TENNIS NEWS & Results From BNP Paribas

Written by: on 13th March 2014
BNP Paribas Open
TENNIS NEWS & Results From BNP Paribas

epa04111745 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a shot during a late afternoon practice session at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California USA, 05 March 2014. EPA/PAUL BUCK  |

* Murray Misery continues; #5 seed falls to Raonic

* Dolgopolov again shows hot form in upset of Fognini

* Anderson surprises Wawrinka to return to quarterfinal

* Djokovic struggles past Cilic

* Federer beats Haas in straight sets.

Indian Wells

 

Singles – Fourth Round: (2) N Djokovic def. (24) M Cilic 1-6 6-2 6-3

One of Novak Djokovic’s toughest matches against Marin Cilic, but still, he’s in the quarterfinal. Which leaves him “only” 3050 points behind Rafael Nadal. Marin Cilic will have to settle for a ranking no better than #25.

Singles – Fourth Round: (17) K Anderson def. (3) S Wawrinka 7-6(7-1) 4-6 6-1

Kevin Anderson may not be winning finals this year, but he’s doing everything else right. He’s on pace for the best year of his career. Unfortunately, in the short term, he doesn’t benefit, because he made the quarterfinal last year also. So he will remain #18 unless he can win another match. Stanislas Wawrinka remains at #3.

Singles – Fourth Round: (10) M Raonic def. (5) A Murray 4-6 7-5 6-3

In one sense, Andy Murray’s returns were working; he held Milos Raonic to just fifteen aces — a low total for Raonic in a three set match. But Murray wasn’t winning an especially high number of points on the Raonic serve; it’s just that he was avoiding aces. He managed to convert both break point chances he had — but he was broken three times himself, including twice in the final set. He still has a shot at rising to #5, but this ends his hopes of taking the #4 ranking from David Ferrer. Milos Raonic is still #11 in safe points, but one more win would put him in the Top Ten.

Singles – Fourth Round: (7) R Federer def. (11) T Haas 6-4 6-4

Stanislas Wawrinka has been quoted as saying that Roger Federer is still Switzerland’s real #1, and for this week at least, he is. He is also moving — this takes Federer past Tomas Berdych, putting him back at #6. One more win, against Wawrinka-beater Kevin Anderson, and Federer will pass Andy Murray and again be Top Five. If he can somehow win the title — and he is the top player left other than Djokovic — he’ll rise to #4. Tommy Haas defended his points, but his Top Ten hopes are over; he will fall from #12 to #13.

Singles – Fourth Round: (12) J Isner def. (30) F Verdasco 7-6(7-3) 3-6 6-3

It’s amazingly tough to get ahead around here. John Isner is in the quarterfinal, having lost his opener last year — and yet the most he can hope to gain is one ranking spot. He leaves Fernando Verdasco just barely Top Thirty.

Singles – Fourth Round: (28) A Dolgopolov def. (13) F Fognini 6-2 6-4

Too bad Alexandr Dolgopolov isn’t really old enough to remember bonus points. With wins over Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini, he would really be stacking them up if they still existed. As it is, he’ll be moving, but relatively slightly; he’ll rise from #31 to probably #27. Fabio Fognini will stay at #14.

Singles – Fourth Round: (20) E Gulbis def. R Bautista Agut 7-6(7-0) 4-6 6-2

At 25, Ernests Gulbis can’t really be viewed as a newcomer any more, but he’s still coming into his game. So is Roberto Bautista Agut, so there was reason to expect a good match — and we got it. It would be no surprise to see both players end up ranked much higher for this year. But, for the moment, Bautista Agut will have to settle for a ranking that is just barely Top Fifty. Gulbis will hit the Top Twenty if he wins his next match.

Singles – Fourth Round: J Benneteau def. F Lopez 6-3 7-6(7-4)

If Julien Benneteau had only managed to get on this hot streak a month or two earlier, he might never have fallen out of the Top Fifty. As it is, it looks as if he’s back up to about #52. He leaves Feliciano Lopez around #34.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Bryan/Bryan def. Mahut/Tsonga 7-6(11-9) 7-6(7-3)

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Isner/Querrey def. (3) Dodig/Melo 4-6 7-5 10-8

Will Sam Querrey be able to use this to get his singles started again? Given how well Dodig/Melo have been playing, this is quite a good win.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Federer/Wawrinka def. (4) Paes/Stepanek 6-3 6-7(6-8) 10-4

Let’s hope this doesn’t take too much out of Roger Federer in the singles.

RANKINGS

 

Estimated ATP World Tour Rankings

As of March 12, 2013

Rank &

Prior…Player………..Points

1..(1) Nadal………….13130

2..(2) Djokovic……….10080

3..(3) Wawrinka………..5650

4..(4) Ferrer………….5150

5..(6) Murray………….4795

6..(8) Federer…………4625

7..(5) Berdych…………4540

8..(7) Del Potro……….4270

9..(9) Gasquet…………2905

10.(10) Tsonga………….2615

11.(11) Raonic………….2575

12.(13) Isner…………..2490

13.(12) Haas……………2435

14.(14) Fognini…………2295

15.(15) Youzhny…………2135

16.(16) Dimitrov………..2130

17.(17) Robredo…………2040

18.(18) Anderson………..1940

19.(19) Almagro…………1795

20.(20) Janowicz………..1715

20.(21) Nishikori……….1715

22.(22) Gulbis………….1706

23.(25) Monfils…………1520

24.(24) Kohlschreiber……1510

25.(26) Cilic…………..1500

26.(23) Simon…………..1485

27.(31) Dolgopolov………1375

28.(27) Pospisil………..1343

29.(33) Verdasco………..1270

30.(30) Tursunov………..1247

 

