Federer Out Until Masters Cup?; Maria Rocks Moscow Party
Posted on October 13, 2005
Top Two Davydenko, Hrbaty Exit at ATP MoscowThe Kremlin Cup lost its Top 2 seeds Wednesday when Italian Daniele Bracciali ousted Russian top seed Nikolay Davydenko from a set down, and Frenchman Cyril Saulnier likewise defeated No. 2 seed Dominik Hrbaty in three.
"It's a great feeling to beat a Top 10 player for the first time in my career, on top of it he was the defending champion playing at home," Bracciali said. "The match was very close, every game was hard fought. In the second and third sets I served better and was able to break him when he made a couple of mistakes."
Davydenko attributed the three-set loss to injury.
"I've got some problems with my shoulder, I felt pain for the first time in Metz last week," Davydenko said. "I started out very good but at the beginning of the second set I had to slow down as the pain got worse...The next two Masters Series events in Madrid and Paris are very important as I want to win enough points to qualify for the Masters Cup in Shanghai."
Seeded winners Thursday were (3) Mikhail Youzhny (d. (Q) Dlouhy), (4) Max Mirnyi (d. (WC) Gabashvili from a set down), (5) Greg Rusedski (d. Llodra), (6) Nicholas Kiefer (d. Mayer), and (7) Igor Andreev (d. Clement).
Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn also topped French veteran Fabrice Santoro in straight sets to move into the second round.
Scheduled for Thursday are (3) Youzhny vs. Goldstein, (5) Rusedski vs. (Q) Kunitsyn, (WC) Tursunov vs. (8) Volandri, Pavel vs. Saulnier, and Bracciali vs. Hernych.
Bjorkman, Johansson Thrill Homies at ATP Stockholm
Wildcarded Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman provided the homecountry shocker Wednesday at the Stockholm Open much to the delight of Swedish fans, ousting last week's Tokyo winner Wesley Moodie 6-4, 6-2.
"I think he was a little bit jet-lagged. He seemed a little bit slow," Bjorkman said. "I tried to make him run a lot today...I had not played a match for nine days since my win in Vietnam. I was really inspired and almost too aggressive on my returns of serve."
Seeded winners on the day were (1) Thomas Johansson (d. Spadea), (4) Mario Ancic (d. Beck), (5) Olivier Rochus (d. (Q) Niemeyer), and (7) Jarkko Nieminen (d. Massu).
"In the second set, I let Spadea step in which forced me to run more," Johansson said of the sporadic American. "He plays unbelievably fast. Sometimes a high loose ball can be better than a powerful backhand against him. I am happy to have reached this far and hope to be even more aggressive in the next match."
Unseeded players advancing were Italian Davide Sanguinetti (d. (Q) Bastl from a set down), German lucky loser Alexander Waske (d. Behrend), and Belgians Christophe Rochus (d. Acasuso in three) and Xavier Malisse (d. Monaco).
On tap for Thursday in Stockholm are (5) Olivier "The Roach" Rochus vs. (LL) Julien "United Colors of" Benneteau, (LL) Waske vs. Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, (6) Blake vs. Christophe "The Other Roach" Rochus, (WC) Bjorkman vs. (4) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, (Q) Rainer "Shine" Schuettler vs. (7) Nieminen, and Xavier "X-Man" Malisse vs. A.Martin.
Nalbandian Survives, Gaudio, Henman Don't at ATP Vienna
Top-seeded David Nalbandian escaped in a three-set win over French veteran Sebastien Grosjean, But No. 2 seed Gaston Gaudio was upended in three sets by homecountry Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the biggest upset Wednesday at the ATP stop in Vienna.
"Actually I felt amazing because I had the crowd on my back playing at home," Melzer said. "Especially playing the No. 2 seed, you're not really in a position where you have to win. You can just play and try to win."
Other seeded winners on the day were (3) Radek Stepanek (d. (WC) Henman 6-1 in the third), (4) Ivan Ljubicic (d. Calleri), and (5) Tommy Robredo (d. Minar).
Former No. 1 Carlos Moya joined Melzer and the only other unseeded winner Wednesday, straight-setting Germany's Bjorn Phau in an effort to find his form once again.
