Strawberry Fields Forever

Okay, now I really am running out of pink-themed phrases. I might have to let it go now.

I don't think anyone was really expecting Federer to win this match, but I know he hoped he would. However, losing here is not the end of the world. He has the #2 ranking back for a week, and I don't think this will have damaged his confidence against Murray in the best-of-5 arena at all. And although he's played some really good stuff this week, he's also played some truly, truly dreadful tennis. And he still made the final. And that says something.

The emphasis is more here for Murray. He described this as one of the best weeks of his life, and while I don't want to call it a turning point for him, he did win his first title of the year and he did beat Nalbandian, Nadal and Federer en route, who arguably make up the other three of the top four US Open contenders. (Djokovic = arguable, in my book.)

And so what he gets here is confidence. What he gets here is momentum. And now the question is - what is he going to do with it?

A tiny part of me is glad Federer didn't play so well this week because I don't want him to peak too early. I don't want to say Murray is in danger of this - he doesn't have too many fitness issues - but he should just make sure he doesn't psychologically peak too early. Ask Sam Querrey - it's one thing to win the US Open series, quite another to win the US Open.

But this can be nothing but good for Murray. I feel like it's a pretty positive outcome for Federer as well. And I think we'll get a much clearer indication of where everyone stands when we move into Cincinatti next week... please, Roger, keep wearing that shirt. Strawberry fields forever. (Sorry. It had to be done.)

Rose Coloured Glasses

So that was pretty much one of the fugliest tennis matches ever. Mr Strawberry Swing might have come out on top, but it was not pretty. Not one little bit.

You very rarely hear the phrase 'winning ugly' applied to Federer, but that was what today was. In fact, you know, I don't know if it was that. It was getting very lucky that Djokovic was playing like a fourteen year old junior for last stretches of the match. Don't get me wrong, I am super glad he is in the final, but that level of tennis is not going to get you anywhere, Roger. Please do better tomorrow, honey.

But let's put on the rose coloured glasses. He's in the final! Woot! And he'll play Murray - and won't that be a match up. Murray hasn't won a title all year and Federer has won only one - the Australian Open. Beating Murray, and essentially breaking Murray for the rest of the year. These are the facts.

So it's going to be interesting. Muzz will want revenge, but how much is Roger still in his head? How far does that damage go? And if Muzz throws everything he has at this match and loses, I think that puts him in an even worse mental position. You can kiss goodbye to the rest of the US summer for him if that happens.

But if Murray wins - which he really should, if Federer plays anything like he did today - then this could renew him, revitalise him. The win against Rafa has got to count for something, but beating Roger would really vanquish some demons. If Murray wins, he becomes a big, BIG contender again. If he loses... I think he's broken. This match is more important, I think, for Murray than for Federer... but it is important for Federer too. Dude only has one win on the board. And even winning ugly - or winning fugly - is still winning. And we could use a win around here in the Federcamp.

Strawberry Swing

I didn't see the Federer match this morning. I'm glad, because I probably would have killed myself before the big pay off of the win. But I am very happy with the way it turned out.

Excuse me for a moment, I just have to be immature.

SUCK IT, TOMAS BERDYCH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ahem. I'm back now.

The strawberry swirl outfit Roger is currently rocking is clearly working for him, because, after having watched a few highlights, he played some awesome stuff in that match - in the first set in particular. He isn't exactly known for beating people with pace - and I hope he doesn't rely on this as his main weapon or anything - but some of the balls he sent past Berdych in that set were absolutely blistering. They made Berdych look a lumbering ogre. It was sweet stuff.

Obviously, he didn't keep it up for the whole match, or we wouldn't have seen a third set tiebreaker, but it was better stuff than I've seen from the Roginator for a long time. And we had a demonstration of 'BTW, Roger is gritty part 739812938' again. Like with Falla, people often forget that Roger is perfectly capable of rescuing himself from the brink of despair - and that's exactly what he did today.

It looks like he'll have Novak 'Bert from Sesame Street' Djokovic up next, and though Djokovic is playing really well currently against Chardy, it will be an interesting match that I think Fed is going to win (touch wood). How many 'the real #2' articles do you think we'll see?

So you go enjoy on of your top hundred ever wins, Roger. And you bring it - no, BRING IT - back tomorrow, baby.

Taking His Chances (And Yours Too)

Everything has been written about Rafael Nadal's game that could ever possibly be written. I don't mean that to break Rafa down to the sum of his parts or anything, but just as a comment on the sheer amount said and written about Rafa. We've talked about the forehand. We've talked about the movement. We've talked about the mental toughness. We've talked about all the things.

But one thing which is talked about, but probably not enough, is Rafa's ability to hang tough on all the big points. I cannot name one moment when I have seen that boy crack. And that, right there, is why he is one of the greats.

Take today's match against Stan Wawrinka, for example. That tiebreak could have gone either way. When a tiebreak gets to 12-all, that's a fact you just can't deny. That set could so easily have been Stan's.

But it wasn't. It was Rafa's. And this is not a one off. The close sets, the tight ones, the ones where anyone could win... Rafa wins those matches a whole lot more often than not. I don't know his record in tiebreaks, but I presume it's amazing. Just like all players, Rafa plays a lot of close matches. But he nearly always wins them.

So sorry Stan. Woulda shoulda coulda. You had chances. And in most tennis matches, the other guy is always going to have chances. But what separates Rafa out from most everyone else is that he takes just about every chance he can - and makes sure the other guy doesn't take theirs. And that - that latter point - is one which is not talked about enough. Because Rafa is, far and away, the best at that in the world.

