****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Gulbis spoils Janowicz’s comeback
* Verdasco, Roger-Vasselin latest to pull out of matches
* Raonic falls to Paire in Stockholm
* Haase upsets Fognini in Vienna
****** TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS ******
Moscow
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) R Gasquet def. (WC) T Gabashvili 6-3 6-2
From now on, the points count for Richard Gasquet. He isn’t going to move in the rankings this week, but there is always the Race to think about…. Teymuraz Gabashvili at least lasted long enough that he ought to return to the Top Hundred.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) A Seppi def. E Roger-Vasselin 5-2, retired (neck)
Everything seems to work for Andreas Seppi around here. He hasn’t earned anything that matters yet — he’s still at #24 in safe points — but as defending champion, he wants to do well….
Singles – Quarterfinal: I Karlovic def. (WC) K Khachanov 6-4 6-0
Reality had to catch up with Karen Khachanov someday. He surely had never faced a serve like Ivo Karlovic’s before! Still, he’s only seventeen; it seems certain we’ll be seeing more of Khachanov. For Karlovic, this lets him defend his points, meaning that he will stay in the #85 range.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (Q) M Kukushkin def. (Q) A Golubev 6-4 7-6(7-4)
We were already pretty sure Mikhail Kukushkin would be returning to the Top Hundred. Now we’re absolutely sure….
Doubles – Semifinal: Elgin/Istomin def. Junaid/Marx 5-7 6-3 10-5
Doubles – Semifinal: Skupsky/Skupsky def. (WC) Baluda/Kravchuk 6-3 5-7 10-7
It’s going to be a crazy final; Mikhail Elgin is at #77 is the highest-ranked of the four finalists, and the teams have a combined rankings of 198 and 223!
Stockholm
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) D Ferrer def. F Verdasco walkover (right abdominal strain)
Good news and bad news for David Ferrer. He hasn’t been playing well, so he might have been in danger of an upset — but he probably needs some matches. For Fernando Verdasco, this means no Top Thirty spot.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (6) (WC) B Paire def. (2) (WC) M Raonic 7-6(7-3) 6-3
This may actually be good for Milos Raonic; he really needs rest. He’ll stay #11 in both rankings and race. Benoit Paire is still in a many-sided struggle to stay Top 25.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) E Gulbis def. (3) J Janowicz 7-5 4-6 6-3
The good news, perhaps, is that Jerzy Janowicz lasted long enough to defend his points and presumably stay Top Fifteen. But he loses the chance to rise. Ernests Gulbis now looks like a good bet to make the Top 25…
Singles – Quarterfinal: (7) G Dimitrov def. K de Schepper 6-4 6-2
…but Gulbis isn’t clinched yet, because we have four players — Seppi, Gulbis, Paire, and Dimitrov — all bunched up around #25, and all still winning. Dimitrov is the last of the bunch right now, but he’s looking like he wants to go higher.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Bjorkman/Lindstedt def. Gulbis/Tursunov 4-6 6-1 10-8
We mentioned after their first round that Bjorkman/Lindstedt had never had the greatest success in doubles back in Bjorkman’s regular career. Too bad they didn’t have this form back then; Sweden might have done better in Davis Cup!
Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Qureshi/Rojer def. (3) Marrero/Verdasco walkover
Vienna
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) J Tsonga def. (WC) D Thiem 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-3)
A lot of effort for not many points for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but this is enough points to count. It’s a help — a small help — in the Race. It does accomplish one thing: Richard Gasquet can no longer pass him, so Tsonga is sure to stay at least #9.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) Tommy Haas def. (5) Radek Stepanek 7-6(12-10) 6-3
As we saw yesterday, Tommy Haas is just barely alive in the Race to London. But he’s keeping his faint hopes alive. He’ll leave Radek Stepanek around #45.
