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
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
Carlos Alcaraz
Benoît Paire
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