Notes: Andy Murray pulled from the event (back surgery)…Some opening-round testers with (1) Del Potro vs. Baghdatis, (4) Nishikori vs. Tuna Melzer, and (2) Tsonga vs. Gael Force in an all-French affair…Simon and Almagro have losing career records at the event, while Anderson makes his debut…Wildcards went to Del Potro and Japan’s Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, and Yuichi Sugita…Nishikori beat Raonic in last year’s final…Returning champs in the field are Nishikori (2012) and Tsonga (2009).

Tomas Berdych and Milos Roanic meet for the Bangkok title Saturday night.

Venus,David Ferrer fall while Raonic meets Gasquet in Asia.

Tough openers for (4) Simon after a bye vs. the winner of Karlovic-Tomic, and (7) Nieminen vs. the Dutch riser Sijsling…Wildcards went to three dudes whose names you can’t pronounce…Pulling from the event were Ivan Dodig, Andy Murray (back surgery), and Tommy Robredo…Gasquet beat Simon in last year’s final…Returning champs in the field are Gasquet (2012) and Simon (2009).

Serbia will lean on Novak Djokovic to keep their Davis Cup hopes alive on Sunday.

Notes: Jovanovski entered late and had to play the qualies, then qualified, and due to her ranking was then given the top seeding…Voskoboeva, ranked No. 77, is the No. 7 seed — spooky!…No Top 50 players in the field, why isn’t this a $100K lower-tier event?…Pulling from the event were Hsieh Su-wei, Karin Knapp and Urszula Radwanska…Former champs in the field are Begu (2012) and Krajicek (2005).

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to a Wednesday night showdown at the US Open.

A preview of the US Open men’s draw.

Poll: Who’s your early pick for the US Open?

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will take their rivalry to the Midwest of American in Cincinnati Friday night.