Yeah, I'm Not Gloating Any More

Oh hiiiiiiiiiiiiii, Mr Federer. Yeah, you. I'm looking at you.

Remember how you played all those awesome matches this week? Remember how you humbled Soderling, spanked Djokovic? When you get into a final, you have to keep playing awesome. Small tip. Not brainfart a match away.

This was easily the worst match Roger has played all tournament and it was extremely annoying. I know he doesn't have the sort of issues with Murray that he has with Soderling and Djokovic at the moment - there's no revenge motif - but dude, giving him confidence = not a good idea. Winning tournaments = awesome. Losing four finals in a year = not awesome.

Like I said yesterday, I think Murray needed to win this one a lot more than Federer. And maybe it's good that Federer lost it so spectacularly, because in a way, Roger beat himself. Andy didn't. I think Murray would have taken much more psychological benefit away from a tight fought three setter where he triumphed than this easy win over SketchyFed (aka Ferd).

But a win is a win and Murray will take what he can get. Will this have any bearings on the Slams? Probably not. But Murray will be glad to tag Federer before the year is out and try to undo some of that Australian Open damage, that is for sure.

And Roger, really?! After those awesome performances this week, you had to give me this? Dude.

Yeah, I'm Gloating

I'm not going to gloat.

Okay, maybe I am going to gloat a bit. SUCK ON THAT, NOVAK DJOKOVIC!

Yeah, yeah, Roger didn't play THAT well, and he'd swap finals - Shanghai for New York - any day. But he won. And that bitchslap - before 2011 starts - is very important. I'm sure Roger will want to finish the year victorious over all his nearest rivals. Consider yourself tagged, Novak.

I don't think this will really affect Djokovic - or Roger, really - that much. Neither is the other's bitch, and this match isn't going to change anything. But a win over a dude who beat him so heartbreakingly is only going to be good for Roger. And, oh yeah, he got the #2 spot back. AWESOME.

Next up: Murray. Considering he beat Monaco in the semis, Federer is in a bit of a different class. That said, we're never going to count Murray out of anything. This match will be interesting - Federer will be almost as keen to tag Murray as he was Djokovic, but if Murray ends up triumphing, I don't think it will have much bearing on their relationship where it really counts: the Slams.

So much as Roger will be keen to win this one, I think it's a little more important for Murray to win it. He'll be keen to get one back and end 2010 with a bit of a victory over the Federer Express. Will it undo the damage done at the Australian Open? Probably not. But it will important for Murray to get his head a little bit in the game. Just a crack.

Shanghai Showdown Special

Well, I said that Melzer couldn't keep his level up, but I thought he'd at least manage to beat Juan Monaco after defeating Rafa Nadal. Everything I said about Melzer yesterday still stands - this is far and away the best year of his career - but come on, Jurgen, you can do better than that.

Consistency is the name of the game, I suppose, and these streaky players could really do with a dose of the Wozniackis every once in a while.

Meanwhile, we had the Federer/Soderling showdown (I'm pretty sure every match of theirs from now on is going to be characterised as a showdown) and it was not very showdown-y. It was a very one sided affair... and that side was Soderling. Yes, Federer won the match, but could Soderling have played any worse?

It is not Federer's fault that Soderling lost this match. Sure, he contributed - he didn't play badly or anything, but it was hardly GodFed - but Soderling defeated himself in this match. He served awfully, hit awful strokes, made awful decisions and just pretty much played awfully. I don't know if he's got what Djokovic used to have - remember how he played for the #2 ranking like, 100 times, and never got anywhere? Maybe Soderling has the same with the prospect of overtaking Murray so tantalisingly close. I don't know. But something was up, and it didn't feel like injury. It felt like one giant brainfart.

Next up we have Murray/Monaco, which should pretty much be a snoozefest - if Murray loses this match, he is in worse shape than even the most dire naysayer would think - and Federer/Djokovic, which should be very interesting indeed. Like Federer/Soderling, any match these two play is going to be a showdown for a while. I don't know how significant the result would be - I'm hesitant to put too much weight on a single match - but it will be interesting to see who triumphs, no doubt about it.

A Melzer Moment

The biggest thing to come out of today's showdown in Shanghai is not that Rafa Nadal lost a match. People will probably jump up and down and be all RAFA'S DECLINE about it, but at the end of the day, this was no biggie for the Rafinator and I don't think it indicates too much about him and his form.

No, the biggest thing to come out of today was that Jurgen Melzer won a match. He won a match against an excellent player and he did it with panache.

You know what this match reminded me of? It reminded me of that match last year where Benneteau played an absolute screamer of a match against Federer, and there just wasn't much Roger could do about it. In the best of three sets arena, there is always going to be a guy that comes out not just red, but white hot - ablaze, an inferno of a man, and even if you are the best player in the world, you just can't do much about it.

