A World Gone Topsy-Turvy

I think I might be in shock. My world has gone topsy-turvy. Jelena Jankovic lost a match...

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...AND ANA IVANOVIC WON ONE!?!?!?!

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And all it took was for Jankovic to play tennis non-stop for about a month and for Ivanovic to lose twelve hundred times in a row.

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Seriously, I cannot remember the last time Ivanovic won a match. And it wasn't a scrape-through-by-the-skin-of-her-teeth affair either: it was in two reasonably comfortable sets over Marion Bartoli. Bartoli hasn't been in anything even resembling form this year, but she's not a total schlep - so a victory over her, considering the people Ivanovic has been losing to of late, is a victory indeed.

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And so we must ask the question: can she do it again? Can she string another victory onto this one? Is this the week that Ana resurfaces? When you start asking the same questions about a player that you routinely ask about the King of Inconsistency, Marat Safin, there you know there's trouble.

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We had some interesting results in Madrid over night - we have a quality set of quarter-finalists, but not necessarily the ones you'd expect. Juan Martin del Potro aside, all my Stars are out - Marin Cilic went down to Andy Murray. Oh well. He's young. Novak Djokovic also went down - I'd just like to say AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Two tie-breaker sets to Ivo Karlovic. I know Karlovic plays the most boring tennis in the history of the universe, but a Djokovic loss is a Djokovic loss.

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And yes, I am a horrible person.

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R-Fed and the Rafinator are both through, accounting comfortably for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet respectively. I do like Rafa, but I am praying like nobody's business that he loses his next match, because if he wins, he's guaranteed the year-end #1, and I like it when Federer has that. Still, if he can get it back by winning the Australian Open or suchlike, that would be nice too.

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Defending champion David Nalbandian went out to Juan Martin del Potro, who'll now face Federer - I don't know if they've played while del Potro has been on this hot streak, so this'll be interesting. Seriously, has del Potro made Shanghai yet? Because he must be close. And Roddick went out to streaky Gael Monfils. Guess he should have played those Olympics. I am perfectly content to blame every loss he takes from now until the end of his career on his failure to do so.

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And a special shout out today to Victoria Azarenka, who served Monica Niculescu a double bagel. Not so nice for Monica, but that'll be one to tell the grandkids.

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Today's Results

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Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (Madrid)

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Roger Federer def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-4 6-1

Gael Monfils def. Andy Roddick, 6-4 3-6 6-3

Ivo Karlovic def. Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5)

Andy Murray def. Marin Cilic, 7-5 7-6 (7-2)

Juan Martin Del Potro def. David Nalbandian, 6-4 6-2

Feliciano Lopez def. Stanislas Wawrinka, 6-4 6-4

Gilles Simon def. Robby Ginepri, 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (8-6)

Rafael Nadal def. Richard Gasquet, 6-4 6-2

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Tennis.com Zurich Open (Zurich)

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Flavia Pennetta def. Jelena Jankovic, 5-7 6-3 6-3

Ana Ivanovic def. Marion Bartoli, 6-2 6-4

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Vera Zvonareva, 6-3 3-0 retired

Katarina Srebotnik def. Agnieszka Radwanska, -26 7-6 (8-6) 6-3

Victoria Azarenka def. Monica Niculescu, 6-0 6-0

Petra Kvitova def. Sofia Arvidsson, 6-2 6-1

Down With The Worm!

There's something vaguely satisfying about seeing Radek Stepanek get beaten. Not because he's a horrible person or anything - I suppose Martina Hingis and Nicole Vaidisova must have seen something in him, because he's butt-ugly - but just because he's so kind of... creepy. You don't get the nickname 'The Worm' by being a handsome, upstanding member of the tennis community. He's just so... off-putting.

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But The Worm is no more in Madrid, being effectively put down in two sets by the Swiss Master, Roger Federer. They weren't blow-out sets, but a straight sets victory is a straight sets victory, and compared to the tussle Nadal had with Gulbis yesterday, it's pretty nice looking. So well done, Roger. And along the way - just another milestone in that amazing career of his - he surpassed Sampras's mark for as the winner of the most prize money in tennis history. Not that Federer seems like a monetarily minded guy or anything - Maria Sharapova must rake in fifty times what he makes each year from endorsments alone - but it must be a pretty nice mark. I wouldn't mind getting money out at an ATM and looking at a balance like that on the receipt. He's won in excess of forty-three million dollars. Now that is a sweet paycheck!

