Davis Cup Quarter Finals

Four tennis superpowers – Russia, U.S.A, Spain and Argentina have all advanced to this years semi-finals of the Davis Cup.

On paper, Argentina had the easiest task, at home on slow courts against Sweden, who (Bjorn Borg aside) are not renowned for having the best clay court players. However they came up against an inspired force in Swedish number one Robin Soderling, who was determined not to let the Argentines have it all their own way.

After David Nalbandian defeated Jonas Bjorkman in the opening rubber, Soderling stormed back, beating Acasuso 6-0 6-4 6-1. The home nation clinched the doubles, but the deciding rubber was the third singles, as Nalbandian was stretched to his absolute limit in defeating Soderling 9-7 late into the fifth set.

Spain had the simplest passage through, as Nadal and Ferrer both notched up singles wins over Kiefer and Kohlschreiber respectively.The only worry for them came in the doubles, as Germans Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner put up a terrific fight, only to succumb 12-10 in the fifth set to Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez (pictured right).

The U.S.A overcame a weakened France side 3-2, and in truth it was down to blistering form of world no.6 Andy Roddick who beat Michael Llodra, before crushing Paul-Henri Mathieu. James Blake also overcame Mathieu, this time in five sets to send the US 2-0 up, before France pulled one back in the doubles, as the much vaunted Bryan brothers were beaten by Llodra and Arnaud Clement. But Roddick was on hand to clean up the mess and seal the tie, before Blake put the icing on the cake, defeating Gasquet over three tight sets.

The most dramatic of the ties was to be found in Moscow though, as Russia had to pull out all the stops to defeat Czech Republic 3-2. The mercurial Marat Safin, who has a 1-5 win/loss record this season, found his true colours in the opening match as he battled his way past world no.10 Tomas Berdych in five sets.

Radek Stepanek tied the match by defeating Igor Andreev in straight sets, only for Russia to take the lead again by winning the doubles. With the home nation 2-1 up, the crucial match was Nikolay Davydenko vs. Berdych in the third singles match, and the 26 year-old Russian was gifted the match, as Berdych was forced to retire early in the fifth set with an ankle injury.

Russia now face a tough away tie to Argentina, who have only lost four of the last 60 matches on home soil. Spain host the USA, who will be hoping to bounce back, following their loss to the Spanish team in the 2004 Davis Cup final.

Click here for more information on the Davis Cup draw and all of the teams.

Davydenko to meet Nadal in final

Nikolay Davydenko produced one of the performances of his career so far as he outplayed home favourite Andy Roddick 7-6 6-2 to make it to his first Miami Masters final.

The Russian was congratulated by Roddick at the hand shake, who told him he was just “too good” on the night. Indeed it was a real eye opener for many tennis fans who have not really paid much notice to the Davydenko in the past.

As Roddick remarked, his style is similar to Andre Agassi in the way he stands inside the baseline and takes the ball very early, making his opponents do much of the running. It was his first victory over Roddick in six meetings, and he now meets Rafael Nadal who overcame Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-2.

Despite the tight nature of the first set, there was always the feeling that Berdych did not quite believe he could overcome Nadal on the biggest stage. Indeed it was the Czech’s nerve which let him down in the tie-break, as he double faulted to lose the set.

Nadal proceeded to steamroll over Berdych in the second set, confusing him with a mixture of high bouncing topspin shots and ankle high slice shots.

It makes for an interesting final, and although Davydenko has never beaten Nadal, I fancy the Russian to turn the tables on him. In the form he is in at the moment, he should be able to step inside the baseline often, and take Nadals high bouncing forehand early before it gets too high. If he can do that, I can see Davydenko winning his second Masters Series title.

Roddick topples Federer to meet Davydenko in the semi finals

After an enthralling match, this years second semi-final is as follows: Andy Roddick vs. Nikolay Davydenko.

World No. 6 Roddick forced a set off of the Roger Federer for the first time since the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai as he clinched the opening set tie-break with an ace down the line. Federer then levelled the match by converting on his third break point chance at 4-4 and holding serve to close out the second set.

But two errors by the Swiss in the eighth game of the third set set up triple break point for Roddick, and Federer returned a forehand into the net to give his opponent the crucial break. Roddick closed out the match in one hour and 55 minutes on his third match point with Federer unable to return his serve.

On the other hand Davydenko (beat Tipsarevic 6-2 6-1) had a comfortable route into the semi’s, and should be fresh for his next match. Davydenko looked in imperious form as he dismantled the 23 year old Tipsarevic, who only won 23% of his second serves, not an enviable stat by any means. He now meets Roddick who snapped an 11 match losing streak against Federer to beat the world number one 7-6 4-6 6-3.

