Nadal, Federer Lead Top 6 Today at Cincinnati

sean,

It’s just been anounced on cinny TV that blake is going to consider his future in tennis AFTER the USOpen.

He’s been given a wildcard entry.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:06 am

Ferrer just taken the first set from querry and novak the first set from Troiki.

Where is everyone?

August 18th, 2010 at 12:02 pm

monfils just apologised to all his fans on twitter, saying that his performance yesterday was “unacceptable” and he WILL work hard to never repeat the way he played yesterday, again.

Sounds good.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:05 pm

Just watching quietly this morning madmax; curious about Novak’s form. I think Ferrer could go deep here; he really gutted out his match with Dolgo.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:14 pm

Pleased to see Gasquet winning, but I am surprised to see Benny beating Wawa a.t.m.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:22 pm

Can anyone see Wawa’s match?

August 18th, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Omg, just checked scores. I think this will be a low scoring draw.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:44 pm

Absolutely shocked that ferrer beat querry and benneteau beat warinka.

How does novak look. I’m on the blackberry.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:49 pm

Kimberly, I’m not as shocked about Ferrer as Benny, since i watched Ferrer vs. Dolgo and he has his determined road-runner face on. :)

Nole looked pretty good in set one, but patchy in set two: some moments of very nice play and those wicked groundstrokes, but some patches of errors and poor serving. Overall, not a horrible first round but his chances versus Isner, and particularly Nalby, aren’t so certain.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:53 pm

Jane, ferrer is defintely a gritty player. Lot of heart. He said in an interview once about himself that he had the talent of a 100 rank player and the determination of a number one player. Wish he could pass some of that motivation to my boy gulbis.

August 18th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Kimberly indeed – go Ernie!! He’s got Melzer, who’s been playing well this season.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:03 pm

grendel, your beastly Falla figure, heading inexorably toward a rematch with Fed, has just been fed a bagel by Kohls. : )

August 18th, 2010 at 1:05 pm

I want to watch Gulbis vs. Melzer, in fact, but can find no streaming of said. It’s all Nadal Dent, Nadal Dent, Nadal Dent, or Fish Verdasco, Fish Verdasco … and so on. Drag.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

looking at livescore from work:

melzer just broke ernie. which doesn’t surprise me. ernie hates the heat and he barely could close out his match against young last night in the second set. young nearly came back though ernie had was up 5-1!

my bracket is falling apart.

but good for gasquet. just when i decide never to pick him again : ) he wins two matches.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

jane-

rarely ever is there a stream for gulbis, unless he gets to murray or someone of that class.

i go to youtube to sse him. even when he loses, it’s entertaining-masterclass racquet throwing lol and merciless berating himself

August 18th, 2010 at 1:15 pm

contador, Melzer and Gulbis are on serve, 4 all.

That Kohls fella is falling Falla easily.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Oops, was mucking around with word play and have just realized I’ve misread scores. It’s that Falla feller who has finally found form in the second set.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:21 pm

oh dreadful

up 4-1 on poor kohls in the 2nd set

August 18th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Well, one thing I know, Nadal won’t win Cincy. No man lift a trophy playing on pink. Fed just prove it last Sunday. :)

August 18th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

jane-

i have to go. just checking the score…

go gulbis!!

c’mon kohls!

August 18th, 2010 at 1:24 pm

Daniel,

Nadal better win coz he’s my Cincy pick.

Btw, Fed is going to be in pink this week as well :- )

August 18th, 2010 at 1:30 pm

Hi Jane, contador, kimberley.

Jane, not a worry. i understand. sometimes being quiet and actually enjoying the tennis without worry of posting, is a tonic –

Like you, only nadal/dent (boring so far), and verdy/fish, which is more interesting. fish is having a resurgence right now. he gave an interview yesterday, and the uk media were having a bit of laugh with him – (at the time, I wasn’t so sure fish would find it funny british/american sense of humour being as diverse as it is – there was also a pause between transmission – so seemed it could go either way.

Fish was asked about his ‘previous’ diet of burgers and alcohol and how svelte he was looking now. i wasn’t sure whether fish would be offended or would laugh – as the media went on to say ‘bet he was the life and soul of the party NOW that he wasn’t on the beer – so it was laced with sarcasm – but fish was really cool about it, laughed and shrugged it off – i like him. He seems pretty chilled when he is talking to the press. Good luck to him today.

Gulbis – can only get on livescore but will check streaming in a minute.

am shocked at wawa though. he is a quality player, obviously his mind is on other things right now – but he will always be in contention – anyway can have an off day and wawa will be on them like wasp stings.