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He plays Jo-W Tsonga in the next round. That should be an interesting one to watch - I don't know if they've ever met. Federer remains the one member of the Big Three Tsonga hasn't taken down: and much as I like Tsonga, here's hoping it stays that way! Federer for the title!

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Djokovic also advanced, but there were two breaker sets, one of which he lost, and his opponent retired in the third. And what's with David Ferrer? He seems to have gone right off the boil, which is a bit sad for him, as he is a bit fabulous. He lost to Feliciano Lopez. Get well soon, David - or whatever it is! I'd love to see him playing at the Masters Cup this year, especially as he got to the final last year. And Davydenko went out as well - to Robby Ginepri, of all people. There's a weird loss if I ever saw one.

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Today's Results

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Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (Madrid)

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Roger Federer def. Radek Stepanek, 6-3 7-6 (8-6)

Novak Djokovic def. Victor Hanescu, 6-7 (8-10) 7-6 (8-6) 3-1 retired

Robby Ginepri def. Nikolay Davydenko, 4-6 6-4 6-4

Feliciano Lopez def. David Ferrer, 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

David Nalbandian def. Tomas Berdych, 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-1

Andy Roddick def. Tommy Robredo, 6-3 6-4

Juan Martin Del Potro def. Jarkko Nieminen, 6-2 4-2 retired

Stanislas Wawrinka def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7-5)

Gael Monfils def. Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3 6-4

Ivo Karlovic def. Robin Soderling, 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (10-8)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Marcel Granollers, 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

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Tennis.com Zurich Open (Zurich)

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Venus Williams def. Alona Bondarenko, 6-3 6-4

Francesca Schiavone def. Maria Kirilenko, 6-3 7-5

Flavia Pennetta def. Nadia Petrova, 6-1 6-1

Katarina Srebotnik def. Timea Bacsinszky, 6-3 6-3

Sofia Arvidsson def. Sybille Bammer, 0-6 7-5 6-4

Good Things To Come

Well, I suppose it was a bit much to hope that wee Ernests Gulbis could steal the match away from the Rafinator, but I have to say that the boy gave a good account of himself. That was a seriously tight match. I think Ernests's real weakness is at crunch time - I wouldn't say he crumbles, but he doesn't exactly step it up, either. Once he has that under control - when he becomes the player you can count on in a pinch - then he's going to be one of the great champions. This kid is going all the way - and even though he didn't win today, I think this match was a sign of good things to come.

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But Rafa is a champ, and so he does deserve his victories. The other champ, my beloved Mr Federer, is playing arguably the creepiest man on the tour tomorrow: Radek 'The Worm' Stepanek. Seriously, that guy is kinda freaky. I fear him. I hope R-Fed isn't rusty or anything coming into tomorrow's match - I hope all that rest works in his favour! He hasn't confirmed anything in the rest of his season yet - he says it'll all be last-minute decisions based on the health of his mind and body. If only Ana Ivanovic would adopt a similar position.

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Marin Cilic had a win, too - a good one, over fifteenth seeded Fernando Verdasco. Go them Stars! Unfortunately, Dmitry Tursunov took a weird loss. Them Russians and their consistency... Mademoiselle Safina aside, obviously. It isn't the same with the girls. But those Russian men... I despair of them.

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Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic looks like he's going to make his senior debut early next year in the new Brisbane tournament. My feelings on this tournament are mixed - it's replacing the Gold Coast and Adelaide events, with which there was nothing wrong, unless you count that flirtation with round robin that Adelaide had a couple of years back - but the field will be good, if nothing else. Djokovic, Tsonga and Baghdatis are all confirmed starters, as are Stosur and Ivanovic. Not that one expects much from Ivanovic these days. But the Tomic debut - should he get the wildcard he is expected to get - will be very exciting. I don't expect him to win or anything, but I think he'll prove an interesting handful. He'll certainly be much more interesting than Marko Djokovic, at any rate.

