Weekend Flashbacks

At the risk of sounding totally hackneyed and cliched, the winners this weekend really have been a blast from the past.

On the subject of blasting, that was exactly what did David Nalbandian did to his opponents in Washington. It was merciless mass murder - and that is not an exaggeration. Maybe it's because del Potro is out and due to lose a buttload of points and Nalbandian wants to regain that coveted Argentinian number #1 spot, or maybe he's just enjoying being on the tennis court, but Nalby is on FIRE out there. This is like that tear he went on during the indoor season a while back. I really hope he can keep this up, because he could be fierce during the US Open, and we could see some MATCHES.

(Here's hoping he's seeded by then. Imagine drawing Nalby first round!)

And then there's Sveta, who took out Aga Radwanska. She almost choked it away, but then she, you know, didn't, and I really hope she can keep up this level of confidence because I freaking LOVE SVETA. It's a trial, being a Sveta fan, but when she's on she can beat just about anyone. And I love it when she does, because I think she's awesome.

And then last but by no means least, hidden but not forgotten, Jelena Dokic is on an absolute tear. She's just won three ITF titles on the trot and is on about a fifteen match winning streak. She's definitely in a position to be in the main draw at the US Open and maybe, finally, something good can happen for Jelena. God knows it's her turn!

Slaughterhouse

Whoa, whoa, whoa - so Marin Cilic hasn't been in the best form this year, but he was absolutely massacred by David Nalbandian in Washington. Not just beaten. Slaughtered.

Daveed is back, and he's here to bring pain. Pain and blood and brimstone and people are scared, yo.

One of my favourite matchups in tennis is Nadal/Nalbandian, when both guys are reasonably in form, and if the chips fall right, we might get this some time in the next few weeks. Rafa is coming off a big Wimbledon win, but I'm calling it early - Daveed has the potential to be this year's Juan Martin del Potro and go on an absolute tear of winningness. He is in a ferocious mood, and he is massacring opponents that he has no right to massacre.

It is ON, amigos. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

And the same thing (to a lesser extent) goes for Sveta Kuznetsova. She absolutely pounded Flavia Pennetta in San Diego, and I'd rate her a really good chance for the final... if she keeps it together. Nalbandian is notoriously sketchy - hence the GoodDave/LameDave dichotomy - but Sveta takes headcase to another level. Keep it together, Sveta, because you have the game to beat anyone, anytime, if your head's in the game.

Back at the Bar

The results in Washington this week are like stepping back five or more years. It's crazy. And it's also one of the greatest triumphs of talent I have ever seen.

I have talked before about how I think Tomas Berdych is crazy talented - which he is - but Xavier Malisse is, in my book, much more so, and really could have been something if he had managed to capitalise on it. Which he hasn't. Not really. He should have been solid top ten for several years and he never came close. But now, in his relative old age, he's having some success - at this tournament anyway.

Maybe it was the threat of his career ending with that whole drugs thing last year - the same thing that enveloped Yanina Wickmayer - because it really seems to have lit a fire under Malisse. He's never going to reach the top ten, but he's been moderately impressive this year by anyone's standards. And now he's beaten the top seed (Berdych) to progress to the semis in Washington. Good work, Xavier.

And then there's Marcos Baghdatis and Marin Cilic - very talented, both of them - but well, well, who is this I see? It surely couldn't be the man who has missed the last six Slams but still manages to keep it together for Davis Cup? Oh why yes, it is. David Nalbandian is playing as well as I've seen him for a long time and he played some lovely stuff in putting out Roddick-beater Simon. I really want to see him keep on this trajectory of improvement, because seriously, seeing Daveed play when he's playing well is something very special.

I'd be happy with any one of these four boys taking the title, but I really would like to see Malisse or Nalbandian do it. It's been a long time between drinks but they're finally back at the bar!

Roddick Broken

So today is not Andy Roddick's bestest day ever.

He lost to Gilles Simon in straight sets in Washington. Easy straights, too. Simon may have had a very good 2008 and have done his time inside the top ten, but he's definitely not the player Roddick is. I think the only person with a comparable top ten record is Federer.

