Federer Beats Djokovic In Dubai, Dimitrov Beats Murray In Acapulco

* Federer outlasts Djokovic; will face Berdych in Dubai

* A good day for style players: Dimitrov shocks Murray in Acapulco; will face Anderson

* Lorenzi’s win over Monaco means Haas only seed left in Sao Paolo

TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS

 

Dubai

 

Singles – Semifinal: (4) R Federer def. (1) N Djokovic 3-6 6-3 6-2

In the first set of this, Roger Federer kept threatening Novak Djokovic and not quite getting the break. Things didn’t look good. But he really does seem to be rediscovering his confidence. Or something. He came back after a second set rain delay in brilliant form. It won’t help him at this time; he will be #8 no matter what happens in the final (and Djokovic will of course remain #2). But these are the sorts of wins that often open doors. Win the title, and he’ll have a solid shot at rising at Indian Wells.

Singles – Semifinal: (3) T Berdych def. (7) P Kohlschreiber 7-5 7-5

Back to the final for Tomas Berdych — meaning that he will keep the #6 ranking he came in with. Juan Martin del Potro will fall all the way from #5 to #7. (A tough month for him — from being within a hair of #3 in Australia, he is now at more than twice that!) Philipp Kohlschreiber will end up at #24.

Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Nestor/Zimonjic def. Brands/F Mayer 7-6(7-4) 7-6(10-8)

Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Bopanna/Qureshi def. Bednarek/Dlouhy 6-2 6-0

Acapulco

 

Singles – Semifinal: (4) G Dimitrov def. (2) A Murray 4-6 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-3)

The players involved don’t think much of the nickname “Baby Fed” for Grigor Dimitrov, but isn’t it amazing to see Federer and Dimitrov reach 500 point finals on the same day? This is probably the biggest result of Grigor Dimitrov’s career, and it assures him at least the #18 ranking. Andy Murray, whose comeback continues to be in only a medium gear, will rise to at least #6, but he could have clinched #5 here. Instead, he’ll have to wait to see how Tomas Berdych does in the Dubai final.

Singles – Semifinal: (5) K Anderson def. A Dolgopolov 6-1 5-7 6-4

A genuinely fascinating final, because Grigor Dimitrov and Kevin Anderson are only ten points apart — Anderson #17 in safe points, Dimitrov #18. The winner will be #16, the loser #18. So they’re both gunning for career highs and best-ever titles. Alexandr Dolgopolov will have to settle for #31 — still an amazing improvement over where he was two weeks ago.

Doubles – Semifinal: F Lopez/Mirnyi def. (3) Huey/Inglot 7-6(7-2) 6-1

Doubles – Semifinal: Anderson/Ebden def. (WC) Ramirez/Reyes-Varela 6-3 4-6 13-11

Suddenly, with Santiago Gonzalez and Ramirez and Reyes-Varela, Mexico seems to be producing a lot of good doubles players. So where are the singles players?

Sao Paulo

 

Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) T Haas def. H Zeballos 6-3 5-7 6-2

At least we have one seed in the semifinal. It appears, if Tommy Haas can make the final, he’ll rise to #11.

Singles – Quarterfinal: P Lorenzi def. (4) J Monaco 7-6(8-6) 6-7(4-7) 6-4

Juan Monaco’s method around here seems to be to try to bore his opponents into defeat. He saved a match point in the second set, producing another more-than-two-and-a-half-hour match. But, this time, pure stamina didn’t work. Monaco will remain right around the #43 ranking he came in with. And Paolo Lorenzi will stay around his current #114, because he was defending 90 points from a quarterfinal last year. (This is the first semifinal of his long career, but last year, he played a 500 point event, so his points this year are the same as last year — but it sounds a lot better!)

Singles – Quarterfinal: (WC) T Bellucci def. M Klizan 6-3 6-4

By the looks of things, if there were more ATP events in Brazil, Thomaz Bellucci would be Top Thirty. Too bad the ATP is so unhappy with Rio over that tourism money…. As things stand, Bellucci will have to be content with making it back to the Top Hundred.

Singles – Quarterfinal: F Delbonis def. A Montanes 6-4 6-3

Federico Delbonis is suddenly going places. At #61, he is the higher-ranked player in the bottom half, so he has a good chance for the final — and, probably, a spot in the Top Fifty.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Bagnis/Delbonis def. (3) Begemann/Emmrich 7-5 7-6(10-8)

There is evidently no stopping Delbonis right now. Let’s hope he has something left for Indian Wells.

Doubles – Semifinal: Garcia-Lopez/Oswald def. Granollers/Riba 7-6(8-6) 5-7 10-4

Given how weak his partner was, it’s perhaps surprising that Marcel Granollers lasted as long as he did.