David and David

So Roger didn't play his bestest tennis yesterday, but he won, and that made me happy. And his strawberry pink shirt also made me happy. It's so nice to see him wear something that's not blue.

Yes, I am shallow.

But happy as I was that my beloved R-Fed made it through, the match of the day went to David vs David, Nalbandian vs Ferrer, who played an absolute barnburner. It was close, but Nalbandian came out on top, and I think that's really telling. If he can keep his legs under him against an Energiser Bunny like Ferrer, then he's got a really good chance of holding his own against similar players. Like Nadal. Oh yes.

I love that Nadal/Nalbandian match up and I am gagging to see it again. We haven't seen Rafa since Wimbledon, so we don't know what's going on with him so much, but I'm presuming he's still keeping on keeping on, being Rafa and being awesome. Nalbandian in this kind of form... that could be lethal.

And hey, Nalbandian just finished his next match, and he absolutely slaughtered Tommy Robredo. There's a message to all the Spaniards out there... (okay, I haven't really looked at the draw and I don't know if Nalbandian is drawn to face Nadal any time soon, but I really want it to happen).

Nalbandian hasn't tested himself against a top ten player yet since his resurgence (I think? Unless I missed it?) and I'll be really interested to see how he does when that time come - because that time is clearly a-coming, with the way he's playing. Who knows what havoc Nalbandian can wreak? He could win this whole damn tournament, and I don't know if anyone would, at the end of the day, be surprised.

Dinara's Doldrums

I'm a little late, I know, but I felt I needed to wade into the whole Dinara Safina losing to Aravane Rezai really early in Toronto incident.

Sure, it's another symptom of MaratHeadCaseitis. But I also think it might be a good thing.


Dinara's been melting down a lot, yeah? But she's been getting deep in tournaments, yeah? Finals in Roland Garros, semis in Wimbledon, finals in Cincinatti - she's getting to the pointy ends of tournaments, she's just not holding up the trophy. But this time, the meltdown has come pretty early on - which seems to be a sign that things are getting worse...

...before, I think, they get better.

Rather than just storming around and going 'why am I such a chicken?' in big matches, the fact that she's lost one of the little matches she normally storms through - remember how she only lost five games in the first four rounds of Paris? - will prompt her, I think, to take a good long look at her game, and, in particular, her serve. The serve is really what's letting her down - she served seventeen double faults against Rezai. It's that crazy high ball toss of hers - it's got to go.

I don't know if we can expect too much to change between now and the US Open - but I'd really like to see this match send a message to Dinara. When she comes back after the Christmas break, I hope and I think we'll see real evidence that she's worked on that serve, because she is so good that that really shouldn't be a liability. She's talented enough to do anything she puts her mind to - I really want to see evidence of a lesson learned.



Today's Results

Western and Southern Financial Group Masters (Cincinatti)

Roger Federer def. David Ferrer, 3-6 6-3 6-4
Andy Murray def. Radek Stepanek, 6-4 6-1
Novak Djokovic def. Jeremy Chardy, 7-5 6-3
Lleyton Hewitt def. Sam Querrey, 6-1 2-6 6-3


Rogers Cup (Toronto)

Alisa Kleybanova def. Aravane Rezai, 6-3 6-4
Agnieszka Radwanska def. Kateryna Bondarenko, 7-5 6-3
Samantha Stosur def. Virginie Razzano, 6-3 6-1
Elena Dementieva def. Shahar Peeer, 6-1 1-6 6-4
Lucie Safarova def. Jie Zheng, 7-6 (7-3) 6-4
Serena Williams def. Alona Bondarenko, 6-1 6-4

The Ship Sails On

So Rafa won. How nice. For him.

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Ahem.

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Seriously, I really do like Rafa. I'm just not doing a very good imitation of it at the moment.

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It was a weird tournament... Rafa faced no top ten players the whole tournament. The closest he came was Andy Murray - actually, is Andy Murray top ten yet? Sometimes he is, sometimes he isn't. I always forget. So here's hoping Cincy is a bit different. I have my fingers crossed, that's for sure!

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And there still is time for the annual Rafa slump... he won this tournament in 2005 and still had a slump. I'm waiting for it, Rafa. Please. For Roger's sake.

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Oh God. What a horrible thing to say. Sorry, Rafa.

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Go Roger. That's a bit nicer, I think.

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Our poster girl Dinara Safina went on to win the tournament in Los Angeles, which is happier news. She took out Flavia Pennetta in the final in straight sets. She's looking good, looking dangerous. I reiterate my US Open prediction.

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I should do gold medal predictions too, hey! Roger Federer (duh.) And... hmmm. One of the Serbian girls. Actually, no. I'm going to be a bit daring and say Svetlana Kuznetsova. Sveta is due for a big win this year. Roger and Sveta. What do we think of this?

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Oh, and congratulations to Sara Errani for winning the tournament in Portoroz - which is her second victory in a row!

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Today's Results

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Rogers Masters (Toronto)

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Rafael Nadal def. Nicolas Kiefer, 6-3 6-2

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East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles)

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Dinara Safina def. Flavia Pennetta, 6-4 6-2

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Sara Errani def. Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-3 6-3

Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Dinara Safina

How 'bout that Dinara Safina, eh? This has been SUCH a career year for her. If anyone is the #1 slayer this year, it is her. Who was it that defeated Justine Henin in her last ever match? They would be Dinara. Who slew Maria Sharapova, the new #1, in an epic fourth round match at Roland Garros to take that ranking away? D-Saf again. And now, who has ruined Jelena Jankovic's chances of becoming #1 this week? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Miss Dinara Safina.

