Wimbledon
Singles – Second Round: S Querrey def. (21) M Raonic 6-7(3-7) 7-6(9-7) 7-6(10-8) 6-4
First it was suspended by darkness. Then it was delayed by rain. And it was a long match anyway. But, eventually, Sam Querrey became the third American to reach the third round — all in the bottom half. He costs Milos Raonic any chance for a Top Twenty spot.
Singles – Third Round: (1) N Djokovic def. (28) R Stepanek 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-2
The first set of this perhaps had people thinking of the Nadal/Rosol match that took place on the same court the night before. But Radek Stepanek couldn’t hit the perfect shots that Rosol had, and Novak Djokovic came to life. Stepanek will end up right around #25.
Singles – Second Round: (3) R Federer def. (29) J Benneteau 4-6 6-7(3-7) 6-2 7-6(8-6) 6-1
In the first two sets, Julien Benneteau was playing very well, and Roger Federer seemed just a little off. Federer finally recovered after that, and then Benneteau had knee problems at the end. That means that Federer still has a shot at #1. Benneteau seemed certain to make the Top Thirty, but it appears he will fall a little short.
Singles – Third Round: (26) M Youzhny def. (8) J Tipsarevic 6-3 6-4 3-6 6-3
Both of these guys have a reputation as fine players who don’t always bring their best game. Lately, Janko Tipsarevic has overcome that, but in this match, the roles reversed. It hardly matters; Tipsarevic wasn’t going to move above #8 this week anyway, and there isn’t much chance that he will fall.
Singles – Third Round: (18) R Gasquet def. (12) N Almagro 6-3 6-4 6-4
This hardly qualifies as an upset — not on grass. Even with the loss, Nicolas Almagro is very likely to rise to #10.
Singles – Third Round: V Troicki def. (15) J Monaco 7-5 7-5 6-3
The weather on Friday was cooler and wetter than Thursday, making the courts slower — but obviously not slow enough! Juan Monaco will not rise above his current #14. It’s too early to know where Viktor Troicki will be, but certainly he will hit the Top Thirty.
Singles – Third Round: X Malisse def. (17) F Verdasco 1-6 7-6(7-5) 6-1 4-6 6-3
The grass season always seems to revive Xavier Malisse. He manages to defend his points, which presumably means he will stay around #75. Fernando Verdasco may hit the Top Fifteen, but he loses his chance to clinch.
Singles – Third Round: (31) F Mayer def. J Janowicz 7-6(7-5) 3-6 2-6 6-3 7-5
It will be amazing to see if Jerzy Janowicz can follow up on this. It doesn’t seem to be the way to bet, given his past record. Florian Mayer has moved himself into the Top Thirty.
Singles – Third Round: D Istomin def. A Falla 6-3 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-5)
Denis Istomin is now up to #34 or so.
Doubles – First Round: (2) Bryan/Bryan def. Haase/Nieminen 6-3 6-2 6-4
The Bryans are a round behind most of the other top seeds, but (as it turns out) they are the only one of the top three teams left in the field, so it may not matter much.
Doubles – First Round: (10) Melzer/Petzschner def. Berlocq/L Mayer 4-6 7-6(7-0) 3-6 6-3 6-4
It was a surprisingly tough day for seeds. This should never have been this close. Particularly since Melzer/Petzschner, we would guess, will need one more win to stay Top Twenty.
Doubles – First Round: Karlovic/Moser def. Ebden/Harrison 3-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(7-3)
Doubles – First Round: Emmrich/Kohlmann def. Klizan/Lacko 6-7(4-7) 6-4 4-6 7-6(7-4) 7-5
Doubles – Second Round: Bracciali/Knowle def. (1) Mirnyi/Nestor 6-4 6-4 6-4
There is such a thing as being too relaxed…. Mirnyi/Nestor will stay #1 in doubles after Wimbledon, but this gives an opening for the Bryans, or maybe Leander Paes or Michael Llodra, to gain a lot of ground. A final would move the Bryans into an effective tie with Mirnyi/Nestor in the Race; a title would give the Bryans a substantial lead.
Doubles – Second Round: (8) Qureshi/Rojer def. Reynolds/Van Der Merwe 6-3 6-7(5-7) 6-4 6-4
Another step toward the Top Ten for Qureshi, but that will not be settled for days.
Doubles – Second Round: Darcis/Rochus def. (12) S Gonzalez/Kas 6-1 6-1 6-4
Doubles – Second Round: Clement/Llodra def. (14) Butorac/J Murray 6-3 7-5 6-4
This is officially an upset, but it doesn’t feel like one. Michael Llodra is Top Ten. Arnaud Clement isn’t, but he and Llodra both like grass, and know how to win here, and Clement wants to go out with a bang. That’s a lot of motivation! Llodra has now lasted long enough that he is in a straight competition with Leander Paes for the #5 ranking; whoever lasts longer gets it, with ties to Paes. And he still has a slight chance to go as high as #3.
Doubles – Second Round: Marrero/Seppi def. Brunstrom/Marx 7-6(7-3) 6-4 7-5
Doubles – Second Round: Cerretani/Roger-Vasselin def. Kukushkin/Rosol 6-4 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Makarova/Knowles def. Niculescu/Farah 4-6 6-2 6-1
Mixed Doubles – First Round: South/Skupski def. Lepchenko/Butorac 7-6(7-5) 7-6(8-6)
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Peer/Erlich def. Mattek-Sands/Tecau 7-5 6-1
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Gajdosova/Soares def. Kops-Jones/Huey 6-7(13-15) 6-4 6-4
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Kerber/Petzschner def. Uhlirova/Moser 6-2 6-3
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Azarenka/Mirnyi def. Arvidsson/Lindstedt 7-6(13-11) 6-4
Victoria Azarenka hardly plays doubles any more, so her ranking is poor and she and Mirnyi were unseeded — but they surely are worthy of a seed.
Mixed Doubles – First Round: Watson/Hutchins def. Hantuchova/Polasek 6-4 6-3
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