Today’s Men’s News (10/02): Beijing & Tokyo

Written by: Staff on 2nd October 2012

Today's Men's News (10/02): Beijing & Tokyo

epa03418023 Michael Berrer of Germany hits a return against opponent Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their first round match at the China Open in Beijing, China, 02 October 2012. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

Beijing

Singles – First Round: (1) N Djokovic def. (Q) M Berrer 6-1 6-7(3-7) 6-2

There is a certain link on the ATP web site which says “Rankings” but leads to the current Race scores. It can be very confusing, because the Race doesn’t show Roger Federer as #1. The #1 in the Race remains Novak Djokovic.

And he’s padding his lead. He is well behind Federer in the rankings, but he has a very good shot at the year-end top spot. Although it’s disturbing to see him struggle this hard against the world’s #123 player….

Singles – First Round: Y Lu def. (2) def. Ferrer 5-4 retired (Stomach Virus)

Maybe this explains David Ferrer’s trouble last week. It won’t affect his #5 ranking, but it may slow his qualification for London. Not that there is any actual question.

Singles – First Round: (3) J Tsonga def. D Istomin 4-6 6-1 7-6(7-3)

It’s not likely that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga can reach #6 this week, but he keeps his faint chance alive. It appears Denis Istomin will fall below #45.

Singles – First Round: (5) R Gasquet def. (Q) M Ebden 6-2 6-4

Six straight wins for Richard Gasquet, although this does nothing for his point total. He needs a semifinal to have any chance of moving up.

Singles – First Round: M Youzhny def. (7) T Haas 6-4 4-6 6-2

Tommy Haas loses his Top Twenty chance; he will not rise above his current #31. Mikhail Youzhny needs two more wins to do him any good.

Singles – First Round: J Melzer def. P Andujar 6-1 4-6 7-6(7-3)

Pablo Andujar wasn’t defending anything, so he will remain around #40.

Singles – First Round: N Davydenko def. (Q) A Bogomolov Jr. 7-5 6-1

No move yet for Nikolay Davydenko, but if he can win his next match, he might gain as many as four spots.

Singles – First Round: A Seppi def. J Benneteau 6-1 2-0 retired (Right Arm)

Poor Julien Benneteau just can’t make it to the Top Thirty. Andreas Seppi clinches his Top 25 spot.

Singles – First Round: F Lopez def. R Harrison 7-6(7-3) 5-7 6-2

Ryan Harrison again falls short of the Top Fifty.

Doubles – First Round: (3) Lindstedt/Tecau def. Marrero/Verdasco 7-6(7-3) 6-3

Whatever kept Robert Lindstedt out of action last week obviously wasn’t serious. The situation of Marrero/Verdasco is serious, however; this is another blow to their London chances, which were none too good to begin with.

Doubles – First Round: Dolgopolov/Kubot def. F Mayer/Seppi 6-6(8-10) 6-3 11-9 10-4 (Match TB)

Doubles – First Round: Cilic/Matosevic def. Anderson/Querrey 6-7(2-7) 6-1 10-4 (Match TB)

Doubles – First Round: Bhupathi/Bopanna def. (WC) Gong/Zhang 6-3 6-0

We find ourselves wondering if Bhupathi/Bopanna ought to play Shanghai next week. They’re right on the fringes of the doubles Race, and a bad Beijing result would cost them points because they’d lose an optional tournament. An interesting little problem….

Tokyo

Singles – First Round: (1) A Murray def. (LL) I Karlovic 7-6(9-7) 6-4

Andy Murray was supposed to face Gael Monfils, but Monfils has another knee problem — one that will possibly require surgery or even end his career (see yesterday’s World News). It sounds as if Monfils will be ending the year below #50, although his ranking is safe for the moment.

Singles – First Round: (WC) T Ito def. (5) N Almagro 7-6(7-4) 7-6(7-5)

A bit of a surprise, even on hardcourt, but Nicolas Almagro really is a creature of clay. Which is why he won’t be rising above #12 this week.

Singles – First Round: (6) M Raonic def. R Stepanek 6-4 6-4

Radek Stepanek will lose two or three spots. If it’s three, he will be out of the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: (8) K Nishikori def. G Soeda 4-6 6-2 6-3

Not a very comfortable match for a number of reasons. It leaves Go Soeda still below #50 — and it does Kei Nishikori no good.

Singles – First Round: J Chardy def. (WC) Y Sugita 6-1 7-5

Jeremy Chardy is now very close to the Top Thirty, although we’d guess he’ll need one more win.

Singles – First Round: (Q) M Chiudinelli def. M Klizan 7-6(7-3) 6-2

Is Martin Klizan still tired from two weeks ago? He loses his Top Thirty chance, and will likely stay at #34.

Singles – First Round: (Q) D Tursunov def. B Tomic 6-4 7-5

This won’t quite put Dmitry Tursunov back in the Top Hundred, but it might well be enough to earn him direct Australian Open entry. Bernard Tomic was defending enough that he will fall below #40.

Singles – First Round: M Baghdatis def. (Q) S Stakhovsky 7-6(7-3) 7-5

This will probably take Marcos Baghdatis above #45.

Singles – First Round: (PR) T Robredo def. J Nieminen 6-2 6-4

This is a big boost to Tommy Robredo’s hopes of ending the year in the Top Hundred. Jarkko Nieminen will not rise above his current #45.

Singles – First Round: A Falla def. T Bellucci 7-5 6-2

Thomaz Bellucci remains stuck around #40.

Doubles – First Round: Berdych/Zimonjic def. (2) Qureshi/Rojer 7-6(7-5) 6-3

Strange to see Tomas Berdych playing doubles here with a partner other than Stepanek. But it obviously worked. Maybe there really is some life left in Nenad Zimonjic.

Doubles – First Round: Bracciali/Cermak def. (WC) Sugita/Uchiyama 6-2 7-6(7-4)

Doubles – First Round: Petzschner/Tipsarevic def. Huey/Marray 7-6(7-4) 7-5