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Today's Results

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Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (Madrid)

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Rafael Nadal def. Ernests Gulbis, 7-5 3-6 6-3

Andy Murray def. Simone Bolelli, 6-0 2-1 retired

Gilles Simon def. James Blake, 3-6 6-1 6-4

Marin Cilic def. Fernando Verdasco, 6-2 6-3

Richard Gasquet def. Mardy Fish, 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-3

Gael Monfils def. Fabio Fognini, 6-2 6-4

Marcel Granollers def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-4 6-4

Jarkko Nieminen def. Mikhail Youzhny, 7-5 3-6 6-2

Philipp Kohlschreiber def. Carlos Moya, 6-2 6-2

Robby Ginepri def. Michael Llodra, 6-4 6-4

Robin Soderling def. Florent Serra, 6-3 6-4

Victor Hanescu def. Dmitry Tursunov, 4-6 6-2 6-3

Feliciano Lopez def. Albert Montanes, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

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Tennis.com Zurich Open (Zurich)

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Agnieszka Radwanska def. Vera Dushevina, 6-4 6-1

Petra Kvitova def. Patty Schnyder, 6-4 3-6 6-4

Monica Niculescu def. Anna Chakvetadze, 3-6 6-3 6-2

Marion Bartoli def. Agnes Szavay, 6-4 6-0

Francesca Schiavone def. Caroline Wozniacki, 7-6 (7-3) 6-2

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Li Na, 6-2 6-4

That Strange Unfinished Feel

Very little to report on today... mostly because very little happened. Only six matches were played in Madrid, and none of the results were particularly unexpected... that said, I only picked four of them correctly in the bracket challenge. But, you know, some of them were hard picks.

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Like Simon vs. Andreev. I mean, who are you going to pick in that one? They couldn't decide who was going to win - Andreev had four match points. I had picked him to win, but Simon came through in the end. If that had been a five set match, that one could have been a thriller. I mean, as a three set match it looked like a bit of a thriller, what the nail-biting final set breaker. I hate final set breakers, I have to say - I think it is the stupidest way of deciding matches. Well, not stupid, I guess - I have no issues with breakers used in other sets - but I just feel that if the match is that close, then you are obligated to keep it going on until someone wins properly, if that makes sense. Imagine if that amazing Nadal/Federer match at Wimbledon had been decided with a fifth set breaker. That would have been tragic. Actually, remember the final at Rome in 2006, decided with a fifth set breaker. The match was five hours already, but it deserved longer. Someone wins the breaker, for sure, but the match is left with a strange unfinished feel...

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Meanwhile, Tomas Berdych is looking in good form, which is interesting, because we haven't seen that for a while. Maybe that win in Tokyo was a harbinger of good things to come. Rainer Schuettler isn't a schlep - he is, we must remember, a Wimbledon semifinalist - but Berdych totally owned him. I'd like to see Berdych do well. He's a good indoor player, I do believe - remember that year when Federer won four Masters events and Nadal won four, and then neither of them played Paris? Berdych won it. I'm not saying I necessarily want him to replicate that - we all know I want Federer to win, to take out the double, especially as he hasn't won any Masters events this year - but it'd be nice to see him do well.

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Same thing with my boy Marin Cilic, who had a good win as well, beating Olivier Rochus in straights. Rochus might not be the mightiest player on the circuit, but Cilic is being consistent and not taking any weird losses, and that's all I can ask of him. This kid is on the way up, big time.

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Someone I thought was on the way up but keeps losing early, which is disappointing, is Alize Cornet, who lost to Alona Bondarenko in Zurich. It was another final set breaker - damn those breakers - but really, come on, Alize. Let's see you making good on all that talent!

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Today's Results

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Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (Madrid)

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Mardy Fish def. Steve Darcis, 6-1 6-4

Simone Bolelli def. Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (7-4) 6-1

Gilles Simon def. Igor Andreev, 4-6 6-1 7-6 (9-7)

Marin Cilic def. Olivier Rochus, 6-3 7-5

Tommy Robredo def. Andreas Seppi, 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-3

Tomas Berdych def. Rainer Schuettler, 6-1 6-2

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Tennis.com Zurich Open (Zurich)

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Maria Kirilenko def. Daniela Hantuchova, 7-5 6-2

Victoria Azarenka def. Amélie Mauresmo, 6-2 6-1

Alona Bondarenko def. Alizé Cornet, 1-6 6-3 7-6 (8-6)

Far Away, So Close

No joy, yet again. Marat, Marat, Marat. If only he could have won the other one of those breakers. Far away, so close. All I want is for to win a title - one little title! Is that so much to ask? But no. Even though he's beaten Igor Kunitsyn three times in recent history, not this time. Not this time, when it really, you know, matters.

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Sigh. One day, Marat will come through for me. One day. And he got to the final, and he beat some quality players on the way. I guess I'll just have to be content with that.