That was Jurgen Melzer today.

I don't think Melzer can keep that standard up, purely because no one can keep that standard up. But this has been the year of his tennis career. He made the semis of a Slam - I sure never picked that one! - has had some excellent victories, and now he's played his ultimate game to beat the best player in the world right now. He's really made good on his talent and potential this year. And if he continues playing at a not-quite-this-good level, he could even win this tournament.

Spare a moment for Jurgen Melzer. This match is going to get talked about from a Rafa-centric perspective, the way any match is talked about when a big player loses. But remember - Rafa didn't lose this match. Jurgen won it. And what sweet, sweet victory it was.

An Unadulterated Pleasure

Daddy's home.

Roger Federer looked absolutely sublime today in his win over John Isner. I don't think I've seen him play better all year, except maybe - just maybe - in the Australian Open final. This was vintage stuff - old school Federer putting the beatdown on his opponents just by being awesome.

I've been cheating on Roger a bit with Rafa lately - paeans of praise-wise - but oh Roger baby, you will always be #1 in my heart. There is no tennis experience that compares to watching Roger Federer play well. David Foster Wallace was right on the money when he described it as being a religious experience.

Isner did not play badly - not at all. But how can you compete with the hungry awesomeness that was Roger today? He wants to win - this we can see clearly. And he's got his mojo back, at least for the next little while. And he's making the tweener his most consistent shot - seriously, do you think he practices them like he does forehands and backhands and serves?

It's been a long time since we've been able to simply gush about Federer. We got that opportunity today. Well done, Roger! Keep it up!

Downhill for A-Rod

We've got to the point in Andy Roddick's career where people start asking if it's the end of the line.

Me personally? I think A-Rod's got a bit of tennis left him in yet. I even think he's got a few more top ten year-end finishes left in him. But I don't think he has another Slam in him. Not even close. He might have another semi or two left, but a final? Nuh-uh.

It's sad but true - Roddick's best chance, and his last chance, came at Wimbledon last year. When he lost that match 16-14 in the fifth, he was effectively losing any chance he had to win another Slam. Even if he had won that match, I don't think it would have spurred him on to more Slams. It was the difference between being a one-Slammer and a two-Slammer, and unfortunately for Andy, he's going to finish up his career on one.

Andy's been pretty good with the injuries over the years, so it's sad to see him suffering now. This is the second year he's missed the end of year championships, and I don't know how many more he has in him. Hopefully he can recover so he can put up a good showing - though we know it's not going to be a Slam-winning one - in 2011.

Not the Second Coming

It is just not Fernando Verdasco's year.

This said, does anyone else feel like FeVer is a little bit, well... overrated? He had one outstanding tournament at the Aussie Open last year. He played Rafa tighter than he will ever play him again. I feel very comfortable making this claim. But since then - a few minor tournaments aside - FeVer just ain't all that.

He's not a bad player - not even close. He's not even mediocre. He's just not the Second Coming of Rafa that everyone seems to think he is. He's had some good results - some Slam quarters and whatnot. But I don't think FeVer's ever going to make a Slam final. I don't think he's even going to make semis again. I think he's doomed to more of the same - more small tournament victories and upset-but-not-upsetting early round losses to up and comers like Thiemo de Bakker.

The Second Coming of Rafa would take a couple of early losses, sure. All the greats do, every now and again. But FeVer takes so many of these early losses and he doesn't back them up with the wins. I don't know how close FeVer is to making the end of year championships but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he doesn't. I don't know what he's done to earn it.

And you know what? the expectation placed on his shoulders after AO '09 can't have been good for him. There must be one thing worse than being a Roger or a Rafa and having the weight of the world on your shoulders, pushing expectations uphill like Sisyphus. Imagine being Verdasco - imagine being called the Second Coming of Rafa when really, you're not. Not even close. That must be very, very painful.

Sam Slams It

She did it! She finally did it! After an awesomely fantastic breakthrough year, Sam Stosur has finally won her first title.

Now that makes me happy.

Sure, Osaka's not the most massive title in the history of the world, but it's all Sam's now. She really was overdue for this and I can't think of anyone else who deserves it more. Well done, Slammin' Sammy! May this be the beginning of a veritable flood of titles and general awesomeness!

I was also very pleased with the result of Linz, which saw US Open surprise package Yanina Wickmayer take out the title, beating Petra Kvitova in the final. She's got a whole lot of talent - and an awesome story, as we recall from those pressers in New York - and it's good to see her follow up her great run there with a bang. Looks like we might just have a Belgian trifecta at the beginning of next year - I doubt Wickmayer's going to lie down and let Clijsters and Henin take all the glory!

And then we have Kolya, Mr Cellophane himself. He played absolutely wonderfully to take out the Rafinator and there ain't much more to say than that. Is this the start of a Nalbandian-esque run? I don't know. It doesn't matter, really. But I am very glad that Kolya has another one of those glass shields to add to his Miami trophy. A dude as consistent as him deserves some pay off every once in a while. So awesome work, Kolya!


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Nikolay Davydenko def. Rafael Nadal, 7-6 (7-3) 6-3


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Yanina Wickmayer def. Petra Kvitova, 6-3 6-4


HP Open (Osaka)

Samantha Stosur def. Francesca Schiavone, 7-5 6-1

Mr Cellophane

It's funny the way that Nikolay Davydenko can sneak through draws. You completely forget he's in the tournament and then BAM! he's playing one of the big guys really tight in the quarters or the semis and you're wondering how you ever missed him.

Like this week in Shanghai. I had pretty much totally missed the fact he was even playing, and then suddenly he's playing a three hour epic with Djokovic and, you know, winning. He's clearly in a purple patch of form. But no one noticed.

This may or may not have something to do with the fact that he has the personality of wet cardboard. It's a skill, actually - he's cultivated a strong aura of anti-personality which allows him to slip under the radar time and time again, no matter who he's playing or how well he's doing it. I don't know. Maybe he's a wacky, crazy, kooky guy off court. But on court Kolya is... cardboard.

But he's tough cardboard, that's for sure. Not many gusy could play Novak Djokovic that tight for that long and come out on top. He's got some grit and some steel and some shots and all those things that tennis players have. He has a crazy two-handed volley that makes him look like a Viking swinging an axe. The one thing he doesn't have is personality.

This is the season when David Nalbandian traditionally wakes up and goes on a tear. However, LameDave isn't around at the moment. Maybe this year it's Kolya's turn. You can see right through him, walk right by him - and oh no he just won the tournament!

Well, he hasn't won yet - he has to come through Rafa Nadal. But even though I'm a big Rafa fan - definitely more a Rafa fan than a Kolya fan - there's a part of me that would really like to see Kolya win this one. Just to mess with everyone's heads.

Oh, and a shoutout over to Sam Stosur in Osaka, who's in the final there after taking out top seed Caroline Wozniacki. Sam has a pretty bad record in finals - she's made a few, but lost them all - so here's hoping she can turn her bad finals mojo around!


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Rafael Nadal def. Feliciano Lopez, 6-1 3-0 retired
Nikolay Davydenko def. Novak Djokovic, 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-1)


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Yanina Wickmayer def. Flavia Pennetta, 7-6 (7-5) 6-3
Petra Kvitova def. Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-3 6-3


HP Open (Osaka)

Samantha Stosur def. Caroline Wozniacki, 6-0 4-6 6-4
Francesca Schiavone def. Sania Mirza, 6-2 6-1

Feliciano Makes A Mess

Nooooooooooooooo!

Argh, Feliciano Lopez, why did you do this to me? Why did you do it to the world? Don't you know how desperately we want to see a Rafa/Yoker grudge match! It's not faaaaaaaaaaair! You're so selfish, Feli!

Pout.

Okay, maybe some of this was Robin's fault as well, for, you know, losing. But really - and I mean no disrespect to Lopez here - but who is going to want to see him play Rafa when we could see a match between sworn enemies? Correct me if I'm wrong, but these two haven't played since that fateful day at Roland Garros. Who wouldn't want to see the rematch - the resurgent Robin, Nadal determined to wreak bloody vengeance.

It would have been so awesome. But oh no, Feliciano Lopez had to be all selfish and go and win. Sigh.

Kudos to Feli, of course, for winning a match against a tough opponent ranked so far above him. But Yoker, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?! Why must you torment us so?

I suppose once these two actually play, the tension (in the fan community, anyway) will be at such a peak that the match will explode in a festival of awesomeness... or, on second thoughts, fizzle out and be a total disappointment. But we can't know till they play, and they're avoiding each other MOST ANNOYINGLY!


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Rafael Nadal def. Ivan Ljubicic, 3-6 6-3 retired
Novak Djokovic def. Gilles Simon, 6-3 2-6 6-2
Nikolay Davydenko def. Radek Stepanek, 6-1 4-6 6-1
Feliciano Lopez def. Robin Soderling, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Flavia Pennetta def. Ioana Raluca Olaru, 7-5 6-2
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Lucie Safarova, 6-3 7-6 (11-9)
Yanina Wickmayer def. Sara Errani, 7-5 6-3
Petra Kvitova def. Carla Suarez Navarro, 7-5 6-4


HP Open (Osaka)

Caroline Wozniacki def. Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-2
Sania Mirza def. Marion Bartoli, 6-4 2-0 retired
Samantha Stosur def. Jill Craybas, 6-1 6-3
Francesca Schiavone def. Melinda Czink, walkover

Adding Insult To Injury

This spate of injuries is really getting old.

We lost Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils today through retirement, meaning that one quarter of today's matches ended in injury and walking off the court. I know it's not exactly their fault that they're injured and I could use this to prompt a discussion on the schedule and stuff, but guys, really? If you're that injured, why are you playing?

I didn't see the matches so I don't know whether they were carrying these injuries into the match or whether they became injured in the course of a match. Injured in the course of a match I get - ain't nothing you can do about that. But if you know your body can't go the distance for the tournament, then you shouldn't play. Roger Federer (all hail) said once that he doesn't retire - if he's injured, he just doesn't walk on court. I think this is a really good way to do things - in fact, it's the way he's done things this week. He's still sore and needs rest, so he didn't play.

Let's face it - the guys in the top fifty are not the only tennis players in the world. There are people playing qualies and pre-qualies for tournaments like these that must gnash their teeth every time they see someone retire due to a carried injury. It's a waste of a spot and a waste of a match that these slightly lower-ranked guys would kill to play. And by half-heartedly committing to tournaments like this and then pulling out, the higher-ranked guys are wasting opportunities that these lower-ranked guys would kill off. It's rude to the lower-ranked guys and it's insulting to the tournament and to the sport.

If you're not prepared to play a full tournament, then don't step on the court. Because there are people who want to. Desperately.


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Rafael Nadal def. Tommy Robredo, 6-1 6-4
Novak Djokovic def. Rainer Schuettler, 6-4 6-2
Robin Soderling def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-3 6-3
Gilles Simon def. Tomas Berdych. 6-3 6-4
Nikolay Davydenko def. Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3 7-5
Ivan Ljubicic def. Gael Monfils, 6-2 3-0 retired
Radek Stepanek def. Stanislas Wawrinka, 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-2 retired
Feliciano Lopez def. Jurgen Melzer, 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-1


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Flavia Pennetta def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-3 4-6 6-2
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Alize Cornet, 6-4 7-5
Yanina Wickmayer def. Alexandra Dulgheru, 2-6 6-3 6-1
Lucie Safarova def. Urszula Radwanska, 6-4 6-4
Ioana Raluca Olaru def. Julia Goerges, 3-6 6-2 7-5


HP Open (Osaka)

Caroline Wozniacki def. Katie O'Brien, 6-0 6-1
Samantha Stosur def. Akiko Morigami, 6-1 6-2
Aleksandra Wozniak def. Chang Kai-Chen, 7-5 7-6 (7-2)
Jill Craybas def. Mathilde Johansson, 2-6 6-2 6-0

Age Before Beauty

Well, Marat is gone from China, and the march towards Bercy and his last tournament continues. Still, he didn't exactly roll down and die in his match against Berdych - a match of two headcases - and so I suppose I can be happy with that. I just don't want to think about a future with no Marat in it. Sigh.

We saw a couple of upsets today, most notably third seed and Grand Slam man Juan Martin del Potro go down to Jurgen Melzer, retiring down a set because of wrist issues. I will be very disappointed in Juan if he can't back up his US Open triumph - but if he's injured I suppose that's not his fault. Just another casualty of the season and the length and all those wacky things. So hasta la vista, Juan, and hopefully we'll see you back again by Bercy.

But the result I thought was reeeeeeeeally interesting was Ivan Ljubicic taking down Fernando Verdasco. It seems like a thousand years ago that Ljubicic was #3 in the world - it was only 2006, and he spent a while floating round the top ten before sliding down to the bottom half of the top fifty. But nonetheless, he's got a lovely game and ain't no one can take that away...

...however, with Nando's crushing groundies, I thought he'd pummel Ivan into submission. Ivan is definitely one of the grandpas of the tour (read: is in his thirties) and while that serve of his is smoking, I got the impression that he'd lost a leeeeeeetle power over the years. But, of course, what does that mean? If one can counterpunch effectively, one can do anything.

I didn't actually see the match so I'm not exactly qualified to comment, but I thought this was an interesting result. Not good for Nando in his bid to make it to the year-ending championships, but it's always nice to see one of the elder statesmen - particularly a really lovely, eloquent gentleman like Ljubicic - prevail.


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Rafael Nadal def. James Blake, 6-2 6-7 (4-7) 6-4
Novak Djokovic def. Fabio Fognini, 6-3 6-1
Jurgen Melzer def. Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5 2-1 retired
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Shao-Xuan Zeng, 6-3 6-3
Ivan Ljubicic def. Fernando Verdasco, 6-4 7-6 (8-6)
Gilles Simon def. Viktor Troicki, 6-3 6-4
Robin Soderling def. Nicolas Almagro, 6-4 7-5
Gael Monfils def. Lleyton Hewitt, 4-6 6-4 6-2
Tommy Robredo def. Florian Mayer, 4-6 7-6 (12-10) 6-4
Rainer Schuettler def. Tommy Haas, 6-4 retired
Feliciano Lopez def. David Ferrer, 4-6 7-5 6-1
Tomas Berdych def. Marat Safin, 3-6 6-4 6-4


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Yanina Wickmayer def. Timea Bacsinszky, 7-6 (8-6) 6-4
Alexandra Dulgheru def. Sybille Bammer, 6-3 6-1
Alize Cornet def. Kristina Barrois, 4-6 6-3 6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Monica Niculescu, 6-4 6-2
Sara Errani def. Tatjana Malek, 6-3 6-0
Petra Kvitova def. Iveta Benesova, 6-4 7-5
Carla Suarez Navarro def. Olga Govortsova, 6-3 6-4


HP Open (Osaka)

Melinda Czink def. Vania King, 6-4 6-2
Francesca Schiavone def. Yung-Jan Chan, 6-3 0-6 6-3
Sania Mirza def. Viktoriya Kutuzova, 6-4 6-3
Marion Bartoli def. Kurumi Nara, 6-1 6-1

Streaks of Disappointment

A couple of bizarro results at Shanghai overnight - one, Andy Roddick going out to Stan Wawrinka. I mean, sure, it was Andy Roddick going out on a retirement, but I seriously can't remember the last time Andy retired in a match. He's no Djokovic type, that's for sure, so there must be something pretty wrong with him.

He's been bitching a lot about the schedule lately (which is, in my opinion, fair enough, even though as a fan I want to see as much tennis as possible) and maybe this is part of the reason why. Nevertheless, get well soon, Andy. I want to see you at the Masters' Cup. After what you did at Wimbledon, you deserve it. And Stan, may your progression through the draw now be speedy and swift, like a knife through hot butter. With Papa Bear out looking after the kids, you're my main Swiss man. Don't let me down.

The other result which I thought was more disappointing than actually bizarre was Cilic going out to Berdych. Here, we have yet another example of what a streaky, streaky player Mighty Marin is, and it makes me sad. He should be winning these matches because, let's face it, Berdych is a headcase too. In fact, I'd venture to say that Berdych is a HUGE headcase, and Mighty Marin, despite his streakiness, has not yet reached those epic levels. So to see him go out was disappointing.

I think it was more disappointing because it was tight - three sets, 6-4 in the third - and pretty hotly contested throughout. Marin is ranked higher than Tomas for a reason, and it should be because he has the ability to tough out matches like that.

Maybe I'm being too hard on him. He had a big week last week, after all. But gosh darn it, I love that kid. And I want to see him do well.


Today's Results

Shanghai ATP Masters 1000 (Shanghai)

Robin Soderling def. Victor Hanescu, 6-3 6-4
Gael Monfils def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, 6-2 6-2
Tomas Berdych def. Marin Cilic, 7-6 (10-8) 3-6 6-4
Tommy Haas def. Benjamin Becker, 7-6 (7-5) 6-4
Jurgen Melzer def. Jeremy Chardy, 6-4 6-4
Lleyton Hewitt def. John Isner, 6-2 6-4
Ivan Ljubicic def. Julien Benneteau, 6-3 3-6 6-1
Nicolas Almagro def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-7 (2-7) 6-1 7-6 (8-6)
Viktor Troicki def. Juan Monaco, 6-1 6-2
Stanislas Wawrinka def. Andy Roddick, 3-4 retired
Nikolay Davydenko def. Igor Kunitsyn, 6-4 6-2
Fernando Gonzalez def. Thomaz Bellucci, 6-3 6-4
Radek Stepanek def. Andreas Beck, 7-5 6-4


Generali Ladies Linz (Linz)

Flavia Pennetta def. Meghann Shaughnessy, 6-1 6-1
Iveta Benesova def. Stephanie Gehrlein, 7-5 6-0
Julia Goerges def. Sorana Cirstea, 6-3 6-3
Lucie Safarova def. Patricia Mayr, 6-2 6-1
Sara Errani def. Arantxa Parra Santonja, 6-2 6-3
Anna-Lena Groenefeld def. Roberta Vinci, 7-5 6-1
Olga Govortsova def. Petra Martin, 6-2 6-7 (7-9) 6-2
Tatjana Malek def. Aravane Rezai, 7-5 7-5


HP Open (Osaka)

Caroline Wozniacki def. Ayumi Moritam 6-4 6-1
Marion Bartoli def. Galina Voskoboeva, 6-3 7-5
Samantha Stosur def. Alexandra Panova, 602 604
Aleksandra Wozniak def. Sophie Ferguson, 6-1 7-5
Vania King def. Julie Coin, 2-6 6-3 6-4
Jill Craybas def. Kimiko Date Krumm, 6-2 2-6 6-4
Chang Yung-Jan def. Carly Gullickson, 6-1 6-1
Akiko Morigami def. Anastasia Rodionova, 6-4 4-6 6-2
Chang Kai-Chen def. Tamarine Tanasugarn, 7-5 6-1
Kurumi Nara def. Chanelle Scheepers, 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-2

Tennis, Day to Day

What a sour end to what has been an interesting year. It really hasn't been the year I was hoping for - I was hoping for another year of Federer domination - but it has been interesting, nonetheless, with a massive swathe of first time winners, the emergence of Murray, Tsonga and del Potro at the top of the rankings, and a few future major stars like Gulbis and Cilic (and even Tomic) making their first marks. But this is really a sour, sour end. Djokovic winning the Masters Cup. Ugh.

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I suppose he had a bit to invest in it, after his pathetic showing last year... and I suppose he wanted to prove that he wasn't Mr. 2007, someone who had a big breakout season, cemented it early in a Slam and then faded away a bit - because he has been fading. If, at their current level of play, you pitted Djokovic against Murray in a cagematch, Murray would win. But I suppose I can't always get what you want... and if the tennis season played out to my desire, it would probably be a bit boring for anything else.

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If we can learn one thing from the Masters Cup this year - Shanghai and Doha, really - is that although it should be a microcosm of the season, it really isn't. Sure, Federer's won some Masters Cups in years where he has been the Master, but if you look at the people he's played in the final... Blake, Ferrer, etc, we can see it's not a microcosm at all. Men's tennis for the last few years has been a duopoly - the Federer/Nadal rivalry has grown into one of the greatest in sport. Lately, Djokovic and now Murray are muscling in on the scene, but when it comes down to it, it's those two. And we've never had a final like that. We've never seen Roger/Rafa in the final.

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And, although both are good players, the match this year that has been the essential match of the tour, the match at the core of it... it isn't the final of the Masters Cup. The match we're going to remember from this year is the Wimbledon final. Djokovic and Davydenko can't touch that, can't come near that. Neither is capable of anything like that level of play. So there's one thing we can learn. The Masters Cup should be a microcosm - and the way it's structured, it's in the best possible position to be, with the round robin and all, and the opportunity to lose a match and still win or what not. However, tennis is tennis. It's unpredictable. Though there are Masters, men that dominate the sport, a match is decided on the day. And it's the day to day that makes a tournament - even at the Masters Cup.

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Novak Djokovic def. Nikolay Davydenko, 6-1 7-5

Not Done, Not Yet

I think, in my opinion, that the Masters Cup final we are going to have tomorrow is the worst possible outcome. Of all the players to make it to the final, why, why, WHY did it have to be Djokovic and Davydenko?

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Let's start with Djokovic. Good tennis player, I grant you - he has the Slam to prove it. But he has the most repellent personality I can remember in tennis. John McEnroe was an angry little man, but Djokovic is an immature, rude, disrespectful little prat. It takes more than a good tennis game to make a champion, to make a Master, which is what the winner of the Masters Cup ought to be. Djokovic is a good player, but by these standards, he is not a Master. And even his game is not that impressive right now - though he did get through to the Masters final, so I guess he has something for him. But that was a tight one he played against Simon - and we all know his fatigue issues. Can he hold up?

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Davydenko, on the other hand, played a superb match. Djokovic beat him in the round robin stage, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if Davydenko pulled out the big one and took the final. I think I'd prefer that - Djokovic has played better tennis this year, but if you look at his career, Davydenko deserves a really big title, and outside a Slam, this is the best you can have. Not that I in any way am a Kolya groupie, because we all know my attitude to his attitude about tennis. At least Djokovic has never come out and said that he hates tennis and is over it and whatever, which, when Kolya said, I found very disrespectful to the game in general and his opponents in particular. But he seems to have screwed his head on a bit now, and though he hasn't been playing brilliantly of late - certainly not since the appearance of Murray - he's been steadily improving.

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In that sense, his victory over Murray is quite symbolic. Davydenko used to be entrenched at #4, the best of the rest position. Murray has not only taken over that spot, but made a play to be included in the best, instead of the rest. Maybe his big victory is his way of saying he's not done just yet. In that case, I want Davydenko to win. This time last year, Djokovic was the Murray. And Kolya's got a bit of tennis in him yet - even if he didn't believe it himself for a while.

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Still, I'm not happy about this final. It should be Roger/Rafa. But I guess tennis is essentially unpredictable, and it's the best man on the day that comes through - even in the Masters Cup.

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Nikolay Davydenko def. Andy Murray, 7-5 6-2

Novak Djokovic def. Gilles Simon, 4-6 6-3 7-5

To Be The Master

I guess it was kind of the fitting ending to the year, really. This is one year where we can safely say that Federer hasn't been the Master on the tour, and thus, I suppose he doesn't really deserve to win the Masters Cup. Still, it didn't stop it being disappointing.

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The real Master this year has been Rafa Nadal, but he also has no chance of winning this week, what with injury. The four semi-finalists now are Djokovic (spit spit), Davydenko, Murray and Simon. I think out of those four, we can say that Murray probably deserves it most. He is the only person thus far undefeated (it was a tight match against Federer, but the Scot pulled it out) and with his run up the rankings, kind of reminiscent of what Djokovic did last year, he deserves a major title. Next to the Slams, the Masters Cup is probably the biggest title you can win - and I think we can say that of those four players, Murray is the current Master.

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I confess, I would rather have Murray win his breakout big title at the Masters Cup, rather than at one of the Slams. Last year, Djokovic totally bombed at the Masters Cup, but then won the Aussie Open. I'd rather Murray won his big one here than at the Aussie Open - that one I'm reserving for the Fed. Hopefully, after a long rest and a peaceful summer, he can come back and claim back that title - because it doesn't feel quite right when someone other than him holds that title. Not as wrong as someone else winning Wimbledon, but certainly up there.

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To sum up, I am disappointed that Roger didn't make it through, but c'est la vie. Let it provide motivation for a bigger, brighter and better year next year. My little brother is sitting next to me as I write this, and he just said, 'I bet Roger will win every single tournament he goes in next year.' I'm with him. 2009 ahoy!

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Red Group

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Andy Murray def. Roger Federer, 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-5

Gilles Simon def. Radek Stepanek, 6-1 6-4

Whipping Boy

I got my wish - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has totally made Novak Djokovic his bitch. Sure, Djokovic is through to the semis and Tsonga isn't, but I am so loving this record. In their last three meetings, Tsonga has whipped Djokovic's arse. I guess the Australian Open gave him sussing out time, and now he's riding that sweet ol' revenge train all the way home.

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I was totally wrong with my predictions for the Gold Group - I was positive that Tsonga and del Potro would get through. Davydenko has been so lacklustre all season (apart from that bright spot in Miami), Djokovic has been very unimpressive of late and Tsonga and del Potro have been on a major hot run. I guess it goes to show why Davydenko has been near the top of the game for so long, and why Djokovic has held onto that #3 position. Even when they're playing not so well, there's still a certain element of consistency.

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Not that I just paid Novak Djokovic a compliment, I would never do that.

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There's a story on the Tennis Australia website this morning about Federer's illness - apparently he has some stomach-bug or whatever - and they're making him look all despondent. He's been quoted as saying it'd be a 'miracle' if he got through to the semis what with him being ill, but reading the interview, I think he's taken out of context.

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"At the end of the day I still have a chance. I hope with a day of recovery, I'll make a miracle happen here and get through into the semis."

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This is what he said. However, I don't think he really means 'miracle' in the sense of something being actually miraculous, if that makes sense. Does anyone else think this is being blown way out of proportion? The stomach bug is also described as 'crippling' - but for someone crippled, he did a tidy job of putting the Worm away yesterday: and although the Worm isn't actually a qualifier, he doesn't, you know, actively suck. So I'm still hopeful for Federer. I don't think he'll need a miracle - just some of that ol' Roger magic.

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Gold Group

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga def. Novak Djokovic, 1-6 7-5 6-1

Nikolay Davydenko def. Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3 6-2

The Worm Does Shanghai

I'm sorry, but what is the Worm doing in Shanghai?

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It didn't occur to me yesterday when I was writing about Nicolas Kiefer being one of the alternates to think of whom the other one might be - stupid mistake, I know. But had I thought about it, I certainly wouldn't have picked Radek Stepanek, the scary man of tennis. Why did he decide to come, anyway? Shouldn't he be off ruining some female player's career, like he did with Hingis and Vaidisova? Or is he not done with Nicole yet?

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It certainly didn't look like the Worm was thinking about playing - it says he was on holiday in Thailand before coming to Shanghai. (In which case, was he actually an alternate? Or was he just the nearest convenient player? But Kiwi's in Shanghai - why not use him?) His tennis stuff got stuck at customs and he had to borrow a racquet from Novak Djokovic (imagine if he'd broken a string - would he kindly have asked Roger for a lend of one of his? On court?) and socks from Andy Murray and get an emergency prescription of contact lenses. Kudos to him for being so resourceful and stuff, but seriously, why him? You've got a perfectly good alternate in Kiwi - I presume he is actually in Shanghai as well. I just don't get it.

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None of this meant that the Worm actually did that well - Roger took him out in straights, keeping himself in contention for the semis. Now, all he has to do is beat Murray... and I suppose it would help if the Worm beat Simon. (How does that work, exactly? What is the tie system?) I hope Roger can pull it out against Andy - he's certainly capable of beating him, and this would level their head-to-head, instead of Andy pulling ahead 4-2. We certainly don't want Roger to acquire another Rafa, that's for sure!

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Speaking of Andy, he beat Simon pretty handily in the other Red Group match today - he's certainly looking the guy to beat. I suppose he will finish top of the group regardless (yes? no?) which is a shame, because I guess Djokovic will finish top of the other group, which means they couldn't possibly meet until the finals. As I want Roger in the final, this is not a good circumstance, and I would really like to see Andy take it to Novak. I don't think they've played since Murray has put himself up there as the fourth guy in the three-guy domination squad, and I would really like to see him challenge for that #3 spot. Not that he can take it, I think, but it would be nice to see a struggle begin which might be very intriguing all through next year...

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Red Group

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Roger Federer def. Radek Stepanek, 7-6 (7-4) 6-4

Andy Murray def. Gilles Simon, 6-4 6-2

Microcosm?

I am not pleased. No, I am not pleased at all.

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This loss to Gilles Simon from Federer followed exactly the same pattern as the last one - he stamped his authority on the match early on, then faded really, really badly. So badly, in fact, that Simon got handed the match. I am not pleased AT ALL.

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Of course, the Fed can still make it out of the round robin stage - he lost his first match last year as well, going down to Fernando Gonzalez. However, last year he didn't have Andy Murray in his group, against whom his three-set record is less than superlative, to say the least. So I am experiencing a great deal of concern. Rafa's already out - what a massive disappointment it would be to see Roger out too!

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I was talking yesterday about how the season ending championships should be a microcosm of the season, and I suppose that in that sense, Roger shouldn't win. However, the man that should win this year - Rafa, who stamped his dominance all over the tour - isn't even here. I think we can safely say that Roger is the second most deserving, what with his record in Slams - but perhaps Murray deserves it. Or even del Potro or Tsonga.

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One man that doesn't deserve it is Gilles Simon - not that he sucks or anything, but seriously, how did he even qualify? Which is why this loss is so galling. Come on, Roger. Step up to the plate. You're the master - prove it!

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Oh, and MAJOR TRAGEDY - Nadal is out of the Davis Cup final! I think you practically have to hand it to Argentina on a silver platter now. I can't see David Ferrer and Tommy Robredo overcoming David Nalbandian and Juan Martin del Potro. No way in hell.

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Red Group

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Gilles Simon def. Roger Federer, 4-6 6-4 6-3

Andy Murray def. Andy Roddick, 6-4 1-6 6-1

Anticlimax

Today was the last day of Doha (thank God) and the first day of Shanghai (hoping for a better showing than we got from the girls.) Let's start with Doha and get it out of the way, because it really has been spectacularly anticlimactic. It could have been so awesome, and it just wasn't.

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I don't think anyone was really surprised to see Venus take it over Vera - Vera's luck had to run out sometime, I guess (not that I'm attributing all her wins to luck, because she deserved them, but you get what I mean.) It did go three sets, which was good for the tournament, but it certainly had nothing on that titantic Henin/Sharapova clash last year, which has to be one of the best women's matches in recent history. Though the Vera story was great, and kudos to Venus as well, this really hasn't been a very telling tournament, in my opinion. Last year, you knew Henin was the champion. She was the one that dominated the year. You get that in Shanghai as well - just look at Federer's domination there. The season-ending championships is the sort of cherry on the cake tournament, confirming a player at the top. While Venus has been good this year, winning Wimbledon and all, if you asked me who was the dominant, hot player on the WTA circuit this year, I wouldn't pick her. Jankovic, maybe, or Safina, or even Serena, but not Venus. Doha just has not been demonstrative of this year in tennis. It should be like a microcosm of the year, and it hasn't been. The year certainly hasn't been a battle between Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva for supremacy, that's for sure.

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Over to Shanghai now, where we will hopefully have a much less depressing tournament - though both my opening picks have been wrong. Djokovic beat del Potro (his first ever victory at the Masters Cup) and Davydenko beat Tsonga. Juan M and Jo-W can still go through, but Novak and Kolya will need to do some serious losing. I wouldn't mind Kolya going through - he seems to have picked up his act since the whole 'I hate tennis' incident - but I would love to see Djokovic stuck in round robin again. Because I am mean like that.

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We have Federer/Simon and Roddick/Murray together. I'm picking Federer, obviously - even though Simon did win their last match, I think Roger's in a much better place now, and also he won't like losing twice in a row to the same guy. In the battle of the Andys, you have to go with Murray. I would be very surprised to see Roddick pull it out. And remember, it's China - he will be haunted by the Olympics he never went to. HAUNTED!

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Today's Results

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Tennis Masters Cup (Shanghai)

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Gold Group

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Novak Djokovic def. Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5 6-3

Nikolay Davydenko def. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 7-6 (7-0)

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Sony Ericsson Championships 2008 (Doha)

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Venus Williams def. Vera Zvonareva, 6-7 (5-7) 6-0 6-2