Today’s Men’s News (10/17)

Written by: Staff on 17th October 2012

Today's Men's News (10/17)

epa03436591 Evgeny Donskoy of Russia returns to Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France of Russia during their match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 17 October 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY |

Moscow

Singles – First Round: (Q) E Roger-Vasselin def. (WC) E Donskoy 6-4 4-6 6-3

It’s hard to imagine why Evgeny Donskoy keep getting wildcards. He now has an ATP record of 1-10, with the one win coming at St. Petersburg 2010; he has lost his last seven matches in a row.

Singles – First Round: I Karlovic def. S Bolelli 6-4 7-6(7-4)

Ivo Karlovic is down to #130, so this is officially a fairly big upset.

Singles – First Round: F Cipolla def. (WC) T Gabashvili 6-4 6-4

Teimuraz Gabashvili has now lost five of his last six ATP matches.

Singles – First Round: J Janowicz def. B Becker 7-6(8-6) 6-3

It’s odd to realize that this is Jerzy Janowicz’s first ATP win since Wimbledon. His ranking has been rising — but his career ATP record is still only 3-8.

Singles – Second Round: M Jaziri def. (3) V Troicki 6-1 3-6 6-2

Viktor Troicki was defending finalist points, so this will drop him out of the Top Thirty. He will probably be #31 or #32.

Singles – Second Round: L Rosol def. (6) D Istomin 4-6 6-4 6-3

For once Lukas Rosol won back-to-back matches! In fact, he’s done it at two events in a row. That is only the second time in his career he has done that. In the process, he costs Denis Istomin his Top Forty chance.

Singles – Second Round: (8) T Ito def. (Q) K Kravchuk 7-6(9-7) 2-6 6-3

Kei Nishikori is certain to end the year as Japan’s #1 player. But who will be #2? Go Soeda holds the spot now, but Tatsuma Ito is close enough that he might be able to make things interesting.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Cermak/Mertinak def. Karlovic/Moser 6-7(5-7) 6-3 13-11 (Match TB)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (3) Berlocq/Bogomolov def. Bellucci/Ito 6-2 7-5

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Bolelli/Bracciali def. Cipolla/Seppi 7-6(7-4) 4-6 10-4 (Match TB)

Stockholm

Singles – Second Round: (3) (WC) N Almagro def. (Q) M Copil 6-4 7-6(7-4)

Nicolas Almagro cannot rise above his current #12 here, but a title would significantly improve his odds of ending the year in the Top Ten. On the other hand, what are the odds of him winning an indoor title?

Singles – Second Round: R Berankis def. (4) F Mayer 4-6 6-4 6-2

Florian Mayer wasn’t defending anything, so he will probably retain the #28 ranking he came in with.

Singles – Second Round: (6) M Youzhny def. (WC) P Rosenholm 6-0 6-2

Patrik Rosenholm is the player who beat Gael Monfils in the first round. This probably tells you all you need to know about just how messed up Monfils is….

Singles – Second Round: (WC) L Hewitt def. (8) J Nieminen 7-6(7-2) 2-6 6-4

Where do old speedsters go to die? Stockholm, it would seem. No doubt it’s the generous government benefits….

This is pretty encouraging for Lleyton Hewitt, considering how well Jarkko Nieminen loves Stockholm. Nieminen was last year’s finalist; he will be dropping out of the Top Forty. Hewitt appears to have clinched his return to the Top Hundred; he won’t be needing that Australian Open wildcard after all.

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

Qureshi/Rojer are trying to earn one of the last London spots. This by itself makes no difference, but an efficient start is always nice.

Doubles – First Round: (3) Melo/Soares def. (WC) Bergevi/Simonsson 6-4 6-1

Doubles – First Round: Butorac/Hanley def. Bednarek/Soeda 6-0 7-6(7-2)

Doubles – First Round: (WC) Baker/Siljestrom def. Brunstrom/Klaasen 6-3 6-2

Doubles – First Round: Fleming/Hutchins def. Delgado/Skupski 6-4 6-2 .

Vienna

Singles – First Round: D Young def. (5) F Fognini 7-6(10-8) 6-3

After the Incredible Losing Streak, Donald Young has now won his opener at three of his last four ATP events. But he hasn’t won back-to-back matches since Bangkok 2011, and remains below #175.

Singles – First Round: (WC) D Thiem def. L Lacko 7-6(7-3) 6-3

Based on history, a fast court should have revived Lukas Lacko. But he is now 1-8 since Wimbledon.

Singles – First Round: (WC) E Gulbis def. (PR) S Devvarman 7-6(8-6) 6-3

A disappointing letdown for Somdev Devvarman, but at least he got through the match. Sadly, he’ll remain below #500.

Singles – Second Round: (1) J del Potro def. (Q) D Brands 6-7(5-7) 7-6(7-4) 7-6(8-6)

Pretty good endurance for Juan Martin del Potro considering that this was his first match back from injury. Too bad he needs a title here to count toward his ranking, but it hardly matters — he should make it to London anyway. And he and Daniel Brands get a place in the record books — this is the first time in more than twenty years of record-keeping that both players have hit thirty or more aces in a best-of-three match (del Potro had 30, Brands 32). Unfortunately for Brands, he was a semifinalist last year, so this will hurt when those points come off a week from now.

Singles – Second Round: G Muller def. (4) J Melzer 6-3 3-6 7-6(7-4)

Jurgen Melzer of course wants to do well here in Austria; he won the event in 2009 and 2010. But he’s struggled since, losing in the quarterfinal last year. Now he is out in his opener. That will cost him at least one ranking spot.

Doubles- First Round: (2) Knowle/Polasek def. Fognini/Marrero 5-7 6-4 10-7 (Match TB)

Doubles- First Round: Begemann/Emmrich def. (4) Brown/Kas 7-6(7-5) 6-3

Doubles- First Round: Tipsarevic/Waske def. Ebden/Matosevic 6-4 6-3

We love doubles — but will someone please tell Janko Tipsarevic that he’s supposed to be playing singles as he tries to qualify for London….

Doubles- First Round: Bedene/Zemlja def. (WC) Haider-Maurer/Neichrist 6-7(5-7) 6-3 10-8 (Match TB)