It is the first time since 1988 that all four semi finalists are inside the worlds top ten, and my money is on Davydenko to be lifting the trophy above his head come Sunday evening.

Miami Master Series preview

This week will see the second Masters Series event of the year get under way in Miami.

The top two players in the world are yet to win a title this season, and will both be looking to change that here. However Federer has lost the air of invincibility he has been shrouded in for the last three years, whilst more and more opponents seem to be finding ways of hitting through Nadal’s heroic defense.

Novak Djokovic is without a doubt the form player in the world at the moment, and he has an excellent chance of defending the title he claimed here last year. Andy Roddick, who started the season so well, will be hoping to avenge his early loss at Indian Wells by having a good run in Miami, and if he finds his serve there are not many who can stop him.

On the British side of things, both Alex Bogdanovic and Anne Keothavong failed to make it through qualification. A-Bog went out to Serbian Victor Troicki 6-4 3-6 6-1 in the first round, whilst Keothavong made it to the second round before going out to the number four seed Anastasia Rodinova 6-1 3-6 6-3.

So, once again Andy Murray is our only British hope, and the Scot has been handed a very tough draw. He has a bye into the second round, but is likely to find himself up against the in form wildcard Mario Ancic. But, if he make it through that match he will fancy his chances of making it through to the semi-finals, where he could meet Roger Federer.

Indian Wells update

Its third round time here at the Pacific Life Open, and we have seen some interesting results already, none more so than Andy Roddicks early departure.

The American No.1, who has been in blistering form of late, was routinely beaten by Tommy Haas 6-4 6-4 in a shock result.

Roddick, who was expected to challenge for his third title in a row, was comfortably dispatched by Haas, the former world No.2, in their second round clash. The German now goes on to play Fernando Verdasco, who overcame a spirited challenge by Victor Hanescu, to progress to the third round.

Elsewhere, Andy Murray came through unscathed over Jurgen Melzer (3-6 6-3 6-3), and now meets 6ft 10inch Ivo Karlovic for a place in the fourth round. All the big guns moved into the third round with ease, Roger Federer looking particularly intense, as he calmly dismantled Guillermo Garcia-Lopez’s best game 6-3 6-2.

Perhaps the most interesting result so far has been the emergence (finally) of the young American Donald Young. The 18 year-old, who was heralded by the American press (and notably John McEnroe) as being their next great tennis hope, beat compatriot Bobby Reynolds, before defeating the number 32 seed Feliciano Lopez. However he now faces the toughest test of his blossoming career, as he squares off against Rafael Nadal, in what is sure to be a fascinating encounter.

3rd round matches in full:

Top Half: R.Federer (1) vs. N.Mahut; I.Ljubicic (23) vs. T.Robredo (15); A.Murray (11) vs. I.Karlovic (20); F.Verdaso (30) vs. T.Haas; N.Davydenko (4) vs. M.Fish; L.Hewitt (24) vs. M.Youzhny (18); M.Ancic vs. J.C.Ferrero (22); R.Stepanek (28 ) vs. D.Nalbandian (7)

Bottom Half:D.Ferrer (6) vs. H.Lee; M.Bagdahtis (18 ) vs. S.Wawrinka; G.Canas (16) vs. J.Monaco (21); P.Kohlschreiber (27) vs. N Djokovic (3); R.Gasquet (8 ) vs. J.Chela (28); C.Moya (19) vs. J.Blake (8); P.Mathieu (14) vs. J.Tsonga (17); D.Young vs. R.Nadal (2)

Roddick back in the big time

After this two weeks there can be no doubt that Andy Roddick is back to the kind of form that saw him to the US Open title in 2003.

In his debut appearance at the Dubai Open the big serving American No.1 dispatched both Rafael Nadal (7-6 6-2) and Novak Djockovic (7-6 6-3) on the way to the final of the Dubai Open. However his work was not done yet, and he still had to overcome a spirited challenge from Spaniard Feliciano Lopez (6-7 6-4 6-2) to clinch the title. Some debut.

What makes this result even more intriguing is that it came just after Roddick announced his split from coach Jimmy Connors. Connors was drafted into Team Roddick to improve both Andy’s backhand (which was becoming increasingly fragile) and also to toughen him up mentally. Connors was perfect on both fronts, having possesed the best two handed backhand of his generation, and also an iron will to win.

The official reason for the parting of ways according to Roddick was, “We did the mentor role as well as you can from a distance, but when I’m going from Australia to Austria to California to Memphis to Dubai , it becomes difficult. It was a matter of logistics as much as anything. I was happy to have spent some time with a legend.”

How fitting then, that along with his booming serve, it was Roddicks backhand and nerve that saw him through to victory in Dubai. A leaving present from the great Connors perhaps or just coincedence? My money is on Jimmy!