****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Nadal one win away from #1 after beating Fognini in Tokyo
* Ferrer falls to Gasquet, loses chance for #3
* Almagro knocks Nishikori out of Top Fifteen in Tokyo
****** TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS ******
Tokyo
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) (WC) J Del Potro def. A Dolgopolov 4-6 6-4 6-2
If Juan Martin del Potro can win his next match, he’ll pass Roger Federer to obtain (at least) the #6 ranking.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) M Raonic def. (LL) L Lacko 6-3 6-3
There will be no move for Milos Raonic this week, but this counts in the Race. And three of the players ahead of him, Federer, Wawrinka, and Tsonga, are already out for the week.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (6) N Almagro def. (4) K Nishikori 7-6(7-2) 5-7 6-3
Pretty stunning, on this surface. And very bad news for Kei Nishikori, who was of course the defending champion. He falls from #13 to #18 — behind Nicolas Almagro, who rises from #17 to #16. If Almagro can somehow beat del Potro and reach the final, he’ll be Top Fifteen.
Singles – Quarterfinal: I Dodig def. J Nieminen 6-2 7-6(7-3)
Very quietly, Ivan Dodig has been making himself a top player. This will put him in the Top Thirty. Jarkko Nieminen will be around #40.
Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Bopanna/Roger-Vasselin def. Huey/Inglot 6-4 7-6(8-6)
Beijing
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) N Djokovic def. S Querrey 6-1 6-2
It looks as if Novak Djokovic wants to keep the #1 ranking — he’s saving his energy for the big matches. But he still trails Rafael Nadal in safe points. He leaves Sam Querrey at #31.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) R Nadal def. F Fognini 2-6 6-4 6-1
A tough match, which was hardly what Rafael Nadal wanted now. But he is now only one win away from clinching the #1 ranking no matter what Novak Djokovic does. And even if he doesn’t earn it this week, the odds are getting to be very good that he will earn it by year-end.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) R Gasquet def. (3) D Ferrer 6-3 6-4
It has not been a good couple of weeks for David Ferrer, who loses his chance to pass Andy Murray and reach the #3 ranking. Richard Gasquet is still at #10 in safe points, but he will rise to #8 if he can reach the final — and even if he doesn’t make the final, he’s improved his Race odds.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (4) T Berdych def. (8) J Isner 7-5 6-2
Tomas Berdych can’t rise above #5 this week, but he is making it harder for Juan Martin del Potro to pass him. He leaves John Isner at #13 or #14 (up from #16).
******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********
THIS WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Beijing (500/Hard). Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic
Tokyo (500/Hard). Defending Champion: Kei Nishikori
NEXT WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Shanghai (1000/Hard). Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic
******** STATS AND FACTS ********
RANKINGS
Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings
As of October 4, 2013
Rank &
Prior…Player………..Points
1..(2) Nadal………….11040
2..(1) Djokovic……….10800
3..(3) Murray………….6895
4..(4) Ferrer………….6710
5..(5) Berdych…………4550
6..(6) Federer…………4515
7..(7) Del Potro……….4405
8..(9) Wawrinka………..3150
9..(8) Tsonga………….3115
10.(10) Gasquet…………3095
11.(11) Raonic………….2695
12.(12) Haas……………2265
13.(16) Isner…………..2115
14.(14) Simon…………..2095
15.(15) Janowicz………..2085
16.(17) Almagro…………2030
17.(19) Fognini…………1885
18.(13) Nishikori……….1840
19.(18) Robredo…………1830
20.(21) Anderson………..1775
21.(20) Youzhny…………1735
22.(22) Seppi…………..1555
