Week 2: Brisbane [Smeltz], Chennai [Carter], Doha [Špidlá], Sao Paolo [Juraev]

[Jarquis]

3rd seed in the next round? Ouch. Reckon I've got a chance anyway, did pretty well in that round

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Apologies for the lack of attachments, I will work out how to do that in the future... Maybe...

For those playing at home...

Section 1 - Section 2 - Section 3 - Section 4

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Cheers, mate. I would like to say I tried my best... But, epic fail from me really.

 

[Matteh]

 

[Number 11]

Fell in qualifying but won my first ever match. Solid start.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Qatar ExxonMobil Open II
1st Round - Doha (Qatar)

I -

Diego Hurtado def.

David Champion, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5)

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• World No. 5 Sven Oxenstierna has survived a surprisingly strong display from French wildcard Mikel Fosdike to start season II off with a three-set win in the Middle East. In a stacked draw, the third seed was raging favourite to account for a player whose best feats have occurred on the doubles circuit, and looked ready to take an easy win after claiming the first set 6-2. But despite professing that he'd spent the off season working on the at times feeble serve, he was outgunned in the second as Fosdike looked on the verge of a huge boilover. After dropping the second 2-6, Oxenstierna needed some inspiration and got it when Fosdike sent a forehand well wide to give him an early break of service. It was all he needed, and he escaped with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win. Next up he faces another French wildcard; David Lebègue beginning his year with a surprise win over Belgian youngster Yves Parmentier.
• In his first competitive match of season II, top seed Daniel Páez Blanco overcame Croatia's Nilikar Midid in strong fashion despite dropping the first set. Midid took the first in a tiebreaker, but Blanco quickly shook off the cobwebs to advance to a danger second round clash with Gregor Gorshkov 6-7(8), 6-1, 6-2. No seeds fell in first round action, though Miroslav Brdar went close before escaping with a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 win over Aldo Marín.

• Seeded players out: None.

Aircel Chennai Open II
1st Round - Chennai (India)

I -

Zhijun Sun def.

Sergio Joaquín, 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-3

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Top seed Jefferson Drake was forced to quickly overcome his jetlag in his first round clash in Chennai; storming back from a set and a break down to avoid a big upset against Bulgaria's Yordan Zakov. The big Bulgarian overpowered Drake in the first set with some clinical serving and powerful ground strokes to take it 6-3, and found himself with a huge chance of taking a win as Drake played a poor drop shot to give Zakov an open court to surge ahead 4-3 with a break. But the new East CWLander lifted a gear, and found his way out of trouble to send the match to a decider which he clinched to secure a 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 win. He now faces Belarus' Denis Isaev who eased past Yannich Lefèvre 7-5, 6-1.
• In the same half, West CWLand's Scotland Rivers survived a stern test against Tom Vollan to suggest that season II could be a big year for him. The seventh seed finished season I off with a flurry, but was not able to get past Rivers whose classy strokes makes him a great player to watch. Vollan earned a break of service early in the third, but could not keep onto it as Rivers continued to serve well en route to a big 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 upset.
• Also in the top half, Spas Delev ensured that late Challenger form from season I would not go wasted as he smashed Domingo Gutiérrez Gómez two and love. Gómez earned a wildcard into Chennai thanks to his good performance here last year, but showed just how rapid his fall has been as he barely gave a whimper in his 6-2, 6-0 thumping.
• Rob Bowenburg and Jarkko Maxum will have more time to focus on their doubles campaign as both fell in hugely disappointing first round losses. Maxum was expected to account for Chinese Taipei's Tu Haifeng, but as is so often the case found the extra match practice of the qualifier to be an obstacle too big to overcome. Tu played uncompromising tennis to ease to a 6-2, 6-3 win and advance to a second round clash with fifth seed Morgan Carter. Bowenburg, meanwhile, had fewer excuses as he phoned in a dismal performance against Luxembourg's Olivier Engel. Engel was meant to be the player known for his inconsistency, but it was nothing compared to Bowenburg who racked up the unforced errors and looked disinterested in the second set as he was sent packing 6-4, 6-1.
• The biggest shock of the round, though, was Argentinian second seed Juan Moreno being ousted in three sets by the Czech Republic's Petr Brožik. Brožik, the gritty left-hander, dropped the first set 3-6 but stormed back to take the second and third and start the French Open semi finalist's second season off in the worst way possible. Also exiting was sixth seed Becker Haas, who was beaten in straight sets by Björn Donaldson who continues to show why many rate him a future top ten player.

