Today’s Men’s News (10/27) – Valencia & Basel

Written by: Staff on 27th October 2012

Today's Men's News (10/27) - Valencia & Basel

epa03449253 Spanish tennis player David Ferrer celebrates a point during his semi final match against Croatian tennis player Ivan Dodig for the Valencia Open 500 tennis tournament at the Sciences City in Valencia, eastern Spain, 27 October 2012. EPA/MANUEL BRUQUE |

Valencia

Singles – Semifinal: (1) D Ferrer def. (Q) I Dodig 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-1

This was strange. Even in the second set, David Ferrer won more points than Ivan Dodig. But he didn’t win the set, and ended up having to spend two hours and 42 minutes on the court. He’s going to have a very long next few weeks, too. Good thing he is almost certainly safe at #5.

Singles – Semifinal: A Dolgopolov def. J Melzer 6-4 6-2

A nice way for Alexandr Dolgopolov to end the year — we show him up to #18. Jurgen Melzer stays just below #30.

Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Peya/Soares def. (WC) Ferrer/Ferrero 6-2 7-6(7-3)

And that, finally, is the end for Juan Carlos Ferrero. See the feature for more on his career.

Doubles – Semifinal: Marrero/Verdasco def. S Gonzalez/Lipsky 6-3 4-6 10-7 (Match TB)

Marrero/Verdasco have won multiple titles this year, but all of them too small. If they had started this sort of run just a few weeks earlier, they might still be in contention for London….

Basel

Singles – Semifinal: (1) R Federer def. (WC) P Mathieu 7-5 6-4

Roger Federer is doing everything he can to hang onto the #1 ranking — but he remains 2000 points behind Novak Djokovic in the Race. Paul-Henri Mathieu can console himself with a Paris wildcard, a Top Hundred ranking, and direct entry into the Australian Open.

Singles – Semifinal: (2) J del Potro def. (3) R Gasquet 6-2 6-2

A big, big blow to Richard Gasquet — and a big, big boost to his countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. It appears, looking at the Paris draw, that there is now only one way Tsonga can fail to qualify for London, and that’s if Nicolas Almagro beats Janko Tipsarevic in the Paris final. Gasquet still has an outside chance for London, but he needs at least a semifinal in Paris. And he loses his chance to rise above #12. Juan Martin del Potro for the moment remains at #8 in the rankings, but it’s looking very likely that he will end the year at #7 — .or even #6. We currently show the Race as follows:

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…

12..Monaco…….2340…

13..Raonic…….2290…

14..Isner……..2205…

15..Cilic……..2150…

16..Simon……..1805…

17..Wawrinka…..1810…OUT

18..Kohlschreibe.1760…OUT

Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Nestor/Zimonjic def. Bracciali/Cermak 6-3 6-4

Doubles – Semifinal: Huey/Inglot def. (4) Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 7-6(7-5) 7-5

And so Fyrstenberg/Matkowski, Qureshi/Rojer, and Bhupathi/Bopanna remain very close to tied in the contest for the last two spots in London. Paris is going to be nerve-wracking — at least for them.