Notes: Four-time champ Fernando Gonzalez is missing with injury; draw looks like the Argentine Open, with seeds Nalbandian (vs. Barlocq) and Monaco (vs. M.Gonzalez) facing tricky all-ARG openers with practice partner countrymen; Bellucci beat Monaci in last year’s final; in addition to Gonzo winning the event four times, other notable past winners are French Open champ Gustavo Kuerten (2000) and French runners-up Guillermo Coria (2001) and Alberto Berasategui (1994).

“I am wanting to celebrate this win now and not talk about the past,” said Zvonareva, who last year exited the Open in a sobbing, racquet-smashing fit.

“All the things he would have had to cover up, just logistically — how did he manage to do it? He must constantly be changing phones to cover up his tracks.” From one playa to another — big ups! Whoot Whoot! “I experienced basically the same thing,” Becker said, “and can sympathize with him.”

“I think the special part [is] winning for the first time as a dad. It’s a great thing. Gets me going emotionally a little bit, because I know it’s been a wonderful summer,” Federer said. “I really had the feeling today I could mix it up the way I wanted to. That then gives me a lot of confidence. I was playing great from the beginning to the end.”

Cilic will take on Blake in the first reverse singles on Sunday, and Karlovic is scheduled to face Fish in the final singles, the U.S. needing to sweep the day to advance to the semifinals against either Argentina or the Czech Republic.

Blake is 1-4 on clay in live-rubber Davis Cup singles matches during his career.

“It’s always interesting with them around, I’ll tell you that,” McEnroe said, to laughter from the press corp. “Where they are, hilarity ensues most times, in a good way. I get a kick out of watching them practice. Even when they’re on the practice court, they start fighting with each other, I just think it’s hilarious. They always add a certain dynamic to the matches. On top of that, they’re the No. 1 team in the world. That’s always something that you want to have on your side.”

Delray Beach ITC
The independently-owned ATP event ramps up the promotions with the VolleyGirls, fans sitting in a Porsche on the court and more, and the brains behind the PR.
BY RICHARD VACH

1. Roger FEDERER
What was with that fifth set in the final, playing like a whuss? Time to get a coach, get the killer instinct back and get Rafa out of your head.

“I aggravated it pretty bad at the Open and only made things worse,” said the left-handed Bob, who received a cortisone shot prior to the US Open. “I knew if I wanted a chance to play the rest of this year, I had to shut it down now. I can’t even hit any balls.”