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Dinara is still a long way off becoming #1 herself - about 1600 points, in fact - but she is doing all the right things right now. She is gaining that thing which has been so elusive for her elder brother Marat - consistency. How many finals have we seen Dinara in this year? It's been quite a few. I don't follow women's tennis all that much, but even I've noticed that it's been a few.

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Winning that Tier I tournament in Berlin just before the French Open was a real turning point for Dinara, I think. She has never really looked back. That narrow defeat in the third round of Wimbledon could have destroyed her confidence, but clearly she hasn't let it. She has just beat Jelena Jankovic - and that is not easy to do, especially considering Jelena is so close to being #1 she can practically smell it. Who would have picked Dinara Safina to make the French Open final? Not me, certainly - but I am so glad she did! She is my favourite women's player right now.

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In fact, I'm going to make a bold, sweeping statement. The winners of the US Open this year will be Roger Federer and Dinara Safina. I have spoken. So shall it be.

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Over in Toronto, we have a Nadal/Kiefer final. I don't know if anyone picked that final. Nadal, maybe, but not Kiwi. I'm not a huge Kiwi fan, but this has got to be so good for him - and he really has showed some grit in coming back from that debilitating injury. And even though I do like the Raf, I think I'm going to be cheering for Kiwi. Because I don't want Rafa gaining any more nasty rankings points, even if he does deserve them. Because my heart belongs to Roger.

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Even still... better Rafa than Novak! I would like to point out that Roger is not the only one losing points this week - Novak will lose a hefty swag as well. Add that to the hefty swag he lost at Wimbledon, and... it might just be all about the Big Two again. This Big Three thing might have been a bit of a flash in the pan. Djokovic is still miles ahead of Davydenko and Ferrer, but the gap is narrowing, just a bit. And I like that. Djokovic is the anti-Federer, in my books... what is bad for Roger will always be good for Novak, in my books! If Roger had to drop points this week, I am very glad he wasn't alone.

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Yes, I am a horrible person, wishing ill on a tennis player I've never even met. At least I know it.

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Today's Results

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Rogers Masters (Toronto)

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Rafael Nadal def. Andy Murray, 7-6 (7-2) 6-3

Nicolas Kiefer def. Gilles Simon, 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

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East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles)

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Dinara Safina def. Jelena Jankovic, 7-6 (7-3) 6-1

Flavia Pennetta def. Bethanie Mattek, 3-6 6-2 7-5

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Sara Errani def. Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4 6-4

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Julia Goerges, 6-3 2-6 6-4

To Be Due

So Cilic lost. So now I have nothing left in this tournament, pretty much. My bracket is pretty much destructo. Not one of my four semi final picks made it through. I was pretty certain with Federer at least... but alas, these things happen. Think of the Olympics. Think of the Olympics.

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My picks were Federer, Youzhny, Soderling and Ferrer. Instead, we have Simon (who beat my Marin!), Kiefer, Murray and Nadal. Not the four you would have picked - and indeed, I picked none of them. I like Rafa, but I really, really wish he hadn't made it through. My heart belongs to Roger, and I do not like this threat to the #1 ranking, no, I do not.

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You've got to have your money on Rafa winning the tournament now, but both Federer and Djokovic have suffered 'odd' losses this tournament... Djokovic's potentially a little less odd, but you'd normally put your money on him over Andy Murray any day. We all know my extreme loathing for Djokovic, but did it have to be Andy Murray that beat him? I don't like Andy Murray either, and I really want to go for him in the semis because I don't want Rafa to win because of the Roger thing but I just cannot justify it to myself.

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Oh, the drama of things I am in no way involved in.

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Wouldn't it be nice, though, for some random to win the tournament? I'm still bearing some ill will against Simon for the whole Federer thing, but it wouldn't be so bad if he were to go on and win. Hell, it might even make me feel better about the whole Federer thing. Or Kiefer. I'm not a huge Kiwi fan, but he has worked so hard coming back from that injury that it might be a nice reward. Or, sigh, Murray. He really deserves a big tournament win - he's not had one yet, not a BIG tournament.

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Ironically, of these four, I like Rafa the best. But I desperately, desperately want him not to win. Because I will always like Roger more. (Not to be confused with Roger Moore... oh, what an awful pun.)

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But Djokovic lost. And oh, that made my day.

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Today's Results

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Rogers Masters (Toronto)

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Richard Gasquet def. David Ferrer, 6-3 6-3

Nicolas Kiefer def. James Blake, 6-1 6-2

Gilles Simon def. Marin Cilic, 3-6 6-2 6-3

Andy Murray def. Novak Djokovic, 6-3 7-6 (7-3)

Rafael Nadal def. Richard Gasquet, 6-7 (10-12) 6-2 6-1

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East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles)

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Jelena Jankovic def. Nadia Petrova, 7-5 6-4

Dinara Safina def. Victoria Azarenka, 6-3 6-1

Flavia Pennetta def. Sybille Bammer, 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-1

Bethanie Mattek def. Yuan Meng, 6-2 7-5

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Sara Errani def. Maria Kirilenko, 6-1 7-5

Caroline Wozniacki def. Vera Dushevina, 6-0 6-1

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Elena Bovina, 6-3 6-2

Julia Goerges def. Petra Martic, 6-3 4-6 6-4

Think of the Olympics

I don't want to talk about the Federer loss. I don't even want to think about it. So well done, Gilles Simon. I hate you a lot right now, but well done. And now Roger's out of the doubles too. Oh well... All the more time to prepare for Cincy and the Olympics, I suppose. Sigh.

