Spanish players took 3 of the 4 semi-final spots in Bastad, Sweden on Friday. David Ferrer, Nicolas Almagro and Carlos Moya all booked there places in the last 4 with straight sets victories over Gilles Simon, Luis Horna and home crowd favourite Robin Soderling. The other semi-final place goes to Fillipo Volandri of Italy the 5th seed who swept to victory over Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-2 6-1. In Saturdays semis veteran Moya plays the youthful Almagro while Ferrer takes on Volandri.
In Gstaad there where wins for Radek Stepanek(CZE), Jean-Paul Mathieu(FRA) and Andreas Seppi(ITA) Top seeded french superstar Richard Gasquet, a recent semi-finalist at Wimbledon and the defending tournament champion was soundly beaten in his quarter final with Igor Andreev of Russia, a very dangerous player coming back from injury. Andreev won a close first set 7-5 and then ran away with the match 6-2 in the second set.
36 year old Belgian veteran Dick Norman rolled back the years to reach the semi-finals in Newport Rhode Island. Norman who has had some of his best wins on the grass court surfaces defeated Quereshi of Pakistan in 3 sets. He is joined in the semi finals by French veteran Fabrice Santoro, South African Wesley Moodie and French grass court specialist Nicolas Mahut, a recent finalist at Stella Artois championships at Queens Club, London.
Friday 13 July 2007
Thursday 12 July 2007
Rains hits Gstaad and Bastad
Rain in continental europe halted play several times at the Bastad and Gstaad Opens! The wet weather that caused so much havoc at Wimbledon crossed the channel and both tournaments now have backlogged matches. However the clay dries faster than grass and can be raked so the interuptions are often shorter.
In Gstaad, Switzerland both top seeds are already out. Gael Monfil of France defeated Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in 3 tight sets while number 2 seed and compatriot Mikail Youzhny went out in straight sets to Austrain veteran Stefan Koubek. Defending champion and Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet of France had an easier time defeating Spainsh clay court specialist Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo in straight sets. other notable winners are Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador and Andreas Seppi of Italy.
In Bastad, Sweden there where wins for home favourites Robin Soderling and Thomas Johansson. Spaniards David ferrer and Fernando Verdasco are also through on their favourite service however top seed and defending champion Tommy Robredo was defeated in a sea-saw match with Peru's Luis Horna 1-6 6-1 1-6.
Better weather was to be had in the USA where the men are still playing on the grass courts. Former finalist Vince Spadea is already through to the quarters as is Aiman Quereshi. The Pakistani qualifier defeated top seeded Mardy Fish in round one before ousting Australian lucky loser Nathan Healey in 3 sets in the 2nd round. The tournament is the last chance on the ATP calander to practice there grass court skills before the 2008 British grass court season.
In Gstaad, Switzerland both top seeds are already out. Gael Monfil of France defeated Nikolay Davydenko of Russia in 3 tight sets while number 2 seed and compatriot Mikail Youzhny went out in straight sets to Austrain veteran Stefan Koubek. Defending champion and Wimbledon semi-finalist Richard Gasquet of France had an easier time defeating Spainsh clay court specialist Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo in straight sets. other notable winners are Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador and Andreas Seppi of Italy.
In Bastad, Sweden there where wins for home favourites Robin Soderling and Thomas Johansson. Spaniards David ferrer and Fernando Verdasco are also through on their favourite service however top seed and defending champion Tommy Robredo was defeated in a sea-saw match with Peru's Luis Horna 1-6 6-1 1-6.
Better weather was to be had in the USA where the men are still playing on the grass courts. Former finalist Vince Spadea is already through to the quarters as is Aiman Quereshi. The Pakistani qualifier defeated top seeded Mardy Fish in round one before ousting Australian lucky loser Nathan Healey in 3 sets in the 2nd round. The tournament is the last chance on the ATP calander to practice there grass court skills before the 2008 British grass court season.
