Weekly Preview

I definitely think its important to note the action taken by the ATP to impose a record fine on the Dubai organisers for denying Shahar Peer (above) entry into the UAE. It's the right move, but I would have liked to have seen Dubai taken off the calendar altogether. As it happens, the mens tournament is going ahead as well and I really don't think it should - on moral reasons alone. Andy Roddick appears to share my belief and has duly withdrawn from the tournament in protest. Nice one Andy! At least the organisers have salvaged some integrity by granting Andy Ram a visa to compete in the doubles competition.

Along with the absence of the American, Federer, Nadal and Davydenko have also withdrawn through injury, therefore further weakening the field and making Djokovic and Murray clear favourites for the title. Beyond these two, it's a very open field.

In perhaps the most notable upset, Ivo Karlovic bowed out to Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(7), ranked a lowly 443 in the world - although in 2005 he was in a much more handsome position of 129. Nevertheless, it marks another poor outing for the Croat who is struggling to replicate his strong form of last season, despite serving a whopping 19 aces throughout the course of the match. Much has been noted of him trying to improve his baseline game to compliment his strong serving and volleying skills, but in this case it might be a classic case of "if it's not broke...."

Elsewhere, Marin Cilic survived a scare against Janko Tipsarevic who was a set up 6-2 and going strong on the second. The young Croat however, showed all his fighting qualities and mental fortitude, serving a better percentage than usual, especially at key stages during the match.

A couple of other first round matches are also looking very close, especially Marat Safin against Richard Gasquet. Both will be looking to get their seasons underway after disappointing starts, and the winner will be treated to a match with David Ferrer, who came through in three sets against former world number 3 Ivan Ljubicic, who continues to slip down the rankings. 

Being an admirer of the clay, I am also interested to see how the week in Acapulco pans out, especially with such an interesting field. Tommy Robredo (below) yesterday captured his second title in as many weeks, and was aptly presented with a crowd of beautiful women to celebrate his success! What a lucky boy! Few would count him out of winning yet another title this week, although his possible fatigue may enable a host of other players to mount a serious challenge.

Gael Monfils will surely be a strong contender, and on the red stuff is arguably playing on his best surface. Also prone to injuries the clay should provide a much softer experience than the punishing hard courts of Marseille and Doha. He lines up against qualifier Olivier Patience in the first round, and should enjoy a routine passage into the next. Top seed David Nalbandian and fourth seed and defending champion Nicolas Almagro will also be tough guys to beat.

Lastly, in the only 250 event of the week, San Jose finalist Mardy Fish tops the bill. Sam Querrey, Ernests Gulbis and Jeremy Chardy will also fancy their chances.

Grigor Dimitrov def Thomas Berdych 3-6 6-4 6-3 R1 ABN AMRO Rotterdam - Star in the Making??

Although most would agree that Thomas Berdych is suffering a massive crisis of confidence, I didn't really expect this 17 year old Bulgarian to trouble the burly but talented Czech. But after losing the first set, he stormed back to win 4-6 6-3 6-4 in what I imagine to be in hugely impressive fashion. I say imagine, because I didn't actually see the match. Berdych could have handed it on a plate.

But I don't think he did - the stats might tell the story. Berdych failed to convert 9 of 10 break points which indicates that he was either being painfully wasteful, or Dimitrov has the mental game to resist continual pressure on serve. Probably a combination of the two. Yet I can't think of many players who can save 9 of 10 break points (Rafa who?), no matter badly the other person is playing. Besides, Dimitrov smashed down 10 aces, I'm pretty sure a few of those came on break point.

The fuss over Dimitrov only really gathered pace after he won Wimbledon boys in July last year. Since then he has dabbled on the Challenger tour, rather unsuccessfully I might add, and before that, fell at the first round of qualifying for the Madrid Masters to Florent Serra. A big ask. No doubt the fuss will now escalate. A thread on MensTennisForums is already approaching 50 comments as I speak.

But the hype is immaterial, talent alone is never enough. Just look at Young and Tipsarevic. With Dimitrov I can't help but be I'm impressed by his steely resolve, his fighting spirit at one set down, and his ability to serve out the match after Berdych had just come through one hell of a sketchy service game. Maybe it's a one off. He might struggle to motivate himself for the lower ranking events, but somehow I don't think so. At 478 in the world, he will definitely have to work hard in Future and Challenger events, but don't be surprised to see this ranking reach the 200 mark come the end of the year. Expect too see him at Wimbledon too where he has earned a wilcard for his fruitful expoits last year!

It's definitely worth keeping an eye on this fella. I'm sure the ladies will be! ;-)

Weekly Review!