Singles – Quarterfinal: R Haase def. (3) F Fognini 6-7(4-7) 6-1 6-1
Fabio Fognini loses any chance to add points, and can forget any wild hopes he had of playing London. He had a shot at the Top Fifteen here, but this means he will stay stuck at #17.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) L Rosol def. (Q) R Bemelmans 6-3 1-6 6-3
A dramatic ending to the best event of Ruben Bemelmans’s career, but it’s over with him still below #100. Lukas Rosol is adding points but remains around #45.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: Mergea/Rosol def. (1) Peya/Soares 7-5 3-6 10-8
Pretty stunning, but not really very important; Peya/Soares are going to London, and they don’t need any more 250 point titles.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Neuchrist/Thiem def. (4) J Murray/Peers 6-3 6-3
A crazy doubles draw…. This won’t make a big difference for Murray and Peers as they try to qualify for London, but it certainly doesn’t help.
******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********
THIS WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Moscow (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Andreas Seppi
Stockholm (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Tomas Berdych
Vienna (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Juan Martin del Potro
NEXT WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:
Valencia (500/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: David Ferrer
Basel (500/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Juan Martin del Potro
******** STATS AND FACTS ********
RANKINGS
Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings
As of October 18, 2013
Rank &
Prior…Player………..Points
1..(1) Nadal………….11520
2..(2) Djokovic……….11120
3..(3) Ferrer………….6800
4..(4) Murray………….6295
5..(5) Del Potro……….5275
6..(7) Federer…………4245
7..(6) Berdych…………4090
8..(9) Wawrinka………..3240
9..(8) Tsonga………….3235
10.(10) Gasquet…………3060
11.(11) Raonic………….2860
12.(12) Haas……………2265
13.(13) Almagro…………2200
14.(14) Isner…………..2070
15.(15) Janowicz………..2060
16.(16) Simon…………..2060
17.(17) Fognini…………1965
18.(18) Nishikori……….1885
19.(19) Robredo…………1830
20.(20) Anderson………..1775
21.(21) Youzhny…………1735
22.(23) Melzer………….1460
23.(24) Kohlschreiber……1445
24.(26) Gulbis………….1431
25.(25) Paire…………..1425
26.(22) Seppi…………..1395
27.(28) Dimitrov………..1340
28.(27) Tipsarevic………1310
29.(29) Dodig…………..1295
30.(30) Lopez…………..1275
**DRAWS
Moscow — Week of October 15
……………QF…………….SF
1 Gasquet……(1)Gasquet……..Gasquet
8 Mannarino….Gabashvili(WC)
3 Tipsarevic…Khachanov(WC)
5 Istomin……Karlovic……….Karlovic
6 Zeballos…..Golubev(Q)
4 Dolgopolov…Kukushkin(Q)……Kukushkin
7 Sousa……..Roger-Vasselin
2 Seppi……..(2)Seppi……….Seppi
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Gasquet
2 Seppi
3 Tipsarevic….lost 2R (Khachanov)
4 Dolgopolov….lost 2R (Kukushkin)
5 Istomin…….lost 2R (Karlovic)
6 Zeballos……lost 2R (Golubev)
7 Sousa………lost 1R (Stakhovsky)
8 Mannarino…..lost 1R (Gabashvili)
Stockholm — Week of October 15
……………..QF………….SF
1 Ferrer………(1)Ferrer……Ferrer
8 Dodig……….Verdasco
3 Janowicz…….(3)Janowicz
5 Gulbis………(5)Gulbis……Gulbis
7 Dimitrov…….(7)Dimitrov….Dimitrov
4 Anderson…….de Schepper
6 Paire (WC)…..(6)Paire…….Paire
2 Raonic (WC)….(2)Raonic(WC)
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Ferrer
2 Raonic (WC)…lost QF (Paire)
3 Janowicz……lost QF (Gulbis)
4 Anderson……lost 2R (de Schepper)
5 Gulbis
6 Paire (WC)
7 Dimitrov
8 Dodig………lost 1R (Verdasco)
Vienna — Week of October 15
……………..QF…………SF
1 Tsonga………(1)Tsonga…..Tsonga
6 Monfils……..Thiem(WC)
3 Fognini……..(3)Fognini
7 Pospisil…….Haase………Haase
8 Rosol……….(8)Rosol……Rosol
4 Kohlschreiber..Bemelmans(Q)
5 Stepanek…….(5)Stepanek
2 Haas………..(2)Haas…….Haas
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Tsonga
2 Haas
3 Fognini……..lost QF (Haase)
4 Kohlschreiber..lost 2R (Bemelmans)
5 Stepanek…….lost QF (Haas)
6 Monfils……..lost 1R (J Pospisil)
7 Pospisil…….lost 2R (Haase)
8 Rosol
******** SCORES ********
FRIDAY
Moscow
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) R Gasquet def. (WC) T Gabashvili 6-3 6-2
(2) A Seppi def. E Roger-Vasselin 5-2, retired (neck)
I Karlovic def. (WC) K Khachanov 6-4 6-0
(Q) M Kukushkin def. (Q) A Golubev 6-4 7-6(7-4)
Doubles – Semifinal
Elgin/Istomin def. Junaid/Marx 5-7 6-3 10-5
Skupsky/Skupsky def. (WC) Baluda/Kravchuk 6-3 5-7 10-7
Stockholm
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) D Ferrer def. F Verdasco walkover (right abdominal strain)
(6) (WC) B Paire def. (2) (WC) M Raonic 7-6(7-3) 6-3
(5) E Gulbis def. (3) J Janowicz 7-5 4-6 6-3
(7) G Dimitrov def. K de Schepper 6-4 6-2
Doubles – Quarterfinal
(WC) Bjorkman/Lindstedt def. Gulbis/Tursunov 4-6 6-1 10-8
Doubles – Semifinal
(1) Qureshi/Rojer def. (3) Marrero/Verdasco walkover
Vienna
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) J Tsonga def. (WC) D Thiem 6-4 3-6 7-6(7-3)
(2) Tommy Haas def. (5) Radek Stepanek 7-6(12-10) 6-3
R Haase def. (3) F Fognini 6-7(4-7) 6-1 6-1
(8) L Rosol def. (Q) R Bemelmans 6-3 1-6 6-3
Doubles – Quarterfinal
Mergea/Rosol def. (1) Peya/Soares 7-5 3-6 10-8
(WC) Neuchrist/Thiem def. (4) J Murray/Peers 6-3 6-3
______________________
****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Upset day in Moscow: #2 Vinci, #4 Ivanovic eliminated
* Stephens, Hantuchova fall out of Sofia race
* Wozniacki survives nailbiter
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Moscow
Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) Svetlana Kuznetsova def. (2) Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-3
And so Roberta Vinci loses yet another chance to reach the Top Ten; indeed, it appears she will fall a couple of spots. That means the final Top Ten spot would go to either Caroline Wozniacki or Sloane Stephens, who were contesting it at Luxembourg.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (7) Samantha Stosur def. (4) Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-4
Samantha Stosur’s next match is against Svetlana Kuznetsova, who just happens to be right behind her in safe points. That means that Stosur has to win it to be assured of staying Top Twenty. If Stosur wins, she will keep the #19 ranking she came in with; lose, and she will fall to #20 or possibly #21. She drops Ana Ivanovic from #14 to #16.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) Simona Halep def. (WC) Alisa Kleybanova 6-1 6-1
Simona Halep just keeps climbing. With this, we show her rising from #18 to #15, with the chance to go still higher. And she will play at Sofia, where she will be one of the high seeds.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 6-4