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Igor Kunitsyn was not the only first-time winner this weekend - how 'bout Philipp Petzschner, who pulled a Darcis in Vienna? It's always good fun when a qualifier comes up through the draw and wins it. Much as I did want Safin to win in Moscow, it's nice to see the little guys doing well - sharing the love, I guess. Not that that happened everywhere this week - Nalbandian won in Stockholm, and though Soderling took a set off him, GoodDave (for 'twas he) never really looked like losing. It will be very interesting to see how he goes in Madrid this week, defending his title - are we going to get another late surge? It would certainly shake things up in Davis Cup: and we all know how keen I am to see a Nadal/Nalbandian clash!

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And it's good to see Jelena Jankovic really deserving her position as #1 - she really owned that tournament in Moscow this week. Is she going to be the one to close it out this year? It's been such a roller coaster ride over there!

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Back to the blokes, and I am two for two so far in the bracket challenge for Madrid! The opponents for Roger and Rafa have been decided - Roger will face scary Radek Stepanek, the creepy guy, but, much more interestingly for us here at Tennis From The Backseat, Rafa's playing Ernests Gulbis, who had a good win over Nicolas Kiefer. I've picked Ernests to upset Rafa, which is probably more wishful thinking than anything else: but I can dream! Swanboy is certainly going to beat him one day - so why not this week?

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Today's Results

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Kremlin Cup (Moscow)

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Men's Draw

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Igor Kunitsyn def. Marat Safin, 7-6 (8-6) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3

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Women's Draw

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Jelena Jankovic def. Vera Zvonareva, 6-2 6-4

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If Stockholm Open (Stockholm)

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David Nalbandian def. Robin Soderling, 6-2 5-7 6-3

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Bank Austria Tennis Classic (Vienna)

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Philipp Petzschner def. Gael Monfils, 6-4 6-4

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Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid (Madrid)

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Radek Stepanek def. Juan Monaco, 6-1 6-1

Ernests Gulbis def. Nicolas Kiefer, 5-7 6-4 7-5

Praying for the Dinara Magic

Well, it's a rare tournament in which Marat Safin does better than his little sister, but he's done it this time. To be fair, he didn't have to do much - I thought he could beat Mischa Zverev as long as he didn't have a total collapse, but it turns out he didn't need to: he got handed a walkover. So it's Safin in the final - God, this must be his first final in a while - where he'll play Igor Kunitsyn. Now, he is totally capable of beating Kunitsyn. He has beaten Kunitsyn three times - and this is all in 2006 and 2007, which were definitely not Marat's best years. If he plays well, he can beat Kunitsyn with his eyes closed. Whether he does or not is another matter. We can just cross our fingers and hope some of that Dinara magic wears off.

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Not that the Dinara magic worked too well for Dinara herself this time round - she got beaten in straight sets by Vera Zvonareva. But I suppose the girl can't have all the Tier I love. She's being kind and sharing it around - and being so nervous for Marat she forgets about herself. That's my theory, anyway. I am not unduly bothered. Dinara is still my favourite female player.

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Though what a weird match the other women's semi was, Jankovic vs. Dementieva? What kind of score is 0-6 6-1 6-0? Did something happen to Dementieva - or did Jankovic just ratchet it up? If that's the case, she's got one hell of a gear shift.

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Kei Nishikori also went out today - he got pretty convincingly crushed by Robin Soderling. Oh well, can't win 'em all, I guess: and to get to the semis ain't no mean feat. It'd be nice to see Soderling actually do something and win a title, to tell the truth - he's one of those dangerous floaters in a draw, but he never actually wins anything, so he's never seeded, which is a shame, because he certainly has a lot of ability. I would like him to win the final... I certainly don't want David Nalbandian to go on one of those indoor court hot streaks again - though it would make for a very interesting Davis Cup final (now being played at Mar del Plata. Go figure.)

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And kudos also to Philipp Petzschner, the qualifer than beat top seed Stan Wawrinka in Vienna this week, and who is now in the final. He plays Gael Monfils. Personally, I'm cheering for the underdog. Go Philipp! I have never heard of you and have no idea what kind of tennis you play, but I'm cheering for you, man. Pull a Darcis!

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And big congratulations also go to the winners of the Optus under-16 Australian Championships, Elizabeth Searl and Jason Kubler. Here's hoping that we have another couple here that will make it big, when the time is right - join the Tomic revolution!

