Nadal, Gulbis,Tsonga Win: Results And Dubai And Acapulco Preview

Written by: Staff on 22nd February 2014

Nadal, Gulbis,Tsonga Win: Results And Dubai And Acapulco Preview

epa04096744 Spain's Rafael Nadal takes off his head band during his match against Spain's Pablo Andujar in the semifinal at the ATP 500 Rio de Janeiro tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 22 February 2014. EPA/ANTONIO LACERDA |

PRO TOUR NEWS – MEN

* Gulbis plasters Gasquet to reach Marseille final; will face Tsonga

* Dolgopolov surprises Ferrer in Rio

* Nadal struggles past Andujar

****** TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS ******

Rio de Janeiro

Singles – Semifinal: (1) R Nadal def. P Andujar 2-6 6-3 7-6(12-10)

If you look only at the match stats, the wonder is that this was so close. Pablo Andujar should have won this walking away. How often do you get fourteen break point chances against Rafael Nadal on clay? But, somehow, Nadal always came through when he absolutely had to, although it took him two and three-quarter hours (and he had the late match, so he is likely to be tired in the final), and he lost more points than he won. It appears he leaves Andujar at #34 or #35.

Singles – Semifinal: A Dolgopolov def. (2) D Ferrer 6-4 6-4

David Ferrer’s ugly year continues. Yes, he took the title last week, but this is a much bigger event, and a trophy would have taken him to #3. Not now, and this makes it harder for him to do it next week at Acapulco. Alexandr Dolgopolov, on the other hand, seems finally to have come back to life. We show him rising from #54 to probably #38.

Marseille

Singles – Semifinal: (3) E Gulbis def. (1) R Gasquet 6-3 6-2

Not much doubt about the result of this match; Ernests Gulbis had 14 aces, broke Richard Gasquet three times, never faced a break point, and reached the final in an hour and five minutes. There is a very good chance that he will hit the Top Twenty. Gasquet was #9 whatever happened here, but this costs him the chance to at least add to his point total.

Singles – Semifinal: (2) J Tsonga def. J Struff 7-6(7-4) 7-5

It’s back to the final for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga — meaning that he still has a hundred points to defend. He’ll be #10 whatever he does in the final, but the better he does, the better his odds of climbing to #9 at Dubai.

It doesn’t appear Jan-Lennard Struff will quite hit a career high, but if he can maintain the form he showed at this event, he seems likely to hit the Top Hundred very soon.

Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin def. Kretschmer/Satschko 6-1 7-5

Loss or no loss, it was the best result of Gero Kretschmer and Alexander Satschko’s career; frankly, we’d expect them to sink back into obscurity after this. The locals will obviously be glad — they have French players to root for in both the singles and doubles finals.

Delray Beach

Singles – Semifinal: (4) K Anderson def. (Q) S Johnson 6-2 6-4

Kevin Anderson stays right on the tail of Ernests Gulbis in the contest for the last Top Twenty spot. One of them will get it; Grigor Dimitrov is out. If Anderson and Gulbis both win tomorrow, they’re both in and Dimitrov and Kei Nishikori are both out. If one wins and one loses, the winner is in. If they both lose, then Gulbis is in. Steve Johnson isn’t going to be making the Top Twenty any time soon, but he is still off to the best start of his career.

Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. (WC) Harrison/Sock 6-2 6-1

It has been a difficult year for the Bryans so far. Let’s hope this is a token that they are snapping out of it; we know they are better than their results would imply.

Doubles – Semifinal: Cermak/Elgin def. Groth/Mirnyi 6-4 3-6 10-8

****** TODAY’S FEATURE ******

Men’s Look Forward: Dubai, Acapulco, Sao Paulo

If ever there was a week for two tournaments to be looking daggers at each other, it’s this week. Two 500 point events, on two different continents (and, historically, two different surfaces)? And both just a week before Indian Wells? The struggle for players is intense.

Each event has its advantages. Acapulco is in the same time zone as Indian Wells; Dubai is half a world away. Both are now being played on hardcourt, so Acapulco no longer has a surface problem. But Dubai surely has more money to toss around.

It shows, frankly. Dubai managed to lure five of the top ten — but, below that, they clearly didn’t care. Novak Djokovic is the #1 seed, with Juan Martin del Potro #2, Tomas Berdych #3, Roger Federer a mere #4, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga #5 — but Mikhail Youzhny is #6, and the last two seeds, #7 Philip Kohlschreiber and #8 Dmitry Tursunov, aren’t even Top Twenty. Nor are there a lot of really strong unseeded players, although Federer might face Radek Stepanek in round two, and Tsonga’s second round might be against Nikolay Davydenko (who, astoundingly, played qualifying doubles this week! — he and Victor Hanescu upset #2 seeds Huta Galung/Menendez-Maceiras). Berdych’s second round opponent is likely to be Ivan Dodig, who barely missed seeding. Kohlschreiber’s second round will be against either fellow German Florian Mayer or struggling Andreas Seppi.

The Acapulco draw is not available as of this writing (if it contains major surprises, we will revise and re-send this feature) — but it does not have Rafael Nadal. There are only two Top Ten players, David Ferrer (who won’t appreciate the surface change) and Andy Murray (who will). John Isner is the #3 committed player, with Fabio Fognini #4, Kei Nishikori #5, Gilles Simon #6, Kevin Anderson #7, and Grigor Dimitrov #8. Thus, even though Acapulco has fewer Top Ten players than Dubai, it has more Top 25 players! Other noteworthy players expected include Ernests Gulbis (now ranked ahead of Dimitrov), Feliciano Lopez, Benoit Paire, and the long-injured pair of Jurgen Melzer and Vasek Pospisil. It is noteworthy that Melzer is actually in the doubles draw (with his equally-long-injured partner Philipp Petzschner). Pospisil is also in the doubles.

You can tell Tommy Haas is a throwback player. He still can’t seem to figure out the meaning of the 2000-1000-500-250 point system of tournament tiers. Because here he is playing yet another 250 point event! He is the top seed at Sao Paulo. Admittedly that gives him a bye, and the field is very weak, so he should do well. But he isn’t going to earn many points; he has too many full slots. Nicolas Almagro is #2 (odd that he played here rather than trying to defend his Acapulco points, but no doubt the surface was the deciding factor) and the last Top Thirty player. Marcel Granollers is #3, Juan Monaco #4, Robin Haase #5 and the last Top Fifty player. The #6 seed goes to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Leonardo Mayer is #7, and Santiago Giraldo #8. The leading unseeded threat, given that this is clay, is probably Albert Montanes, who could face Haase in the second round.

The Rankings

The schedule was slightly different at this time last year. The two 500s, Dubai and Acapulco, were both on the calendar, but the third event was Delray Beach. Novak Djokovic won Dubai, over Tomas Berdych; Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro were semifinalists. (Interesting that they are the top four seeds this year!) Rafael Nadal won Acapulco (the first really big result of his comeback), over David Ferrer, with Fabio Fognini and Nicolas Almagro semifinalists. The title at Delray Beach went to Ernests Gulbis, who beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin (who was just starting a big climb in the rankings); John Isner and Tommy Haas made the semifinals.

It doesn’t look as if we’ll see much ranking movement. Certainly not at the top; despite the points they might lose, Nadal will remain #1 and Djokovic #2. It’s just possible we could see David Ferrer take the #3 spot from Stanislas Wawrinka — but only if he wins Acapulco. On the other hand, there is a chance that Ferrer could lose the #4 spot to Juan Martin del Potro if he does badly and del Potro does well. Tomas Berdych might have a shot at Del Potro’s #5 spot, but probably only if he wins Dubai. Andy Murray will be safe at #7 unless Federer wins Dubai. Federer is sure to be at least #8.

As usual these days, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will have the chance to pass #9 Richard Gasquet, but that is as high as he can go.

There is a faint chance that Nicolas Almagro could lose his Top Twenty spot. Ernests Gulbis, if he makes the Top Twenty, could lose the spot next week. Edouard Roger-Vasselin could be around #40 if he badly.

THIS WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:

Rio de Janeiro (500/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: New Event

Marseille (250/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion (as an ATP 500): Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Delray Beach (250/Hard). Defending Champion:

NEXT WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:

Dubai (500/Hard). Defending Champion: Novak Djokovic

Acapulco (500/Hard). Defending Champion: Rafael Nadal

Sao Paulo (250/Clay). Defending Champion: (new event)

