Men tennis Update – Monte Carlo (04/17/13)

Written by: Staff on 17th April 2013

Men tennis Update - Monte Carlo (04/17/13)

epa03665712 Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Mikhail Youzhny of Russia during their second round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2013. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

Monte Carlo

Singles – Second Round: (1) N Djokovic def. M Youzhny 4-6 6-1 6-4

It was obvious that Novak Djokovic was in pain. It didn’t look as if he would be around long; he lost the first four games. But then the endorphins kicked in. Or something. It looks as if Mikhail Youzhny will lose at least one ranking spot.

Singles – Second Round: (2) A Murray def. (Q) E Roger-Vasselin 6-1 6-4

Andy Murray has points to defend, so it is still possible that he could fall to #3. But he needs only one more win to stay ahead of Roger Federer — and this obviously was pretty efficient.

Singles – Second Round: (3) R Nadal def. M Matosevic 6-1 6-2

Anyone actually worried about Rafael Nadal’s health can obviously relax. Amazingly, though, Nadal still needs a couple more wins to assure that he will keep the #5 ranking.

Singles – Second Round: (4) T Berdych def. M Granollers 7-5 6-4

Marcel Granollers adds a few points but will remain below #30. Tomas Berdych still has an outside chance at passing Rafael Nadal this week, but it’s getting more and more outside….

Singles – Second Round: (9) M Cilic def. K Anderson 6-2 6-3

It’s not going to be easy for Marin Cilic to rise above his current #11; he needs a final. But he isn’t likely to fall, either; the next five guys down the rankings are all out.

Singles – Second Round: J Melzer def. (10) N Almagro 6-4 6-2

Second match after a long plane flight is often the toughest, and it was obviously so here. Nicolas Almagro pays the price for playing in Houston; he will not rise above #12. But Jurgen Melzer is back to probably #35; it looks as if he might have a Roland Garros seeding chance after all.

Singles – Second Round: J Nieminen def. (12) M Raonic 6-3 1-6 7-6(7-3)

Perhaps not a huge surprise; clay just doesn’t reward much of Milos Raonic’s game. He will end up #14 or #15. Jarkko Nieminen ought to rise above #45.

Singles – Second Round: (13) S Wawrinka def. (Q) A Montanes 6-1 6-1

An ugly scoreline, but we’d say that just getting this far is pretty good news for Albert Montanes. It will be interesting to see how he does on clay for the rest of this season. Stanislas Wawrinka has now defended his points; he needs at least two more wins to move in the rankings.

Singles – Second Round:(14) J Monaco def. E Gulbis 6-0 3-6 6-3

Juan Monaco starts to regain the points he lost when he failed to defend his Houston title, but he needs at least two more wins, or a Philipp Kohlschreiber loss, to guarantee his Top Twenty spot.

Singles – Second Round: F Fognini def. (Q) A Ramos 6-3 7-5

With this, Fabio Fognini starts to add points; he is now just below #30.

Singles – Second Round: F Mayer def. R Bautista Agut 5-7 6-4 6-4

Good news for Florian Mayer, who has been struggling lately. For once, he is adding points; this appears to clinch his Top Thirty ranking. He will probably rise a spot or two.

Doubles – First Round: Fleming/Marray def. Knowle/Nielsen 6-4 7-6(9-7)

Doubles – Second Round: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. Kohlschreiber/Mayer 6-3 6-2

A nice bounce-back for the Bryans after their disappointing Houston result.

Doubles – Second Round: Marrero/Verdasco def. (2) Granollers/M Lopez 4-6 6-2 10-4

This is pretty tough for Granollers/Lopez, though; they were defending semifinalist points. It doesn’t appear it will hurt their ranking, but it’s a lot of clay points they don’t earn.

Doubles – Second Round: Raonic/Tomic def. (8) Fyrstenberg/Matkowski 6-2 6-4

A tough day for seeds — and it continues a very tough year for Fyrstenberg/Matkowski, who seem to be way off. They came in only #9 in the team Race, and this certainly won’t help. (If you’re wondering, the Bryans are of course #1, with a more than 2:1 lead over the #2 team of Granollers/Lopez. And — get this — Bolelli/Fognini are #3.)

Topics: Andy Murray, Mikhail Youzhny, Monte Carlo tennis news, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Sports, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych