he will fall, either.

Singles – First Round: (8) J Tipsarevic def. D Nalbandian 6-4 7-6(7-4) 6-2

David Nalbandian really does pay the price for his temper tantrum of a week ago; had he won that match, he wouldn’t have had to face Tipsarevic in his opener. And he was defending third round points, so he can expect to fall out of the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: A Falla def. (11) J Isner 6-4 6-7(7-9) 7-6(9-7) 7-5

Although they were drawn to meet in the second round, there will be no Isner/Mahut match this year after all. The surprise is that it was Isner who went out first (Mahut’s match was suspended). And while Isner wasn’t defending much here, his Newport title also comes off this week. That means that he is out of the Top Ten — and probably means that there will be no Top Ten Americans next week.

Singles – First Round: (13) G Simon def. P Mathieu 6-3 6-4, retired (adductor)

This day was to be badly marred by retirements. The main effect is to keep Gilles Simon in the hunt for the #10 ranking.

Singles – First Round: (15) J Monaco def. L Mayer 6-4 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-5)

Leonardo Mayer will not remain below the Top Fifty.

Singles – First Round: (17) F Verdasco def. J Wang 7-6(7-3) 6-4 7-5

Fernando Verdasco defends his points and improves his odds of making the Top Fifteen.

Singles – First Round: (18) R Gasquet def. T Kamke 6-2 6-2 6-2

Richard Gasquet will almost certainly need one more win to stay Top Twenty.

Singles – First Round: D Istomin def. (23) A Seppi 6-7(2-7) 6-4 3-6 6-3 8-6

The difference between Denis Istomin on clay and Denis Istomin on grass remains amazing. Seppi loses another chance to earn a Top 25 spot; Istomin defends his points and is likely to stay Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: V Troicki def. (24) M Granollers 7-5 7-6(7-5) 3-6 2-6 8-6

Viktor Troicki just missed seeding, so this isn’t a big upset, but what a way to lose…. It costs Marcel Granollers his Top Twenty chance.

Singles – First Round: (26) M Youzhny def. D Young 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-3

Donald Young will probably remain below #50.

Singles – First Round: (28) R Stepanek def. S Stakhovsky 6-1 1-0, retired (rib)

Radek Stepanek lost his opener last year, so he is already adding points. One more win would likely make him Top 25.

Singles – First Round: (29) J Benneteau def. G Muller 6-2 7-5 7-6(7-4)

One more win would likely make Julien Benneteau Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: (31) F Mayer def. D Tursunov 7-6(7-3) 6-2 6-3

This makes it pretty much certain: Dmitry Tursunov is going to have to rebuild his ranking in Challengers or qualifying. He won’t get into any more main draws. He pays a high price for coming back too soon.

Singles – First Round: R Harrison def. Y Lu 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2

Given how well Yen-Hsun Lu likes grass, this is a very solid win for Ryan Harrison. It’s unfortunate that he faces Novak Djokovic next; he needs one more win to clinch his new Top Fifty status.

Singles – First Round: B Becker def. J Blake 6-7(4-7) 7-5 6-0 6-4

Benjamin Becker always did like grass. If there were more of it, he would probably be back in the Top Hundred by now….

Singles – First Round: M Klizan def. J Chela 7-5 3-6 7-6(8-6) 1-6 11-9

Juan Ignacio Chela remains below #80. A tough way to spend four hours and 53 minutes, including more than an hour and a half in the final set.

Singles – First Round: J Chardy def. F Volandri 6-0 6-1 1-0, retired

Clearly Filippo Volandri’s feelings about grass haven’t changed….

Singles – First Round: G Rufin def. S Darcis 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-4 6-4

We’d guess this will take Guillaume Rufin to around #150.

Singles – First Round: R Bemelmans def. C Berlocq 7-5 6-7(4-7) 6-3 7-6(7-2)

Carlos Berlocq wasn’t defending anything, so he probably won’t fall much — but he won’t rise above #35, either.

Singles – First Round: P Petzschner def. B Kavcic 6-4 6-4 6-2

Grass continues to be good to Philipp Petzschner. A return to the Top Hundred looks very likely; he’s almost there anyway.

Singles – First Round: J Janowicz def. S Bolelli 3-6 6-3 6-3 6-3

Simone Bolelli was defending fairly substantial points; he will probably fall below #140.

Singles – First Round: F Fognini def. M Llodra 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-5

Michael Llodra was defending 180 points. He will be falling to around #75.

Singles – First Round: M Russell def. A Menendez-MacEiras 6-3 6-1 7-6(9-7)

Veteran American versus rookie Spaniard. On grass. You were expecting something else?

Singles – First Round: G Zemlja def. J Goodall 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-3) 6-4

Grega Zemlja doesn’t have much grass experience — but at least he isn’t a British wildcard….

Singles – First Round: X Malisse def. M Matosevic 6-2 6-2 7-5

Xavier Malisse still needs at least one more win to stay Top Hundred, but at least he is looking very comfortable on the grass.

Singles – First Round: I Andreev def. O Golding 1-6 7-6(7-4) 7-6(9-7) 7-5

British-ness again seemed to apply here. There was a moment in the third set when Oliver Golding seemed to realize that he had a chance to win — and, from that moment on, he probably didn’t….

Singles – First Round: I Cervantes def. F Cipolla 2-6 6-7(4-7) 6-3 6-2 6-1

It appears Inigo Cervantes will rise to around #130.

Singles – First Round: R Sweeting def. P Starace 6-2 2-0, retired (back)

This made it 13% of the day’s matches ending in retirements….

Doubles – First Round: (15) Dodig/Melo def. Fisher/Kerr 6-7(4-7) 6-4 6-4 6-3

Doubles – First Round: Bracciali/Knowle def. Ball/Bellucci 7-5 7-6(10-8) 6-3

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