******** STATS AND FACTS ********

RANKINGS

Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings

As of February 22, 2013

Rank &

Prior…Player………..Points

1..(1) Nadal………….14380

2..(2) Djokovic……….10580

3..(3) Wawrinka………..5560

4..(4) Ferrer………….5370

5..(5) Del Potro……….4960

6..(6) Berdych…………4890

7..(7) Murray………….4795

8..(8) Federer…………4305

9..(9) Gasquet…………2950

10.(10) Tsonga………….2785

11.(11) Raonic………….2440

12.(12) Haas……………2435

13.(13) Isner…………..2320

14.(14) Fognini…………2260

15.(16) Youzhny…………2100

16.(17) Robredo…………2050

17.(18) Almagro…………1930

18.(19) Janowicz………..1750

19.(15) Nishikori……….1715

20.(23) Gulbis………….1688

21.(21) Anderson………..1685

22.(20) Dimitrov………..1675

23.(22) Simon…………..1485

24.(24) Monfils…………1475

25.(25) Kohlschreiber……1375

26.(26) Pospisil………..1359

27.(29) Cilic…………..1295

28.(30) Paire…………..1275

29.(28) Tursunov………..1257

30.(31) Mayer…………..1245

**DRAWS

Rio de Janeiro — week of February 17, 2014

……………..QF………….SF……….F

1 Nadal……….(1)Nadal…….Nadal…….Nadal

6 Granollers…..Sousa

4 Robredo……..(4)Robredo

8 Andujar……..(8)Andujar…..Andujar

5 Almagro……..Dolgopolov…..Dolgopolov..Dolgopolov

3 Fognini……..(3)Fognini

7 Monaco………Bellucci(WC)

2 Ferrer………(2)Ferrer……Ferrer

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 Nadal

2 Ferrer…….lost SF (Dolgopolov)

3 Fognini……lost QF (Dolgopolov)

4 Robredo……lost QF (Andujar)

5 Almagro……lost 1R (Dolgopolov)

6 Granollers…lost 1R (Sousa)

7 Monaco…….lost 2R (Bellucci)

8 Andujar……lost SF (Nadal)

Marseille — week of February 17, 2014

……………….QF……………….SF……..F

1 Gasquet……….(1)Gasquet………..Gasquet

5 Dodig…………(5)Dodig

3 Gulbis………..(3)Gulbis…………Gulbis….Gulbis

8 Mahut…………(8)Mahut

7 Benneteau……..Struff……………Struff

4 Seppi…………Llorda

6 Roger-Vasselin…(6)Roger-Vasselin

2 Tsonga………..(2)Tsonga…………Tsonga….Tsonga

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 Gasquet……..lost SF (Gulbis)

2 Tsonga

3 Gulbis

4 Seppi……….lost 2R (Llodra)

5 Dodig……….lost QF (Gasquet)

6 Roger-Vasselin.lost QF (Tsonga)

7 Benneteau……lost 2R (Struff)

8 Mahut……….lost QF (Gulbis)

Delray Beach — week of February 17, 2014

…………….QF…………SF……..F

1 Haas……….Johnson(Q)….Johnson

6 F Lopez…….(6)Lopez

4 Anderson……(4)Anderson…Anderson..Anderson

8 Hewitt……..Matosevic

7 Cilic………(7)Cilic……Cilic

3 Nishikori…..Gabashvili

[Williams(Q)]…Williams(Q)

2 Isner………(2)Isner……Isner

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 Haas……..lost 2R (Johnson)

2 Isner

3 Nishikori…lost 2R (Gabashvili)

4 Anderson

5 Pospisil….WITHDREW

6 F Lopez…..lost QF (Johnson)

7 Cilic

8 Hewitt……lost 2R (Matosevic)

Dubai — week of February 24, 2014

1 Djokovic

Istomin

Bautista Agut

Qualifier

Gabashvili

Ward (WC)

Przysiezny

6 Youzhny

4 Federer

Becker

Stepanek

Russell

Rosol

Brands

Qualifier

8 Tursunov

5 Tsonga

Hanescu

Davydenko

Golubev

Dodig

Stakhovsky

Qualifier

3 Berdych

7 Kohlschreiber

Qualifier

Seppi

F Mayer

Jaziri (WC)

Sijsling

Devvarman

2 del Potro

Acapulco — week of February 24, 2014

DRAW NOT YET AVAILABLE

Sao Paulo — week of February 24, 2014

1 Haas

–bye

A Gonzalez

Qualifier

Cuevas (PR)

Zeballos

Pella

7 L Mayer

4 Monaco

–bye

Qualifier

Ramos

Lorenzi

Qualifier

6 Garcia-Lopez

8 Giraldo

Bellucci (WC)

Reister

Haider-Maurer

Klizan

Clezar (WC)

–bye

3 Granollers

5 Haase

Souza (WC)

Bedene

Montanes

Volandri

Delbonis

–bye

2 Almagro

******** SCORES ********

SATURDAY

Rio de Janeiro

Singles – Semifinal

(1) R Nadal def. P Andujar 2-6 6-3 7-6(12-10)

A Dolgopolov def. (2) D Ferrer 6-4 6-4

Marseille

Singles – Semifinal

(3) E Gulbis def. (1) R Gasquet 6-3 6-2

(2) J Tsonga def. J Struff 7-6(7-4) 7-5

Doubles – Semifinal

(2) Benneteau/Roger-Vasselin def. Kretschmer/Satschko 6-1 7-5

Delray Beach (so far)

Singles – Semifinal

(4) K Anderson def. (Q) S Johnson 6-2 6-4

Doubles – Semifinal

(1) Bryan/Bryan def. (WC) Harrison/Sock 6-2 6-1

Cermak/Elgin def. Groth/Mirnyi 6-4 3-6 10-8 (ouch)

Topics: 10sballs, Acapulco, Atp, Bob Bryan, David Ferrer, Dubai, Ernests Gulbis, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson, Mike Bryan, Pablo Andujar, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, Sports, Steve Johnson, Tennis, Tennis News

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February 22, 2014 at 5:58 pm

Nadal, Gulbis,Tsonga Win: Results And Dubai And Acapulco Preview – http://t.co/C1BB20ANQL @RafaelNadal @tsonga7 #Dubai #tennis #ATP #results