August 18th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

I’m looking at this Nadal match and all Nadal has to do is stay on the court and get the ball back because Dent is self-destructing! lol! Dent can’t hit a first serve and is making all the UFEs. This match might be 6-0 6-2 at the rate they are going.

I’m sorry to see Stan lose this morning. I wanted him to go deep. Oh well. I have to concentrate for Roger’s match tonight!

Go Roger!

August 18th, 2010 at 1:33 pm

it’s a different pink though Daniel! :)

August 18th, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Finally a break for Gulbis!! And Kohls has felled Falla feller; grendel, take note: there will be no “Second Coming”.

August 18th, 2010 at 2:00 pm

The courts are playing faster than Toronto

August 18th, 2010 at 2:20 pm

Nadal: broken, then breaks right back. The Hotsauce and Fish match has been a pretty even affair, except for the tiebreak, which Mardy dominated. I am crossing my fingers that Gulbis can hang on and take this third set. GO Ernie!

August 18th, 2010 at 2:24 pm

Woops.

Verdasco,just got fined for swearing and told the umpire “Happy Christmas!”.

August 18th, 2010 at 2:34 pm

I have to pick Djok for Cincy: last year that banker ALMOST gave him this trophy — I’ll never forgot Djok’s quible: that was as close for me to get a tropy as possible! — funniest and most enchanted moment of the year.

A title here can do wonders to Djok’s chance at NYC. As for other 3 among the top 4: Fed needs rest (he rearely made it passing 2nd or 3rd round here on even number of years anyway); Murray’s just bagged one; and Nadal got more than enough confidence and greed.

Enjoy!

August 18th, 2010 at 2:48 pm

Well twocents – I hope Roger can keep his title here. He needs it for the US Open. Yes, Nadal has confidence, but if he loses early here – I don’t know how that will help him going into the US Open. I don’t know what’s going to happen in this tournament. I just want Roger to keep ahead of Djokovic to be seeded #2 at the US Open.

I’m really not a Gulbis fan but have nothing against him either.

August 18th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

Twocents: you’re such a believer in Nole, and he has a difficult quarter of the draw this time, with Isner or Nalby next, likely Roddick or Soda in the quarters, Murray in the semis, and then probably Rafa or Fed in finals. Plus the heat. How on earth????

Oh well.

You just gave me an iota more of hope; love your lovely posts!!

August 18th, 2010 at 2:59 pm

well, where is Margot?

Margot! Murray is on now, are you in Cinny?

Just confirmed that Roger is playing the stockholm open in October – first time in 2 years – whatever else, he is definitely MOTIVATED and CLEAR in his objective to gain MORE POINTS to reclaim his no. 1 – here’s hoping roger!

Go for it!

Yes, it’s true that roger has only won this event, every alternate year, 2005, 2007 and 2009.

I would like him to go deep ,at least SF’s if possible. But clearly he feels he is ready for the challenge at Cinny, so good luck to him and to all players.

Another exciting week ahead.

August 18th, 2010 at 3:04 pm

madmax, sweet margot has gone-a-visiting this week. She was not too concerned about Murray this week, she said, just hoping he’d do enough to stay ahead of Soda. But she did say if Murray makes it to the semis she’d steal a laptop and watch. ;)

Ahhhh – Fish/Hotsauce, Gulbis/Melzer = simultaneous tiebreaks!

August 18th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

madmax, if Fed is playing in Stockholm in October, I wonder if that means he’ll opt out of the Asian swing again this year? Makes sense, as he can stay in Europe, play Stockholm, Basel, Paris and then the YEC.

Fish playing REALLY well!

August 18th, 2010 at 3:11 pm

Fot,

It’s better for Fed to meet Nadal in semi than final. So no.3 is not bad at all. This stupid Super Saturday thing does not favor Fed’s body at ll — and that’s why he lost last year.
Disclaimer (before my fellow Fed fans eat me alive): I still give Fed a slight edge IF he meets Nadal in US Open final.

Jane,

Djok just gave me another best laugh for this year in Toronto — he told Fed “you should have won this match much earlier”. Pure gold.

August 18th, 2010 at 3:12 pm

Fish and Gulbis = simultaneous match points!!

August 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm

Both win!! Yay ERNIE! Fish will play Gasquet next = heart to Richard, and head to Mardy. A body divided against itself. : /

August 18th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Wow. Gulbis was down 0-4 in the 2nd set tiebreak then won 7 of the next 8 points.

August 18th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

I meant ‘3rd set tiebreak’

August 18th, 2010 at 3:20 pm

Hi Jane!

Fed has also said he is playing the asian swing. just registered on RF.com he is playing shanghai too – whoaaaa.. serious stuff from the FED!

