ATP Tokyo – Nishikori continues title defense

Kei Nishikori overcame Feliciano Lopez in straight sets and keeps his chances of second straight title in Tokyo alive

This was the fourth meeting between the two players, the third this season. Nishikori triumphed at Memphis final while Lopez emerged victorious at Cincinnati.

The first set was a close one and a tiebreak was needed to decide it. Lopez won the two previous tie breaks, but this time Nishikori was able to claim the breaker and take a 1 – 0 lead in the match.

The second set was all about Nishikori outstanding shot making ability. Lopez didn’t find answer for Nishikori strokes and just after 1 hour and 9 minutes Nishikori claimed the match at second match point with a forehand return winner. 

Nalbandian retires from tennis

After 13 years on professional tennis, the former World No.3 David Nalbandian announced his retirement.

Known for his world class two-handed backhand, Nalbandian has struggled in the last years with his body. Four years ago he suffered a serious injury on his hip, needed surgery and took long time until return to ATP Tour. This year the Argentinean needed new surgery on his shoulder, but this time he isn’t able to comeback.

“I can play matches, but my shoulder won't let me continue my career. I can't play like that at a [professional] level.” Nalbandian said that to the media in Buenos Aires.

Nalbandian won 11 ATP World Tour titles, his best results were Tennis Masters Cup in 2005, ATP Masters Series Madrid and Paris both in 2007.

The 31-year old left a final message thanking everything tennis gave him: “"It's tough because I have to announce my retirement from the sport that gave me so much. I'm very grateful."

ATP Tokyo – Tsonga falls against Dodig

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was surprised today against Ivan Dodig and compromises his chances to qualify for London

The French number 1 is currently the 10^th in the race to London and needs to collect as many points he can in order to qualify. Today he faced Croatian Ivan Dodig and was trying to avoid a second straight loss against Dodig, in the previous match last year at Queen’s Dodig claimed the victory 7 – 6 3 – 6 7 – 6. Tsonga is still recovering from knee injury and struggled against Ivan strong serve not being able to break the Croatian serve. After less than 1 hour and 30 minutes Dodig closed the match 6 - 4 7 - 6.

Dodig pulled off a major upset and second career victory over Tsonga, the Croatian will play in the next stage against Jarkko Nieminen

Match Stats:

                 Ivan Dodig:                                                Jo-Wilfried Tsonga:

Aces                                   9                                                                     9

                                           

Double Faults                     1                                                                     2
   

First serve in                     72%                                                                 65%

First serve won                  79%                                                                 79%

Second serve won              55%                                                                  52%

Break Points Saved          3/3 (100%)                                                        0/1 (0%)   

ATP Beijing – Nadal and Djokovic cruise into second round

The 2013 US Open finalists (Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) were in action today at Beijing and both collect an easy win.

Djokovic was the first to get on court against Lukas Rosol and was trying to repeat this year’s success at Miami where Nole defeated Rosol 6 – 1 6 – 0. The Serbian started even better this match claiming the first set 6 – 0, losing only two points on serve.  Rosol raised his game level on the second set and had two break point chances, however Djokovic saved both and a break of serve was enough for the World No. 1 to book place in next stage.

Nadal aims for World No. 1 spot and to keep his unbeatable record on Hard Court this season (Rafa won all 22 games on Hard Court this year). The Spanish faced Santiago Giraldo and was looking for sixth win over the Colombian player. Despite losing his serve twice, Nadal didn’t have much trouble to take this match. The Mallorca’s player dismissed Giraldo 6 – 2 6 – 4 and kept his outstanding record on Hard Court

ATP Tokyo – Del Potro, Tipsarevic, Lopez and Nishikori come from set down

This Tuesday some of the best players at Tokyo had a difficult start losing the first set and needed to recover from set down

Juan Martin Del Potro overcame an inspired Marcos Baghdatis. The player from Cyprus served at great level with 17 aces, however DelPo managed to recover and keep himself alive in this competition. The Argentinean is the number 1 seed at Tokyo and will face in the second round his fellow countryman Carlos Berlocq.

Janko Tipsarevic has struggled in the last months and is now out of top 20. The Serbian faced Victor Hanescu and lost the first set after a close one decided in the breaker (6 – 8 in the tie break). Janko reacted very well after disappointing first set and took the second with expressive 6 – 1. Things got mental in the third and Tipsarevic proved to be better saving all three break points and claiming the victory with 6 – 4.

Feliciano Lopez faced Japanese Wild Card Tatsuma Ito and had a hard time in the first set, the Spanish only got 37% first serve in and was broken two times by Ito. Feli improved his service level and was able to hold all his service games after the first set firing a total of 18 aces to get a place in the second round.

Home favorite and defending champion Kei Nishikori also had to battle to book a place in next stage. The Japanese lost first set in the tie break against Jurgen Melzer, but managed to repeat this year triumph in Madrid against the Austrian. After a close first set (7 – 5), Nishikori cruised into victory with a 6 – 2 result in the third and decisive set. 

WTA Beijing – Lisicki dismisses Venus

Sabine Lisicki destroyed Venus Williams in Beijing’s second round 6 – 1 6 – 2

Venus was trying to keep the good momentum after Tokyo’s performance, but in the other hand was an inspired Lisicki. The German served at outstanding level and the American struggled to return Sabine’s first serves. The German only lost one point on first serve during all match and this was the key for her to be confident in her forehand.

This was a match that went like predicted with Lisicki’s victory.In the next stage the German will face the winner of the match between Na Li and Bojana Jovanovski.

Match Stats:

                 Sabine Lisicki:                                                Venus Williams:

Aces                                   7                                                                     1

                                           

Double Faults                     6                                                                     3
   

First serve in                     60%                                                                 64%

First serve won                  96%                                                                 58%

Second serve won              33%                                                                  23%

Break Points Saved            0/0                                                            3/7 (42%)   

ATP Tokyo – Del Potro vs Baghdatis Preview

Juan Martin Del Potro will face Marcos Baghdatis in Tokyo’s first round

This will be fifth meeting between Juan Martin Del Potro and Marcos Baghdatis, the last match was this year at Dubai in a closed match where DelPo edged Baghdatis in a third set tie break.

After disappoint performance at US Open Del Potro tries to repeat 2008 performance when he reached the final and lost to Tomas Berdych. On the other hand Baghdatis reached semi-finals last year and looks to defend that performance.

The previous matches were always very tied and this should be another fiery contest. Del Potro hasn’t played in the last month and may struggle before he gets some game rhythm. Baghdatis has good shot making skills and has proved in the past that he knows how to play against the player from Tandil. I expect a very interesting match and my prediction is for a Del Potro win in three sets.