• Seeded players out: Becker Haas; Juan Moreno; Tom Vollan.

Brisbane International II
1st Round - Brisbane (Australia)

I -

Rick Henson def.

Juan Moreno, 7-6(5), 7-6(4)

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Fourth seed Randy Smeltz has overcome a potentially tricky first round encounter against star Spanish youngster Marc Carretero in decisive fashion with a 6-2, 6-3 win. Smeltz finished season one off in confident style, and began his second even better as he finished off Carretero in just over an hour in impressive fashion. The veteran spent much of the off-season working on his strength, and it showed as he dominated the 17-year old to produce a straight sets win. Next up is a much tougher encounter as 31-year old Wayne Boyd, whose off-season was boosted by news that he will join up with Morton Blundell on the doubles circuit this year, awaits following his 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Ivan Vuka.
• Heath Davis, meanwhile, was forced to work harder for victory as he outlasted Austria's Heinz Hainisch over three sets. The West CWLander has looked to improve his gas tank after a series of disappointing fade outs last year, and looked comfortable over the journey as he completed a 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 win. Hainisch's strength has always been his backhand, but Davis did not allow him use of it regularly as he attacked the weaker side and came out of the contest with a successful hit out.
• His doubles partner, however, was less impressive as he fell two and four against Ukraine's Roman Dorogan. Dorogan, a strong baseliner, was able to control proceedings against Mustard who lacked any form of unpredictability in his game plan. Coming to the net far too often, Mustard was picked off with regularity and will now be forced to rely on his doubles performance here and a good singles draw in Sydney to get some much needed match practice before the Open later this month.
• Mustard was not the only seed to fall as defending champion Diego Hurtado was beaten in a massive first round shocker. Swiss journeyman Pascal Schmidt did not seem like the type of player that could worry the free-flowing and aggressive Hurtado, but ultimately his ability to return balls proved the fiery Colombian's downfall as he essentially hit himself out of the match. In contrast, the cool and collected Oneil Stewart is back injury-free for the first time since his awesome run in Nixonstown; proving a hit with the crowd as he overcame Austria's Zbiginiew Boniek 7-5, 6-2.

• Seeded players out: Diego Hurtado; Jojo Mustard.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

BIt of a struggle there, and the 7th seed looms in the next round. Could be a tricky encounter to negotiate.

 

[Simon]

Impressive opening effort there.

 

[NUFAN]

A new year but the same old rubbish from Bowenburg..

 

[Mister Wright]

Not a good start for the season for Mustard. Might have to become a doubles specialist if this sort of performance continues.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Sao Paolo Challenger
2nd Round Singles - Sao Paolo, Brazil

It was a tough day for the a number of the seeds in the 2nd round of the singles draw in Sao Paolo, and a mixed day for the fledgling nations of East and West CWLand.

• In the top half of the draw, Mat Mitchell's victor in round one, Azgin Erdi was obliterated in two straight, demoralising sets by number one seed, Johan Ortiz. A good run at this tournament could see Ortiz break into the world's top 100 and given the ease with which he dispatched Erdi, he'll be expecting for decent progression into the latter parts of the draw. 6 - 1, 6 - 2
  
• A similarly crushing defeat occurred in the match between West CWLand's Richard Langley and number 13 seed Adul Doungtong. However, it was the inexperienced CWLander who came out firing on all cylinders. In the first game of the match, Langley showed no fear as he fired two chancy passing shots against 2nd serves from Doungtong and he immediately found himself a break up. The Thai fought hard to gain an opportunity on the Langley serve, but could only muster up a couple of deuces before losing his own serve again to hand Langley the first set. Langley didn't let up the intensity in the 2nd, as he belied his lower ranking by making all the running, walking away with an impressive 6 - 3, 6 - 2 win.
  