We know who the loud ones are here don’t we Jane! It’s soooo quiet without Maggie! :)))))))

Just finished watching the verdy/fish match. verdy is furious with himself, I turned my head for a split second and did NOT see verdy shake fish’s hand, is this true? Did he NOT shake his hand at the end?

WOW, gulbis eeked out a win on Melzer too – this is unreal already!

August 18th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

If anyone is around this afternoon from USA/Canada, would you mind doing a bit of commentary on the fed match which isn’t until 12/12.15 am UK time – I can’t even record it as it’s not being televised.

Don’t worry if you can’t. I’ll check out commentary on BBC LIVECHAT –

another sleepless night for me – but in work early tomorrow so need to catch some snooze.

Enjoy the murray match Jane, seems like he is doing well, playing more freely.

Nalby 2 games down – go nalby!

Federer, Istomin is not going to be easy, he is a better player than 4 years ago, with a more powerful serve. I remember he played rafa in London Queens this year, and took him to a tiebreaker, that was very close and really thought rafa was going out at one point! Hopefully fed will have seen that match and got a few ideas –

Here’s hoping.

Keep up the good work Jane/Kimmi/Kimberly/Contador if you are around.

bye for now.

August 18th, 2010 at 3:48 pm

Isner retired, injured. It looked like his ankle, the leg he leans on during serve, so very difficult to continue. Too bad for him. Good for Nalby though!

August 18th, 2010 at 4:13 pm

Settling in for an afternoon/evening of tennis after work! Just what I need today! Max- will do my best on updates during fed match as I’m sure everyone else will. I will try not to be too silly!
Meanwhile, Murray is cracking me up with his frustration gestures in the second set of the chardy match. Can’t read too well on quality, just came in.
For tonight: Gooooo Roger!

August 18th, 2010 at 4:25 pm

Break city chardy/murray

August 18th, 2010 at 4:26 pm

Yerp, break city. As margot would say, Murray’s serve is “pants” in this set; although don’t really understand that British idiom or its etymology.

madmax, will also try to post updates during Roger’s match.

August 18th, 2010 at 4:29 pm

why did Isner retire?

August 18th, 2010 at 4:33 pm

wow is hot stuff chardy about to get a set off of red-hot murray?

August 18th, 2010 at 4:36 pm

Kimberly, looked like Isner has gotten an ankle injury – was only half paying attention though as had sound on for Murray.

August 18th, 2010 at 4:39 pm

I guess he is! Go Jeremy!!!!

August 18th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

Chardy is a very good player, but I think Murray should’ve won that second set. He got a little passive after winning the first set fairly straight-forwardly. In Toronto, Nole was great at neutralizing Chardy’s power, and Murray was today as well, until about half way through the second.

August 18th, 2010 at 4:50 pm

Murray was serving for the match at 5-4 in the 2nd set.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:05 pm

Well, looks like Murray will cinch it now! He’s playing better and Chardy is off-the-boil, and making a lot of errors. Hope Andy can get er done now.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:13 pm

Jane:

funny to see “off the boil” and “get er done” in the same sentence. A real mix of sayings. LOL

Left work with Andy serving for match at 5-4, then arrive home into the third set! Seems from commentary that he “turtled” and went into passive mode. Glad to see he pulled it out.

TC is showing Fish/Verdy now. I’ll need to watch to see what happens at net.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:27 pm

puckbandit – is simply schizoid character coming out. Phew, Murray is through. BTW, there is a “fans of Tennis X” group started in the ATP Challenge Draws, so you should join it. Even if you’re not playing the Challenge, you can follow all the Tennis-X-ers. : )

August 18th, 2010 at 5:34 pm

Jane, regarding the British term “pants”. Bear in mind that in the UK “pants” doesn’t mean trousers, it means underpants. So the expression is one of fairly polite disapproval. If we want to make a mild exclamation of annoyance, we say “knickers”. Maybe we’re a bunch of fetishists!

August 18th, 2010 at 5:39 pm

here we go roddick vs de bakker. Go roddick!

davydenko needs to finish this match quick or it will become a dog firgt.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:48 pm

oh jane and dari!

I can’t sleep. Tried to get some snooze but just tossing and turning.

Glad to see that colin though explained “pants”.

It’s the best phrase out there Jane! and I concur with Colin. PANTS! If something isn’t going your way, you say:

It’s Pants!

and then you follow it with a laugh, or your audience does! Great phrase.

C’mon Federer! Don’t be pants(!) tonight! Be fully suited!