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And Marat's out too, and Dmitry. And Stan. All my boys are gone. Not a good week for me... my bracket bites now. I'm going for whoever beats Djokovic. Oh, and also praying Rafa doesn't win the tournament. I'm carefully ignoring anything to do with points and the race for #1, but I know that this isn't really very good.

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Actually, I'm going for Cilic. He's done me proud this tournament, upsetting Roddick like that. He's a good kid. Star of the Future, I say! Star of the Future! I've always been harping on and on about Gulbis as the biggest possible Star of the Future, but I am liking Marin Cilic more and more. I want him to win the tournament. Wouldn't that be something else! Actually, Djokovic and Nadal are in the same half, so with Federer out - sob - we're going to have at least one random finalist. How about Cilic, eh? He faces Simon in the next round - that bastard - and I will be cheering for Marin all the way. If I can't have a Federer victory, I'll settle for a new guy breaking through.

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Sigh. Stupid tennis. Stupid Simon. I'm just going to think of the Olympics and how fresh Roger will be. Think of the Olympics. Oh yeah.

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Given as I refuse to write about Federer as I'll upset myself, I don't actually have a whole lot to say today. Go Marin. Go you good thing.

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Today's Reuslts

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Rogers Masters (Toronto)

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Gilles Simon def. Roger Federer, 2-6 7-5 6-4

Jose Acasuso def. Fernando Gonzalez, 6-3 3-6 6-3

Nikolay Davydenko def. Tommy Haas, 6-3 7-6 (8-6)

Nicolas Kiefer def. Mikhail Youzhny, 7-6 (7-4) 7-5

James Blake def. Jonas Bjorkman, 1-6 6-1 6-2

Stanislas Wawrinka def. Marat Safin, 6-3 6-4

Rafael Nadal def. Igor Andreev, 6-2 7-6 (7-1)

Novak Djokovic def. Robin Soderling, 6-4 6-4

Nicolas Kiefer def. Nikolay Davydenko, 4-6 6-4 6-4

Marin Cilic def. Andy Roddick, 6-4 4-6 6-4

James Blake def. Dmitry Tursunov, 4-6 6-1 6-4

Andy Murray def. Stainslas Wawrinka, 6-2 0-6 6-4

Gilles Simon def. Jose Acasuso, 6-3 6-4

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East West Bank Classis (Los Angeles)

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Sybille Bammer def. Anna Chakvetadze, 6-4 5-7 6-2

Nadia Petrova def. Vera Zvonareva, 6-4 7-5

Victoria Azarenka def. Samantha Stosur, 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

Flavia Pennetta def. Ai Sugiyama, 7-6 (7-5) 6-3

Yuan Meng def. Melanie South, 6-2 6-3

Jelena Jankovic def. Melinda Czink, 6-3 6-2

Bethanie Mattek def. Olga Govortsova, 7-5 6-2

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Maria Kirilenko def. Roberta Vinci, 6-1 6-2

Julia Goerges def. Katarina Srebotnik, 6-4 6-2

Sara Errani def. Mara Santangelo, 6-2 6-4

Elena Bovina def. Camille Pin, 6-3 5-7 7-6 (8-6)

The Good Ship Rafa

Well, the good ship Rafa seems to be on course. I wouldn't call it a demolition - not with Rafa, who knows all about demo jobs - but he pretty handily dismantled Jesse Levine. I mean, Levine is hardly a top ten player, but a good player is a good player. Rafa's looking good. This is when he normally starts to fade off - but things have been different for the Raf this year, what with the - oh, don't make me say it - Wimbledon victory. Maybe he can keep it up. Who knows.

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I like Rafa, and I like him a lot, but I like Federer more, and so I'm hopinh against hope that the traditional fade starts to kick in. Not that Federer can't overcome Nadal, but it would be nice if Nadal sort of overcame himself. Rafa's got the winner of Andreev and Berdych in the next round - they're neck and neck in the third at the moment, so whoever it is might be a little tired, I suppose... but let's get real. If any tennis player is all fatigued after a three set match there's something a little amiss. In Slams I can understand if you back up on huge five setters - kind of like Djokovic (spit spit) in Wimbledon last year, with the Hewitt/Baghdatis double. Either Andreev or Berdych should give Rafa a better game than Jesse 'who?' Levine, methinks... though I still like Rafa to win. My bracket says so! Beware of Ferrer, remember. That's when the problems will start. Mark my words.

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And... watch Rafa go on to win the tournament. And he'll face Andreev in the third round, who just pulled it out over Berdych. Guess it's bye bye to blogger boy... he's not playing doubles, is he? But it is another victory for the Jodi Bracket!

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But things are looking up vis a vis my bracket. I mean, I still suck, but as we go a little deeper into the tournament, I'm getting better at picking. And you heard it here first - Cilic over Robredo. Did I not say that would happen? And did it not happen just as I said? That would be 6-3 6-4, wham, bam, thank you ma'am. The bracket is looking better. Jodi says Cilic is a Star of the Future. Watch him start to shine. That's my boy Marin. And my semi-final pick Soderling just upset Nando Verdasco. Maybe I'm not so dumb, eh?

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Actually, I did really well on the Davydenko/Blake quarter - I only got one wrong, where I picked Ancic over Dancevic... and then Djokovic beat Dancevic, going through to the third round, just as I predicted. Here's hoping I can keep up my good run.

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There's actually not a whole lot of matches to write about, as there was six hours of rain delay before play started. The meat of the matches are going on now as I write this, at about 9am Australian time. Still, it means I get to watch the scores (oh, what a treat) and feel like I'm at the cutting edge of tennis... at least until my boss gets here.

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Oh, before I go... kudos to my Russian boys. Dmitry and Marat are both looking good! Dmitry we knew was good, what with the Indy final last week, but Marat is always the question mark. Querrey is a dangerous player, and Marat took care of business in straight sets like a real champ. And speaking of dangerous players, Dima just took out Feliciano 'Fidgiano' Lopez in straight sets! Davai, boys! And also to Dinara, who won her match in LA. See, look, women's tennis! I mention it... occasionally.

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Today's Results

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Rogers Cup (Toronto)

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Rafael Nadal def. Jesse Levine, 6-4 6-2

David Ferrer def. Robby Ginepri, 6-4 6-4

Marin Cilic def. Tommy Robredo, 6-3 6-4

Dmitry Tursunov def. Nicolas Lapentti, 6-3 6-4

Marat Safin def. Sam Querrey, 6-3 6-3

Novak Djokovic def. Frank Dancevic, 6-4 6-4

Igor Andreev def. Tomas Berdych, 6-4 3-6 6-4

Robin Soderling def. Fernando Verdasco, 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4

Dmitry Tursunov def. Feliciano Lopez, 6-3 7-6 (8-6)

Richard Gasquet def. Alexandre Kudryavtsev, 7-5 6-3

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East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles)

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Dinara Safina def. Peng Shuai, 6-2 6-2

Ai Sugiyama def. Patty Schnyder, 6-4 7-5

Victoria Azarenka def. Chan Yung-Jan, 6-1 6-3

Nadia Petrova def. Akgul Amanmuradova, 6-1 3-6 6-1

Bethanie Mattek def. Nicole Vaidisova, 6-4 6-0

Sybille Bammer def. Stéphanie Dubois, 6-3 7-5

Samantha Stosur def. Regina Kulikova, 7-6 (7-4) 7-5

Melanie South def. Petra Kvitova, 6-4 6-2

Melinda Czink def. Olga Savchuk, 6-4 2-6 6-4

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Caroline Wozniacki def. Karolina Sprem, 6-1 6-1

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Julia Vakulenko, 6-4 6-4

Petra Martic def. Klara Zakopalova, 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-3)

Vera Dushevina def. Katie O'Brien, 6-3 6-2

Bracket Woes

My sucky run at the bracket challenge continues. I got a few more right than I did yesterday, but still nothing to write home about. I'm usually pretty decent at making predictions once we get to the quarter finals, etc, but the first round... well, stands to show it's pretty bad. No major upsets or anything. Just me picking wrong among the little guys.

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Though some of these first round matches were hardly matches of the little guys. How often have you seen Jarkko Nieminen and Tomas Berdych play in the first round of a major event? That might just be to the left side of never. There is real depth in men's tennis when these two can meet in a first round. That one was a tall order.

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Berdych was the one that walked away the victor - obviously, I picked Nieminen. I should just start picking the opposite of who I think is going to win and then maybe I'll do better. I really hope this is the beginning of a return to form for Tomas - who is this week's ATP blogger - because I really think he has an excellent game, even if he is, as discussed here at length, a perennial underwhelmer.

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Meanwhile, what has happened to Carlos Moya? To my eyes, he's had a pretty ordinary year, but he's still floating about at #28, so he can't be doing that badly. But #28 or not, looks like he got a bit pulverised by Tommy Haas. Haas has been looking quite good lately - maybe he's going to make a run for it in this tournament. Let's have a look at his draw... he's up against Davydenko next round. Sensible people would put their money on Kolya, but I could see Haas coming through it if he plays like he did today. Indeed, I have picked him to come through in my bracket... which is probably a sure sign he is going to lose. But let's say that I actually manage to get one right and he does - he would face the winner of Kiefer and Youzhny, which one would think would be Youzhny. That could be an interesting match up indeed...

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Another player impressing me of late - well, of last week - is Gilles Simon, who won in Indy and who won his first round match against Donald Young pretty handily, but I don't see him coming through the second round... he's up against the big man, R-Fed. And we all know how I'm cheering there.

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My semi final pick Soderling made it through, as did Igor Andreev. I also picked the minor upset victory of Feliciano Lopez over Radek Stepanek, which I was pleased about, because we all know Stepanek is kind of weird. One second round match which I think is going to be very intriguing is Tommy Robredo against Marin Cilic... Robredo is a good player and all, but I think I like Cilic to come through this one. He has impressed me a whole lot of late. And considering Ernests Gulbis went out in the first round, I have to have one young gun to follow, and he really is the only one left, as Thomaz Bellucci went out as well. Meanwhile, Philipp Kohlschreiber just lost to Alexandre Kudryavtsev in straight sets. First, I would like to say, who? Is he some relation to Sharapova-slaying tuxedo-hating Alla Kudryavtseva? And secondly, I really need to stop overestimating Philipp Kohlschreiber, as I invariably get disappointed.

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Not a whole lot of doubles action today - actually, they only had one match yesterday and two today. How are they planning to squeeze it all in? Two teams I had talked about as intriguing both went out - the French duo of Gasquet and Mahut to the Murray brothers, which was hardly surprising... oh, I bet Richou loved that. He must hate Andy Murray so much now after Wimbledon. And then Nieminen and Ferrer went out to Mathieu and Youzhny. Quite why Mathieu and Youzhny are playing together is beyond me, but they obviously seem to have something going for them.

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Today's Results

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Rogers Cup (Toronto)

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Feliciano Lopez def. Radek Stepanek, 4-6 6-3 6-4

Andy Roddick def. Nicolas Mahut, 6-1 6-7 (6-8) 6-3

Alexandre Kudryavtsev def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-2 7-6 (9-7)

Fernando Verdasco def. Thomaz Bellucci, 1-6 6-3 6-2

Tomas Berdych def. Jarkko Nieminen, 6-3 6-1

Tommy Haas def. Carlos Moya, 6-3 6-2

Igor Andreev def. Gael Monfils, 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3)

Gilles Simon def. Donald Young, 6-1 6-3

Marin Cilic def. Lukas Dlouhy, 6-3 4-6 6-3

Jesse Levine def. Peter Polansky, 6-2 6-4

Robin Soderling def. Guillermo Canas, 7-5 6-1

Thomas Johansson def. Andrey Golubev, 7-6 (7-4) 6-1

Jonas Bjorkman def. Arnaud Clement, 6-3 3-6 6-0

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East West Bank Classic (Los Angeles)

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Nadia Petrova def. Alina Jidkova, 6-0 6-4

Flavia Pennetta def. Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-1 6-0

Dominika Cibulkova def. Monica Niculescu, 6-4 6-3

Peng Shuai def. Julie Ditty, 6-4 6-2

Regina Kulikova def. Elena Vesnina, 6-4 4-6 6-2

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Banka Koper Slovenia Open (Portoroz)

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Maria Kirilenko def. Nika Ozegovic, 6-1 6-1

Katarina Srebotnik def. Sanda Mamic, 6-2 6-2

Camille Pin def. Marina Erakovic, 7-5 5-7 6-3

Sara Errani def. Maria Elena Camerin, 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-1

Roberta Vinci def. Alberta Brianti, 6-1 6-3

Julia Goerges def. Ekaterina Bychkova, 6-4 6-3

Mara Santangelo def. Yanina Wickmayer, 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4

Karolina Sprem def. Evgeniya Rodina, 4-6 6-3 6-3

Elena Bovina def. Tatiana Perebiynis, 6-3 6-4

Beware of Ferrer

The draw for the Rogers Cup in Toronto has just been released, and it features some intriguing matches - as well as byes for the top eight seeds, which, as we have discussed are bad. I wonder how many of those top eight we will see fall in the second round - which for them is the first?

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Not Federer, I am quite certain - as I have picked him to win in the ATP bracket challenge, and my boy never disappoints. Blessedly, he's not in the same half as Djokovic. Not because I don't want to see them play - I want to see Roger put the two hoof beatdown on Novak so bad it's not funny - but maybe next tournament. Or the Olympics. Or both. And hey, they might meet in the final - that's what happened last year. But if that happens this year, I am positive the result will be different. Positive, I say!

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Along the way, my beloved Federer could run into a couple of young troublemakers that I recently featured as Stars of the Future (tm.) He has a possible third round (second for him... stupid byes) with Ernests Gulbis, and a possible quarter final with Marin Cilic. I don't think either of these boys has what it takes to beat the Rog quite yet - that's why they're Stars of the Future and not Stars of the Present - but it should be interesting to see how those two go, if they make it that far. I'd like to see them play well - though my heart, as always, is aboard the Federer Express.

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Even though Nadal and Djokovic are in the same half, I've actually picked someone different to come through to the final. I think everyone in that half should beware of Ferrer - hey, that rhymes! That could be his new slogan or something. Anyway, David is my finals pick. He could meet Rafa in the quarters, and we know he has the game to take him down on hard courts - look at the US Open last year. This is traditionally the time of year when Rafa begins falling away and becomes a bit of a non-event. This year has been different in many respects, but I'm not sure if Rafa can break this trend quite yet.

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I've picked an upset for Djokovic in the third round against Robin Soderling. I don't know whether or not this is just wishful thinking on my part. This is quite possible. But Soderling really does seem due a big break - he's such a dangerous player. If Djokovic does get through Soderling, however, he could have a potential quarter final with Marat Safin, and boy, wouldn't THAT be interesting. That's quite a tough little quarter, actually - not only is there Djokovic and Safin and Soderling, there's Murray and Wawrinka and Ancic, and the dark horse Querrey, as well as up and comer Thomaz Bellucci. It'll be REALLY interesting to see who makes it through to the semi there. My bet is that it won't be one of the random two qualifiers, but you never know. Verdasco is always a shot, as is Canas, and there's Dancevic and Bolelli as well, who don't suck. Man, looking at it, that quarter is MAJORLY tough. I have picked Soderling to make it through, but I don't have a very good history with these bracket challenges, so don't listen to me.

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So my three semi finalists so far have been Federer, Ferrer and Soderling - who is the fourth, I hear you ask? That would be GI Mikhail, Mr. Youzhny, who, as we know, is pretty good on hard courts, even if he could use a bit of an image makeover. This quarter is considerably weaker than the Djokovic quarter, though it isn't weak by any means. The significant seeds are Davydenko and Blake, neither of whom have been especially impressive of late - though you can never count Kolya out. Look at Miami. But I am feeling the Youzhny feeling here... it's characterised by the irresistible urge to salute.

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So will Jodi be right? Or will she, as usual, totally suck at the ATP bracket challenge? Read for the next week and you will find out.