23.(25) Kohlschreiber……1445
24.(23) Tipsarevic………1435
25.(26) Melzer………….1425
26.(27) Gulbis………….1381
27.(28) Paire…………..1380
28.(29) Dimitrov………..1375
29.(34) Dodig…………..1330
30.(24) Lopez…………..1320
**DRAWS
Beijing — Week of September 29
……………QF…………..SF
1 Djokovic…..(1)Djokovic…..Djokovic
6 Wawrinka…..Querrey
3 Ferrer…….(3)Ferrer
5 Gasquet……(5)Gasquet……Gasquet
8 Isner……..(8)Isner
4 Berdych……(4)Berdych……Berdych
7 Haas………Fognini
2 Nadal……..(2)Nadal……..Nadal
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Djokovic
2 Nadal
3 Ferrer…….lost QF (Gasquet)
4 Berdych
5 Gasquet
6 Wawrinka…..lost 2R (Querrey)
7 Haas………lost 1R (Hewitt)
8 Isner……..lost QF (Berdych)
Tokyo — Week of September 29
………………QF…………..SF
1 del Potro…….(1)del Potro….del Potro
8 Tipsarevic……Dolgopolov
4 Nishikori…….(4)Nishikori
6 Almagro………(6)Almagro……Almagro
7 Anderson……..Lacko(LL)
3 Raonic……….(3)Raonic…….Raonic
[Przysiezny(LL)]..Nieminen
2 Tsonga……….Dodig………..Dodig
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 del Potro
2 Tsonga…….lost 2R (Dodig)
3 Raonic
4 Nishikori….lost QF (Almagro)
5 Simon……..WITHDREW
6 Almagro
7 Anderson…..lost 1R (Lacko)
8 Tipsarevic…lost 2R (Dolgopolov)
******** SCORES ********
FRIDAY
Tokyo
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) (WC) J Del Potro def. A Dolgopolov 4-6 6-4 6-2
(3) M Raonic def. (LL) L Lacko 6-3 6-3
(6) N Almagro def. (4) K Nishikori 7-6(7-2) 5-7 6-3
I Dodig def. J Nieminen 6-2 7-6(7-3)
Doubles – Semifinal
(4) Bopanna/Roger-Vasselin def. Huey/Inglot 6-4 7-6(8-6)
Beijing
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) N Djokovic def. S Querrey 6-1 6-2
(2) R Nadal def. F Fognini 2-6 6-4 6-1
(5) R Gasquet def. (3) D Ferrer 6-3 6-4
(4) T Berdych def. (8) J Isner 7-5 6-2
****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Kvitova closes in on Istanbul clinch with win over Li
* Wozniacki all but eliminated after loss to Serena
* Jankovic moves closer with win over Safarova; Kerber falls behind
* Loss by Errani/Vinci spells opportunity for Hsieh/Peng
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Beijing
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) Serena Williams def. (6) Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-4
By the looks of things, Serena has finally gotten used to the conditions here. This was her first easy match of the tournament — and it’s pretty decisive for Caroline Wozniacki. We don’t have the draws for next week’s events yet, but she is, for practical purposes, out of the WTA Race. And she has the Moscow title to defend in two weeks. There is a very good chance that she will end the year below the Top Ten.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (7) Angelique Kerber 7-6(9-7) 6-4
A real blow to Angelique Kerber’s Istanbul chances. We show her still at #9 in the Race (down from #8, which she loses to Jelena Jankovic), and she won’t go lower this week. That would qualify her if Maria Sharapova doesn’t play. But there are still players with chances to pass her. And, of course, she would rather not be dependent on Sharapova!
Singles – Quarterfinal: (9) Petra Kvitova def. (4) Na Li 4-6 6-2 6-4
There goes Li Na’s chance to rise to #4. We won’t exactly say that Petra Kvitova is surging — she keeps playing tough matches — but she extends her winning streak to eight. We show her up to #6 in the Race, which in practice means she is qualified for Istanbul. And if she can win her semifinal, she’ll rise to #6 in the rankings as well.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) Jelena Jankovic def. Lucie Safarova 6-7(3-7) 6-4 6-4
Jelena Jankovic won’t clinch her Istanbul spot this week. At least not based on this. But with Angelique Kerber out, is up to #8 in the Race and is the favorite for the final spot. Another win would make her chances very good.