The Isner match! Wow. Retired with an injury? Hope it isn’t too serious. I read that before he came on to play Nalby, it had been reported that Isner had said he was still ‘recovering’ from the match at wimby. I wonder how long it will take – mentally – and physically – to recover from that?

Isner is a quality player and so hopefully, this is a well-needed rest for him, having gone out earlier than expected.

dari, you’re not silly! why would you think that?

I went to bed thinking it would be straights for Murray, but he has provided a bit of tension which is always exciting stuff, eh Jane?

Thanks guys

– Later –

August 18th, 2010 at 5:51 pm

pants

adjective

inadequate, displeasing, or of poor quality. Possible origin: underwear, called “pants” in Britain.

See more words meaning: bad, poor, sucks, common, generally displeasing

August 18th, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Colin, explanation most appreciated; implications quite funny. Am imagination a nation of polite fetishists!

Kimmi, have you noticed De Bakker hitting a lot of “moon-balls”? I thought he hit the ball flatter? Maybe he’s trying to incorporate more spin? Also, seem to remember him as one who comes to net a little more, but then again I guess that’s not easy against Andy R.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:55 pm

“imagination” s/b “imagining.

August 18th, 2010 at 5:56 pm

Jane,

Thanks. I’ll be joining. I wish that I got in on this bracket chanllenge since my picks have done well. But my brackets will most likely fall to pieces when I try it on the ATP site.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:07 pm

I have noticed the moon balls jane. somehow roddick is hitting moonballs back. even the commentators were saying, that is not a right way for roddick to play.

he needs to be careful, de bekker has beaten few top guys…well, i think he is beaten only tsonga.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:08 pm

davydenko in danger of losing second set..go davy. whats wrong with you? frustrated fan.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:10 pm

Roddick/debaaker making me sleepy. Not what I neee aftet a late night last night.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:12 pm

go Andy!!!!!!

SO sad about big John.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:13 pm

puckbandit, our group is on the atp draw challenge site, tennisxfans, although i should be embarassed for anyone to watch my crash and burn this tourney!!!!

August 18th, 2010 at 6:15 pm

saw the slo mo replay of the shot when john I rolled his ankle. devastating, I guess kinda just like ana I, he landed wrong :/

August 18th, 2010 at 6:16 pm

here comes the tie breaker

August 18th, 2010 at 6:35 pm

dari, I think it may be because Roddick and de Bakker are playing these sometimes long back-and-forth rallies of moon-ish balls and slices, it’s a little hypnotizing. Like cat-and-mouse. LOL. Is making me tired too. Both can play more aggressively and have huge fire-power, but it’s kind of like they’re having a leisurely afternoon hit. Mind you, it’s probably very hot – AND both are playing carefully. Soon the shadows will be over the court and then perhaps they’ll let slip the dogs of war.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

wow, this match is soo close. de bekker came up with a great volley.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:40 pm

davydenko eventually breaks…go davy

roddick with the set point

August 18th, 2010 at 6:42 pm

roddick with the set

August 18th, 2010 at 6:43 pm

Andy got the set but not happy with his game….waaay to defensive for him.

August 18th, 2010 at 6:49 pm

Ferrer vs. Davydenko could be very, very interesting!

August 18th, 2010 at 6:59 pm

At this point who knows. Ferrer davy would be tough to call. What’s their head to head? And more specifically on hard.

Also saw on tv nadal and djoko say court is playing super fast.

August 18th, 2010 at 7:08 pm

Go andy. Please save kimberli25’s draw!!!

August 18th, 2010 at 7:12 pm

if james blake is going to retire the racquet then robby ginepri can’t be too far behind…his results have been quite poor. at wimbledon he could hardly get a handle on any of soderlings serves. he looked totally outplayed.

August 18th, 2010 at 7:40 pm

hewitt is going to be a tough match up to soda. soda could lose this match

August 18th, 2010 at 7:47 pm

I wonder if Hewitt can pull off an upset over Soda here? Technically, by rankings it would be an upset, but Hewitt is actually 3-0 H2H over Soderling so he’s got the edge in a sense.

August 18th, 2010 at 7:47 pm

Kimmi, I just checked the H2H and Hewitt beat Soda at this event last year in the first round.

August 18th, 2010 at 7:48 pm

i’m actually rooting for hewitt even though I picked Soda because I think Roddick will have it easier against him.

My bigger problem than the draw is that my 5 year old wants to invite Rafael Nadal to his birthday party and thinks he is going to come.

August 18th, 2010 at 7:55 pm

Hewitt and Roddick are 6-6 H2H but although they’ve had some close matches of late, Roddick has pretty much won them all. Soda and Roddick would likely be closer. Speaking of which Soda seems to be coming back in the second set.