 

 

******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********

 

THIS 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)

NEXT WEEK ON THE ATP WORLD TOUR:

Indian Wells (1000/Hard). Defending Champion: Rafael Nadal

 

 

RANKINGS

 

Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings

As of February 28, 2013

Rank &

Prior…Player………..Points

1..(1) Nadal………….14085

2..(2) Djokovic……….10260

3..(3) Wawrinka………..5560

4..(4) Ferrer………….5160

5..(7) Murray………….4975

6..(6) Berdych…………4890

7..(5) Del Potro……….4870

8..(8) Federer…………4425

9..(9) Gasquet…………2950

10.(10) Tsonga………….2785

11.(11) Raonic………….2485

12.(12) Haas……………2435

13.(13) Isner…………..2320

14.(14) Fognini…………2230

15.(15) Youzhny…………2145

16.(16) Robredo…………2005

17.(21) Anderson………..1940

18.(22) Dimitrov………..1930

19.(17) Almagro…………1840

20.(19) Janowicz………..1750

21.(20) Nishikori……….1715

22.(18) Gulbis………….1616

23.(23) Simon…………..1565

24.(26) Kohlschreiber……1510

25.(24) Monfils…………1475

26.(25) Cilic…………..1455

27.(27) Pospisil………..1359

28.(28) Paire…………..1275

29.(30) Mayer…………..1245

30.(29) Tursunov………..1212

**DRAWS

 

Dubai — week of February 24, 2014

……………..QF…………….SF………….F

1 Djokovic…….(1)Djokovic…….Djokovic

6 Youzhny……..(6)Youzhny

4 Federer……..(4)Federer……..Federer……..Federer

8 Tursunov…….Rosol

 

5 Tsonga………(5)Tsonga

3 Berdych……..(3)Berdych……..Berdych……..Berdych

7 Kohlschreiber..(7)Kohlschreiber..Kohlschreiber

2 del Potro…….Jaziri(WC)

 

STATUS OF SEEDS:

1 Djokovic………lost SF (Federer)

2 del Potro……..lost 1R (Devvarman)

3 Berdych

4 Federer

5 Tsonga………..lost QF (Berdych)

6 Youzhny……….WITHDREW from QF

7 Kohlschreiber….lost SF (Berdych)

8 Tursunov………lost 2R (Rosol)

Acapulco — week of February 24, 2014

…………..QF…………SF……….F

1 Ferrer……(1)Ferrer

5 Anderson….(5)Anderson…Anderson….Anderson

3 Isner…….Karlovic

8 Pospisil….Dolgopolov….Dolgopolov

 

7 Gulbis……(7)Gulbis

4 Dimitrov….(4)Dimitrov…Dimitrov….Dimitrov

6 Simon…….(6)Simon

2 Murray……(2)Murray…..Murray

 

STATUS OF SEEDS:

1 Ferrer……lost QF (Anderson)

2 Murray……lost SF (Dimitrov)

3 Isner…….lost 1R (Karlovic)

4 Dimitrov

5 Anderson

6 Simon…….lost QF (Murray)

7 Gulbis……lost QF (Dimitrov)

8 Pospisil….lost 1R (Dolgopolov)

Sao Paulo — week of February 24, 2014

…………….QF………..SF

1 Haas……….(1)Haas……Haas

7 L Mayer…….Zeballos

4 Monaco……..(4)Monaco

6 Garcia-Lopez..Lorenzi……Lorenzi

 

8 Giraldo…….Bellucci…..Bellucci

3 Granollers….Klizan

5 Haase………Montanes

2 Almagro…….Delbonis…..Delbonis

 

STATUS OF SEEDS:

1 Haas

2 Almagro…….lost 2R (Delbonis)

3 Granollers….lost 2R (Klizan)

4 Monaco……..lost SF (Lorenzi)

5 Haase………lost 1R (Souza)

6 Garcia-Lopez..lost 1R (Dutra Silva)

7 L Mayer…….lost 1R (Pella)

8 Giraldo…….lost 1R (Bellucci)

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

 

FRIDAY

 

Dubai

Singles – Semifinal

(4) R Federer def. (1) N Djokovic 3-6 6-3 6-2

(3) T Berdych def. (7) P Kohlschreiber 7-5 7-5

Doubles – Semifinal

(1) Nestor/Zimonjic def. Brands/F Mayer 7-6(7-4) 7-6(10-8)

(2) Bopanna/Qureshi def. Bednarek/Dlouhy 6-2 6-0

 

Acapulco

Singles – Semifinal

(4) G Dimitrov def. (2) A Murray 4-6 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-3)

(5) K Anderson def. A Dolgopolov 6-1 5-7 6-4

Doubles – Semifinal

F Lopez/Mirnyi def. (3) Huey/Inglot 7-6(7-2) 6-1

Anderson/Ebden def. (WC) Ramirez/Reyes-Varela 6-3 4-6 13-11

 

Sao Paulo

Singles – Quarterfinal

(1) T Haas def. H Zeballos 6-3 5-7 6-2

P Lorenzi def. (4) J Monaco 7-6(8-6) 6-7(4-7) 6-4

F Delbonis def. A Montanes 6-4 6-3

(WC) T Bellucci def. M Klizan 6-3 6-4

Doubles – Quarterfinal

Bagnis/Delbonis def. (3) Begemann/Emmrich 7-5 7-6(10-8)

Doubles – Semifinal

Garcia-Lopez/Oswald def. Granollers/Riba 7-6(8-6) 5-7 10-4

Topics: 10sballs, Acapulco, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Andy Murray, Dubai, GRIGOR DIMITROV, Juan Martin Del Potro, Juan Monaco, Kevin Anderson, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas

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