Men Tennis Update – Australian Open 01-16-13

Written by: Staff on 16th January 2013

Men Tennis Update - Australian Open 01-16-13

epa03538797 Xavier Malisse of Belgium plays a backhand return during his match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain, round two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2013. EPA/MARK DADSWELL AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Singles – Second Round: (1) N Djokovic def. R Harrison 6-1 6-2 6-3

No signs of trouble yet for Novak Djokovic. He hasn’t clinched the #1 ranking yet, but it certainly seems the way to bet.

Singles – Second Round: (4) D Ferrer def. T Smyczek 6-0 7-5 4-6 6-3

This was a wild scramble of a match — Tim Smyczek admits to modeling his game after David Ferrer. But Ferrer is the best there is at that sort of defense, and it showed. Ferrer needs one more win to clinch the #4 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (5) T Berdych def. G Rufin 6-2 6-2 6-4

Tomas Berdych almost certainly won’t make it to #4 this week, but he looks as if he would at least like to make it to #5….

Singles – Second Round: (8) J Tipsarevic def. L Lacko 6-3 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-5

Lukas Lacko made the third round last year as a qualifier, so this will cost him his Top Fifty ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (10) N Almagro def. D Gimeno-Traver 6-4 6-1 6-2

One more win and Nicolas Almagro will have defended his points. Which he has to do if he is to have any chance to keep the #11 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (15) S Wawrinka def. T Kamke 6-3 7-6(7-4) retired (Right Shoulder)

Stanislas Wawrinka defends his points, but he has yet to move in the rankings.

Singles – Second Round: (16) K Nishikori def. C Berlocq 7-6(4) 6-4 6-1

Again Kei Nishikori’s knee holds up. But he needs two more wins to stay Top Twenty.

Singles – Second Round: (20) S Querrey def. B Baker 6-7(2-7) 1-1, retired (right knee)

Brian Baker finds another depressing way to fail to reach a third round. For Sam Querrey, though, that could spell a return to the Top Twenty.

Singles – Second Round: (22) F Verdasco def. X Malisse 6-1 6-3 6-2

These are all free points for Fernando Verdasco, but he has yet to move in the rankings. He needs at least two more wins to reach the Top Twenty.

Singles – Second Round: E Donskoy def. (23) M Youzhny 3-6 7-6(7-4) 6-2 3-6 6-3

This is the sort of thing that makes you wonder where Evgeny Donskoy has been hiding all these years. He costs Mikhail Youzhny his Top 25 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (24) J Janowicz def. S Devvarman 6-7(10-12) 3-6 6-1 6-0 7-5

Jerzy Janowicz came very close to losing this — and not just because it was a close match. He was so upset with a call in the first set tiebreak that he was rolling around and screaming — almost foaming at the mouth. There is a strong possibility he will be fined. A less patient umpire might have ended the match a lot earlier than he did….

Singles – Second Round: (26) J Melzer def. R Bautista Agut 6-7(4-7) 6-3 6-7(3-7) 6-3 6-2

This should assure Jurgen Melzer’s Top Thirty ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (28) M Baghdatis def. T Ito 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2

Marcos Baghdatis has started to add points, but he hasn’t really moved yet.

Singles – Second Round: (31) R Stepanek def. F Lopez 6-2 6-2 6-4

Feliciano Lopez, who made the fourth round last year, will see his ranking take another blow; he isn’t much above #50. Radek Stepanek is on the brink of the Top Thirty.

Singles – Second Round: (32) J Benneteau def. E Roger-Vasselin 4-6 7-5 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-5)

Julien Benneteau defends his points but hasn’t moved yet.

Singles – Second Round: K Anderson def. A Kuznetsov 6-1 7-5 6-4

Kevin Anderson is just about tied with Stepanek, a few points short of the Top Thirty. If either one can win his next match, he’ll almost certainly make it in.

Doubles – First Round: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. Marach/Zeballos 7-5 6-3

A good, efficient start for the Bryans as they begin their quests for a record thirteenth Slam title.

Singles – Second Round: (3) Granollers/Lopez def. Brown/Kas 6-2 3-6 7-6(9-7)

A very near-run thing, but it takes Marc Lopez another step toward the #3 doubles ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (5) Bhupathi/Nestor def. Andujar/Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-4

Mahesh Bhupathi keeps alive his hopes for a return to the Top Ten, but he isn’t there yet.

Doubles – First Round: (6) Qureshi/Rojer def. Goffin/Stadler 6-3 6-1

Qureshi/Rojer keep alive their faint hope of reaching the Top Ten, but it is a very faint hope.

Singles – Second Round: (7) Lindstedt/Zimonjic def. Llodra/Mahut 3-6 7-5 retired

Facing ex-partner Nenad Zimonjic really seems to jinx Michael Llodra.

Singles – Second Round: Bracciali/Dlouhy def. (10) Dodig/Melo 7-5 6-7(1-7) 7-6(7-5)

Singles – Second Round: (12) Bopanna/Ram def. Kokkinakis/Kyrgios 6-2 6-4