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In brief coverage of the tournaments actually going on this week, we have some interesting final match ups... in the sense that they're not really people you expect to make finals a whole lot, but it's not like we had the cream of the crop playing this week. In Kitzbuhel, we have local boy Jurgen Melzer against Juan Martin del Potro. I doubted Juan Martin last week - I believe I gave him next to no shot against Gasquet - and I was wrong, so it's del Potro all the way here. And also I know nothing about Jurgen Melzer, as discussed yesterday... actually, he knocked out Potito 'Potato' Starace in the semi. Go figure.

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In Amersfoort, we have Steve Darcis against Albert Montanes. What a tantalising match that will be. I am so excited I just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it.

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(That was a joke, in case I wasn't clear enough.)

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I'm going to say Darcis purely on the grounds that he won last year so this is a good place for him. But I wouldn't listen to me.

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In Umag, we have Fernando Verdasco against Igor Andreev - finally, players I know something about! This two fit into different categories in my mind - I consistently underestimate Nando, and overestimate Igor. I really, REALLY like Andreev's game - but he suffers from the common Russian malady of inconsistency. However, this is his second final in a row, so he's got the hot hand at the moment - so I'm going with Andreev. But never underestimate Nando... even though I always do.

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And then in Indy, this week's sensible tournament, we have Simon against Tursunov. I'm going with Tursunov because he won here last year, has a great hard court game, and, oh yeah, he's one of my favourites. But Simon is another Nando for me - I underestimate him a lot. However, Tursunov has really proven himself in the heat - he won Sydney this year in absolutely sweltering conditions (I should know, I was there!) and then I think he won Mumbai last year. So I'm going Dmitry all the way.

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Oh, and women's tennis... um... no comment.

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Today's Results

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Austrian Open (Kitzbuhel)

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Jurgen Melzer def. Potito Starace, 6-4 6-7 (6-8) 6-3

Juan Martin del Potro def. Victor Hanescu, 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

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Dutch Open Tennis (Amersfoort)

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Steve Darcis def. Marc Gicquel, 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 7-5

Albert Montanes def. Oscar Hernandez, 6-1 6-3

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Studena Croatia Open (Umag)

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Fernando Verdasco def. Fabio Fognini, 6-1 6-3

Igor Andreev def. Maximo Gonzalez, 6-2 7-6 (7-2)

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Indianapolis Tennis Championships (Indianapolis)

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Dmitry Tursunov def. Paul Capdeville, 3-6 6-3 6-1

Gilles Simon def. Sam Querrey, 6-3 4-6 6-4

Dmitry Tursunov def. James Blake, 4-6 6-3 6-4

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Bank of the West Classic (Stanford)

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Aleksandra Wozniak def. Serena Williams, 6-2 3-1 retired

Marion Bartoli def. Ai Sugiyama, 6-3 6-3

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Gastein Ladies (Bad Gastein)

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Pauline Parmentier def. Agnes Szavay, 6-4 6-2

Lucie Hradecka def. Mariya Koryttseva, 6-3 6-2

To Card or Not To Card

The wildcards have just been announced for the Rogers Masters in Toronto - yes, it is in Toronto this year, I worked it out! There are three Canadians (Frank Dancevic, Peter Polansky and Frederic Niemeyer) and one really wild wildcard. And that belongs to Marat Safin.

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See, Marat is the type of person people should give wildcards to - though surely he can make it into the main draw on his own recognisance now? He's ranked #40, and it's a 64-draw tournament, I'm pretty sure. But still, he's a good person to wildcard in. Excellent player, maybe a little down on his luck over the past few seasons, but with the potential for greatness, etc, etc. And Toronto was Safin's big breakthrough tournament back in 2000, when he beat Levy in the final. So all in all, a good person to hand a wildcard to.

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But I'm not sure about these Canadians. I mean, I know it's the done thing to hand wildcards to your home tennis players. But let's face it: the only one of those three I have heard of is Frank Dancevic. So is it a good practice to hand out these wildcards to people who might not really deserve them - when there are Safins out there that do?

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Let's examine these two. Frederic Niemeyer is #225 in the rankings, and on the ATP level, he's played four matches this year, three of which were Davis Cup. The ATP site lists his highlight this year as a Challenger quarter final. Peter Polansky is #277 in the rankings, and has played five ATP matches this year, four of which were Davis Cup. He's made a Challenger semi and two quarters, as well as winning a Futures event.

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I'm not sure about this year, but last year the cut off for direct acceptance was #57. This year, that's Fabrice Santoro. If we assume that the cut off is about the same this year - let's say #60 - then let's look at who's missing out, unless they come up through qualies. At #62 we have Eduardo Schwank. Sebastien Grosjean at #64. Juan Martin del Potro, Robin Haase, Thomaz Bellucci. And we haven't even hit #70 yet. If we look a bit further down the rankings, we find Yen-hsun Lu, Arnaud Clement, John Isner, Denis Gremelmayr - and look, Frank Dancevic of Canada, sitting in there at #99.

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It's a long way down to Frederic Niemeyer and Peter Polansky.

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I suppose it all evens out in the end, because it's a universal practice. I've lost count of the amount of wildcards Peter Luczak and Chris Guccione and even Nathan Healey have been handed here in Australia. But is it really fair that players like Guillermo Garcia-Lopez or Evgeny Korolev miss out because they're not Canadian?