Daniela Hantuchova had struggled through her second round match, then withdrew from the doubles. Clearly there was something wrong here. The loss means that she will end the year at #33 (or just possibly lower), which is where she came in. But it’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s situation which is highly interesting, because of the Sofia Championships. If we look at the current Top Thirty, and their situation regarding Sofia and Istanbul, the list below summarizes it:
1. SWilliams: Istanbul
2. Azarenka: Istanbul
3. Sharapova: [Istanbul]
4. ARadwanska: Istanbul
5. Li: Istanbul
6. Kvitova: Istanbul
7. Errani: Istanbul
8. Jankovic: Istanbul
9. Kerber: Istanbul
10. Wozniacki: In Sofia Contention If Wins This Week
11. Stephens: Out of contention
12. Bartoli: Out of contention
13. Vinci: Sofia Candidate #1
14. Lisicki: In Sofia Contention If Wins This Week
15. Halep: Sofia Candidate #2
16. Ivanovic: Out of contention
17. Suarez Navarro: Out of contention
18. Kirilenko: Sofia Candidate #3
19. Flipkens: Out of contention
20. Stosur: Sofia Candidate #4
21. Kuznetsova: Out of contention
22. Cirstea: Out of contention
23. Cibulkova: Out of contention
24. Makarova: Out of contention
25. Vesnina: Sofia Candidate #5
26. Pavlyuchenkova: Sofia Candidate #6
27. Cornet: Sofia Candidate #7
28. Hampton: Out of contention
29. Safarova: Sofia Candidate #8
30. Kanepi: Out of contention
So Pavlyuchenkova has added enough points to move up to the #6 spot in the Sofia race. If no one else above her qualifies, she is in Sofia. Or she can qualify by making the final and passing Vesnina. Lots of possibilities there….
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Huber/Rosolska def. Olaru/Savchuk 7-5 6-1
Luxembourg
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) Caroline Wozniacki def. (8) Bojana Jovanovski 6-3 3-6 6-3
Two more wins and Caroline Wozniacki qualifies for Sofia — the only way she can end the year above #9. Bojana Jovanovski will end the year at #37 or #38.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Stefanie Voegele def. (2) Sloane Stephens 6-3 3-6 6-2
A disappointing end to the year for Sloane Stephens, who loses both her Top Ten chance and her chance to qualify for Sofia; she will be #11 next week. But what an end of the year for Stefanie Voegele! She has put herself in the Top Fifty.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) Sabine Lisicki def. Karin Knapp 7-5 4-6 6-0
On a day when every match on the schedule lasted three sets, this ended very late, but it ends with Sabine Lisicki having clinched her Top Fifteen spot and still having hopes of qualifying for Sofia. Karin Knapp will be just below the Top Forty.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Annika Beck def. Katarzyna Piter 6-3 6-7(3-7) 7-6(7-5)
This took more than three hours, so it’s pretty clear this will be the end of the line for the winner. Still, it was a big event for both players. Katarzyna Piter had probably the best singles event of her career; Annika Beck will likely rise above #55.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: Hercog/Raymond def. (2) Mladenovic/Piter 7-6(7-5) 6-7(3-7) 10-8
Doubles – Semifinal: Barrois/Thorpe def. (1) Petrova/Srebotnik 6-2 3-6 10-8
This should not have been close. Clearly Nadia Petrova is still feeling her injuries. With the announcement that Istanbul will be the last event of her career, we know that she will play not more than two more matches — and odds are that this will in fact be her next to last match. Sad to see her go out with such a relative whimper — she was probably the best doubles player of her generation not to win a Slam.
