Today’s Men’s News (08/21): Winston-Salem

Written by: Staff on 22nd August 2012

Today's Men's News (08/21): Winston-Salem

epa03329849 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France returns to Milos Raonic of Canada during the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 31 July 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Winston-Salem

Singles – Second Round: (1) J Tsonga def. T Bellucci 6-3 7-6(7-3)

Evidently Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is over his knee injury. That\\\’s obviously good news for his U. S. Open hopes. Now he has to decide how hard he wants to push at this event; the points aren\\\’t going to make any difference to him.

Singles – Second Round: (2) T Berdych (WC) def. A Bogomolov Jr. 6-3 7-5

It\\\’s hard to imagine what Tomas Berdych hopes to gain by being here, but at least he doesn\\\’t seem to be tanking. That\\\’s worth something.

Singles – Second Round: (3) J Isner def. M Klizan 4-6 6-3 7-5

A very tough start for John Isner, considering that he needs a final here to stay Top Ten. But then, Martin Klizan has been playing very well lately; he came here at #50, and although he loses a few points, he should stay close to that mark.

Singles – Second Round: (4) A Dolgopolov def. Y Lu 6-1 6-3

Alexandr Dolgopolov doesn\\\’t have a lot to defend at this time, but he\\\’s at a place in the rankings where almost every point counts. A loss here would have dropped him to no better than #17. Win his next match and he will stay #15.

Singles – Second Round: (7) S Querrey def. S Giraldo 6-3 6-2

Sam Querrey isn\\\’t very likely to move this week; he needs a final. But he\\\’s looking pretty solid.

Singles – Second Round: L Kubot def. (8) J Benneteau 2-6 7-5 6-3

Julien Benneteau made the final here last year. As a Lucky Loser, even. So that\\\’s a lot of points gone. He will fall from #32 to no better than #35; it may well be a spot or two lower.

Singles – Second Round: (9) F Lopez def. D Young 6-2 6-3

The bad news is, of course, that Donald Young lost again. The good news is, he can\\\’t possibly lose 17 straight in the rest of this year — there aren\\\’t that many events left!

Singles – Second Round: S Darcis def. (11) D Istomin 6-2 6-2

Denis Istomin loses what should have been a fairly good shot at the Top Thirty.

Singles – Second Round: (Q) E Gulbis def. (12) K Anderson 6-4 7-6(7-2)

Something — the Olympics, maybe? — seems finally to have gotten Ernests Gulbis fired up again. Of course, he can get un-fired very quickly…. He leaves Kevin Anderson still stalled around #35.

Singles – Second Round: (13) J Melzer def. (Q) M McClune 6-2 2-6 7-6(12-10)

Given Jurgen Melzer\\\’s recent struggles, it\\\’s hard to know how seriously to take this. But it has to make Michael McClune feel pretty good that he came close against a Top Forty player.

Singles – Second Round: (14) D Nalbandian def. R Haase 6-2 6-4

One of the better results for David Nalbandian lately. We were surprised, in working the quality points numbers in today\\\’s Feature, to find him at #26. He used to be a real threat to top players. Not any more. But he costs Robin Haase, who was defending semifinalist points, about three ranking spots.

Singles – Second Round: (Q) S Stakhovsky def. (15) P Andujar 6-2 6-3

Pablo Andujar will almost certainly stay right at the #37 ranking he came in with.

Singles – Second Round: (16) J Nieminen def. (Q) B Becker 6-3 6-3

We thought, given current form, that Benjamin Becker would have a real shot in this match. Seemingly not.

Doubles – First Round: Cabal/Falla def. (4) Llodra/Mahut 1-6 1-1, retired

Nenad Zimonjic has really been struggling without Michael Llodra. Now the struggles are going both ways….

Doubles – First Round: (WC) Erlich/A Ram def. Huey/Inglot 6-3 7-6(12-10)

Doubles – First Round: Knowle/Polasek def. Peya/Soares 6-2 6-2

Doubles – First Round: Melzer/Roger-Vasselin def. Cermak/J Murray 6-4 6-4