Today’s Men’s News (3/11) – Indian Wells

Written by: Staff on 11th March 2013

Today's Men's News (3/11) - Indian Wells

epa03606403 Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini returns against Spanish David Ferrer during their semifinal tennis match at the Mexican Tennis Open in Acapulco, Mexico, 01 March 2013. EPA/JOSE MENDEZ |

Indian Wells

Late Sunday

The following matches were completed after our previous edition went out.

Singles – Second Round: (1) N Djokovic def. F Fognini 6-0 5-7 6-2

The When-Will-Novak-Djokovic-Lose watch continues with no end in sight. Fabio Fognini’s valiant effort will probably leave him about #35.

Singles – Second Round: (8) J Tsonga def. (WC) J Blake 7-6(8-6) 6-4

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga hasn’t yet clinched the #8 ranking, but with Janko Tipsarevic out, it is very much the way to bet.

Singles – Second Round: (16) K Nishikori def. (Q) P Petzschner 6-3 6-2

Kei Nishikori is already adding points; one more win would just about assure him a Top Fifteen spot.

Singles – Second Round: (17) M Raonic def. M Llodra walkover

No points yet for Milos Raonic, and he needs at least a quarterfinal to reach the Top Fifteen anyway.

Singles – Second Round: (19) T Haas def. P Andujar 6-5 7-6(7-0)

It looks as if Pablo Andujar will be falling out of the Top Fifty; he was defending fourth round points.

Singles – Second Round: (23) S Querrey def. (Q) I Karlovic 6-3 6-4

Sam Querrey was guaranteed to become the #1 American when John Isner lost; with this, it becomes likely that he will return to the Top Twenty. He will of course be the only American above that mark.

Singles – Second Round: (31) G Dimitrov def. (Q) M Ebden 6-4 6-4

One more win would almost certainly put Grigor Dimitrov in the Top Thirty.

Doubles – First Round: Benneteau/Gasquet def. (8) Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 6-4 7-6(7-4)

We seem to be seeing something of a revolution in doubles this year, as a lot of long-time top players are struggling. Except at the very top, where the Bryans remain the Bryans….

Doubles – First Round: Peya/Soares def. Haase/Simon 6-2 6-2

Doubles – First Round: Cabal/F Mayer def. Klizan/Seppi 6-2 6-4

Doubles – First Round: (Alt) Andujar/Gimeno-Traver def. Paire/Wawrinka 4-6 6-2 10-8

Early Matches

Singles – Second Round: (3) A Murray def. E Donskoy 5-7 6-2 6-2

In the first half dozen games of this, Evgeny Donskoy was firing lasers; he seemed to be hitting winners almost at will. Then it went away — and came back, for two games at the end of the set. But then the errors crept in again. If he can clean that up, who knows what might happen? Andy Murray had a scare, but he keeps alive his hopes of making it to #2 at this event.

Singles – Second Round: (7) J del Potro def. N Davydenko 6-3 6-4

Nikolay Davydenko won three games in a row to start the second set, then lost five in a row. A surprising match, but not a surprising result. Juan Martin del Potro keeps himself in the hunt for #6; Davydenko will remain just shy of the Top Forty.

Singles – Second Round: (11) N Almagro def. D Gimeno-Traver 7-5 6-1

Nicolas Almagro still needs two more wins to defend his points — and, because Marin Cilic is adding points, he is likely to need three to keep the #11 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (12) M Cilic def. A Ramos 7-6(9-7) 6-2

Marin Cilic lost his opener last year, so he has already started to add points — but he needs a final if he is to have any shot at the Top Ten.

Singles – Second Round: M Matosevic def. (14) J Monaco 7-5 6-0

This was the first match to finish on Sunday. Obviously it didn’t take long for the upsets to resume! Juan Monaco loses third round points; he may also lose his #14 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: C Berlocq def. (22) A Dolgopolov 6-3 6-7(5-7) 6-3

This wouldn’t be a huge surprise on clay, but it’s pretty shocking here. Alexandr Dolgopolov loses fourth round points — but was in a nice spot in the rankings; we’d guess he will stay at #22.

Singles – Second Round: B Phau def. (25) J Chardy 6-2 2-6 6-4

Chardy was the ninth seed to fall here — more than a quarter of them out in their opening matches! That may well cost Chardy his Top 25 spot.

Singles – Second Round: Y Lu def. (26) M Klizan 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-5)

Martin Klizan seems to have really hit a wall. Having settled at just below the Top 25, he can’t seem to move above that mark. He wasn’t defending anything, but because those around him have added points, he will fall at least one ranking spot.

Singles – Second Round: (32) M Fish def. (Q) B Reynolds 6-3 3-6 6-4

Mardy Fish was down a break in the third set here, but he managed to come through when Bobby Reynolds lost the ability to serve. Admittedly he didn’t face strong opposition, but still, he picks up the first win of his comeback. A promising outcome, and one which lets him defend his points.

Doubles – First Round: Huey/Janowicz def. Hanescu/Moser 6-4 6-4