******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********
THIS WEEK ON THE WTA:
Moscow (Premier/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Caroline Wozniacki
Luxembourg (International/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Venus Williams
NEXT WEEK ON THE WTA:
Istanbul (Championships/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Serena Williams
************ STATS AND FACTS ************
**RANKINGS
Estimated WTA Rankings As of October 18, 2013
Rank &
Prior
Rank….Name…………..Points
1..(1) SWilliams ……… 12040
2..(2) Azarenka ………..7676
3..(3) Sharapova ……… 5891
4..(4) ARadwanska ………5890
5..(5) Li ……………..5120
6..(7) Kvitova ……….. 4315
7..(6) Errani ………….4190
8..(8) Jankovic ………..3860
9.(10) Kerber ………….3715
10..(9) WOZNIACKI ……… 3380*
11.(12) STEPHENS ………..3185
12.(13) Bartoli ……….. 3172
13.(11) VINCI …………. 3170
14.(15) LISICKI ……….. 2920*
15.(18) HALEP …………. 2815*
16.(14) IVANOVIC ………..2765
17.(17) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2735
18.(16) KIRILENKO ……… 2611
19.(20) FLIPKENS ………..2495
20.(19) STOSUR ………….2460*
21.(23) KUZNETSOVA ………2341*
22.(22) Cirstea ……….. 2170
23.(21) CIBULKOVA ……… 2076
24.(24) Makarova ………..2066
25.(25) VESNINA ……….. 1960
26.(30) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..1890*
27.(26) CORNET ………….1790
28.(27) Hampton ……….. 1781
29.(28) SAFAROVA ………..1775
30.(29) KANEPI ………….1752
**DRAWS
Moscow — Week of October 15
……………….QF…………..SF
3 Kirilenko……..Pavlyuchenkova..Pavlyuchenkova
9 Cibulkova……..Hantuchova
5 Halep…………Halep………..Halep
6 Suarez Navarro…Kleybanova
7 Stosur……….(7)Stosur……..Stosur
4 Ivanovic……..(4)Ivanovic
8 Kuznetsova……(8)Kuznetsova….Kuznetsova
2 Vinci………..(2)Vinci
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Kerber………..WITHDREW
2 Vinci…………lost QF (Kuznetsova)
3 Kirilenko……..lost 2R (Pavlyuchenkova)
4 Ivanovic………lost QF (Ivanovic)
5 Halep
6 Suarez Navarro..lost 2R (Kleybanova)
7 Stosur
8 Kuznetsova
9 Cibulkova…….lost 1R (Dolonc)
Luxembourg — Week of October 15
…………….QF……………SF
1 Wozniacki…..(1)Wozniacki…..Wozniacki
8 Jovanovski….(8)Jovanovski
3 Lisicki…….(3)Lisicki…….Lisicki
7 Bouchard……Knapp
5 Safarova……Beck………….Beck
4 Flipkens……Piter(Q)
6 Barthel…….Voegele……….Voegele
2 Stephens……(2)Stephens
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Wozniacki
2 Stephens…..lost QF (Voegele)
3 Lisicki
4 Flipkens…..lost 1R (Piter)
5 Safarova…..lost 2R (Beck)
6 Barthel……lost 1R (Voegele)
7 Bouchard…..lost 1R (Petkovic)
8 Jovanovski…lost QF (Wozniacki)
******** SCORES ********
FRIDAY
Moscow
Singles – Quarterfinal
(8) Svetlana Kuznetsova def. (2) Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-3
(7) Samantha Stosur def. (4) Ana Ivanovic 7-5 6-4
(5) Simona Halep def. (WC) Alisa Kleybanova 6-1 6-1
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 6-4
Doubles – Quarterfinal
(4) Huber/Rosolska def. Olaru/Savchuk 7-5 6-1
Luxembourg
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) Caroline Wozniacki def. (8) Bojana Jovanovski 6-3 3-6 6-3
Stefanie Voegele def. (2) Sloane Stephens 6-3 3-6 6-2
(3) Sabine Lisicki def. Karin Knapp 7-5 4-6 6-0
Annika Beck def. Katarzyna Piter 6-3 6-7(3-7) 7-6(7-5)
Doubles – Quarterfinal
Hercog/Raymond def. (2) Mladenovic/Piter 7-6(7-5) 6-7(3-7) 10-8
Doubles – Semifinal
Barrois/Thorpe def. (1) Petrova/Srebotnik 6-2 3-6 10-8
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