Doubles – Semifinal: (8) Black/Mirza def. (1) Errani/Vinci 6-4 6-4
Yesterday we mentioned the possibility that Hsieh/Peng might reach #1 after the Australian Open. This opens the door a little wider…
Doubles – Semifinal: Dushevina/Parra Santonja def. (2) Hsieh/Peng 3-6 6-1 10-8
…but Hsieh/Peng close a door on themselves. They led 8-4 in the Match Tiebreak
******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********
THIS WEEK ON THE WTA:
Beijing (Premier Mandatory/Hard). Defending Champion: Victoria Azarenka
NEXT WEEK ON THE WTA:
Linz (International/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Victoria Azarenka
Osaka (International/Hard). Defending Champion: Heather Watson
************ STATS AND FACTS ************
**RANKINGS
Estimated WTA Rankings As of October 3, 2013
Rank &
Prior
Rank….Name…………..Points
1..(1) SWILLIAMS ……… 12710*
2..(2) AZARENKA ………..8485
3..(3) Sharapova ……… 6941
4..(4) ARADWANSKA ………6195*
5..(5) LI ……………..5365
6..(6) ERRANI ………….4435
7..(7) KVITOVA ……….. 4315*
8..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 3845
9..(9) KERBER ………….3645
10.(11) JANKOVIC ………..3610*
11.(12) VINCI …………. 3195
12.(13) STEPHENS ………..3185
13.(10) Bartoli ……….. 3172
14.(16) LISICKI ……….. 2830
15.(18) KIRILENKO ……… 2755
16.(14) IVANOVIC ………..2715
17.(17) HALEP …………. 2685
18.(15) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2665
19.(19) FLIPKENS ………..2601
20.(20) STOSUR ………….2445
21.(21) CIRSTEA ……….. 2170
22.(25) KUZNETSOVA ………2143
23.(23) CIBULKOVA ……… 2126
24.(22) Makarova ………..2066
25.(24) VESNINA ……….. 1960
26.(26) Hampton ……….. 1851
27.(27) CORNET ………….1790
28.(34) SAFAROVA ………..1775
29.(30) KANEPI ………….1751
30.(28) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..1750
**DRAWS
Beijing — Week of September 29
……………….3R……………….QF……….SF
1 S Williams…….(1)S.Williams……..Williams….Williams
16 Halep………..Kirilenko
11 Stephens……..(11)Stephens
6 Wozniacki……..(6)Wozniacki………Wozniacki
3 A Radwanska……(3)A.Radwanska…….Radwanska…Radwanska
14 Ivanovic……..Hercog
10 Vinci………..(10)Vinci
7 Kerber………..(7)Kerber…………Kerber
5 Errani………..(5)Errani
9 Kvitova……….(9)Kvitova………..Kvitova…..Kvitova
13 Lisicki………(13)Lisicki
4 Li……………(4)Li…………….Li
8 Jankovic………(8)Jankovic……….Jankovic….Jankovic
12 Suarez Navarro..(12)Suarez Navarro
15 Stosur……….Safarova………….Safarova
2 Azarenka………Petkovic
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 S Williams
2 Azarenka………..lost 1R (Petkovic)
3 A Radwanska
4 Li……………..lost QF (Kvitova)
5 Errani………….lost 3R (Kvitova)
6 Wozniacki……….lost QF (S. Williams)
7 Kerber………….lost QF (A. Radwanksa)
8 Jankovic
9 Kvitova
10 Vinci…………lost 3R (Kerber)
11 Stephens………lost 3R (Wozniacki)
12 Suarez Navarro…lost 3R (Jankovic)
13 Lisicki……….lost 3R (Li)
14 Ivanovic………lost 1R (Hercog)
15 Stosur………..lost 1R (Safarova)
16 Halep…………lost 1R (U Radwanska)
******** SCORES ********
FRIDAY
Beijing
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) Serena Williams def. (6) Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 6-4
(3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (7) Angelique Kerber 7-6(9-7) 6-4
(9) Petra Kvitova def. (4) Na Li 4-6 6-2 6-4
(8) Jelena Jankovic def. Lucie Safarova 6-7(3-7) 6-4 6-4
Doubles – Semifinal
(8) Black/Mirza def. (1) Errani/Vinci 6-4 6-4
Dushevina/Parra Santonja def. (2) Hsieh/Peng 3-6 6-1 10-8
Topics: 10sballs, Agnieszka Radwanska, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli, milos raonic, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka