2013 ATP/WTA - Week 6 Highlights

 

Rafa was back but not holding the trophy most had expected

2013 ATP/WTA - Week 6 Highlights

Rafa's comeback dominated headlines but there were also impressive performances from Gasquet and Cilic as well as exciting Fed Cup World Group ties in the sixth week of 2013 action.

VTR Open - Vina del Mar, Chile

One set too far - In his first tournament for over seven months King of Clay Rafael Nadal was two points from a victorious comeback but failed to clinch victory in the final against Horatio Zeballos. The seven-time French Open Champ was also a doubles finalist in Chile with Juan Monaco

A memorable win - Winning your first ATP singles title against the mighty Rafa on red clay? Quite the feat and therefore a huge week for World No.73 Horatio Zeballos who took down three seeds before his 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 defeat of Nadal.

Slumping - Other than partnering Nadal to the doubles final last week it has not exactly been a hot start to 2013 for Juan Monaco.  After being thumped in the first round in Melbourne by Kuznetsov the 2nd seeded Argentinean was felled in by 93rd ranked Frenchman Guillaume Rufin.

Open Sud de France - Montpellier, France

Consistent winning - Two titles in six weeks for Richard Gasquet.  Could the stylish Frenchman be ready to add some real consistency to his customary flair? The signs are good after adding the Montpellier crown to his season opening win in Doha.

On the rise - after reaching his second ATP World Tour final Benoit Paire moves into the top 40 for the first time.  Before being dismissed 6-2, 6-3 by compatriot Gasquet; Paire survived by the smallest of margins in round two fending off a match point to defeat Steve Darcis 4-6, 7-6(11), 6-4.

PBZ Zagreb Indoors - Croatia

Hometown Hero - The crowds in Zagreb cheered on Marin Cilic as the Croatian No.1 won a third title in five years as the top seed dispatched Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

Reigning Champ - 2012 titlist Mikhail Youzhny made a brave attempt to retain his title before going down to Cilic in a three set semi-final.  The Russian won the first four meetings with the Croat but has now lost four of the last five.

Future Star - After his run to the final in Brisbane Grigor Dimitrov's march to the top of the game has been halted.  The 21 year-old 7th seed was seen off in two tie-breaks by the giant serving of veteran Ivo Karlovic.

2013 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas

Petra returning - After a difficult start to the year Petra Kvitova led reigning champions the Czech Republic into the semi-finals.  The former World No.2 saw of Jarmilla Gajdosova before saving a match point to overcome fellow Grand Slam champion Sam Stosur as the Aussie's were beaten 4-0 in Ostrava

World's top pair gain crucial win - After heroics from Varvara Lepchenko brought the USA level with Italy in Rimini the hosts had top ranked doubles team Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci on hand for the decisive rubber.  The Australian Open, French Open and US Open champions saw off Lepchenko and Liezel Huber 6-2, 6-2.

Comeback victory - Russia fought back from 1-2 down against Japan to progress in Moscow.  Ekaterina Makarova dominated 42 year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm and then teamed with Elena Vesnina to take the doubles rubber against Misaki Doi and Morita

Absent stars - Minus Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic 2012 finalists Serbia went down 3-2 to the Slovak Republic in Nis, Serbia. Slovak No.1 Cibulkova was forced to retire against Dolonc but her replacement Jana Cepelova battled to overcome Jovanovski 5-7, 7-5, 11-9 in the tie's epic encounter.

Moving through - Great Britain secured a World Group II play-off match for the second consecutive year by going undefeated in Europe/Africa Zone Group I in Eliat, Israel.  Led by Heather Watson and Laura Robson the Brits saw off Bulgaria to claim the play-off spot in April.

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2013 ATP/WTA - Week 5 Highlights

Barthel was on impressive form in Paris

2013 ATP/WTA - Week 5 Highlights

From epic matches to bizarre clothes and breakthroughs the fifth week of the 2013 season was eventful.

2013 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group

The opening weekend of the 2013 Davis Cup will live long in the memory as the Swiss and Czech teams played out the longest ever Davis Cup rubber.



At the end of the 7 hour EPIC



Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol's 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(3), 24-22 victory over Stanislas Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli lasted two hours over the 7 hour mark to make it the second longest tennis match ever. 

The Swiss heroically survived 12 match points before Chiudinelli double faulted on the 13th as the only break in the final set came in the 46th game.

For Wawrinka it is his second appearance in a marathon match in 2013 while it ensures Rosol will now remembered for another reason other than his stunning upset of Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon last year.  

The Czechs - the 2012 winners - won the tie 3-2 and are joined in the last eight by Canada, Italy, Serbia, USA, France, Argentina and Kazakhstan.

Spain fell to Canada without their star players Nadal, Ferrer or Almagro.  The Bryan Brothers lost to Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares in five sets but the US had a strong performance from Sam Querrey in the deciding rubber against the Brazilians.

Open GDF SUEZ - Paris

Fashion Faux Pas - Mona Barthel took out Vinci, Bartoli and Errani to win her first WTA Premier title with some impressive power hitting despite wearing some rather unfortunate maternity style dresses

Bouncing back - After a disappointing performance in Melbourne Errani reached a rare hard court final and maintained her red hot form with Vinci as the Italians took the doubles crown.

Breakthrough - 19 year-old Kristina Mladenovic scored big wins over Julia Goerges, Yanina Wickmayer and 2nd seed Petra Kvitova to reach her biggest semi-final. Barthel stopped her.

Slumping - Having taken a wild card It was another disappointing week for 2011 champion Kvitova who did not impress against Voegele before falling in two sets to Mladenovic. 

PTT Pattaya Open - Pattaya City

Queen of long matches - 12 months after losing a 3 hour and 14 minute final Maria Kirilenko won a 2 hour 37 minute final against Sabine Lisicki to lift her first title since 2008.

Back on form - After a difficult time with injuries and inconsistent form it was good to see Lisicki back in a final.

Age defying - Kimiko Date-Krumm's 2013 success continued as she lifted the doubles title with Australian Open finalist Casey Dellacqua.  For the Japanese veteran it was her fourth WTA doubles crown, three of which have come since her 2008 comeback. There is no stopping her!

Date-Krumm and Dellacqua beat Amanmuradova and Panova in the Pattaya Final

Australian Open 2013 - My Top 5 Matches

Stan Wawrinka may well appear on the list!

Australian Open 2013 - My Top 5 Matches

A week on and here is my final piece on the year's first major counting down my five favourite matches from the two weeks at Melbourne Park.

For drama purposes I should put Serena Williams' shock loss to Sloane Stephens in there but for me it was just so strange a match and as a Serena fan it was not an enjoyable watch for me.

So onto the countdown:

No.5 -  Women's Singles 3rd round: Victoria Azarenka (1) bt Jamie Hampton 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

I hadn't expected much from this match and thought it was going to be all one way traffic when Azarenka raced ahead 5-1 in the first set.  But from there Hampton's form was excellent with many truly glorious forehands and much wonderful serving. 

If it had not been for a recurrence of a back injury the American may have taken out the eventual champion.

No.4 - Men's Singles Quarter Final: Roger Federer (2) bt Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (7) 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3

The last time these two went to five sets it was Tsonga who came through at Wimbledon 2011.  This time the legendary Swiss pulled through an exciting contest despite some very inconsistent play.  But that should take away from set great attacking play from the Frenchman.  

No.3 Men's Singles Semi-final: Andy Murray (3) bt Roger Federer (2) 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2

This was a gripping match as Murray played the better ball from the first point but Federer fought so hard to stay with him and stole two thrilling sets.  While it didn't have a stirring decider it was still a memorable clash.

No.2 Women's Singles 2nd round: Heather Watson bt Ksenia Pervak 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2



Heather embracing her barmy army after her comeback win



Any match sharing a scoreline with the 2002 Capriati vs Hingis finals is going to be a cracking encounter. 

This fight out on Court 8 was my favourite women's match as Heather displayed why she is going to have a super career by simply refusing to lose. 



She did not play close to her best for a lot of the three hour plus match but she showed the most magnificent fighting spirit to fend off three consecutive match points in the breaker and then raise her game in the decider for the grittiest of comeback wins.

No.1 Men's Singles 4th round: Novak Djokovic (1) bt Stanislas Wawrinka (15) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10 

The easiest No.1 pick ever. The match of the tournament could well be the match of the year and one of my favourite ever matches not featuring one of most beloved players.

Amazing tennis, brilliant drama, twists and turns and a stunning final rally and final winning shot.  It could not have been written any better.

The Wawrinka backhand was simply out of this world for the whole match - reminiscent of Gasquet's 2007 Wimbledon quarter final over Roddick - and produced one jaw dropping winner after an another.

That he didn't collapse when Djokovic reeled off five games to level the match was hugely impressive.  That Wawrinka then maintained his incredible level to stay with the World No.1 for so long was nothing short of sensational.  

It was electrifying, it was tennis at its best. No other match in Australia came close. 



The most respectful embrace after the most magnificent content

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Australian Open 2013 - Revisiting my Predictions

I predicted Li's run to the final

Australian Open 2013 - Revisiting my Predictions

Well the dust has well and truly settled on the year's first major and Novak and Vika have defended their titles and tucked away their trophies. 

Pre-tournament I predicted both singles events from the quarter finals onwards.  So who did I have too much faith in and who came through for me?

Women's Singles - Best Predictions

I scored 6 of the 8 quarter finalists correctly but my best call overall was unquestionably Li Na. 

After winning Shenzhen and playing well in Sydney I had a feeling the powerful 30 year-old would be on top form in Melbourne and thought she would take down Radwanska and Sharapova to reach her second final. 

I felt that rising star Sloane Stephens would have a breakout Slam and thought she's reach a first major quarter final - in Kvitova's section - but did not expect a semi-final for the American teen.  At the rate she's moving up she could finish the year in the top 10.

Men's Singles - Best Predictions

I guessed 5 of the 8 quarter finalists but my accurate guesses were not rocket science! 

I thought Novak would beat Berdych in the last eight and then correctly called the semi-final line-up and wins for Novak and Murray over Ferrer and Federer.  I foresaw the Serb gaining US Open revenge in the final.

I would have liked to have to have predicted a surprise quarter finalist like Jeremy Chardy who played some wonderful tennis to beat Del Potro and Seppi.

Women's Singles - Worst Predictions

Like all of the tennis world I was 100% sure Serena Williams would take her 16th Grand Slam. I would predict it again and am still shocked she did not lift the trophy.  Injuries came into play and had a major impact on her performance but surprising unexpected nerves also surfaced.

I had too much belief in Brisbane finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.  I thought the Russian 24th seed would get through to her third Grand Slam quarter final. 

I should have looked at her first round draw more closely and considered that Ukrainian Tsurenko qualified and then reached the semi-finals in Brisbane where she ironically fell in three sets to the Russian.

Men's Singles - Worst Predictions

I have no doubt Grigor Dimitrov will reach major quarter finals in the not too distant future but I called it a bit too early. Both Brisbane finalists did not come through for me! 

I knew that Julien Benneteau was a tough opener for the young Bulgarian but saw him coming through a gripping encounter before going all the way to the last eight, not going down 4, 2 and 4.

Frustratingly I initially called Nicolas Almagro in that section and should have stuck with the Spanish 10th seed who not only did reach his first Australian quarter final but should have been in his first major semi.

I had a feeling that Richard Gasquet would overcome compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last 16 but the talented 9th seed can be so frustrating and faded badly after an impressive second set.  Gasquet is never a safe bet!

Overall I'm reasonably happy with my predictions, they'll be more to come as the 2013 season progresses.

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