Taking Stock of Stockholm

Sigh. Marat went to all the trouble of beating Kolya only to go down tamely to Evgeny Korolev.

Pout.

Oh well. Marat will be Marat, and we should treasure the last few matches we have with him, even if he does fizzle out.

Let's talk Stockholm, because that's an interesting little tournament. I'm really pulling for the Yoker to win this one - is he still in with a chance of qualifying for the end of year championships? He was coming ninth, last time I looked... because he DESERVES THAT SPOT. I think it's a three way tussle at the mo between him, Verdasco and Kolya... and much as Nando's had a career year, it really wouldn't be fair to see all that hard work that the Yoker's put in go to waste. French Open final? It seems fair and just that it should be Soderling. So I'm cheering for him bigtime this week.

But the guy I'm really watching - for interest's sake more than anything else - is Marcos Baghdatis. He's been out for what seems like a thousand years, and it is good to see him playing - and winning! - again. He beat Kendrick two and two today, which is a pretty decent result. I mean, sure, Kendrick isn't exactly Federer, but he's played some tough tennis in his time (fade into the far away, so close match he played with Rafa at Wimbledon a few years back). So that was a good win for Marcos, and, damn it, he's just so happy and smiley! He deserves to win stuff!

So I'm keeping an eye on his comeback - as well as Pim-Pim's. I was talking a while back about him as a 'where are they now?' candidate, and suddenly BAM! he's coming back again. I don't think there's any way he'll ever reach his former glory, but he's been winning a match or two and that's pretty awesome.

Now if we could only get Sebastien Grosjean back on court...


Today's Results

Kremlin Cup (Moscow)

Men's Draw

Janko Tipsarevic def. Christophe Rochus, 6-4 2-1 retired
Robby Ginepri def. Marcel Granollers, 7-6 (7-5) 6-0
Mikhail Kukushkin def. Wayne Odesnik, 6-3 6-4
Illya Marchenko def. Andrey Golubev, 6-1 1-6 6-4
Evgeny Korolev def. Marat Safin, 6-4 7-6 (7-4)


Women's Draw

Tsvetana Pironkova def. Vera Zvonareva, 6-0 6-2
Jelena Jankovic def. Lucie Safarova, 7-6 (7-5) 6-3
Francesca Schiavone def. Monica Niculescu, 6-2 7-5
Alisa Kleybanova def. Evgeniya Rodina, 6-1 6-2
Vera Dushevina def. Agnes Szavay, 3-6 6-4 6-3
Maria Kirilenko def. Aleksandra Wozniak


If Stockholm Open (Stockholm)

Robin Soderling def. Andreas Seppi, 6-1 6-3
Jarkko Nieminen def. Tommy Haas, walkover
Olivier Rochus def. Feliciano Lopez, 4-6 6-4 6-1
Marcos Baghdatis def. Robert Kendrick, 6-2 6-2
Arnaud Clement def. Michael Berrer, 3-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-1


BGL Luxembourg Open (Luxembourg)

Daniela Hantuchova def. Lucie Hradecka, 7-5 3-6 6-2
Yanina Wickmayer def. Alize Cornet, 7-5 7-6 (8-6)
Shahar Peer def. Carla Suarez Navarro, 3-6 6-3 6-1