Men Tennis Update – Memphis,Marseille, and Buenos Aires Saturday, February 23, 2013

Written by: Staff on 22nd February 2013

Men Tennis Update - Memphis,Marseille, and Buenos Aires Saturday, February 23, 2013

epa03596255 Marin Cilic of Croatia hits a return shot to Kei Nishikori of Japan during their quarter-finals match in the US National Indoor Tennis Championships at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA 22 February 2013. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

Memphis

Full Thursday Results:

Singles – Second Round: (1) M Cilic def. I Sijsling 7-6(7-2) 3-6 7-6(9-7)

Marin Cilic really struggled here, and Igor Sijsling had a match point on his own serve in the third set tiebreak, which he blew. Cilic won the next point also to reach 6-6. They swapped minibreaks for 7-7. Then Cilic got another minibreak and served it out. But he really seemed to tire himself out in this match.

Singles – Second Round: M Matosevic def. (4) S Querrey 3-6 6-4 7-5

There seems to be some sort of rule around here of big upsets in the evening matches. Wednesday, it was Milos Raonic. Thursday, it was Sam Querrey’s turn. This means no Top Twenty spot — but Marinko Matosevic looks likely to return to the Top Fifty.

Singles – Second Round: (5) K Nishikori def. (Q) D Young 6-3 6-3

Last year at this time, Kei Nishikori tried playing clay, without the best results. This seems to be working better; one more win would likely put him in the Top Twenty.

Singles – Second Round: F Lopez def. (6) T Haas Walkover (Illness)

This hasn’t cost Tommy Haas in the rankings, yet, but with a lot of players just below #20 still active, he may lose a spot or two.

Singles – Second Round: (7) A Dolgopolov def. (Q) R Williams 6-4 4-6 6-4

One more win would probably return Alexandr Dolgopolov to the Top Twenty.

Singles – Second Round: M Russell (LL) def. L Kubot 6-2 6-4

This ought to take Michael Russell above #80.

Singles – Second Round: D Istomin def. L Hewitt 6-1 6-2

It turns out that Lleyton Hewitt has enough open slots that just making the second round here will probably let him reach the Top Hundred. But not with much margin to spare.

Singles – Second Round: (WC) J Sock def. (WC) J Blake 7-5 6-4

Obviously one suspects a changing of the guard moment. This is looking like the best event of Jack Sock’s career.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (3) Kubot/Nestor def. Melzer/Petzschner 6-4 7-5

Talk about a tough event for Jurgen Melzer — out early in singles, and losing in doubles to a team of players who, while very good, were new.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Peya/Soares def. Butorac/Hanley 6-4 6-2

Friday So Far:

Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) K Nishikori def. (1) M Cilic 6-4 6-2

It really does look as if Marin Cilic’s marathon of the night before cost him. He loses his faint Top Ten chance. But Kei Nishikori will return to the Top Twenty.

Singles – Quarterfinal: M Matosevic def. (7) A Dolgopolov 6-7(6-8) 6-2 6-4

What a place for upsets! Alexandr Dolgopolov was the last seed standing except for Kei Nishikori. Now he is out, meaning that he won’t be returning to the Top Twenty. But Marinko Matosevic is up around #40.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. Gonzalez/Lipsky 7-5 6-4

Marseille

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) T Berdych def. J Janowicz 6-3 6-7(0-7) 6-3

Compared to the day’s first two quarterfinals (the Tsonga and Tursunov matches), this was fast: It came in at six minutes less than two hours; the others went past the two hour mark. The officials must have been very tired. At least everyone is in about the same state. Jerzy Janowicz, who was defending some Challenger points, will apparently stay at #26.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (6) G Simon def. (2) J del Potro 6-4 6-3

Juan Martin del Potro may have run out of steam — this was his seventh match in two weeks. It doesn’t really matter; he has 250 point events to spare, and will stay #7.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) J Tsonga def. B Tomic 4-6 6-3 7-6(12-10)

This truly was to be a day of monster matches. This very close loss means that Bernard Tomic will remain below #40.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (Q) D Tursunov def. G Muller 7-6(9-7) 1-6 7-5

Could the old Dmitry Tursunov actually be back? Sadly for him, the ATP calls this even a 250 point event, even though it has a 500-level field, so Tursunov won’t move as much as he probably deserves to. Still, this should return him to the Top Hundred.

Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Bopanna/Fleming def. (3) Knowle/Polasek 7-5 6-1

Buenos Aires

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) D Ferrer def. (6) F Fognini 6-2 6-1

No sweat this time for David Ferrer. Of course, no points either; he can’t add anything at a 250 point event. He leaves Fabio Fognini just below #40.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) N Almagro def. (WC) F Delbonis 6-1 7-6(7-3)

One more win and Nicolas Almagro gets to start counting points. And Marin Cilic’s loss at Memphis means that he has at least a chance to stay at #11.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) S Wawrinka def. (8) A Ramos 7-6(7-4) 6-4

This at least means we won’t have all Spaniards in the semifinal. Stanislas Wawrinka defends his points; he needs one more win to move.

Singles – Quarterfinal: T Robredo def. (Q) J Reister 6-3 6-2

A lucky draw for Tommy Robredo, but still, he’s in the semifinal. That has been a long, long wait…. This is his first semifinal since Buenos Aires 2011.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Cermak/Mertinak def. Bolelli/Fognini 6-4 6-2

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Bedene/Kuznetsov def. (2) Bracciali/Dlouhy 6-4 6-3

©Daily tennis news wire

Topics: Buenos, Jerzy Janowicz, Marin Cilic, Marseille, Memphis, Sam Querrey, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News