Men Tennis News – US Open Singles, Doubles, and Rankings

Written by: Staff on 4th September 2012

Men Tennis News - US Open Singles, Doubles, and Rankings

epa03383660 David Ferrer of Spain reacts after defeating Richard Gasquet of France during their fourth round match on the ninth day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 04 September 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JASON SZENES |

U. S. Open

Singles – Fourth Round: (4) D Ferrer def. (13) R Gasquet 7-5 7-6(7-2) 6-4

We lost track of how many hours of rain delay took place in this match — it was a lot. David Ferrer was up two sets to none, and well into the third, when the long delay came. It was hardly worthwhile for Richard Gasquet to come back. A few minutes later and he was done. He should stay Top Fifteen, but he won’t rise. It doesn’t appear David Ferrer will, either, but he’s going to be hard to dislodge from the #5 ranking. And he adds an interesting footnote to his resume: He is the only Spaniard in the Open Era, other than Rafael Nadal, to reach the quarterfinals of all four Slams in one year.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (6) Granollers/M Lopez def. (15) Peya/Soares 6-3 6-4

The Spanish made a rather momentous decision in announcing their Davis Cup team: They finally realized that they have excellent doubles players, and they picked them. Instead of a team of four singles players (which, with Rafael Nadal out, would probably have been Ferrer, Almagro, Verdasco, and Feliciano Lopez), they chose to take Ferrer, Almagro — and Granollers/Marc Lopez. Granollers, obviously, is the backup singles guy, but he’s there for doubles. Whether it will help against the Bryans… well, we’ll see. But the fact that Granollers/Lopez are in the semifinal is obviously promising. One more win could put Granollers in the Top Ten; Lopez is already there.

Men’s Rankings Update: U. S. Open

A notice to begin with: We had hoped to do a rankings update based on the results after Tuesday’s action. That was before the rain. There simply won’t be time to do a comprehensive update. On the other hand, you’d probably like to have something to read. So this is the situation as we’re sitting here watching the rain….

Nothing is going to matter for #1. Roger Federer has that locked up. The only question is the size of his margin — and whether he or Novak Djokovic will be #1 in the Race when this is over. The answer to the latter question depends on which one lasts longer; the last one standing should be #1 in the Race.

Federer and Djokovic are bound to be #1 and #2. Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray will be #3 and #4 — Murray at #3 if he can make the final in New York, Nadal otherwise. It seems certain that Murray will make it to #3 this fall, though.

David Ferrer is the clear favorite to be #5 (in fact, he still has an outside shot at #4, if he wins the U. S. Open and Andy Murray collapses), but Tomas Berdych could pass him with a final or Juan Martin del Potro with a title.

Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Berdych, del Potro, and Janko Tipsarevic are sure to be Top Ten. John Isner is currently #10, but he can be passed — Marin Cilic can catch him with a semifinal; anyone else in the field with a final. Which means that Andy Roddick could retire as the #1 American if he makes the final!

The rest of the Top Fifteen is currently Juan Monaco, Nicolas Almagro, Cilic, Richard Gasquet, and Milos Raonic. But Stanislas Wawrinka, Philipp Kohlschreiber, or Roddick could pass Raonic with a semifinal.

The Top Twenty will be Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Ferrer, Tsonga, Berdych, del Potro, Tipsarevic, Isner, Monaco, Almagro, Cilic, Gasquet, Raonic, Kei Nishikori, Wawrinka, Kohlschreiber, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and either Gilles Simon or Roddick — Roddick if he makes the quarterfinal, otherwise Simon.

It appears we will have only one new name in the Top Thirty: Jeremy Chardy, #32 coming in, rises to #30, with Viktor Troicki falling from #30 to #31.

In doubles, the #1 ranking remains on the line. The Bryans can earn it with a title; otherwise Mirnyi/Nestor keep it.

Topics: 10sballs.com, David Ferrer, Feliciano, Granollers, Peya/Soares, Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet, US Open 2012