Madmax, Fed seems to play his best on hard courts now. He is looking very sharp; they are on serve in set 1 so far, and to me it looks like Istomin is outmatched everywhere but with regards to the serve: he has an excellent one, so unless it drops off this may go to a tiebreak.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:15 pm

Fed with a second break point in this 6th game of the match, and he gets it. Madmax, I think your man will ease through, but will watch for and report any further developments.

Soderling has cinched the second set and has thus evened up the match with Hewitt.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Strange development!! Istomin has suddenly taken it upon himself to sit down on the baseline, down love 30, and stick his finger in the air while taking off shoe!! LOL, trainer is coming out. I did not see anything happen; but have not got his foot propped up on spare chair on sidelines and are spraying it with some concoction while wrapping it up very heavily. Istomin looks on calmly but perhaps knows he is beat. Meanwhile the crowd buzzing and holding up signs saying such things as “Simply the Best”, “Swiss Bliss” or similar.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:33 pm

not got s/b “now got”

August 18th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

I did indeed fall asleep during the roddick match!
Max- fed’s feet looking great, approach looking good today, maybe deeper and lower and he has converted on the SECOND break point chance!
Know nothing of istomin’s game.
And i leave the comment for a minute and istomin apparently can’t walk cause of ankle!
lets see if there is any more tennis!
rog is doing a GREAT job of pacing on the side! ;)

August 18th, 2010 at 8:37 pm

Istomin walks to baseline, bends over, and — after all that wrapping and spraying and looking on, — he saunters to net and shakes Fed’s hand. They’ve played a total of 7 games. Nice match for Fed, lol. But not much by way of preparation.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:38 pm

hmmmm, another retirement. it was a good match for fed to practice his shots. too bad.

Sodarling fighting it out

August 18th, 2010 at 8:39 pm

picked a good night to miss a fed match, max!

August 18th, 2010 at 8:41 pm

lets check soda

August 18th, 2010 at 8:42 pm

as for ferrer saying he has the talent of a 100rank player, it’s modest, but i don’t think it’s true at all. anyone who makes the top ten at that height has massive talent.

when he’s running around like a madcat dictating with the forehand he can look pretty impressive. i remember watching him the year he made the shanghai final. he was playing incredible, taking out everyone. too bad he mentally collapsed in the final against federer. but that was the culture back then.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:50 pm

Tomorrow, Murray/Gulbis are first on Center Court, then Nadal and Benny, then Fed and Kohls, and finally Roddick will get the winner of this: Not sure who will come through as Soda was up a break but Hewitt broke back.

Nole / Nalbandian play second, mid afternoon, on the grandstand, after Fish and Gasquet, who start at noon. Nole/Nalby are followed by Baggy and Berdych, then Ferrer and Davy.

August 18th, 2010 at 8:57 pm

soda just broke.

nole will have a tough time unless its rainy to cool it down.

those are some great matches tomorrow.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:06 pm

Soda pop wins it, so it will be him against Roddick tomorrow night.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:08 pm

congrats Soderling. Roddick will have to bring it to win this one. Plated waaay to defensive today but served well.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:09 pm

Kimberly, yes, lots of great match ups tomorrow seemingly. I like Nalby but have to cheer on Nole tomorrow; he’ll need all the support he can get!! Forecast is for 32 degrees tomorrow, on Friday 34 degrees, on Sat 30 degrees, with scattered thunder showers, and on Sun 31 degrees. To quote the Velvet Underground, “Who Loves the Sun?”

August 18th, 2010 at 9:12 pm

soda was broken back???
i left when he was serving for the match.

Must have won in the tie break. crazy stuff.

Congrats to soda..too bad for hewitt. he gave it his all in this match. unfortunetly someone had to lose.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:16 pm

great day of tennis.

I have learnt few things from todays matches.

a) Querrey never does well on Master series level tournaments. I don’t think he has gone beyond second round this year. Never pick him to go further until he prove he can do it.

b) very impressed with fish. i think he could so very well this summer.

c) Too bad for isner. he looked to be giving nalby a run for his money. Hope he can be OK for US open.

d) very impressed with the french men, benneteu and gasquet. great job..I did not give them a chance.

e) never underestimate ferrer. I had him losing in the first round to dolgo. he is on a roll.

f) Cilic and verdasco are in a slump.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:26 pm

Nice summary Kimmi. I agree with all your points.

August 18th, 2010 at 9:33 pm

live and learn

1) debakker is not ready to beat the top guys yet.

2) ditto to picking querrey.