• Section 3 of the draw saw some of the most surprising results of the day. In a hastily arranged move to Centre Court to highlight the first competitive clash between East and West CWLand, young hopeful Marcuss Deane from West CWLand took on the third seed, Matt Bre. The battle bore all the hallmarks of two players keen to fight for their new country, but who also know each other's games well from hours spent on the practice courts of Clowich. Surprisingly, it was Deane who came out looking the sharper - maybe seeing the benefit of his workout the previous day. He stole 2 breaks off the Bre serve in the first set to take it out 6 - 3. Seemingly awoken from a daze, Bre came out with renewed vigour in the 2nd, taking breaks off Deane from his first two service games to go 4 - 0 up, however Deane's dogged determination saw him take one break back as the momentum shifted again. At 4 - 3, Bre called for the physio, looking to nurse his ankle. Whether he received some advise in this period, we don't know but the pause in play halted the Deane Machine. Bre took the 2nd 7 - 5. It was now expected that Bre would steamroller Deane in the 3rd, but the match didn't stick to the script. Bre lost his serve immediately, with a pair of costly double faults - including a contentious foot fault handing Deane the initiative on a plate. From their, Deane was not going to give an inch. Bre lost heart and handed another break of serve to give Deane the match 6 - 3, 5 - 7, 6 - 3 in the shock of the day
  
• Young East CWLand qualifier Phoenix Wleft has made a massive impression in his first tournament, and the rollercoaster continued on number 2 court with a hard fought victory over American number 14 seed Samuel Thorpe. The tenacity shown by Wleft was tangible as Thorpe was turned over despite taking the first set with ease. Wleft somehow stole a break from Thorpe in the second at his first, and only opportunity of the match. Despite Wleft's 3 game going to no less than 5 deuces, he held on to take the set. In the third, neither player seemed intent on attacking the other's serve and so it went to a tie break where it was Thorpe whose nerve snapped first, putting an easy return long to give Wleft the opportunity he needed. 3 - 6, 6 - 4, 7 - 6(7 - 4)

• Seeded players out: Matt Bre (3), Massimo Prodi (8) Sebastian Moss (10), Adul Doungtong (13), Samuel Thorpe (14)

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Sao Paolo Challenger
1st Round Doubles - Sao Paolo, Brazil

Two inexperienced doubles pairings took to the court in round 1 of the doubles in Sao Paolo from new countries in the wartorn former republic of CWLand.

• In the last match of the day, Matt Bre who was earlier defeated in the singles by Marcuss Deane took to the court with countryman Mat Mitchell. Against Anvar Juraev and Nikola Todorovski, the viewers certainly got their money's worth. With long, harrowing battles from the baseline, neither pairing willing to give an inch. No player gave up a break of serve during a match where the floodlights eventually had to come on to allow a finish. The East CWLanders prevailed in both tie breakers, once with the benefit of a very lucky net cord. 7 - 6 (7 - 4), 7 - 6 (7 - 5)
  
• Wildcards Koal Kao and Marcuss Deane had their first doubles outing together against the American duo of Jesse Adams and Sam Lazzeri. The young West CWLanders endured a tough workout, with Deane looking especially short of energy after the earlier three setter against Bre, but Kao came to the party at key moments to break Adams serve. The Adams serve looked the more vulnerable of those on show from the Americans, and as such the CWLanders continually targetted him. One break of the Adams serve in each of the two sets was enough to see them prevail 6 - 4, 7 - 5

