EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
* Querrey survives Karlovic barrage in only singles match in Metz
* Tsonga returns to action with doubles victory
* Youzhny needs two hours to beat wildcard in St. Petersburg
* Hanescu upset by another wildcard
* Golubev blocks Struff’s Top Hundred quest
* Cilic banned for nine months for accidental drug use
TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS
Metz
With the excitement over the return of French No. 1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to competition this week at the home event, the hype outshone the actual day 1 action on court, with qualifying rounds taking most of the local spotlight, American sixth seed Sam Querrey accomplished something he rarely has in his recent career – winning a match outside of the US. The notoriously poor traveler managed to overcome his typical reticence at playing in Europe, winning his opening match by beating Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic in a battle of big servers 7-6(4), 6-4. The Californian’s last win in Europe came three months ago at Eastbourne. Tsonga will be defending his title after last winning a round at Wimbledon but retiring in the second round against Ernests Gulbis with the knee injury which forced him to miss the entire summer hardcourt season.
St. Petersburg
Second seed and US Open quarter-finalist Mikhail Youzhny got away to a winning start as he beat compatriot Asian Karatsev 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-2 in the first round at home. The contest was actually the only one played on day 1 as four qualifying matches took up the bulk of the program. Youzhny and fellow Russian Dmitry Tursunov had kick-started the event at the weekend with a brief exhibition on a clay court laid down in a main square of the Russian city.
THIS WEEK IN TENNIS
THIS WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Metz (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
St. Petersburg (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Martin Klizan
NEXT WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Bangkok
Kuala Lumpur
STATS AND FACTS
RANKINGS
Estimated ATP Rankings As of September 16, 2013
Rank &
Prior
Rank….Name….Points
1..(1) Djokovic……….11120
2..(2) Nadal………….10860
3..(3) Murray………….7075
4..(4) Ferrer………….6710
5..(5) Federer…………4515
6..(6) Berdych…………4460
7..(7) Del Potro……….4425
8..(8) Tsonga………….3265
9..(9) Gasquet…………3165
10.(10) Wawrinka………..3150
11.(11) Raonic………….2610
12.(12) Nishikori……….2325
13.(13) Haas……………2265
14.(14) Janowicz………..2110
15.(15) Isner…………..2025
16.(16) Simon…………..1950
17.(18) Almagro…………1940
18.(19) Robredo…………1855
19.(17) Fognini…………1840
20.(20) Youzhny…………1780
21.(21) Anderson………..1775
22.(22) Seppi…………..1555
23.(23) Tipsarevic………1525
24.(24) Cilic…………..1445
25.(25) Kohlschreiber……1445
26.(26) Lopez…………..1435
27.(27) Melzer………….1425
28.(28) Paire…………..1380
29.(29) Dimitrov………..1375
30.(30) Monaco………….1275
DRAWS
Metz — Week of September 15
1 Tsonga
–bye
Delbonis
Roger-Vasselin
Kamke
Qualifier
Qualifier
7 Chardy
4 Kohlschreiber
–bye
Berlocq
Vesely
Haider-Maurer
Lacko
Qualifier
8 F Mayer
5 Paire
Becker
Qualifier
Olivetti (WC)
Mahut
L Mayer
–bye
3 Seppi
6 Querrey
Karlovic
Sijsling
Mathieu (WC)
de Schepper
Huta Galung
–bye
2 Simon (WC)
St. Petersburg — Week of September 15
1 Fognini
Qualifier
Przysiezny
Ramos
Hanescu
Khachanov (WC)
Berankis
7 Rosol
3 Tipsarevic
Bautista Agut
Mannarino
Donskoy
Zopp (PR)
Gimeno-Traver
Elgin (WC)
6 Gulbis
5 Verdasco
Stakhovsky
Lorenzi
Sousa
Zeballos
Qualifier
Baghdatis
4 Tursunov
8 Istomin
Qualifier
Struff
Golubev
Qualifier
Garcia-Lopez
Karatsev (WC)
2 Youzhny
SCORES
Monday
Metz
Singles – First Round
[6] S Querrey (USA) d I Karlovic (CRO) 46 76(4) 64
Doubles – First Round
N Mahut (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) d C Berlocq (ARG) / I Sijsling (NED) 64 61
P Hanley (AUS) / A Sa (BRA) d F Delbonis (ARG) / M Demoliner (BRA) 63 64
St. Petersburg
Singles – First Round
[2] M Youzhny (RUS) d [WC] A Karatsev (RUS) 67(5) 62 62
[WC] K Khachanov (RUS) d V Hanescu (ROU) 76(4) 76(4)
A Golubev (KAZ) d J Struff (GER) 67(3) 63 61
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