Men’s Tennis Update (5/15) – Rome
Men's Tennis Update (5/15) - Rome
Rome
Top seed Novak Djokovic and No. 2 Roger Federer made quick work of opening-round opponents, with Federer needing well under an hour to crush Italy’s Potito Starace 6-1, 6-2. Djokovic began his recovery from last week’s opening loss in Spain in 70 minutes as the two-time champion reached the third round after a bye 6-2, 6-3, over Albert Montanes.
Federer, whose lack of a Rome title is one of the few things missing from his glittering curriculum, won a first set that took just 20 minutes. The Swiss beat Starace for a seventh time.
The closest Federer has come to the Rome title was a final a decade ago, with the Swiss improving to 15-5 on the season as he plays the Foro Italico for the 13th time. “I played well, there is always pressure in the first match especially in Italy against an Italian and so I am very happy,” said the Swiss. “It would be good to gain confidence and win on clay, I am happy about how I am feeling now.”
Djokovic has been training for almost a week at the Foro Italico after crashing out in Madrid to Grigor Dimitrov, who lost his Rome match to ninth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4. The Serb, who beat Rafael Nadal for the Monte Carlo title last month, is still trying to shake off any lingering effects of his April ankle injury. “I came to Rome early and spent a lot of hours on the court to prepare for what’s coming up this week. It’s a very important period of the season and I need to be physically and mentally fresh and fit.”
A pair of men’s seeds went out in the first round as Julien Benneteau beat Spain’s number 12 Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 and Russian Mikhail Youzhny surprised German 13th seed Tommy Haas, winner of the Munich title, 6-4, 6-3.
Serb Viktor Troicki spoiled a meeting between Czech Lukas Rosol, who beat Rafael Nadal last summer at Wimbledon, and the Spanish king of clay. Troicki beat Rosol 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 after the Czech had entered the draw through the illness pullout of tenth seed Janko Tipsarevic.
In the second round, sixth seed Tomas Berdych defeated Denis Istomin 6-4, 6-0 and Argentine Juan Del Potro beat Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 6-2.
RANKINGS
Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings
As of May 14, 2013
Rank &
Prior…Player………..Points
1..(1) Djokovic……….12220
2..(2) Murray………….8750
3..(3) Federer…………7410
4..(4) Ferrer………….6570
5..(5) Nadal…………..5905
6..(6) Berdych…………4430
7..(7) Del Potro……….4320
8..(8) Tsonga………….3795
9..(9) Gasquet…………3090
10.(11) Tipsarevic………2650
11.(10) Wawrinka………..2630
12.(13) Cilic…………..2570
13.(12) Almagro…………2490
14.(14) Haas……………2340
15.(15) Nishikori……….2315
16.(16) Raonic………….2225
17.(17) Simon…………..1895
18.(18) Monaco………….1750
19.(19) Querrey…………1730
20.(22) Kohlschreiber……1705
21.(20) Isner…………..1690
22.(21) Seppi…………..1530
23.(23) Dolgopolov………1455
24.(27) Anderson………..1420
25.(24) Janowicz………..1383
26.(26) Dimitrov………..1355
27.(25) Fognini…………1345
28.(29) Chardy………….1326
29.(28) Mayer…………..1295
30.(30) Youzhny…………1265
DRAWS
Rome — Week of May 13
1 Djokovic
–bye
Montanes (Q)
Klizan
Viola (WC)
Dolgopolov
Berlocq (Q)
15 Wawrinka
11 Cilic
Golubev (Q)
Anderson
Melzer
Istomin
Isner
–bye
6 Berdych
4 Ferrer
–bye
Zeballos
Verdasco
Ramos
Hajek (Q)
Kohlschreiber
14 Raonic
10 Tipsarevic
Troicki
Nieminen
Gulbis (Q)
Fognini
Seppi
–bye
5 Nadal
7 del Potro
–bye
Kuznetsov (Q)
Malisse
Monaco
Paire
Benneteau
12 Almagro
16 Nishikori
Lorenzi (WC)
Chardy
F Lopez
Granollers
Davydenko
–bye
3 Murray
8 Tsonga
–bye
Giraldo (Q)
Janowicz
Baghdatis
Dimitrov
Querrey
9 Gasquet
13 Haas
Youzhny
Volandri
Simon
Stepanek
Starace (WC)
–bye
2 Federer
TUESDAY
Rome
Singles – Second Round
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [Q] A Montanes (ESP) 62 63
[2] R Federer (SUI) d [WC] P Starace (ITA) 61 62
[6] T Berdych (CZE) d D Istomin (UZB) 64 60
[7] J del Potro (ARG) d [Q] A Kuznetsov (RUS) 63 62
[9] R Gasquet (FRA) d G Dimitrov (BUL) 64 64
K Anderson (RSA) d [11] M Cilic (CRO) 63 76(7)
Singles – First Round
J Benneteau (FRA) d [12] N Almagro (ESP) 76(2) 64
M Youzhny (RUS) d [13] T Haas (GER) 64 63
[15] S Wawrinka (SUI) d [Q] C Berlocq (ARG) 57 63 63
F Verdasco (ESP) d H Zeballos (ARG) 63 36 63
V Troicki (SRB) d [LL] L Rosol (CZE) 36 61 64
J Chardy (FRA) d F Lopez (ESP) 36 75 76(4)
G Simon (FRA) d [WC] F Volandri (ITA) 63 26 64
Doubles – First Round
D Marrero (ESP) / F Verdasco (ESP) d J Chardy (FRA) / T Huey (PHI) 63 76(4)
[WC] F Cipolla (ITA) / F Volandri (ITA) d F Fognini (ITA) / M Klizan (SVK) 63 46 10-6
[Alt] L Rosol (CZE) / V Troicki (SRB) d J Knowle (AUT) / F Polasek (SVK) 62 64
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