Today’s Men’s News (08/14)

Written by: Staff on 14th August 2012

Today's Men's News (08/14)

epa03293914 Mardy Fish of the US returns to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their fourth round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Cincinnati

Singles – First Round: (10) M Fish def. F Lopez 6-2 6-3

Last year at this time, Mardy Fish was on an incredible run, with a final at the Canadian Open followed by a semifinal at Cincinnati. He’s already taken one ranking hit this month, and he risks another. But this win will at least keep him close to the Top 25. Feliciano Lopez loses the chance to clinch his U. S. Open seed, although it is almost certain.

Singles – First Round: (14) K Nishikori def. M Granollers 6-1 6-2

Kei Nishikori has a long way to go to earn a Top Sixteen U. S. Open seed (assuming no withdrawals). But he keeps the possibility alive. Marcel Granollers loses the chance to clinch a Top 24 seed, although it could still happen.

Singles – First Round: (LL) J Chardy def. (16) A Roddick 7-6(7-4) 6-3

We’d guess this means no Top Twenty spot for Andy Roddick. Jeremy Chardy, though, keeps alive his hopes for a U. S. Open seed. He’s still down around #36, but any additional wins could move him upward fast.

Singles – First Round: A Bogomolov Jr. def. J Nieminen 6-4 6-3

Jarkko Nieminen probably won’t be making the Top Forty. He certainly won’t be earning a U. S. Open seed.

Singles – First Round: R Stepanek def. A Ramos 6-2 6-2

Albert Ramos did so well early in the year that it forced him into all the required events — and now he’s paying the price, losing points from small clay events and replacing them with non-results like this. This will leave him around #50.

Singles – First Round: M Baghdatis def. (LL) A Falla 6-4 6-1

What a mess this draw is! Alejandro Falla takes the place of Gilles Simon. We haven’t heard what Simon’s problem was, but he was defending quarterfinalist points and will fall to no better than #16. The win appears certain to put Marcos Baghdatis in the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: C Berlocq def. S Giraldo 7-5 6-3

One of the better results for Carlos Berlocq lately. He defends his points, but he’s still below #40.

Singles – First Round: T Haas def. D Nalbandian 6-7(0-7) 7-6(7-4) 6-3

One more win might put Tommy Haas in the Top Twenty. But David Nalbandian will be falling out of the Top Forty. He is really struggling right now.

Singles – First Round: (WC) S Querrey def. J Melzer 4-6 6-2 6-4

Scratch Jurgen Melzer off the list of potential U. S. Open seeds; he’ll stay around #36. But Sam Querrey makes his Top Thirty spot all but certain.

Singles – First Round: M Raonic def. R Gasquet 7-6(7-4) 6-3

Richard Gasquet had a long week last week; presumably he is still feeling it. He made the third round last year, so he will fall from #13 to #14 (although probably no lower). Milos Raonic appears to have clinched his Top Twenty spot, and is likely to rise from #19 to #18. He’ll need at least two more wins to reach #16, though, and that’s the magic number as far as seeding goes….

Singles – Second Round: B Tomic def. (WC) B Baker 6-4 6-3

After his long losing streak, Bernard Tomic is finally heading upward again — this will take him to around #45.

Doubles – First Round: Seppi/Troicki def. Hanley/Zimonjic 7-6(7-5) 2-6 10-7 (Match TB)

Last year at this time, Nenad Zimonjic and Michael Llodra were on an incredible streak. Zimonjic is really struggling now. He’s likely to lose a lot of points quickly.

Doubles – First Round: Kubot/Tipsarevic def. Marray/Nielsen 6-4 7-6(7-1)

Some way to follow up on Wimbledon….

Doubles – First Round: (WC) Blake/Querrey def. Melzer/Petzschner 6-2 7-6(7-5)

Maybe it was just a jinx day for past Wimbledon champions.

Doubles – First Round: Nieminen/Wawrinka def. Kohlschreiber/Youzhny 7-6(8-6) 2-6 10-8 (Match TB)