Week 3: Auckland [Altman], Sydney [Orlov], Kooyong [Špidlá], AOQ; Salinas [Langley]

[SirBloody Idiot]

Still looking for a doubles partner in Sydney if anyone's interested. Really need the practice after the early exit in Brisbane.

If that fails, Champion and Brookes are available.

 

[Johnners]

Yep, keen to have a crack at doubles with Mustard.

 

[Mister Wright]

Yep, keen to have a crack at doubles with Mustard.

Excellent...

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Sydney
OUT: Berg, Z. Varga, K. Vollan, L'Estrange
IN: Dorogan, Farkkila, Carretero, E. Henson

Salinas
OUT: Z. Boniek, Eisenhauer, Nesterov
IN: Marchand, Rodriquez, Ibrahimov

AO Qualifying
OUT: Ulemek, Haase, Eisenhauer, Fosdike, Nesterov, Sagna (WC to MD), Lee (WC to MD), H. Thompson (WC to MD), Hewitt (WC to MD), Natale (WC to MD), Buur (to MD), Reiter (to MD), S'ua (to MD), Tobin (to MD), Cunningham, King
IN: D. Marzec, Ivic, Kulic, Martynenko, Delgado, Franklin, Hassan, Descamps, Vicini, Turner, Helgostam, Pettersson, Kurtz, Izvolt, Serrano, Solares

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

[B]Sydney Qualifying[/B]

[B]First Round[/B]
(WC)Jasper Mikluho-Maklai AUS def. (1)Li Ming-Wang CHN 6-0 6-3
Jeremy Natale AUS def. (WC)Jake McDonald AUS 6-0 6-4
Petr Brozik CZE def. Kim Roger Olsen NOR 6-0 6-1
Murphy S'ua SAM def. (7)Ivars Emsis LAT 5-7 6-2 7-6(2)
(2)Valter Cordiero POR def. Gunther Heug GER 6-4 6-1
Radaslaw Marzec POL def. Sebastien Lachance FRA 6-2 6-3
Branko Arsov MKD def. Bertran Renard FRA 6-4 6-2
(5)Haiku Morkel NOR def. Eugenio Galindo ESP 6-7(4) 6-3 6-4
Matthew Tobin AUS def. (3)Alex Peters GER 6-2 6-2
Sheng Yiming CHN def. Brendan Tito PUR 6-3 4-6 7-6(4)
Nikola Todorovski MKD def. (WC)Tyler Charley AUS 6-4 6-2
(6)Oscar Highsmith GBR def. Erdi Azgin TUR 7-6(6) 6-3
(4)Yordan Zakov BUL def. Jaime Barral ESP 6-4 6-4
[B]Randy Banks FRC[/B] def (WC)Patrick McCorkindale AUS 6-2 7-5
[B]Matt Bre CDR[/B] def. Kasper Buur DEN 2-6 6-4 6-3
(8)Julian Day USA def. Fok Zhenyu CHN 6-2 7-5

[B]Second Round[/B]
(WC)Jasper Mikluho-Maklai AUS def. Jeremy Natale AUS 2-6 6-3 7-6(8)
Petr Brozik CZE def. Murphy S'ua SAM 7-6(2) 7-5
Radaslaw Marzec POL def. (2)Valter Cordiero POR 1-6 6-1 6-3
(5)Haiku Morkel NOR def. Branko Arsov MKD 6-2 6-2
Matthew Tobin AUS def. Sheng Yiming CHN 6-1 6-1
(6)Oscar Highsmith GBR def. Nikola Todorovski MKD 7-5 6-1
[B]Randy Banks FRC[/B] def. (4)Yordan Zakov BUL 2-6 6-0 6-2
[B]Matt Bre CDR [/B]def. (8)Julian Day USA 6-3 6-2

[B]Qualifying Round[/B]
Petr Brozik CZE def. (WC)Jasper Mikluho-Maklai AUS 7-5 3-6 6-3
Radaslaw Marzec POL def. (5)Haiku Morkel NOR 1-6 7-6(4) 6-2
Matthew Tobin AUS def. (6)Oscar Highsmith GBR 6-1 6-2
[B]Matt Bre CDR[/B] def. Randy Banks FRC 6-2 6-4

• Matt Bre has earned qualification to the main draw of the Medibank International with a straight sets victory over national rival Randy Banks. Bre, who along with Banks had earned his tennis federation wildcard into the Australian Open, gained vital match practice ahead of his Melbourne Park debut and capped off a solid qualification with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Banks. Banks had toiled for previous wins over Patrick McCorkindale and Yordan Zakov, but fell at the final hurdle against a confident Bre who now faces a brutal first round showdown against eighth seed David Champion.

[B]Auckland Qualifying

First Round[/B]
(1)Jose Navarro PER bye
Guy Williams AUS def. Dylan Levvy NZL 6-3 6-1
John Searcy NZL def. Lance Johnston NZL 3-6 6-4 6-2
(5)Luca Rossi ITA bye
(2)Roy Daniels CDR bye
Cameron Worgan AUS bye
Anatoli Knyazev RUS def. Antonio Soler ESP 6-4 6-7(3) 6-2
(6)Tino Boytchuk CAN bye
(3)Marco Pellegrini ITA bye
(WC)Jeremy Maudsley NZL def. Scott Wilson NZL 6-2 6-1
Excabar Himanez ESP bye
(8)Junior Rosseli PER bye
(4)Gunnar Valsson ISL bye
Nick De Koning NED def. Joshua Fleming NZL 6-0 7-5
Paul Annemans BEL def. Thomas Elliot NZL 7-5 4-6 6-1
(7)Ali Al-Yazidi UAE bye

[B]Second Round[/B]
(1)Jose Navarro PER def. Guy Williams AUS 6-0 7-5
John Searcy NZL def. (5)Luca Rossi ITA 2-6 7-6(1) 6-1
(2)Roy Daniels CDR def. Cameron Worgan AUS 6-4 6-2
(6)Tino Boytchuk CAN def. Anatoli Knyazev RUS 6-3 4-6 6-3
(3)Marco Pellegrini ITA def. (WC)Jeremy Maudsley NZL 7-5 6-0
(8)Junior Rosseli PER def. Excabar Himanez ESP 4-6 6-4 6-2
Nick De Koning NED def. (4)Gunnar Valsson ISL 0-6 6-4 6-4
(7)Ali Al-Yazidi UAE def. Paul Annemans BEL 6-3 7-6(5)

[B]Qualifying Round[/B]
(1)Jose Navarro PER def. John Searcy NZL 6-1 6-1
(2)Roy Daniels CDR def. (6)Tino Boytchuk CAN 7-6(3) 6-0
(3)Marco Pellegrini ITA def. (8)Junior Rosseli PER 7-6(4) 2-6 6-2
Nick De Koning NED def. (7)Ali Al-Yazidi UAE 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2

• Roy Daniels was proved to have made the right decision in passing up a seeded spot in the Australian Open qualifying draw by sealing qualification to the main draw in Auckland with a 7-6(3), 6-0 win over Canada's Tino Boytchuk. With most lower ranked players either in Australia or in Ecuador, the draw was a weak one which the top three seeds took full advantage of.

[B]Salinas Qualifying

Qualifying Round
[/B]Jason Lawley FRC def. Diogo Santo BRA 6-3 7-6(9)
(WC)Michael Chala ECU def. Phillipe Davide BEL 2-6 6-1 7-6(6)
Koal Kao FRC def. Sergey Sylantyev UKR 6-7(3) 7-6(5) 6-2
Pierre Garcon FRC def. Torfinn Birkeland NOR 3-6 6-1 6-3
(A)Alex Hurtado ECU def. Manuel Morales ECU 6-1 6-2 [Hurtado replaces Daniel Macias]
Mauro Santana ARG def. Ricardo Montano ECU 6-0 7-6(1) [Montano replaces Elvis Vallejo]
Yannick Lefevre BEL def. Sixto Calderon ECU 6-3 6-2
Wilson Silva ECU def. Angel Vallejo ECU 7-6(4) 5-7 6-2

• Much like the draw in Auckland, Salinas qualifying was also very barren with just the fourteen competitors. All three FR CWLand players involved were successful in earning maiden ATP Ranking points. Jason Lawley proved too good for Brazil's Diogo Santo in a tight 6-3, 7-6(9) win, whilst Koal Kao had it even tougher as he surged from a set down to outlast Sergey Sylantyev despite having to save two match points. Finally, Pierre Garcon also came from a set down and then did it easy in a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Torfinn Birkeland.

 

[Goughy]

All three FR CWLand players involved were successful in earning maiden ATP Ranking points. Jason Lawley proved too good for Brazil's Diogo Santo in a tight 6-3, 7-6(9) win, whilst Koal Kao had it even tougher as he surged from a set down to outlast Sergey Sylantyev despite having to save two match points.
[/LIST]

Great stuff and happy to still be alive. Hope to make a mini charge in this event. However, I thought I had ranking points from last week

West CWLanders Koal Kao and Jason Lawley had less fun in the qualifying round as both fell in disappointing losses. Kao was up against it with Uzbek top seed Vagiz Ibrahimov handing him a 6-1, 6-4 tennis lesson. Kao was forced to come from a set down to beat local Marcelo Renato in his first match, and found the step up tough as the Uzbek player limited him to just two ranking points as he debuts on next week's rankings.

Though I notice they were not included in the rankings this week.

 

[Blewy]

If its not to late id like to enter the Doubles draw in Sydney... Happily team up with Champion or Brookes if nobody else is keen...

 

[luffy]

Stoked to make it into the main draw!

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

If its not to late id like to enter the Doubles draw in Sydney... Happily team up with Champion or Brookes if nobody else is keen...

Sure thing

Teaming up with Champion

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Bad quali for Norwegians and Westerners

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Though I notice they were not included in the rankings this week.

Got that bit wrong as there's no point available for those who don't qualify.

Heinneken Open Preview

Of the CWLanders in the draw, Jamee Hancianu will be happy with the cards he's been dealt and would be disappointed with anything less than a quarter final. The veteran Depuis has been a first round thorn for many CWLanders over the last year, but if Hancianu is serious about becoming a top player he needs to win these matches. Benaglio, however, creates stiff opposition in a likely quarter final. Heath Davis, meanwhile, faces a tougher draw with the ever-improving Björn Donaldson first up, a possible match against Ivan Genov next and then either Danijel Micic or Chennai semi finalist Oliver Engel in the quarter finals. Roy Daniels did well in qualifying, but Heinz Hainisch and Illya Altman are imposing steps up.

Prediction: Jason Hall def. Danijel Micic.

Medibank International Sydney Preview

Jojo Mustard will be hoping that he can take advantage of a gentle run in Sydney to bounce back from a horror week in Brisbane. Although Matt Tobin lost just nine games in qualifying, Mustard will be keen to get his account underway and move to the round of sixteen against either Murray or Marzec. Charles also is the best of the top four seeds to get in the quarters judging by his shock loss to Rod Bosnar last week. Matt Bre meanwhile was impressive in qualifying, but has his work well and truly cut out for him against seventh seeded local David Champion.

Prediction: Daneu def. Henson.

As everyone looks for match practice ahead of the Open next week, it is little surprise that this draw is absolutely stacked with quality doubles teams. Those who take the win here will no doubt get a full boost of confidence heading into the Australian Open, so Spas Delev & Jojo Mustard would be spitting chips that they drew Carlos Machado & Denis Rodrígues first. Meanwhile, Randy Banks & David Champion were given the last wildcard, and face new team Jason Bradley & Roberto Santos. If results go as expected, Santos will face former doubles partner Rodrígues in the quarter finals.

Prediction: Machado/Rodrígues def. Konc/Maximov, though it could go any way with the likes of Delev/Mustard, Henson/Henson, Blundell/Boyd and Bachunelli/Hadir in contention.

 

[Mister Wright]

Should be a good week for Mustard, and he'll need one after a very poor start to the year in Brisbane.

Will be interesting playing without Davis, but all the same, hoping to go deep into the both draws.

Will be hard to get past the first round in the doubles though with three of them before the final.

 

[luffy]

Hmm, this is going to be tough against Champion...

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Hmm, this is going to be tough against Champion...

Nah, he's tosh

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Need a good run here. Looks a little tricky.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Heineken Open II
1st Round - Auckland (New Zealand)

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

• Sixth seed Heath Davis has survived a potentially tricky first round clash in his native Auckland to surge to a straight sets win over Sweden's Björn Donaldson. The talented Scandanavian youngster has big things expected of him, and looked in fine form early as he secured a break of service to at one stage lead 5-2. But despite being given an opportunity to serve out the first set, Donaldson could not do it as Davis sealed the break back and then broke once more with some ambitious shots from the back of the court. The loss of the first set stymied Donaldson's confidence, whilst Davis flourished as he came to the net more often and to greater effect as he easily put the Swede away 7-5, 6-3. There was a brief chance of him avoiding fellow top 40 player Ivan Genov in the round of 16 as Spain's Javier Villaneuva took the first set. It was not enough to finish Genov, though, who rallied to advance 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
• Seventh seed Jamee Hancianu, however, had it tougher than Davis as he was dealt a tough first round clash with French veteran Jean-Alain Depuis. The oldest man inside the top hundred took the opening set 6-3 and looked in a good position to continue on in the draw. But Hancianu controlled the second set and allowed Depuis just the one hold of serve to head into the decider with the momentum. Depuis looked like he might have Hancianu on the ropes as he came from a break down to be 5-5, but was outlasted by the young DR CWLand player who continued to put forth his Davis Cup credentials with a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 win.
• Qualifier Roy Daniels was able to put up a good fight against Austria's Heinz Hainisch, but could not pull off the victory as the world No. 72 shook off the cobwebs to secure a 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4 win. Looking to break back inside the top 100, the American born Daniels looked in good touch early as he took all of his opportunities and moved well around the court. But he could not sustain it as the Austrian continued to a three-set win with more consistent and less error-ridden tennis.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Medibank Sydney International II
1st Round - Sydney (Australia)

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

• Eighth seed Jojo Mustard has bounced back from a horror start to the year in Brisbane to record his first victory with a straight sets win over Australian qualifier Matthew Tobin. Tobin had been in convincing form throughout qualification as he dropped fewer than ten games in his three matches, but was outclassed by the World No. 29 who looked determined to put Brisbane as far from his mind as possible. Mustard barely got out of first gear as he broke twice in the first set and once in the second to secure victory - all whilst looking the most confident on his own service as he has in all of his time on the circuit. Wildcard Adam Murray is next and will give Mustard another chance to take advantage of his helpful draw and the top ranked players to have dropped out of the field.
• Seventh seed David Champion has kept hopes of a local champion alive in the bottom half as he proved too good for Matt Bre. The CDR qualifier had been impressive in qualifying, but was given the daunting task of facing the 190 cm left-hander on Centre Court in front of a parochial local crowd. In the first set he looked overawed as a number of simple errors saw him slump to 0-3. Whilst he managed to fight back admirably with a break of the big Aussie's serve, he was left to start again in the second set after dropping the first 3-6. There he was much more convincing and went game-for-game with the big hitting Aussie until the twelfth and final where Champion put away an overhead smash with his first of two match points to seal a 6-3, 7-5 win.

• Seeded players out: None.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Needed that win, but its not going to get any easier with Genov up next. Pugnacious fulla, that guy.

 

[Mister Wright]

Mustard finally playing like he should. Hopefully more of the same in the 2nd round.

 

[luffy]

Dissapointing, but Bre still played alright considering.