Cincinnati
Singles – First Round: (12) M Cilic def. (Q) S Stakhovsky 6-3 4-6 6-4
Marin Cilic doesn’t have much chance of reaching #12 this week. But he currently leads in the contest for #13. And there are so many top players injured that #13 just might earn him a Top Twelve U. S. Open seed. So this win, which moved him ahead of Richard Gasquet in safe points, just might prove big.
Singles – First Round: N Davydenko def. (13) A Dolgopolov 6-1 6-1
Alexandr Dolgopolov wasn’t defending anything, but this ends his hopes for a Top Twelve U. S. Open seed, and might even cost him his Top Sixteen seed.
Singles – First Round: (WC) B Baker def. (15) P Kohlschreiber 7-6(9-7) 7-6(7-3)
After a few bad weeks, it looks as if Brian Baker is back. This just might cost Philipp Kohlschreiber his Top Twenty ranking; it will surely cost him his Top Sixteen U. S. Open seed.
Singles – First Round: (Q) Y Lu def. L Kubot 6-3 6-0
Not really much of an upset — Yen-Hsun Lu came in ranked just two places behind Lukasz Kubot. That is likely to revere after this.
Singles – First Round: V Troicki def. (Q) I Dodig 6-4 7-5
One more win would likely put Viktor Troicki back in the Top Thirty. As it is, he makes it likely, although not yet certain, that he will earn a U. S. Open seed.
Singles – First Round: D Istomin def. J Benneteau 6-3 6-1
This was a battle for a U. S. Open seed. Had Julien Benneteau won, he would have effectively clinched. Instead, he is now in some danger. Denis Istomin still hasn’t clinched — in fact, he’s still behind Benneteau — but this keeps him within striking distance. Had he lost, he would have been out.
Singles – First Round: P Andujar def. (Q) M Matosevic 6-4 6-3
This pretty well guarantees Pablo Andujar’s Top Forty ranking; he still has a slight chance for a U. S. Open seed.
Singles – First Round: (Q) J Levine def. D Young 6-4 7-6(7-2)
Another contest without much of a rankings gap — Jesse Levine came in at #88, Donald Young at #80. Expect them to reverse places.
Singles – First Round: F Mayer def. (Q) F Fognini 7-5 6-2
This all but assures Florian Mayer’s Top 24 seed; two more wins might make him Top Twenty.
Singles – First Round: A Seppi def. R Haase 6-4 6-4
Robin Haase blows his chance to hit the Top Forty — and, of course, his chance for a U. S. Open seed.
Singles – First Round: S Wawrinka def. (Q) P Mathieu 6-2 3-6 6-1
Stanislas Wawrinka improves his chances of reaching the Top 25 — but he needs at least two more wins to get to #24 and a Top 24 U. S. Open seed.
Doubles – First Round: Haase/Monaco def. Anderson/Butorac 6-4 3-6 10-6 (Match TB)
Truly a tough week for Kevin Anderson. And a real surprise; Haase/Monaco don’t seem like they would be an effective doubles team on hardcourt.