The ATP calender is pretty unrelenting - even on the spectator. Scarcely after we have had time to absorb splendours of Australia, we are treated to three more ATP events, and while most top ten players are taking some much deserved respite, others are locked-horns and scrambling for points to kickstart their season.

For those players that can't wait for the clay season, Vina del Mar aptly caters for their needs, and it's no surprise to see strugglers like Juan Monaco (above) taking full advantage. The Argentine has made a swift passage into the quarter finals (bt Devilder 6-2 6-4 and Starace 6-3 6-3) where he will face an equally labouring Fernando Gonzalez. The clay has also thrown up a couple of surprises with lowly ranked Paul Capdeville and Pablo Cuevas battling through into the quarters, dispatching Eduardo Schwank and Albert Montanes respectively along the way. Other clay specialists Jose Acasuso and Tommy Robredo will also be in contention.

In Zagreb Igor Andreev buckled under the intense pressure of being the number one seed, meekly succumbing to 425 ranked Ivan Dodig in straight sets, whilst another Russian, Mikhail Youhzny is in freefall after losing to Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-3 6-4. The progress of Serbian, Victor Troiki is also worth a mention after he cruised past Simone Bolelli and Ivan Ljubicic. Dmitrty Tursunov's faltering season also continued as he was ousted 4-6 6-4 6-4 by and hugely promising and rapidly improving Ernests Gulbis. A bad week for Russia!

The first ever ATP event in South Africa has proven to be a historical and cultural exercise as well as a regular event. While Marcos Baghdatis enjoyed a history lesson in Apartheid, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga took time out visit some of the poorest children in Johannesburg's townships. On the tennis side of things, David Ferrer halted his recent decline as he stormed into the quarter finals (bt Sela 6-2 6-0 and Greul 6-3 6-4 ) where he will face an equally revived Baghdatis. Jeremy Chardy and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez have also made positive starts.

Shock of the Week
Without doubt Igor Andreev's inexplicable capitualtion to Ivan Dodig.

Business as Usual
Marin Cilic continued his superb run of form by reaching the quarter finals of Zagreb

Steady Progress
Victor Hanescu won his opening match and has a favourable draw now P.H. Mathieu is out

Lloyd loses patience with Brits on the fringe

John Lloyd's job as Davis Cup Captain must be the most thankless task in the world. I doubt the Ukrainian public demand quite the same high standards we do, despite (with the exception of Murray) their pool of talent being very much the same.

Greg Rusedski's plans for a sensational and ill-advised return were this week rebuffed by an ever polite Mr Lloyd, who is now favouring a new and radical system to select his other two Davis Cup hopefuls. Lloyd plans to hold a six man tournament (supposedly involving Bogdanovic, Goodall, Ward, and as promised, Evans and Fleming, with the others being unsure of even making the tournament) to select his remaining two is perhaps a sign of his last straw with the sarcastically named Alex 'A Bog' Bogdanovic.

It's a fine ploy by Lloyd who has placed himself in a win-win situation. If Boggo comes out on top (presuming he is picked which is not a certainty) then Lloyd can be hailed for challenging the world 181 to produce his best tennis, and if he fails, his move to abolish the ranking entry system will have been wholly vindicated. Unfortunately that might be where the winning ends. Relying on a slowly improving Josh Goodall, a one-hit-wonder Chris Eaton or a faltering Alex Slabinsky will hardly give Lloyd the confidence he needs.

Perhaps 'Party Boy' Dan Evans (pictured above) will make the breakthrough after serving a record LTA ban for repeated misconduct, but at the tender age of 18, the young man from Birmingham is unlikely to show his best yet. Just ask Xavier Malisse what he thinks!

Whatever happens, I will be watching over this tournament with my eagle eye, and I admire John Lloyd for laying down the gauntlet for his perennially underachieving players. Let's see what happens.

Is Nadal human?

I for one am now willing to admit I am wrong...

Although Rafa is No.1 in the world right now, I certainly failed to consider him as a serious contender to win the Australian open this year. And yes, while everyone was getting caught up in the big debate over whether Andy Murray should be the favourite, Nadal was quietly destroying people without getting caught up in such arguments involving mere mortals.

But questions need to be asked...

His knees have often been likened to breaksticks, likely to crumble with the softest touch, but yet he still going. Although he has worked to reduce the ridiculous amounts of spin he puts on his shots he still enjoys a good baseline rally, chasing down the impossible drop shot or darting across the court to send a running passing shot straight back at his demoralised opponent.

So if we are to consider Nadal human rather then some sort of tennis machine sent from the future to reduce Roger Federer to a whimpering mess, just exactly when is his motor going to start stalling?