U. S. Open
Singles – Fourth Round: (2) N Djokovic def. (18) S Wawrinka 6-4 6-1 3-1, retired
There is some sort of strange poetic symmetry here. Roger Federer had his fourth round opponent withdraw. Novak Djokovic had to play, but only part of a match. Federer will still have the edge in rest (assuming he survives two more tough matches), but not as much as it could have been. Stanislas Wawrinka will probably be #17.
Singles – Fourth Round: (7) J del Potro def. (20) A Roddick 6-7(1-7) 7-6(7-4) 6-2 6-4
Andy Roddick picked just about the perfect way to retire: He gave people a little notice, so we could write a decent farewell (see today’s Feature), but he didn’t stick around forever producing a stinker of a farewell tour. And he retired at his nation’s biggest tournament, and he produced a respectable performance there. Clearly he still likes to play the game! He will retire with his ranking just below the Top Twenty, and knowing that the crowd really loved him.
Singles – Fourth Round: (8) J Tipsarevic def. (19) P Kohlschreiber 6-3 7-6(7-5) 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic defends his points, making his Top Ten spot much more secure — but he needs a final to rise in the rankings. He leaves Philipp Kohlschreiner a little above #20.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) A Murray def. (12) M Cilic 3-6 7-6(7-4) 6-2 6-0
For a set and a half, Andy Murray looked tired and distracted. Down a set and a break, he then came to life and took charge. Which means that Marin Cilic won’t be rising above the #13 ranking he came in with — which in turn means that the Top Ten is now closed. John Isner will be keeping the #10 ranking after all. Murray is now very close behind Rafael Nadal in the contest for #3; if he makes the final, he will pass the Spaniard.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (2) Bryan/Bryan def. Benneteau/Mahut 7-6(7-2) 7-6(7-4)
It was a genuine struggle, but the Bryans are now just two wins away from regaining the #1 ranking.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (5) Paes/Stepanek def. Knowle/Polasek 6-2 6-4
This could be enough to put Radek Stepanek in the Top Ten; it depends on how Qureshi and Granollers do.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (9) Qureshi/Rojer def. Harrison/Harrison 6-2 6-3
Most of this match had taken place the day before; Qureshi/Rojer won four of five games played on Wednesday to finish it off. Qureshi is now just below the Top Ten; Rojer will hit the Top Fifteen if he wins his next match. If we look at the Top Ten contenders, their current standings are:
1..(1) Mirnyi………….9260
1..(1) Nestor………….9260
3..(3) Bryan…………..8740
3..(3) Bryan…………..8740
5..(5) Lindstedt……….6330
5..(5) Tecau…………..6330
7..(9) Paes……………6055
8.(10) LopezM………….5580
9.(15) Stepanek………..4920
10..(7) Fyrstenberg……..4815
11..(8) Matkowski……….4680
12.(12) Qureshi…………4620
13.(17) Granollers………4580
Mixed Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Peschke/Matkowski def. (1) Huber/Mirnyi 7-5 6-2
Huber/Mirnyi played tough but were ultimately defeated. It’s very likely that if they play together again in an other tournament they will still hold the top seed.
Mixed Doubles – Semifinal: Makarova/Soares def. (7) Hradecka/Cermak 6-3 6-3
Mixed rankings would have demoted Hradecka/Cermak, too. In fact, they would have been below Makarova/Soares (who were the #14 team in the field; Hradecka/Cermak were only the #16 team in the draw). So this was a day where Mixed rankings were pretty informative. As for which team they expect to win the final… Peschke/Matkowski have a combined ranking of 27, Makarova/Soares of 41. And while there isn’t much Slam-winning experience on either team, Peschke did manage to win Wimbledon last year.
Topics: Andy Roddick, Bob Bryan, Juan Martin Del Potro, Kohlschreiber, Max Mirnyi, Mike Bryan, Novak Djokovic, Tipsarevic, Wawrinka