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Today's Results

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Kremlin Cup (Moscow)

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Men's Draw

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Marat Safin def. Mischa Zverev, walkover

Igor Kunitsyn def. Fabrice Santoro, 6-4 6-3

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Women's Draw

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Jelena Jankovic def. Elena Dementieva, 0-6 6-1 6-0

Vera Zvonareva def. Dinara Safina, 6-2 7-6 (7-5)

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If Stockholm Open (Stockholm)

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David Nalbandian def. Jarkko Nieminen, 6-2 6-1

Robin Soderling def. Kei Nishikori, 6-1 6-0

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Bank Austria Tennis Classic (Vienna)

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Gael Monfils def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-2)

Philipp Petzschner def. Feliciano Lopez, 3-6 6-3 6-3

A Good Day in the Safin(a) Household

Well, I bet it's a happy night tonight in the Safin(a) household. Both Marat and Dinara had great wins today, against excellent fellow Russians - Dinara took out Svetlana Kuznetsova, which is hardly surprising, considering Kuznetsova's recent headcaseness and Dinara's lack of it, but more surprisingly, the big guy took out Nikolay Davydenko, to whom he has lost, like, nine hundred times in a row. This puts Marat in the semis of an event - something we don't see often and haven't seen since (I can't believe I'm saying this) Wimbledon.

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He's playing Mischa Zverev next, which is a match you think he ought to be able to win, though you never know with Marat. I place no bets and make no claims. I merely hope. I hope sincerely that the wheels don't fall off and that this win over Davydenko wasn't all he had left in the tank. I hope that Dinara has a good talk to him about focus, because she has plenty and to spare.

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It's a pretty strange set of semi-finalists in Moscow, actually - Safin is the only seed left. In the other semi, there's Santoro (of whom I am very fond, as he plays fun tennis) and Kunitsyn. There's a shot at an all-Russian final, which I'm sure would make the organisers happy. Actually, over in the girls, an Russian final is a possibility as well - Jankovic is the odd duck out among Safina, Zvonareva and Dementieva. You'd like Jankovic to get the final - but then, you never know when she's going to injure herself and the suchlike.

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Elsewhere, I am glad that my Star Kei Nishikori got through - with the demise of Jeremy Chardy, he's the only one left - but I wish it didn't have to be this way. He got a walkover against Ancic, who's out with bronchitis and a fever. Poor Super Mario - I hope he's okay. He's a bad time of it with the illness and all - I know the glandular fever knocked Federer about, but it has messed with Ancic big time, the poor guy. The team here at Tennis From The Backseat (...ie. me...) wish him a heartfelt get well soon!

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Speaking of Federer, I'm glad he's playing Madrid next week - I want him to defend his points, and make better on them, if he can. Rafa has a good chance of extending his lead, as he rarely does well in the indoor court season and thus has little to defend and a lot to gain, and I'd rather not see that lead get too much bigger, for much as I like Rafa, Roger is my special favourite and always will be.

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Meanwhile, on the front page of today's Sydney Morning Herald is some nefarious plot from Sydney to steal the Australian Open when Melbourne's contract expires in 2016 - and apparently Shanghai, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have similar plans. I don't like this idea AT ALL. Much as having the Open in Sydney would be lightyears more convenient for me, it BELONGS in Melbourne. And if it were to move overseas... how I would ever see any tennis, ever? Yes, that's selfish, but I don't care. The Australian Open belongs in Melbourne, and that's all there is to it.

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Today's Results

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Kremlin Cup (Moscow)

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Men's Draw

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Marat Safin def. Nikolay Davydenko, 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-4

Fabrice Santoro def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-3 2-0 retired

Mischa Zverev def. Viktor Troicki, 6-4 3-6 7-5

Igor Kunitsyn def. Jeremy Chardy, 6-4 6-2

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Women's Draw

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Jelena Jankovic def. Flavia Pennetta, 7-6 (8-6) 6-3

Dinara Safina def. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-4 7-5

Elena Dementieva def. Nadia Petrova, 6-4 4-6 7-6 (8-6)

Vera Zvonareva def. Dominika Cibulkova, 7-5 6-4

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If Stockholm Open (Stockholm)

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David Nalbandian def. Albert Montanes, 6-4 6-1

Kei Nishikori def. Mario Ancic, walkover

Jarkko Nieminen def. Oscar Hernandez, 6-1 6-4

Robin Soderling def. Rainer Schuettler, 6-2 7-5

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Bank Austria Tennis Classic (Vienna)

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Gael Monfils def. Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3 7-6 (7-2)

Philipp Kohlschreiber def. Fernando Verdasco, 6-2 6-3

Feliciano Lopez def. Jurgen Melzer, 4-6 6-3 6-4

Philipp Petzschner def. Carlos Moya, 6-4 6-2