"It was a tough match, he has been playing well lately and I haven't played for a while," Moya said. "It was hard for me to find my rhythm and get confidence but hopefully I will play even better tomorrow. Today I had chances to win the first set easily but I didn't feel comfortable with my forehand. But in the important moments my serve helped me a lot."
On tap for Thursday in Vienna are (6) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. Moya, (WC) Marach vs. (8) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez, (1) Nalbandian vs. (Q) Eitzinger, (Q) Lisnard vs. Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer, Haas vs. (4) Ljubicic, and N.Lapentti vs. (7) Ferrero.
Sharapova Gifted Win at WTA Moscow
Maria Sharapova opened her Kremlin Cup campaign Wednesday in Moscow in anticlimactic fashion, defeating Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld after trailing 1-6, 2-4 when the German sprained her ankle and retired from the match.
Sharapova withdrew from Filderstadt last week, suffering from her slow-healing chest muscle injury.
"I know that I did not win this match fairly. I do not like such victories," said the world No. 1 who looked out of sorts coming off injury and dealing with the expectations in Moscow. "I knew she was a strong player and played well in Beijing but I must admit I just wasn't myself on the court today. It's always tough to come back after injury and I haven't played for two weeks, so obviously I need some time to find my rhythm. Hopefully, I'll play better in my next match."
Not so lucky was No. 5 seed Patty Schnyder, who won the first set 6-1 before falling in three to Russian Elena Likhovtseva.
Other seeded winners likewise struggling to join the world No. 1 in progressing Wednesday were (3) Mary Pierce (d. Pennetta from a set down) and (6) Anastasia Myskina (d. (WC) Maleeva from a set down).
Unseeded Russian Vera Zvonareva also moved into the second round with a straight-set win over countrywoman and wildcard Maria Kirilenko.
On court Thursday are (8) Kuznetsova vs. Zvonareva in an all-Russian, Schiavone vs. (2) Mauresmo, (6) Myskina vs. Peschke, (Q) Karatantcheva vs. (4) Dementieva, and Safina vs. (Q) Stosur.
Vaidisova Gunning for 3rd Title in 3 Weeks at WTA Bangkok
Disparate Top 2 seeds Nicole Vaidisova (d. Spears) and Nadia Petrova (d. Llagostera Vives) led the winners in straight sets Wednesday at the WTA stop in Bangkok. The teenage Vaidisova is seeking her third title in three weeks, while the veteran Petrova is still seeking her first career title.
"Sure, I have a little confidence after winning two titles, but everything is new here," Vaidisova said. "It is new balls, a new court and different temperatures. It's very different than Seoul and Tokyo. It was a slow start but then I got more comfortable in the second set and was able to get the win."
Completing second-round matches with berths into the quarterfinals were (3) Gisela Dulko (d. (WC) Ruano Pascual), (8) Shahar Peer (d. (LL) Perry 7-6 in the third), and French qualifier Stephanie Foretz (d. Sucha).
Scheduled for Thursday are Mirza vs. Yuan, Petrova vs. Obata, Viratprasert vs. Vaidisova, An.Serra Zanetti vs. Czink, and Martinez vs. Castano.