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Like I said, I guess it evens out. But I'm not sure if it's a practice I really agree with. I suppose it's good for the little guys like Niemeyer and Polansky to get blooded on the ATP circuit, so to speak. But should it be at the expense of players who might deserve it more than they do? Because let's face it: they're first round bunnies. If they win a match, it will be nothing short of a miracle - unless they draw each other. Which would be a miracle.

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But before the wildcard system even gets thought about, there's the bye system to worry about... because if Niemeyer and Polansky are taking up valuable room, imagine what byes are doing. Actually, does Toronto have byes? I don't think it does. In which case, the wildcards are what we should be worrying about. Oh, what a dilemma.

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I don't know if I'm necessarily opposed to nationalistic wildcarding. But I don't think I'm in favour of it either. As someone who has never been a tennis patriot, having natives in the draw makes no difference to me viewing-wise. You show me an Australian playing Federer and I'm going to go for Federer every time. But I think I am in the vast minority.

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Today's Results

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Mercedes Cup (Stuttgart)

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Richard Gasquet def. Albert Montanes, 6-3 7-6 (7-5)

Juan Martin Del Potro def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 7-6 (7-3) 6-3

Agustin Calleri def. Michael Berrer, 6-4 6-2

Eduardo Schwank def. Jan Hernych, 6-0 4-6 6-3

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Allianz Suisse Open (Gstaad)

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Stanislas Wawrinka def. Guillermo Canas, 4-6 6-4 7-6 (7-2)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez def. Mikhail Youzhny, 4-6 7-5 6-3

Igor Andreev def. Marin Cilic, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

Victor Hanescu def. Jeremy Chardy, 6-3 7-6 (7-3)

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Catella Swedish Open (Bastad)

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David Ferrer def. Robin Soderling, 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-1

Fernando Verdasco def. Bjorn Rehnquist, 2-6 6-1 6-0

Tommy Robredo def. Jarkko Nieminen, 6-2 7-6 (7-4)

Tomas Berdych def. Potito Starace, 6-3 6-2

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Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships (Newport)

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Fabrice Santoro def. Ivan Navarro, 6-3 7-6 (7-4)

Vince Spadea def. Alexander Peya, 7-6 (7-3) 7-5

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Gaz de France Grand Prix (Budapest)

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Alizé Cornet def. Anna-Lena Groenefeld, 6-2 6-3

Greta Arn def. Klara Zakopalova, 6-1 6-0

Andreja Klepac def. Petra Kvitova, 7-6 (7-2) 6-0

Karolina Sprem def. Katalin Marosi, 6-0 6-1

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Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo (Palermo)

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Flavia Pennetta def. Margalita Chaknashvili, 6-1 6-1

Anabel Medina Garrigues def. Tathiana Garbin, 6-0 3-6 6-0

Sara Errani def. Carla Suárez Navarro, 4-1 retired

Mariya Koryttseva def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7-6 (7-4) 6-3

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And a one week trial of a new Tennis From The Backseat feature - Stars of the Past, Stars of the Future. Today's Star: Marat Safin.

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In 2000, a nineteen year old Russian called Marat Safin won the US Open, defeating Pete Sampras (then utterly dominant) in straight sets. The world was stunned. Who was this kid? It hadn't been long since the young Safin was accused of tanking a match at the Australian Open and was fined several thousand dollars. But after this victory - which Marat described as God coming to him, patting him on the head and telling him he would 'win the glory' - he was suddenly a superstar. His charisma and dark charm had already given him a large female fan base, but this established him as a real tennis force. Sampras, in defeat, said that he believed Safin could be #1 for many years to come.

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And then came the bane of all tennis players - injury. Chronic knee problems meant that Safin, who had not yet won another Grand Slam, was out for most of the 2003 season. A dark cloud of doubt began to swirl over his head. This was staved off briefly after an excellent 2004 season, followed by a memorable victory at the Australian Open in 2005, where Safin defeated Federer in a semi final widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest matches of all time. Marat Safin, everyone believed, was back in the building.

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But he has not won another tournament since. His hotheadedness, which he used to be able to channel into brilliant tennis, seemed to take control. Safin could no longer move his tall body around the court the way he used to. Injury returned. Safin missed the 2006 Australian Open, which sent him plummeting down the rankings, and he has never been able to reestablish himself since. Marat Safin, it would seem, is a star of the past - one who blazed brightly for a while, but inevitably burned himself out.

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Until Safin proved them wrong.

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Safin has a long history of hating Wimbledon. 'Grass is for cows,' he said one year, after an embarassing early exit. 'I'm never coming back.' He hated - and perhaps still does - the speed of grass, which makes it tougher for a big man like him to get himself set in time. But then in 2008, when the world thought that his star had vanished, saw Safin reach the semi finals at SW19 - a run which saw him defeat four seeded players, including world #3 Novak Djokovic, and which was only stopped by world #1 Roger Federer. It was his best ever result at the tournament - and the first time he had won five successive matches since claiming his second Slam crown in Australia over three years ago.

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So is Marat back? Only time will tell. He lost in the second round at the Catella Swedish Open in Bastad, but considering this tournament is played on clay while virtually the rest of the year will be on hard courts, it is hard to gauge just how much effort Marat really put in. Hard courts are traditionally his best surface. In a few weeks, when Safin lines up to play in Toronto and Cincinatti, and after that at the US Open, perhaps then we will know. Was Wimbledon a blip, a last hurrah? Or is it the first sign of real Safin comeback?

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Safin is 28, and in his own words, he is a little bit tired of making comebacks. But the tennis world is not quite ready for this star to burn out just yet - and neither, it seems, is the man himself.