* Federer digs deep against Berdych, wins Dubai, reaches #3 on all-time titles list
****** TODAY’S MEN’S NEWS ******
Dubai
Singles – Final: (4) R Federer def. (3) T Berdych 3-6 6-4 6-3
Just as in the semifinal against Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer started stronger than the scoreline. He and Tomas Berdych were almost even in the first set, but Berdych won it, and went up by a break in the second — and then Federer started amping up the pressure. He admitted to a certain amount of good fortune: “Things definitely went my way out here tonight, but I have had a lot tougher matches in the last one and a half years, so this is nice to get a lucky break again.” It took him almost two hours, but he earns his first title of 2014.
He has now one at least one singles title for fourteen straight years. This is #78 of his career; he breaks his tie with John McEnroe, and now has sole possession of the #3 spot on the all-time list.
What he doesn’t have is an improved ranking. #8 he came in; #8 he stays. But he’s a stronger #8, with a good chance to move up at Indian Wells.
He also has six titles here at Dubai.
Tomas Berdych — who had won his last eleven matches, including two in Davis Cup, for the longest winning streak of his career — repeats his result from last year, when he lost in the final to Novak Djokovic. Which means that he stays at #6. He is a strong #6, and will have chances for #5 in California. But you have to wonder where he would be if he didn’t have these let-downs….
Doubles – Final: (2) Bopanna/Qureshi def. (1) Nestor/Zimonjic 6-4 6-3
This seems to be a good year for reunions: Both these teams have reunited after years with other partners. The actual match wasn’t really very close; Bopanna/Qureshi never faced a break point. It’s the first title for Bopanna/Qureshi as a team since Paris 2011, and the first title of this year for either. Bopanna picks up career title #10, and has now won at least one title for five years running; Qureshi also earns title #10, and has won at least one title for five years straight. No wonder they do well together….
Sao Paulo
Singles – Semifinal: P Lorenzi def. (1) T Haas 6-3 3-2, retired (shoulder)
Let that be a lesson to all you racquet-smashers.
Halfway through the first set, Tommy Haas demolished a racquet — and somehow demolished his shoulder in the process. After a lot of pain and several medical treatments, he gave up.
No word yet on whether he will be able to play Indian Wells. What we know is that he won’t rise above his current #12.
Paolo Lorenzi is in his first ever ATP final. He probably doesn’t deserve it, but he probably doesn’t care much. Win the final and he’ll be Top Hundred.
Singles – Semifinal: F Delbonis def. (WC) T Bellucci 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-4
A week of breakthroughs. Paolo Lorenzi is in his first final. Federico Delbonis is in his second (he also made it at Hamburg last year), but he has no titles. And he’ll be hitting a career high. He came here at #61, with a career high of #54. This will take him to right around #50 — certainly better than his previous best. And if he wins the title, he’ll probably be #44.
******** 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
******** STATS AND FACTS ********
RANKINGS
Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings
As of March 1, 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…………4625
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
WINNER: Roger Federer
……………..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……….lost F (Federer)
4 Federer……….WON TOURNAMENT
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………F
1 Haas……….(1)Haas……Haas
7 L Mayer…….Zeballos
4 Monaco……..(4)Monaco
6 Garcia-Lopez..Lorenzi……Lorenzi….Lorenzi
8 Giraldo…….Bellucci…..Bellucci
3 Granollers….Klizan
5 Haase………Montanes
2 Almagro…….Delbonis…..Delbonis…Delbonis
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Haas……….lost SF (Lorenzi)
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 ********
SATURDAY
Dubai
Singles – Final
(4) R Federer def. (3) T Berdych 3-6 6-4 6-3
Doubles – Final
(2) Bopanna/Qureshi def. (1) Nestor/Zimonjic 6-4 6-3
Acapulco
Sao Paulo
Singles – Semifinal
P Lorenzi def. (1) T Haas 6-3 3-2, retired (shoulder)
F Delbonis def. (WC) T Bellucci 6-4 6-7(5-7) 6-4
Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Davis Cup, Dubai, John Mcenroe, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas
Roger Federer Wins @ Home In Dubai- http://t.co/N3iDLtvzZ9 @rogerfederer #Dubai #tennis #ATP #results #Federer