Monday 9 July 2007
Roger federer and Venus Williams reigned supreme again at Wimbledon. Federer was taken to 5 gruelling sets by his younger Spainsh opponent Rafael Nadal, who had beaten the Swiss star 4 weeks previously at the French Open! Federer seemed to be cruising after taking the 3rd set on a tie break to be leading 2 sets to 1 however the grit and determination from Nadal saw him break world number one twice in the fourth set to take it 6-2. The fifth set started off on serve before the game of the match was played by Federer who destroyed Nadal and showed him who is boss. From there on it was all Federer, who won his 5th Wimbledon in a row a feat only Bjorn Borg could manage in the late seventies early eighties.
Venus Williams was the overwhelming favourite before the start of the ladies final against suprise package Marion Bartoli the 18th seed. Bartoli in previous rounds had beaten world number 3 Jelena Jankovic and then produced the fightback of the tournament to destroy Justine Henin, the world number 1. Williams started the match strongly and won the first set 6-1. Her power, reach and physical superiority showed against a nervous french lady. Howeveer in the second set Bartoli showed her power too and constantly had Williams on the run. Williams though managed to calm the storm and win the second 6-4 for her 4th Wimbledon triumph, a remarkable statistic only matched by legends such as Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
Int the ladies doubles number 2 seeds Liezel Huber and Cara Black came from a set down to defeat number 4 seeds Ai Sugiyama and Katerina Srebotnik. It was the second Wimbledon title together for the Zimbabwe/South African partnership.
The mens final caused an upset when top seeded Bryan brothers lost in 4 sets to Arnaud Clement and Michale Llondra of France. The tenth seeds lost the first set on a tight tiebreak but stormed back to record their first grand slam title and stop the Bryan brothers from defending their trophy.
In the mixed doubles it was a win for BRITAIN!!! Jamie Murray and his Serbian partner Jelena Jankovic beat the far more experienced Bjorkman/Molik team in 3 sets. Both players have never played mixed doubles before the tournament began, however showed nerves of steel and a genuine happiness on the court together to record a great victory to wrap up the 2007 championships. it was the first British success at Wimbledon since Jo Durie and Jeremy Bates won the same event in 1987!
The Mens tour now goes back to the clay courts of Baastad in Sweden and Gstaad in the Swiss Alps while the grass courters go over to America to Newport Rhode Island. The ladies have a few weeks off from the main tour as the Fed Cup semi-finals take place.
Venus Williams was the overwhelming favourite before the start of the ladies final against suprise package Marion Bartoli the 18th seed. Bartoli in previous rounds had beaten world number 3 Jelena Jankovic and then produced the fightback of the tournament to destroy Justine Henin, the world number 1. Williams started the match strongly and won the first set 6-1. Her power, reach and physical superiority showed against a nervous french lady. Howeveer in the second set Bartoli showed her power too and constantly had Williams on the run. Williams though managed to calm the storm and win the second 6-4 for her 4th Wimbledon triumph, a remarkable statistic only matched by legends such as Navratilova and Billie Jean King.
Int the ladies doubles number 2 seeds Liezel Huber and Cara Black came from a set down to defeat number 4 seeds Ai Sugiyama and Katerina Srebotnik. It was the second Wimbledon title together for the Zimbabwe/South African partnership.
The mens final caused an upset when top seeded Bryan brothers lost in 4 sets to Arnaud Clement and Michale Llondra of France. The tenth seeds lost the first set on a tight tiebreak but stormed back to record their first grand slam title and stop the Bryan brothers from defending their trophy.
In the mixed doubles it was a win for BRITAIN!!! Jamie Murray and his Serbian partner Jelena Jankovic beat the far more experienced Bjorkman/Molik team in 3 sets. Both players have never played mixed doubles before the tournament began, however showed nerves of steel and a genuine happiness on the court together to record a great victory to wrap up the 2007 championships. it was the first British success at Wimbledon since Jo Durie and Jeremy Bates won the same event in 1987!
The Mens tour now goes back to the clay courts of Baastad in Sweden and Gstaad in the Swiss Alps while the grass courters go over to America to Newport Rhode Island. The ladies have a few weeks off from the main tour as the Fed Cup semi-finals take place.
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