Federer Flying High in Madrid; Roddick Getting Naked on Court
Just like I told you, Roger Federer would go down to Jo Tsonga… Well, credit to Federer, who is really playing some top flight tennis this week in Madrid, where he’s basically destroyed all comers. The world No. 2 hasn’t dropped a set in three matches, beating up on Radek Stepanek, Tsonga and today in very impressive fashion handing Juan Martin Del Potro his worst loss in six months hammering the Argy 6-3, 6-3. ADHEREL
The win by Fed makes it three out four of players who reached the US Open semifinals to reach the Tennis Masters Madrid last four, with only Gilles Simon crashing the party.
Federer now faces Andy Murray, who destroyed my guy, Gael Monfils, this morning 6-2, 6-2 (Monfils will get him back soon enough!). From what I’ve seen of Roger this week far, I think he’s playing better now than he was when he beat Andy in the US Open final last month. And that’s not good news for Murray.
Despite what looks to be a lightning fast court, top seed Rafael Nadal survived Ernests Gulbis and then he had his way with Richard Gasquet and good buddy Feliciano Lopez. Nadal is now just one match win from officially securing the year-end No. 1 ranking, and I think he gets past Simon Saturday in front of his fans. Of course the win should set up that Fed-Rafa final, a first since their Wimbledon epic.
As for the rest of the week, I get the feeling Novak Djokovic still hasn’t recovered from his US Open PR disaster. Novak looked real shaky against Victor Hanescu and then got shown the exit by Dr. Ivo. For all his game and fury, Gulbis can’t seem to get that big win. Just like he had Andy Roddick in his clutches at the US Open, the Latvian had Nadal on the ropes before falling apart yet again.
Del Potro, despite his loss today, impresses me more and more each week. JDMP crushed countryman David Nalbandian 6-4, 6-2 in the third round.
And then there’s Andy Roddick who’s decided to go with the less is more motif in more ways than one. The American who lost to my guy Monfils Wednesday, said goodbye to his hair and he’ll soon be saying goodbye to his clothes. Roddick apparently auctioned off a tennis lesson which he will give in the nude for charity during Elton John’s Advanta World Team Tennis fundraiser last weekend. Thankfully the high bidder was a female who plunked down $15k to have Roddick drop his shorts and then teach her how not to put volleys away. At least she’ll be able to hit some balls. Unreal. Frankly, I think he’d be better off having model fiancée Brooklyn Decker take his place, but that’s just me.
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