3) ditto to never understimating ferrer

4) muzza will nap in set 2 when playing someone of lesser rank

(though i doubt that includes ernests gulbis tomorrow)

5) roddick is apparently healthy. good news

August 18th, 2010 at 9:44 pm

Well,

I did not expect that Jane/Dari!

Istomin injured? From what you said, ‘nothing’ appeared to happen? Will have to wait for full report on TX as to what happened.

Thanks both.:)

August 18th, 2010 at 9:46 pm

well, about the french? i like them but will still hesitate to pick them.

one never knows about gasquet, monfils….

i get kicked when i pick them and also if i don’t. : /

August 18th, 2010 at 9:48 pm

“muzza will nap in set two” ha! Hilarious and true!

August 18th, 2010 at 9:51 pm

thanks jane. lets hope we get some good matches tomorrow.

32 celsius is hot. hope not too much humidity.

too many matches on stadium court. i see they put djoko on grandstand.

potential tough matches
nalby vs novak.
roddick vs soda
ferrer vs davydenko.
gulbis vs murray

Federer vs kohl. federer could make this match tough too, if he goes walk about in the middle of the matche

August 18th, 2010 at 9:53 pm

You never know with Federer. He is 5-0 vs Kohls, but he was also undefeated against Baghdatis, Montanes, and Soderling until he lost to them this year… and throw in Hewitt who he hadn’t lost to in 7 years.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

Contador and kimmi, hilarious posts!

If its not a 250 tournament, querry doesn’t seem to bring it. Is the american hope to be passed back to roddick? Maybe fish?

I’m really rooting for roddick tomorrow and not just for my pitiful draw. I think he emotionally needs this win to become a contender.

I am american but my favorite players are nadal and djokovic. But they don’t need wins. They are proven. The could lose tomorrow and go into the us open strong. Roddick is just putting in too many pitiful losses. And I don’t want american men to stay “in the trunk”

August 18th, 2010 at 10:03 pm

“Top ranked and top seed Rafael Nadal faces the improving Taylor Dent. No. 2 seed and defending champion Roger Federer looks to build off his Toronto final tonight against Denis Istomin. Federer’s new trial coach Paul Annacone will not be at the event this week.”

Federer cannot be No. 2 seed if he’s in the same half as Nadal. He’s seeded 3, ranked 2.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:10 pm

contador – re: muzza naping. lolz.
GO Muzza tomorrow. Sorry Gulbis, but if you win, i will be the first to congratulate.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:11 pm

nah. that 32 celsius is way to hot for ernie. and he’s still not in andy murray’s class.

if i could pick over i’d pick ferrer.

nadal v benny is really the only one i feel confident about.

dari-

it IS true about murray. i remember him completely napping at the us open last year against capdeville. lol

and he did it against cilic. muzza woke up, but not in time to win.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:11 pm

kohls has been practising with fed in Zurich (hitting partner) with kubek, prior to Toronto – so I think that is a cunning plan! :))

Should be a good match tomorrow. I think Fed last played him in a match in Halle this year. Won in straights?

August 18th, 2010 at 10:12 pm

Any thoughts on nole nalby. Can nalby make this happen or will he be another querry (althoug washington was 500).

I don’t see federer facing a serious challenge until nadal/berdy. Does he need to win to keep number 2 for uso?

August 18th, 2010 at 10:19 pm

NELTA, is it 5/0?

I can only see they have played 3 times, doha, wimbledon and halle, Fed won in straights this year in Halle. I think Kohls has played closer matches with Nadal, where he’s actually taken a set off him (didn’t he do that in Toronto, just last week?). I don’t think he has taken a set off Fed yet?

But you’re right. Nothing can be taken for granted right now. Seems from what dari and jane have said that Fed came out very sharp tonight. Plus he will get extra rest as a result of Istomin retiring.

Which were the other two tournaments?

August 18th, 2010 at 10:21 pm

nole / nalby? i was split on the match up from the beginning.

the heat, the humidity, nalby’s form at legg mason. i really wish nalby would get to the semi, not win the semi though.

and had him doing that at first pick and changed. it was a match i meant to switch back and have nalby winning but time ran out.

kohls could win tomorrow if federer gets non chalant, cute, or his mind wanders. i wouldn’t blacklist kohls for it.

i think federer secured his seeding for us open this past monday.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:32 pm

I know everyone loves the up and comers but I would love to see a roger/rafa final at the uso.

Was nicolas mahut a direct acceptance or does he have to qualify. That’s a player who really deserves a wild card.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:41 pm

contador – i dont think federer has secured his # 2 seeding yet. he will secure it here at cincy.

i didn’t do the maths. but since he won last year and djoko was the finalist, i believe federer would need to finish ahead of djoko this week to secure his USO # 2 seeding.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:47 pm

Boy, I had my DVR set to tape Roger’s match, I came home ready to watch some great tennis…and all I got was 7 games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is it with these guys not taping their ankles? Roger said after that incident he had years ago with his ankle, he tapes for even practice sessions. I noticed a lot of girls don’t tape either.