And now, if I understand rightly, this loss to one-year-wonder Simon has knocked Roddick clear out of the top ten.

And you know what? I think you can trace that poison all the way back to Wimbledon 2009. I think that was the moment when Roddick lost hope of winning another Slam, because he hasn't looked threatening since - not even at the smaller tournaments. Sure, he's racked up a few minor victories (I think), but I don't you think you can underestimate the impact that that 16-14 loss had on Roddick. The moment that Federer got his 15 was the moment Roddick realised he was stuck on 1 forever.

I actually genuinely believe Roddick has the game to win another Slam - probably the US Open or, at the outside, Wimbledon. But if this mindset continues? Not so much. Roddick may have had the misfortune to be born in the great Fedal era and never really have had a shot, but he always hung in there, kept it going. But I think last year at Wimbledon, Federer finally broke him. Roddick's had his head down ever since.

And now, more than a year later, that is showing up in the points.

Comeback, Comedown

One of my favourite, favourite players ever - primarily due to his mad blogging skillz and the fact that he is a really funny dude - is Dmitry Tursunov.

Now, Dima's been off the scene for a while - I assume he's been injured, though I couldn't tell you exactly what the nature of that injury was. But he came back! A little while ago! He used his protected ranking to get into the main draws of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, where he recorded two first round losses - understandable, when you are on the comeback from a year or more out of the game.

But today, in Washington, Dima had a win. And that makes me very happy indeed.

And he didn't just beat some nobody or some punk kid either. It was a tight match, but Dima took out Teimuraz Gabashvili, who has played some very good Roddick-beating tennis of late. I mean, he's not exactly Federer or Nadal, but this is a really, really excellent result for Mr Tursunov. Tennis needs characters like Dima, and man is that guy a character.

Another guy who is a real character in tennis but who is playing appallingly and reaping according results is James Blake. If Dima is the good news story of Washington, Blake is the bad, because there seems to be no end to his woes. I literally cannot remember the last time he won a match - and that's saying something, because I can usually keep track of stuff like that. But Blake is in a downward spiral for sure. He lost to Ryan Sweeting, who is - correct me if I'm wrong - an American junior.

When results like this are not a one off but the norm, there is a problem ahoy, sailor.

Washington Ramblings

Another how-bout-that-I-missed-it mention - how about you, Andy Roddick?

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I barely even noticed Roddick was in the draw, so smoothly did he cut through it - like a knife through butter. Sure, he had a tough one against Isner in the semis, but considering that he took a loss in the Wimbledon final that could have completely broken him, I think being in a final again is totally admirable. Good on you, Andy - epic kudos. I would really love to see him go deep at the US Open. Obviously I'd like my man R-Fed to win it, but if Andy were to make the final, I would not be devastated.

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He'll face Juan Martin del Potro, who is defending all the points he gained on this stretch last year. I don't yet have a fix on Juan's form - he's been pretty quiet since that epic semi against Federer at Roland Garros, taking an early loss at Wimbledon and then not really being seen since... but he's in the final here in Washington, so he must have a little somethin' somethin' going on...

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...and, look, there you go, he just won it! What a nailbiter of a match - it always seems unfair that these matches have to go to a breaker. I'd be all for a deciding third set where you just played on until someone won by two games, but I don't know if the players would be too keen on that.

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But - one thing I totally forgot to talk about - Isner. Personally, I think he's quite overrated as whenever I see results he always seems to be on the losing end, but where did his performance come from this week? He played some quality players very, very tight indeed. Andy Roddick is lightyears ahead of John Isner in talent and technique and experience and yet Isner hung tough with him. Like, really tough.

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I'm not saying that Isner is one to watch out for this US Open series, because I'm not going to change my mind over one good run. Still - kudos, dude.

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Today's Results

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Legg Mason Tennis Classic (Washington)

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Juan Martin Del Potro def. Andy Roddick, 3-6 7-5 7-6 (8-6)

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LA Women's Tennis Championships

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Flavia Pennetta def. Samantha Stosur, 6-4 6-3