Men Tennis Update – Olympics, Washington, and Rankings

Written by: Staff on 3rd August 2012

Men Tennis Update - Olympics, Washington, and Rankings

epa03337880 Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina reacts during his men's semi final match against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 03 August 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Olympics

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) R Federer def. (10) J Isner 6-4 7-6(7-5)

Eleven straight grass wins for Roger Federer, but he still hasn’t clinched the #1 ranking. John Isner has clinched that he won’t be Top Ten; he will have to settle for retaining the #11 spot.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) N Djokovic def. (5) J Tsonga 6-1 7-5

That settles the #5 ranking, at least: David Ferrer will keep it, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga still stuck at #6.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) A Murray def. (11) N Almagro 6-4 6-1

Obviously this was very much to be expected. Nicolas Almagro loses his Top Ten chance; Juan Monaco is now sure to stay #10. Murray won’t move this week, but the British can console themselves with the fact that he now looks like a very good bet for a medal.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) J del Potro def. (15) K Nishikori 6-4 7-6(7-4)

Anyone surprised that the lowest-seeded quarterfinalist is the one who came out of what would have been Rafael Nadal’s quarter? If Juan Martin del Potro can take a medal — any medal — he will rise to #8. Kei Nishikori will probably be #16.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. Erlich/Ram 7-6(7-4) 7-6(12-10)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (2) Llodra/Tsonga def. Melo/Soares 6-4 6-2

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Benneteau/Gasquet def. (3) Tipsarevic/Zimonjic 6-4 7-6(7-3)

French players are always trouble on grass…. The situation for the Bryans is looking pretty good, with so few regular doubles teams left.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Ferrer/F Lopez def. Cilic/Dodig 6-4 6-4

Quite a surprise on grass. Particularly since it involved Spain’s #2 doubles team. Although, to be sure, their team with the player who is happiest on grass.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Kas/Lisicki def. (2) Bryan/Huber 7-6(7-5) 6-7(5-7) 10-5 (Match TB)

Our Mixed rankings say that Huber and Bryan aren’t as strong as their doubles rankings would imply, but this is still just plain shocking.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Murray/Robson def. Stepanek/Hradecka 7-5 6-7(7-9) 10-7 (Match TB)

This is pretty stunning, too. Evidently Andy Murray knew what he was up to when he decided to play with Laura Robson.

Mixed Doubles – First Round: Paes/Mirza def. Zimonjic/Ivanovic 6-2 6-4

Washington

Singles – Second Round: (1) M Fish def. (WC) R Berankis 6-3 6-1

The rule seems to be, When Ricardas Berankis loses, he loses badly…. Still, he looks set to enter the Top Hundred. If Mardy Fish can win his next match, we show him rising to #14.

Singles – Second Round: (3) K Anderson def. (Q) F Serra 6-4 6-3

Kevin Anderson is another of those guys we have been talking about who is borderline for a U. S. Open seed. He’s currently #33 in safe points. One more win would likely take him to #32.

Singles – Second Round: X Malisse def. (6) J Chardy 6-3 6-2

Xavier Malisse is having a fairly impressive summer; he costs Jeremy Chardy the chance to rise above #47.

Singles – Second Round: (8) S Querrey def. B Becker 6-4 6-3

This doesn’t move Sam Querrey’s ranking, but he is now only about 175 points from a U. S. Open seed.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Huey/Inglot def. (2) Farah/Qureshi 6-2 6-2

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Anderson/Querrey def. (3) Butorac/Hanley 6-3 3-6 10-6 (Match TB)

And so we have no seeds in the semifinals. Some of it may be the weak field. Could Olympic Regret have played a part also?

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Mahut/Roger-Vasselin def. (WC) Blake/Smyczek 5-7 6-3 10-8 (Match TB)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Courtney/Johnson def. J Delgado/Skupski 7-6(7-5) 6-4

Another sign that Steve Johnson has substantial potential in doubles although probably not in singles.

Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings

As of August 2, 2012