Oh well. I hope I get to see more of Roger tomorrow against Phillip (not too much though since I want him – Roger – to win in straight sets).

Go Roger! Congrats to all the other winners and their fans today.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:48 pm

kimberly-

i will be straight up honest. i do not want another fedal. : )

federer is not afraid to go there but i do believe that once federer is in a grand slam match ( federer won most recent match-up in madrid atp 1000) anyway, once he is in the GS match, nadal is in his head.

the surface at us open favors federer but…..nope, i don’t want the fedal stress! hahahaha i really am laughing at myself.

federer, the competitor that he is, i am sure wants the opportunity to kick his arse.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:53 pm

I am watching the replay of the rafa dent match on tennis channel and fans in the stand look like they are sweltering. Nole may be in for it tomorrow. I am very nervous for this match as nole is my second fav.

It will kill my draw completely and I will probably be in last place in the entire atp but I would love to see gulbis win. I think the chances are less than one percent though. On the atp draw only 6 percent I believe have him getting past murray.

August 18th, 2010 at 10:54 pm

of course i could be wrong, kimmi but i thought i heard some commentator saying he had secured his seeding by getting to the toronto final.

but it doesn’t make sense so, let’s say it’s wishful thinking.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:00 pm

contador – if u heard the commentators then u could be right. maybe USO uses the ranking just before cincy started to do their seeding.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:04 pm

As a rafa fan I like the fedal matches, granted the majority have come out in my favor. But I would rate his chances lower at the uso than any other tournament.they have never played at the uso because rafa has not gone far enough.

Interesting question. Who would have a better chance, roger to beat rafa at RG or rafa to beat roger at USO?

I miss their finals. Actually I think rafa won their last at madrid this year. Fed won the year before.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

kimberly

yes, one would have to be a gulbis fangirl or boy to have him winning! c’mon

but i do regret not leaving nalbandian in the winners spot.

that is not nole weather in cincy nor ernie weather.

racquets will be broken. maybe a fine for swearing…i expect lots of fireworks in a murray – gulbis match!

August 18th, 2010 at 11:06 pm

Contador—Lol about the rackets. I think plenty in both gulbis and djoko.many fines.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:09 pm

yep, i meant madrid 2009

of course you want a fedal, kimberly ; )

nadal being in fed’s head, your guy has the advantage, even on hc.

if it comes to a fedal, i think federer would see it as his opportunity to silence people. ( i am just a protective fan )

but for rafa’s chances of securing a US Open title, i would think rafa fans want a federer match -up rather than murray, nole, berdych, roddick, or soderling one…

August 18th, 2010 at 11:13 pm

contador “federer won most recent match-up in madrid atp 1000” – Fed won last year in Madrid but this year didn’t they have a rematch and it went Rafa’s way? The final? Think so.

Kimberly, didn’t know you liked Nole so much; also funny anecdote about your 5 year old’s birthday expectations.Maybe you should e-mail Rafa’s team and see if he’ll show up, no? ;)

I like Gulbis too, and if anyone is going to take out Murray besides Nole, I wouldn’t mind if it’s Ernie. Otherwise, Andy M all the way. He’s defending semi-final points. Nole’s defending finals points.

Kimmi, I think you’re right; Fed will have to go deeper than Djoko by a round maybe, or exit at same time, to secure #2. There are not too many points between them a.t.m. However, at the present time I think Nole has a tougher draw, so I think Fed’s sitting pretty to the semis, whereas I don’t even know if Nole will get through tomorrow. S

August 18th, 2010 at 11:14 pm

What I cannot figure out is this – if Cincy weather is so bad for Nole, how has he made it to the finals the past two years? Maybe it was cooler last year? In fact I think sar posted that is was, and she was there last year and is there now too! Or maybe Nole got night matches? Or maybe he just scrapped through the day matches? Or had nice draws? Seem to remember a scrappy day match with Chardy last year. And I know both semis he beat Rafa in were evening matches. Anyhow … don’t have great expectations. We’ll see.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

yeah jane, kimberly already corrected me on the madrid match being in 2009. im a year behind.

i have muzza winning cincy. so, if guilbis should win, which he won’t, my bracket is done.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:25 pm

Jane–nole has great personality on and off the court. He is disappointed me on court quite a few times but he’s a riot.

I heard from someone at the tennis club that the reason he has breathing issues is that he drinks and smokes! the person who told me was serbian.