• Seeded players out: Marzio Claverini & Felipe Menon (1), Mario Acosta & Gonzalo Castro (2), Matthaus Muller & Tim Zander (3)

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Qatar ExxonMobil Open II
2nd Round - Doha (Qatar)

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Third seed Sven Oxenstierna produced a much-improved effort in his second round clash by claiming a comfortable straight sets win over French wildcard David Lebègue. After being taken to three by Mikel Fosdike on Monday, Oxenstierna looked to hurt Lebègue on the scoreboard early as he fired down seven first set aces. Whilst the Frenchman took him deep into the first set, he never really looked like causing The Ox any real difficulties and quickly succumbed to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat. Oxenstierna now faces an unexpected clash with Bulgaria's Ivan Genov after the stocky European took a tight 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 upset win over defending champion and seventh seed Zhijun Sun.
• In the bottom half, big things were expected of Almen Benaglio, but the sixth seed could not produce the goods as he gave up a one-set lead to Sergio Joaquín. The Spaniard produced a fine rearguard display to counter the aggressive Swiss No. 1 and advance to a quarter final against Radek Špidlá 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Almen Benaglio;
  
  Jason Bradley;
  
  Zhijun Sun.

• There was just the one big upset in the doubles draw as second seeded unit Andrej Konc & Evgeniy Maximov were stunned in three sets by French pair Mikel Fosdike & Christian Mary. The French pair won through to the semi finals of the Masters Series draw in Paris last season, and endeavoured to show it was no fluke as they produced a quality 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 upset.
• In their first tournament as a duo, Carlos Machado & Dênis Rodrígues survived a close opening affair to advance to the second round with a 7-5, 5-7, 11-9 win over Ion Andueza & Paolo Mandonna. Andueza appears for the first time minus regular partner Sanchez Emelio whom he meets up with again next week in Auckland.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Andrej Konc &
  
  Evgeniy Maximov.

 

[Jarquis]

My finest hour surely? A great great win.
Dedicate the doubles win to Kao, sounds like I was dead on my feet, lucky he pulled us through that one.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Aircel Chennai Open II
2nd Round - Chennai (India)

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Whilst there was a low key affair on the Challenger circuit, the quarter finals of the Aircel Chennai Open will see the first meeting between East and West after Jefferson Drake and Scotland Rivers earned big second round wins. Drake was up against fellow Belarusian Denis Isaev, and whilst forced to go deep in two sets he still managed to produce a confident win. Isaev was steady if not unspectacular, and it was not enough to overcome the CDR No. 2 who advanced 6-4, 7-5.
• Rivers, however, should be a more imposing opponent after he again produced a stunning performance to beat Jean-Christophe Genghini. In a bizzare affair, Rivers took no time at all to take the first set 6-0 and looked on the verge of a crushing win at 4-2 in the second. Genghini, however, managed to shoot back with some raking forehands that left the FRC player scratching his head as the match went to a decider. But after doing so well to come back in the second, Genghini barely put up a fight in the third set and allowed Rivers free reign as he surged to a 6-0, 6-7(6), 6-1 thrashing.
• Spas Delev was looking to make it three from three, but could not overcome eighth seed Atthaphol Sae-ul who looked in fine touch in his straight sets win. Sae-ul dropped just three games against Dmitris Chasiotis in the first round, and Delev went just one game better in his 2-6, 2-6 loss. The Thai No. 1 now faces an arduous task against third seed Davis Kennedy whose radar was on in a 6-0, 6-2 win over local Ritwik Bhutia.
• Elsewhere, fifth seed Morgan Carter had a difficult path to the quarter finals but still made it through unscathed with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over Chinese Taipei qualifier Tu Haifeng. Carter expected an easy passage, but did not get it and was made to fight for more than two hours for a well-deserved win. Next up is Petr Brožik who continued his unexpected run with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Alex Peters.

• Seeded players out: None.

