Aussie Brydan Klein copped a six month bad for racial vilification so what’s he doing losing in Manchester? Well his ban doesn’t start till next week... Can we start calling him a bad boy now?
Szavay won Budapest over Schnyder. Ram beat Querrey to win Newport. Sandra Zahlavova celebrating winning Zagreb by crashing out in the first round of qualifying in Prague. Rus won, Canas won, Starace won, Luczak won, Jidkova lost, Karatantcheva won and Pivovarova won.
In Davis Cup, marathon man Verdasco couldn’t handle any more losing in the fifth to Kohlschreiber. Ferrero saved the day though. The unstoppable worm Radek Stepanek rose to save the Czechs from Argentina. The US unfortunately was beyond hope. Surely someone other than James Blake can be found to represent the once great USA?
Caroline Wozniacki came unstuck in Bastad, losing the final to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, the girl who Serena once hit. Really Caro? Too much birthday cake?
In Budapest, Szavay thrashed Bondarenko the Greater and will play Schnyder. In Newport, Ram will play Querrey in the final.
Sandra Zahlavova won the 75K Zagreb Challenger, she’ll hurry off to play Prague qualifying now as she missed out on a wildcard for her home tournament.
In Davis Cup, Israel finished off Russia despite a spirited comeback by Safin and the other guy. The Bryans did their usual thing for the US. Verdasco and Lopez combined to put Spain one up against Germany and the Czechs have the advantage against Argentina.
Wozniacki rolled on in Bastad, beating Pennetta in three. She’ll face the girl who Serena once hit (Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez) in the final. Any chance she’ll lose?
In Budapest, Bondarenko the Greater trounced Peer, Gallovits beat Martic and Szavay beat Bacsinszky. In Newport Groth lost, Ram won twice, Querrey won twice, Santoro won twice and Dent lost.
In Davis Cup Fernando Verdasco held tough to beat Beck in five, Robredo flopped, and Israel jumped up against Russia’s team of no-names. Will Safin ride to the rescue? One all for Argentina and the Worm-less Czechs.
Two five setters for the US – neither with a happy ending. What’s Karlovic doing breaking Blake’s serve? The guy can’t return – how bad must Blake be playing? Cilic beat Fish in the other. How bad is the US without Roddick? Even if they win the doubles, which is the only point they’re assured of, this is an appalling result. But ever so slightly predictable.
Cibulkova missed her chance at the top ten, losing to Dulko in Bastad, Wozniacki thwarted Kirilenko’s revenge over the Stella McCartney thing, Pennetta cruised and CSN managed to lose to the girl who Serena once hit, and also copped a bagel. In Budapest, Bondarenko the Lesser lost a close one to Kleybanova, Bacsinszky ended Mayr’s run despite a bagel, Szavay stuttered past Garbin and Schnyder beat Camerin. In Newport Groth won, Santoro won and Grosjean lost.
How is Dulko in a semi-final? Is there really anyone who can stop Wozniacki from collecting another Mickey Mouse title?
Pennetta won in Bastad, the new and improved Kirilenko destroyed Pavlyuchenkova, Cibulkova moved up a gear against Llagostera Vives, the Woz continued her cruise, Dulko dumped Cirstea, CSN beat Allgurin and Benesova lost. In Budapest, Bondarenko the Greater beat Olaru, Peer beat (and bageled) Cornet, Schnyder won and it’s still raining in Newport.
15 yr old Ellen Allgurin was very sloppy to begin with and probably a little overawed, but she did hit some nice winners in the second set when she broke CSN's serve twice.
Maybe her blog is improving her game, but Maria Kirilenko winning two in a row, including a nice win over teen tyro Pavlyuchenkova, is worth talking about. Makiri blogs about hairy men, the Tudors, painting a Moscow Christmas tree and Abba Karaoke.
Was Alize Cornet affected by the death of Montcourt? She certainly played like it. Did you see the last game where she argued with the umpire for over a minute about a bad call? She was really upset (the ball was good - Peer and the umpire were pointing to the wrong mark, replays showed) although the match was lost by then. She probably needs to take a little break from tennis.
Dominika Cibulkova will make the top ten is she makes the final in Bastad. Which means the second seed probably will.
Kirilenko actually won, Pennetta disposed of Schiavone, Cibulkova took her time against a WC, the Woz cruised and Johansson lost. In Budapest, Zakopalova lost, Cornet cruised, Bondarenko the Lesser won a match, Peer won, Mayr won, Olaru suprised everyone and it rained in Newport.
Mathieu Montcourt died, probably not from betting on tennis, but the ATP poster bad boy for betting will trouble them no more with his $3 bets on other players (in 2005). His friend Rafael Nadal remembers him kindly.
Video: Watch Ana Ivanovic looking good on court apparently
Roddick’s out of Davis Cup, replaced by Fish who’s out of Newport – leaving er no one as top seed. Why bother to hold this tournament at all? At least the women’s tournaments are on clay for all those who didn’t do well at Wimbledon to console themselves before heading to the US for the hardcourts, but no one has ever shown any interest in the Hall of Fame tournament in Newport. It rarely attracts top players and makes up for it by inducting mediocre players into its so-call Hall of Fame. I guess “Hall of anyone who’s good enough to win one Slam” isn’t as catchy.
In Budapest, Bondarenko the Greater beat Sprem and Gallovits beat Pironkova. Benesova beat Radwanska the Lesser in Bastad, Dulko thrashed Domachowska, Cirstea struggled against the surprising Larsson, Pavlyuchenkova won and CSN cruised. Dent and Levine won in Newport.
Rus, Mladenovic and Pivovarova qualified, as did Canas, Starace and Luczak but Karatantcheva lost. In Stuttgart Davydenko won and Koubek lost.
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