I don’t know what to do about rafas unlikely attendance at the birthday party. I’m sure when all his friends come he will forget rafa. I will email his team to see if at least they will wish him happy birthday on rafas behalf. I can just see rafa hanging around the kiddie crew playing duck duck goose and going in the bouncehouse.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:35 pm

OMG Kimberly, can absolutely not see Nole smoking, no way. Having a drink or two, well, that wouldn’t surprise me as much. Nah, I think the breathing thing is more complicated, but that is just me. Ha ha.

LOL!!! Rafa would kill in the bouncy castle!! I can see him doing those cool big jumps he does at the net to get hyped up before the match! Love Rafa, he’s so funny. So intense too.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:45 pm

contador, am sure you’re right. VERY slim chance of a Gulbis win over Andy M; Andy owns him. Fish, on the other hand, could be a more (ahem) slippery proposition for Murray.

August 18th, 2010 at 11:46 pm

“Interesting question. Who would have a better chance, roger to beat rafa at RG or rafa to beat roger at USO?”

kimberley.

I think on the basis that Fed has reached 4 RG finals and met Rafa as his opponent x 3, and rafa hasn’t gone beyond 2 x SF at USO, and fed has reached 6 finals, wining 5 of them, you would have to say fed.

I know there are lots that don’t rate fed on clay, but I actually do. 4 consecutive finals, and just because rafa went out 4th round in 2009, that makes Fed’s win a ‘non-win?’. Nah. He earnt it and worked hard for it, beating both Haas and delpotro when being 2 sets down with haas and 1 set down with delpo.

On the other hand, Fed is still a great clay courter – I would still say based on his achievements on clay, he is second to rafa – based on Fed’s consistency.

There is no other player who has been as consistent an opponent on clay, than federer, albeit in the no.2 position. That consistency comes with sheer hard work, will and talent.

In terms of HC. I would LOVE to see a rafa/roger final. It’s always nerve wracking when these two play, but it is a great spectacle for tennis and continues what has to be one of the greatest rivalries in sport.

Roger was brought up and trained initially on indoor hard court tournaments – I think the first one he won was in Hamburg as a junior, when he was 19 years old. He makes a great transition in terms of hard/clay/grass and I don’t think he gets enough credit for it as a lot of people just stick to h2h with rafa. There is more to it than that.

I think that Roger would love the challenge.

He is a competitor after all, and would know that he would go in against rafa as the underdog (but only based on their h2h).

In terms of hard court, roger has had far more success and so I feel that this would give him much more confidence and should give him an edge, mentally, more than people think.

Bring on the Fed/Rafa final at USOpen. But first, let’s go for the cinny title! Great champions should always face off each other.

It’s not just about h2h.

August 19th, 2010 at 7:03 am

Madmax,

Here are the 5 meetings between Fed and Kohls:

Halle 05
Halle 08
Halle 10
Doha 09
Wimb 09

August 19th, 2010 at 8:12 am

henin pulls from usopen, and i thought the wta couldn’t get any worse.

i say cancel the women’s usopen this year and replace it with another men’s tournament where the top 30 players compete in ping pong.

August 19th, 2010 at 8:58 am

NELTA,

thank you. different stats on my website. strange. but it happens.

cheers.

August 19th, 2010 at 9:02 am

If Fish, Davydenko, Soderling and Djokovic win today (a big if), I’ll be very, very close to first place in the ATP challenge after getting14 of 16 to the third round.

My secret: dumb luck. With the exception of Gasquet-Youzhny, every single three-set match has gone my way, capped off by Gulbis saving three match points and rallying from an 0-4 hole in the third-set tiebreaker yesterday. Amazing.

The first-place guy went 16 out of 16. I missed on the two Frenchies.

August 19th, 2010 at 9:25 am

Two amazing masters events in a row, the lineup today is terrific. A couple thoughts: Kohls practices with Fed, so he will not be afraid. That gives him a puncher’s chance. On the other hand, Fed nows Kohls game inside and out and I think Fed is smart enough to use that. So I see a rout.
As for Nole and the Sickness. It was being reported a few days ago that he has asthma, but I have seen nothing to back this up. In fact, Nole won’t name any disease except allergies, and in a recent comment he mentioned that it is more NERVES than anything which leads to his breathing problems.

I think Kimmi’s list of lessons learned is right on, chief among them, Ferrer is a near-top tier player, Querry just isn’t. He is really in the same “almost there” spot he was at last year when he won the USO Series. Unless Roddick beats Soderling tonight, I think we enter the USO with no genuine American hopeful.

August 19th, 2010 at 9:41 am