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
From the Moscow Times: "Maria Sharapova was the guest of honor Monday night at a reception hosted by some of her sponsors, where she danced to the music of Umaturman and took the microphone to join the pop group for its trademark song. Dressed in a white skirt, black-print top and black heels, Sharapova danced alone up near the band, with the assembled guests crowded in behind her. Her father, standing to her side, smiled and swayed to the music. When Vladimir Kristovsky, who sings lead vocals, told Sharapova that they had sung the five songs they had been hired to sing and asked what they should do next, she stepped forward and took a microphone. As the band played "Uma Thurman," she sang along and gamely belted out the refrain: "I have waited for you so long, Vova." The well-dressed guests held up cell phones and digital cameras to record the moment. Sharapova, perhaps the closest thing Russia has to a superstar, soon left the reception, escorted out by a phalanx of bodyguards. The guests were left to raise a glass of French champagne or French vodka while nibbling on raw oysters, blini with black caviar, sturgeon and a colorful assortment of desserts, which for some reason included lollipops." Because little girls like candy...Roger Federer injured a ligament in his ankle during practice this week and will likely miss the remaining events of the season, hoping to return in time for the year-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai: "After bad luck last year with my thigh and now this, I'm extremely disappointed, above all, that I can't play at home for the second straight year in Basel," Federer said on his website. "I'm hoping to go to Shanghai again perfectly fit."...Gaston Gaudio on his Argentine countrymen's doping problems: "I can't say too much. It's pretty weird and I feel like it surprises me every time it happens like this to someone from Argentina. The only one I can talk about is [Guillermo] Canas because it was confirmed by the ATP. But I can't say about [Mariano] Puerta because no one knows. I feel sad about it because they are my friends and I trust them and I don't think they want to take advantage of something like that. I never take anything, not even if I have a headache. I had nothing for the last five years, and I drink nothing either. I sometimes feel scared about it, but that's the only way to do it."...Mario Ancic on working with new coach Frederik Rosengren: "We started in the U.S. this summer and the first stage was of course very tough because we didn't have much time. And then we had a good 10 days after the US Open where we practiced really hard. I now know more what he wants from me and what I want from him. We talk a lot and we have the same idea of where I should play and what direction I want to go in. We're working hard and there are a couple of things we really believe in."...TennisWorld's Pete Bodo on the WTA press release announcing Serena Williams is done for the year: "...the WTA sent a press release about Serena, the first paragraph of which provided a hilarious example of turning a sow's ear into a silk purse (a trick better known today as "spinning"). Proclaimed the WTA: 'ST. PETERSBURG, FL USA -- Eager to return to the top of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2006, tennis star Serena Williams has withdrawn from her remaining two tournaments in 2005 in an effort to get healthy and return to her optimal performance level starting next season, the Tour announced today.' We take it from this effusive start, that we all -- including Williams' hungry fans in Zurich, Switzerland and Philadelphia -- are meant to leap up now and cry, 'Great! You go, girlfriend!' Now get a load of this, well, garbage: 'Williams, whose last Tour event was the China Open in mid-September, has been bothered by left ankle and knee problems the past several months, which have affected her ability to perform at the level that has made her one of the most internationally-recognized sports stars in the world. Given the extraordinary competitiveness of women's professional tennis, medical experts have advised her to take four to five weeks off since her last tournament to strengthen her left leg and then resume her training routine in preparation for the start of the 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season. Her final two tournaments were the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich on Oct. 17 and the Advanta Championships in Philadelphia on Oct. 31.' OK, I breathed a great sigh of relief when I saw the word "bothered" (by injury), happy that Serena was not on her deathbed. I scratched my head in puzzlement at the bit about how Serena was one of the most "internationally-recognized" of sports stars, wondering what that had to do with anything. Then, when I read about the "extraordinary competitiveness" of women's tennis, I smacked my forehead with my palm and cried out, "Of course! How could I have been so insensitive as to think she just threw her career down the toilet because she was undisciplined, arrogant, and out-of-shape. It's the competitiveness, stupid!""...Ivan Ljubicic on Goran Ivanisevic possibly playing in the upcoming Croatia vs. Slovak Republic Davis Cup final: "I don't think he is going to play a live rubber, but maybe in a dead rubber there's a chance," Ljubicic told Reuters. "My feeling is if he wants to be there he should be rewarded for everything he did for Croatian tennis and we should award him with a place there. I hope we're going to win it and give him the chance to become Davis Cup champion because that's what he's been dreaming about after winning the Wimbledon title. Because he gave us so much I think we should give him back something, and if this is what he wants I think we should give him a chance." And on the Slovaks setting their tiny D-Cup (no pun intended) final stage: "Unfortunately it looks like we're going to play in a very small hall in Bratislava so the Croatians are not going to have the chance to go there and watch," Ljubicic told Reuters. "The Croatian Tennis Federation got 2,000 requests for tickets and I think we're going to get only 300. Unfortunately that's not going to help us. I definitely think it's a shame. Obviously you cannot give the chance to everyone who wants to watch, but at least if it is a little bit bigger it would be much better."...Greg Rusedski is poised to take over the No. 1 British ranking from Tim Henman either this week or next: "I've been working really hard this last month. I worked hard the week of the Davis Cup, even though I played doubles, and last week in London I worked pretty hard again. So I think the hard work I'm putting in is just paying off. And also it's the indoor season, which is the time of year when I usually play my best tennis."