Today’s Men’s News (08/19)

Written by: Staff on 19th August 2012

Today's Men's News (08/19)

epa03325131 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Fabio Fognini of Italy during a men's first round match for the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 29 July 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Cincinnati

Singles – Final: (1) R Federer def. (2) N Djokovic 6-0 7-6(9-7)

In the first set of this, Novak Djokovic frankly didn’t look like he belonged there — he won only 29% of the points, and only three points on Roger Federer’s serve. (It was a great event, serving-wise, for Federer — he was never broken in the entire event.) Even on his own serve, Djokovic won only seven points in that set! The second was altogether closer. It seemed that Federer was in control when he went up 3-0 in the tiebreak — only to lose five of the next six points. It was a very temporary reprieve for Djokovic.

It’s title #6 this year for Federer, following Rotterdam, Dubai, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Wimbledon. And it gives him almost a 900 point lead over Djokovic in the rankings. What’s more, he lost in the U. S. Open semifinal last year, whereas Djokovic won the title. So Federer has now clinched the post-USO #1 ranking.

The Race is looking interesting, too:

Djokovic: 8710

Federer: 8535

Nadal: 6690

Murray: 4730

So the contest for the year-end #1 is effectively down to Federer and Djokovic. Nadal isn’t too far back, but without the U. S. Open, he doesn’t have much chance. Andy Murray is still theoretically in the hunt, since he has about 5500 more points available to him, but he would have to win everything and hope Federer does nothing. Odds are pretty good that whoever wins the U. S. Open will be the year-end #1 (assuming it’s Federer or Djokovic, anyway).

It’s also interesting to look at won/lost this year:

Federer: 57-6, 90.5%

Nadal: 42-7, 85.7%

Djokovic: 54-10, 84.4%

Ferrer: 51-11, 82.3%

Murray: 42-11, 79.2%

Tsonga: 34-14, 70.8%

For Djokovic to match Federer’s winning percentage this year, he would have to win 41 straight matches without a loss! That doesn’t mean that Federer is guaranteed to have the year’s best winning percentage — if he suffers a lot of early losses, he could fall fast — but it is an indication of how well he has been playing lately! In 2011, by comparison, his record was only 61-12, 83.5%; in 2010, he was 65-13, 83.3%. That is a very dramatic change. For the better, obviously.

Doubles – Final: (4) Lindstedt/Tecau def. (6) Bhupathi/Bopanna 6-4 6-4

Finally Lindstedt/Tecau win a big one!

In the two and a half years, the two have ten titles. And, until now, every one of them was a 250 point event. They had three already this year, but bottom tier. Now, they win a 1000. Could this finally open the door for something big? After all, they have tickets to London; the ATP made it official after this win.

Robert Lindstedt admitted that they had been thinking about it: “I don’t think the monkey can be any bigger that just got off my back, off our backs. We finally get the big one that we’ve been fighting for for so long. To get that and fight through and beat such good teams on the way and you come out on top, it’s an indescribable feeling.”

Bhupathi/Bopanna are still looking for their first title since Dubai. But at least it’s a pile of points — a real boost to their London chances. But it doesn’t do much good in the rankings — Bhupathi won Cincinnati last year with Paes. So even this final will cost him….

Winston-Salem

Singles – First Round: (WC) R Harrison def. G Soeda 6-3 7-5

Go Soeda led for most of the second set of this, then suddenly collapsed. Ryan Harrison had some trouble serving out the match, but he left Soeda once again short of the Top Fifty.

Singles – First Round: D Goffin def. N Mahut 7-6(7-1) 6-1

After his big Roland Garros result, David Goffin all but vanished. The points here are trivial. But at least he’s showing a pulse.

Singles – First Round: S Giraldo def. E Roger-Vasselin 6-2 2-6 6-1

This has been the best year of Eduard Roger-Vasselin’s career — but, lately, it seems to be costing him; he’s having to play more ATP events, and so facing more tough opponents early on.

Singles – First Round: (WC) J Blake def. A Ramos 6-4 6-3

The great Albert Ramos slump continues. Either that, or he’s still learning how to survive when he has to play all ATP events and has to play hardcourts all summer.

Singles – First Round: S Darcis def. X Malisse 6-3 6-0

Steve Darcis doesn’t get much respect. And yet, he posts a surprising number of upsets. And Xavier Malisse doesn’t like hardcourt all that well. So this probably isn’t a big surprise.

Singles – First Round: A Bogomolov Jr. def. M Jaziri 6-2 6-2

Add Alex Bogomolov Jr. to the “showing a pulse” category, although he’ll need more to return to the Top Fifty.