 

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

 

WEDNESDAY

 

Indian Wells

Singles – Fourth Round

(2) N Djokovic def. (24) M Cilic 1-6 6-2 6-3

(17) K Anderson def. (3) S Wawrinka 7-6(7-1) 4-6 6-1

(10) M Raonic def. (5) A Murray 4-6 7-5 6-3

(7) R Federer def. (11) T Haas 6-4 6-4

(12) J Isner def. (30) F Verdasco 7-6(7-3) 3-6 6-3

(28) A Dolgopolov def. (13) F Fognini 6-2 -64

(20) E Gulbis def. R Bautista Agut 7-6(7-0) 4-6 6-2

J Benneteau def. F Lopez 6-3 7-6(7-4)

Doubles – Quarterfinal

(1) Bryan/Bryan def. Mahut/Tsonga 7-6(11-9) 7-6(7-3)

Isner/Querrey def. (3) Dodig/Melo 4-6 7-5 10-8

Federer/Wawrinka def. (4) Paes/Stepanek 6-3 6-7(6-8) 10-4

 

WOMEN’S NEWS

 

Indian Wells

 

Singles – Quarterfinal: (6) Simona Halep def. (Q) Casey Dellacqua 6-2 6-2

Early on in this tournament, there was question about whether Simona Halep would be able to play her best due to injuries. But it’s become clear that they are not a problem. That made this a pretty open-and-shut match. This was the day’s first singles match, so when it ended, Halep didn’t know if she had clinched the #5 ranking — but she knew that she still had a chance. Casey Dellacqua will have to settle for a ranking of #56 or so — which is still far above what anyone would have imagined at the start of the year. Or even the start of the tournament.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (2) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (7) Jelena Jankovic 7-5 2-6 6-4

A dreadful disappointment for Jelena Jankovic. After going down 4-0 in the final set, she pulled it back to 4-4 as the match passed the two hour mark, only to lose the last two games. Which means no Top Five spot; Simona Halep is our new #5 (the highest ranking ever for a Romanian player). Still, Jankovic rises from #8 to #6, which isn’t too bad.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Hsieh/Peng def. (7) Barty/Dellacqua 6-3 6-3

Barty/Dellacqua are a very good team, but Hsieh/Peng really do seem like the best team in the world right now; their lead over their nearest rivals is now more than a thousand points.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (5) Black/Mirza def. (2) Makarova/Vesnina 6-4 6-1

The first set of this was possibly closer than the score. But Makarova/Vesnina really looked bad in the second set. And they were the defending champions. Their days of threatening the #1 ranking are probably over, at least for the next few months. From #3 and #4, they will fall to no better than #6 and #7. Sania Mirza is now likely to rise to #8; Cara Black could make the Top Ten this week although she isn’t there yet.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Kuznetsova/Stosur def. Date-Krumm/Zahlavova Strycova 1-6 6-3 10-6

Wozniacki has decided not to try to find a real coach, but the rankings have news for her: She will be falling to no better than #17 after Indian Wells. The two-year slump shows no sign of ending.

That will be one of the few dramatic moves this week; another other will be Maria Sharapova’s fall from #5 to #7. Plus we will have a new Top Five player.

Who? Ah, that was the question. The Top Four were already settled: Serena Williams was sure to be #1 from the start, and Li Na was assured the #2 ranking. Agnieszka Radwanska clinched #3 when Victoria Azarenka lost, and Azarenka is at least safe at #4. But Simona Halep and Jelena Jankovic entered Wednesday’s action just ten points apart, with Halep #5 in safe points and Jankovic #6. And they were to play on Wednesday. That left four possible outcomes:

A. If they both lost, then Halep would be #5 and Jankovic #6.

B. If Halep lost and Jankovic won, then Jankovic would be #5.

C. If Halep won and Jankovic lost, then Halep would be #5.

D. If they both won, then they would face each other in the semifinal, with the winner being #5.

Obviously what we have is outcome C, so Simona Halep is our new #5 player and Jankovic #6.

Odds are that we will have no new Top Ten players; the rest of the Top Ten will be Sharapova at #7 (she has clinched that ranking), Petra Kvitova #8, Angelique Kerber #9 (down from #6), and Sara Errani #10. But Dominika Cibulkova still has an outside shot; a final would make her #10, and a title #8. There is no other player who can still hit the Top Ten.

Wozniacki’s place in the Top Fifteen will be taken either by Sloane Stephens or Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta gets it by outlasting Stephens; if they lose in the same round, Stephens gets it.

Out of the Top Twenty is Kirsten Flipkens, replaced by Pennetta. Out of the Top 25 is Maria Kirilenko, replaces by Kaia Kanepi. Amazingly, there are no new names in the Top Thirty.

In doubles, Peng and Hsieh are certain to stay #1 and #2. Errani/Vinci are back up to #3 and #4 in safe points, but they can’t hope to regain the top spots any time soon.

 

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

 

WEDNESDAY

Indian Wells

Singles – Quarterfinal

(2) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (7) Jelena Jankovic 7-5 2-6 6-4

(6) Simona Halep def. (Q) Casey Dellacqua 6-2 6-2

Doubles – Quarterfinal

(1) Hsieh/Peng def. (7) Barty/Dellacqua 6-3 6-3

(5) Black/Mirza def. (2) Makarova/Vesnina 6-4 6-1

(WC) Kuznetsova/Stosur def. Date-Krumm/Zahlavova Strycova 1-6 6-3 10-6

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