• Second seeds Jefferson Drake & Martti Korpinen began their season off in impressive fashion by waltzing past dangerous German pair Manfried Manz & Walter Schiller. The East CWLanders are staking their claim on the Australian Open in a fortnight's time, and produced two solid sets of tennis to advance to the second round 7-5, 6-3.
• Also having a victory were fourth seeds Rob Bowenburg & Jarkko Maxum. After disappointing first round singles exits, the pair had little trouble in dispatching Ivars Emsis & Alex Peters 6-1, 6-4 to advance to a very winnable second round clash against Uzbekistan's Denis Inomov & Rustam Toshpulatov.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

• Whilst there was a low key affair on the Challenger circuit, the quarter finals of the Aircel Chennai Open will see the first meeting between East and West after Jefferson Drake and Scotland Rivers earned big second round wins.

• 
  
  Har har. They'll go well to match the thrills and spills of Bre vs. Deane.

 

[Johnners]

Shhhhpewin.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Brisbane International II
2nd Round - Brisbane (Australia)

Men's singles (Finals - Top Half - Bottom Half)
Men's doubles (Draw)

• Fourth seed Randy Smeltz finds himself in a good position to start his season with a semi final after earning a solid 6-4, 6-4 win over American Wayne Boyd. Boyd really lacked the polish of the CDR veteran whose grafting style overwhelmed the World No. 42 in straight sets. Boyd had a chance to go ahead 3-1 in the second set, but blew both break point opportunities and never really recovered as Smeltz advanced convincingly. He now faces Finland's Lari Färkkilä who, after taking the first set tiebreaker in a twenty-six point marathon 14-12, overcame Pascal Schmidt 7-6(12), 3-6, 6-0.
• There was no such luck for Heath Davis who was unable to tame China's Li Wang as he fell in straight sets. Davis had his chances to steal important breaks of Li's service, but it was the seventh seed who took the advantage of the few that he had on Davis' serve to take the match 6-4, 6-4. Next up for him is top seed Darcy Cowan who showed why he is favourite as he slaughtered 38-year old Frenchman Jean-Alain Depuis 6-1, 6-2.
• The biggest upset of the day and possibly in the history of the ATP, though, came as third seed Henry Charles was stunned by little known 34-year old Australian qualifier Rod Bosnar. Bosnar, ranked No. 251 in the world, scraped past the returning Eric Henson in the first round but was expected to suffer a big defeat at the hands of the British star. That did not happen, though, as he played great smash and grab tennis to stun the Brit 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. Next is Oneil Stewart who will come in as raging favourite to end the fairytale run following a 6-2, 6-4 win over Roberto Santos.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Henry Charles.

• What had already been a poor week in the singles was made even worse as Heath Davis & Jojo Mustard, the top seeds, started their year off in the worst way possible in a shocking loss to Jamaica's Oneil Stewart & Shaun Poole. Picking the doubles draw pureply for some match practice, Stewart nevertheless looked determined to give the world No. 3 team a real test in the first set but fell 4-6. Nevertheless, 25-year old Poole, a childhood friend of Stewart, showed some real doubles pedigree as he patrolled the net to great success and served out the second set 7-5. Davis and Mustard shot ahead 7-5 in the match tiebreaker, but again the yips stuck and they failed to win any of the next five points as the Jamaicans produced a shock 4-6, 7-5, 10-7 victory.
• After an unsuccessful singles return yesterday, Eric Henson recorded a win in his first tournament since tearing his ACL following Eastbourne last June as he and Darcy Cowan won 7-5, 6-0 against Denis Prevost & Jean Tiquet. Elsewhere, fourth seeds Morton Blundell & Wayne Boyd produced a 6-0, 7-5 win over Rod Bosnar & Steve Cole in their first match as a pair to start season II off on a high.

• Seeded players out:
  
  Heath Davis &
  
  Jojo Mustard.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

That's more rank than rankin' roger uptown top rankin' with shabba ranks.

 

[Simon]

Good result, also good to see Charles gone.