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 the Master in Miami

Nikolay Davydenko today became the first Russian in 24 years to win the Miami Masters, as he defeated Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-2 to clinch the title.

The scoreline makes it appear a routine victory, and in truth it was for the world no.4, who as I predicted stood way inside the baseline and dictated play to Nadal. It was an unrelenting assault from the Russian, and once he had broken to go 5-3 up in the first set, the result never looked in any real doubt.

Gone were the nerves that have plagued him over the past year, and he has rediscovered his second serve, which prevented Nadal from gaining the upper hand off the return. When a bit of tension did start to show, double faulting when serving for the match, Davydenko quickly dispelled it the very next point, with some devastating groundstrokes from both wings.

It is not a total disaster for Nadal however; he will look back at this week and take a lot of positives. His hardcourt game is almost there, it just needs some fine tweaking, and not to come up against opponents playing the best tennis of their lives.

For Davydenko, he will be hoping of course to take this excellent form into the clay court season, where he will find Nadal to be somewhat tougher man to beat than he was today.

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.

Rafa rocks Indian Wells

Just when you thought he might be fading, after all he has not won a tournament since July, Rafael Nadal showed us why he’s catching Federer at the top.

Two emotional, gutsy and ferocious wins over Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and James Blake have catapulted the young Spanish matador back into the public eye, where he undoubtedly belongs.

There are few more inspiring sights to be found on a tennis court than Nadal in battle mode. By all rights he should have lost to Tsonga, 2-5 down in the final set, with the Frenchman hitting bombs, things did not look good for him. But showing a fighting spirit that is above and beyond any other player in the top 20 (including Federer), he dragged himself back from the brink, reeling of five straight games to win the match 6-7 7-6 7-5.

Then the very next day he was back on the court, this time to end the hopes of American James Blake 7-5 3-6 6-3. Next up for Rafa is the formidable Novak Djokovic who has cruised into the semifinals without dropping a set. A match not to be missed for any fan.

In the other half of the draw, the two quarter finals have some unexpected participants. Tommy Haas, former world no.2 has surprised everyone, and probably himself in getting there. The German has beaten Andy Roddick, Fernando Verdasco, and Andy Murray to get there, so you can’t say he does not deserve it.

After a shocking opening set against Murray, he clicked into gear and from then on was simply too good for the young Brit, winning it 2-6 7-5 6-3. Next up for Haas is Roger Federer, who like Djokovic, has not dropped a set so far, nor looked like dropping one.

The other surprise package this week has been American Mardy Fish, who is keeping the home fans hopes alive. Fish has notably beaten Nikolay Davydenko and Lleyton Hewitt to get into the quarters, where he now faces David Nalbandian, who beat Juan Carlos Ferrero comfortably 6-2 6-2 to get there. My money is predictably on a Federer-Nalbandian semi final, but Haas and Fish have both proved that they are capable of upsetting the very best.

Elsewhere it was defeat for the other Murray brother, as Jamie went out of the doubles at the semi-final stage. With new partner Max Mirnyi, they defeated number one seeds the Bryan brothers, but could not get past Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram who beat them 6-3 6-4.

All eyes on centre court for Super Rafa vs. Super Nole (Djokovic’s nickname!)

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)

Indian Wells Masters Series preview

So we come to the first Masters Series event of the year, always an exciting time, and this year even more so, now that it appears Roger Federer is human after all.

The world No.1 has not made his usual perfect start to the year, losing to Novak Djokovic at the Austrailian Open, and then being dumped out of the Dubai Open unceremoniously by our own Andy Murray.

Some believe this will spark the decline of Federer, but there are those (myself included) who believe that he will come back stronger than ever, and that is why he is my pick for the tournament. I just cant see that his pride will let him be beaten once again.

Elsewhere in the exceptionally strong draw, which can be viewed here, Novak Djokovic and defending champion Rafael Nadal will both fancy their chances, and could find themselves up against one another if they make it to the semi’s. If that happens, I would fancy Nadal to edge it; the courts have a high bounce, and the Spaniard’s extravagant topspin forehand will simply be too high for Djokovic to handle.

Flamboyant Frenchman Richard Gasquet has said that he likes the courts at Indian Wells, and with his explosive backhand, he could be a force this week. Gasquet has a relatively easy path to the quarter finals, where he could meet Nadal, who he has not beaten in four meetings.

Andy Murray has been playing well by and large this year, but the Scot has a tough draw. He is likely to face the huge serving Ivo Karlovic in the third round, and then the equally huge serving and in form Andy Roddick in the next. Then if the British number 1 can make it through all of that, he will probably find himself up against Roger Federer. No problem then Andy.

Elsewhere his older brother Jamie is in doubles action with the Beast from Belarus, Max Mirnyi. The pair have played well since coming together at the start of this season, and could be an outside shout for the title this week.

Let play commence!

Nadal closes the gap on Federer

Thanks to his first round exit at the Dubai Open, Roger Federer can now feel Rafael Nadal breathing down his neck in the world rankings.

The Swiss master has been World No.1 for a record 215 consecutive weeks, but now finds himself only 350 points ahead of the Spaniard. The last time another player got this close to him, it was Andy Roddick back in May 2004.

At only 26 years old, Federer of course still has time on his side, but the young pretenders (Nadal, Djockovic, Berdych and even Murray) are all beginning to close the gap.

However Federer will not be easily flustered. Indian Wells is the next Masters Series event, where Nadal is the defending champion. Whilst this may mean he likes the courts, it also means that he has points to defend.

The ATP ranking system means that as Nadal won Indian Wells last year (earning him 500 points) he now needs to win it again otherwise he will drop points. For Federer however, who went out in the first round last year (only 5 points gained), he has nothing to lose and can only gain points.

For all the talk of Federer’s fading powers, it would come as no surprise if he were to win Indian Wells, and to finish another year as World No.1, with the youngsters still in his slipstream.