Not Forgetting Richou

Wow. What a terrible day for Australia in the qualies for the Open. Only one Aussie got through (one, out of both men and women!) and that was Peter Luczak. Here's hoping Mr Milkshake can win through to the actual tournament, because otherwise that's just a bit ridiculous for Australian tennis! We have some great players in through the discretionary wildcard system, but you'd hope for at least one qualifier!

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Kooyong yesterday was an absolute nailbiter - the Federer/Verdasco match, I mean. Federer was clearly playing well within himself, experimenting, trying a few things out, etc, etc, but Nando played a great match after beign 5-0 down in the first to take it to a third set breaker. You'd have to say that Roger never looked like losing, but the scoreline belies it, and so kudos to Nando on a great match. It's going to be interesting to watch his progress at the Open... and I'd back him over whomever he faces in the playoff for third here at Kooyong, whether it's Wawrinka or Gonzo. And obviously you've got to back the Fed over either of those guys, so it's going to be an interesting final... which I probably won't be able to watch because I'll be at work. Le sigh. At least I'll see them all in the flesh next week at the Open!

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Sydney, and man did Serena lie down for Elena Dementieva! It always amazes me that Dementieva is ranked as high as she is with that serve of hers (which, granted, is improved, but is still a joke compared to most of the other serves on tour) but Serena totally failed to capitalise and Dementieva smashed her like a guitar. It's going to be interesting - Dinara Safina had a bit of trouble against the wily veteran Ai Sugiyama, but brought it in the major points. So who do you back? Elegant Elena or Dinara the freight train? They split big matches last year - Dinara had her number at the French Open, but Elena won the gold medal. I'm backing Dinara on this one, but I think it's on her racquet. If she gets in a rut like Serena did, Elena will sail away with the title. But I don't think Dinara will do that. She's a bit too determined, even if she can be scatty at times.

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And I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Richard Gasquet is going to come away with the title this week in the men's at Sydney. Tsonga is out with injury (man, I hope he's okay for the Open!) and the three remaining out contenders are Djokovic, Nalbandian and Nieminen. I think Gasquet, if he plays the way he has been, can take all three of them, particularly with Djokovic's racquet change and ensuing discomfort. The one to watch will be Nalbandian, but even though he beat Hewitt, I wasn't especially impressed with his play... so I'm backing Richou. Even though he fell out of favour last year what with his tanties and his headcaseness, it would be nice to see him climb back up the rankings some... strange to think, isn't it, that he usedto be France's #1? Tsonga and Simon both catapulted past him last year, and everyone pretty much forgot about Richou. Maybe he's not ready to be forgotten just yet...

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Today's Results

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AAMI Classic (Kooyong)

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Marcos Baghdatis def. Ivan Ljubicic, 7-6 (7-3) 6-4

Roger Federer def. Fernando Verdasco, 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5)

Marin Cilic def. Carlos Moya, 6-3 7-6 (7-1)

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Medibank International (Sydney)

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Men's Draw

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Novak Djokovic def. Mario Ancic, 6-3 6-4

Jarkko Nieminen def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, walkover

David Nalbandian def. Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (7-3) 7-5

Richard Gasquet def. Jeremy Chardy, 6-2 7-6 (7-4)

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Women's Draw

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Elena Dementieva def. Serena Williams, 6-3 6-1

Dinara Safina def. Ai Sugiyama, 6-4 7-6 (7-3)

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Heineken Open (Auckland)

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Juan Martin del Potro def. Viktor Troicki, 6-3 6-2

David Ferrer def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, walkover

Sam Querrey def. Nicolas Almagro, 6-3 6-2

Robin Soderling def. John Isner, 6-4 6-4

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Moorilla Hobart International (Hobart)

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Iveta Benesova def. Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-1 6-3

Petra Kvitova def. Virginie Razzano, 6-4 6-2