Today’s Men’s News (10/26)

Written by: Staff on 26th October 2012

Today's Men's News (10/26)

epa03286575 Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during their second round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 28 June 2012. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Valencia

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) D Ferrer def. (6) N Almagro 6-3 7-5

It was a surprising run for Nicolas Almagro, but we know who is the best Spanish indoor player other than Rafael Nadal…. Almagro doesn’t lose any points, but because Richard Gasquet adds, it appears Almagro will fall to #13.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (Q) I Dodig def. (7) M Cilic 6-2 7-6(8-6)

Ivan Dodig is definitely ending the year with a bang — and ensuring a spot in the Australian Open. But he has all but knocked Marin Cilic out of the Race. It appears Cilic will be losing a ranking spot, too.

Singles – Quarterfinal: A Dolgopolov def. M Granollers 6-0 6-2

Talk about an ugly way for the defending champion to go out! Alexandr Dolgopolov won two-thirds of the points in this match. It appears Marcel Granollers will stay #25 this week, but that’s because Valencia doesn’t come off until next week. When it does, he could fall to around #40. Alexandr Dolgopolov is the higher-ranked of the bottom half semifinalists; make the final and he should rise to #18.

Singles – Quarterfinal: J Melzer def. D Goffin 7-6(9-7) 6-4

Suddenly it’s looking as if Jurgen Melzer might earn an Australian Open seed after all — we show him up to #31. He leaves David Goffin still below #40.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Marrero/Verdasco def. (1) Granollers/M Lopez 6-3 6-2

A just plain lousy day for Marcel Granollers. But he may have the last laugh about this match: He’s going to London; Marrero/Verdasco aren’t.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Ferrer/Ferrero def. Knowle/Polasek 6-3 6-7(2-7) 10-6 (Match TB)

And so it still isn’t over for Juan Carlos Ferrero. Could he actually still have another title in him?

Basel

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) R Federer def. B Paire 6-2 6-2

In theory at least, Roger Federer remains alive in the contest for the year-end #1…. Benoit Paire will be around #44.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) J del Potro def. K Anderson 3-6 7-6(7-3) 6-2

Surprisingly tough — we were thinking, when we knew the result of this match but not the score, that Juan Martin del Potro might well make it to #6 before London. This makes that seem less likely. He leaves Kevin Anderson just above #40.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) R Gasquet def. (6) M Youzhny 6-2 7-6(7-5)

Suddenly Richard Gasquet is looking like a genuine London threat. Maybe even a Top Ten threat. He’s up to #12 in the rankings, and just a few points behind #11 John Isner, and he faces a tired del Potro next. As for the Race, this moves him ahead of Nicolas Almagro into the #10 spot. He’s now about 300 points behind #9 Janko Tipsarevic. So if Gasquet can win the title here, he would pass Tipsarevic and be potentially in line for the #8 spot at London. Of course, Paris could change that, but Gasquet is French….

Formally, the Race hasn’t changed much; surprisingly, there were no new eliminations on Friday. We currently show it looking like this:

1..Djokovic….11410…CLINCHED

2..Federer……9255…CLINCHED

3..Murray…….7510…CLINCHED

4..Nadal……..6840…WILL NOT PLAY

5..Ferrer…….4780…CLINCHED

6..Berdych……4225…CLINCHED

7..Del Potro….3740…CLINCHED

8..Tsonga…….3310…

9..Tipsarevic…2810…

10..Gasquet……2370…

11..Almagro……2425…