The Mantle Falls

The big story of the weekend is, obviously, Richard Gasquet testing positive for cocaine. This is a bit of a shock, and rightly so - drug scandals in the tennis world are ridiculously rare (Guillermo Canas and Mariano Puerta are the only two I can recall) and... why Richard?

*

That's a silly question to ask, I suppose. 'Why Richard'? Because Richard chose to. I've seen a lot of people saying that he 'allegedly' tested positive, but I find it hard to believe that a drug testing system as rigorous as the one put in place by the ITF is going to be wrong. This one is squarely on Richard... and sad as it is, if he gets a suspension, he's going to be a victim of his own actions.

*

I read somewhere else that enforced time off might not be the worst thing in the world for Gasquet, and I think I agree - to an extent. The full two year ban I think would be career-ending for him - it must be hideously difficult to come back from that. But a year... well, I suppose it would give him time to get his head together - something which is clearly isn't at the moment, if he's doing cocaine.

*

But the whole thing is just such a shame. What a waste. Richard was the front of a French tennis magazine at the age of nine with the headline 'The Future of French Tennis'. Somehow, I think that that mantle has fallen from his shoulders and slithered to the ground. It is terribly, terribly sad - but Gasquet has no one to blame but himself.

*

(Oh, and Alize Cornet and Agnieszka Radwanska both lost their first round matches in Madrid. Go figure.)

*

*

Today's Results

*

Estoril Open (Estoril)

*

Albert Montanes def. James Blake, 5-7 7-6 (8-6) 6-0

James Blake def. Nikolay Davydenko, 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

*

*

BMW Open (Munich)

*

Tomas Berdych def. Mikhail Youzhny, 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5)

*

*

Serbia Open (Belgrade)

*

Novak Djokovic def. Lukasz Kubot, 6-3 7-6 (7-0)

*

*

Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open (Madrid)

*

Men's Draw

*

Sam Querrey def. Radek Stepanek, 7-6 (7-2) 5-2 retired

Tommy Robredo def. Nicolas Kiefer, 3-6 6-2 6-2

Juan Carlos Ferrero def. Igor Kunitsyn, 6-3 4-6 6-4

*

*

Women's Draw

*

Jelena Jankovic def. Nuria Llagostera Vives, 6-2 6-1

Samantha Stosur def. Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-6 (7-4) 6-1

Agnes Szavay def. Flavia Pennetta, 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2

Elena Vesnina def. Alizé Cornet, 7-5 6-1

Vera Dushevina def. Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3 6-4

Lucie Safarova def. Kaia Kanepi, 6-2 2-3 retired

Patty Schnyder def. Sara Errani, 6-2 6-3

Li Na def. Carla Suárez Navarro, 5-7 6-1 7-5

Alona Bondarenko def. Sorana Cirstea, 6-2 6-2

Petra Kvitova def. Sybille Bammer, 4-1 retired

Anne Keothavong def. Mariana Duque Marino, 6-3 7-6 (7-4)

Anna-Lena Groenefeld def. Monica Niculescu, 6-1 6-0

Aravane Rezai def. Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-3 6-4

Lourdes Domínguez Lino def. Akgul Amanmuradova, 7-6 (7-5) 6-4