KickServe

Marat Safin's last tournament

2009-11-10T16:22:00.006+10:00

Safin won in Paris but nearly anyone decent had the day off with a bye. Ljubicic beat Grosjean as the French began falling. Mathieu, Llodra, Santoro, Benneteau, Clement etc. At least Simon will last till the second round as he has a bye in the first.

Elena Vesnina modelling in Dubai.

A short history of drugs in tennis. Worth reading.

Moody Maria Sharapova holding hands with a boy.

Melanie Oudin slaps Serena
"I wanted to play for my country. Other people choose different things. Some people I guess didn't want to play as badly as I did."
Remember no one likes a sore loser - next time hit 'em when you win. That hurts a lot more.

Video: Agassi plugs his book

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Video: Safin is humble

Djokovic beat Federer in Basel

2009-11-09T16:19:00.005+10:00

Djokovic beat Federer in Basel. That’s got to hurt being beat by some upstart Serb in your hometown. Wonderful place Basel – still remember when I was there a few years ago at the time of anthrax scares and they had to stop the whole tournament because someone found a bag of white powder. Just turned out to be some spectator’s missing cocaine. Whew.

Verdasco and Davydenko still going to London it seems. One to make up the numbers and one to bet on.

Murray beat Youzhny to win Valencia and looks ready to do some damage again at the Masters Cup. Seriously where has Murray been all year?

Grats to Italy who steamrolled Team USA and a gallant Oudin. Flavia Pennetta is now officially awesome (if she wasn’t already). Let’s all blame Serena for the loss.

Rezai won Bali but I’m sure no one cares by now. She’ll make the top 30 which is an outstanding achievement for a player no one has heard of who was officially at war with her tennis federation not long ago. What’s Cornet’s ranking again?

It’s hard not to remain convinced that Wickmayer would have won Bali if she was allowed to play.

So the women are done for the year apart from those who refuse to rest and will play Challengers and those who like the moolah and will play exhibitions. Venus and Wozniacki are suiting up in Barbados on the 28th - for the fans of course.

Arantxa Rus won the 50K in Nantes, Sacha Jones who the 25K in Rock Hill, Latisha Chan won the 100K in Taipei and Brie Whitehead lost in the first round of qualifying in Phoenix 50K. Welcome back Brie.

Caroline Wozniacki in a bikini

2009-11-08T15:09:00.005+10:00

Verdasco and Davydenko are out of Valencia together so we still don't know who is going to London. So Murray vs Youzhny for the final.

Federer chewed Chiudinelli and the Djoker got the Worm in Basel.

France take Bali as Bartoli destroys Date-Krumm and Rezai beats Martinez.

The Serena-less US Fed Cup team does as well as expected. The tough Italian Fed Cup team does as well as expected on clay.

Pete Bodo slams Wickmayer.

But none of this matters cause Woznacki has finally overcome her bikini aversion.

Yanina Wickmayer banned

2009-11-06T16:42:00.001+10:00

Rezai is through in Bali and Rybarikova is out. Still no live coverage anywhere, but apparently it is an important tournament.

Wawrinka beat Nieminen in Basel, Djokovic beat Hernych, Korolev beat Chardy, Cilic beat Troicki and Gasquet beat Isner. Verdasco beat Tipsarevic in Valencia, Davydenko beat Monaco, Robredo beat Lopez, Murray beat Mayer and Ferrer retired.

The delightful Yanina Wickmayer may or may not be a dope cheat and forced to pull out of Bali as she has been banned by the Belgian Federation for one year. (But seems to have passed WTA and ITF drug tests.) Dushevina will replace her in Bali. Xavier Malisse has also been banned but few care about him since he has done nothing since dating Capriati and smashing the odd racquet.

The WTA asks those stupid questions we all want answered.

Yanina Wickmayer in Bali

2009-11-04T12:31:00.001+10:00

Nieminen beat Benneteau in Basel, Djokovic beat Beck, Troicki beat Becker, Hernych beat Luczak and Chiudinelli beat Kohlschreiber. Simon beat Kunitsyn in Valencia, Monfils kept his hopes for a berth on London by beating Granollers, Mayer beat Andreev, Ferrer’s still playing, Ferrero lost, Murray beat Gimeno-Traver and Robredo beat C Rochus. Young beat Spadea in Charlottesville.

Maria Sharapova boyfriend update.

Bye bye Roland Garros?

Sabine Lisicki in Bali

2009-11-03T12:54:00.003+10:00

The almost Champions event in Bali starts tomorrow with Shahar Peer – as long as she didn’t bring any flags with her – and a host of lesser-rans headed by Bartoli and Stosur. Only one alternate is in attendance (Dushevina). Didn’t they watch the injury procession in Doha? Let’s expect Rybarikova, Stosur, Wickmayer and Lisicki to do well.

Federer won in Basel, his home city – does he actually live there anymore? – making a comeback of sorts after a while off. The Worm beat Schuettler, and Serra beat Karlovic. Davydenko and Berdych won in Valencia

Perennial underachiever Sophie Ferguson beat hot up-and-comer Michelle Larcher De Brito in the 100K Taipei. Swiss Myriam Casanova is back and qualified for the 50K in Ismaning. Nice to see Brie Whitehead entered in Esperance – at the absolute bottom of the alternates of course (as she currently has no ranking). Laura Robson lost in 25K Nantes qualifying but is playing doubles with Rus.

The Fed Cup and the Williams sisters

Serena Williams finally wins a WTA Tournament in 2009

2009-11-02T16:52:00.004+10:00

So Serena Williams finally wins a WTA Tournament in 2009, leaving it as late as possible. She's a great champion winning all five of her matches and leaving the other girls in a mess of injuries and excuses. Nice of Venus to make the final but she's never been close this week.

Jelena Dokic has been madly squirreling away Challenger points so that when she fails to repeat her Aus Open success her ranking won't completely fall in a heap. She won the 100K Poitiers event and gained some revenge over Arvidsson who beat her in the last final. It's not a Major quarter-final but they're adding up nicely.

Ljubicic won Lyon, Stakhovsky won St Pete and proved he's no flash in the pan Safin beater and Melzer won Vienna.

Serena lost the doubles in Doha and then pulled out of Fed Cup - assuming she really was going.

Caroline Wozniacki the new drama queen?

2009-10-30T16:52:00.003+10:00

Serena beat Elena the (almost) Great for her third straight - underlining the real number one – victory, while Safina laments her overplaying season from the sick bay and may miss the Oz Open. Venus finally started her campaign but probably left it too late while the drama continued in the white group.

Caroline (all bets off) Wozniacki fought her way through against Zvonareva and should now progress if she can make it back onto court. Let’s assume she tanks the third match. Zvonareva immediately signified that she’s had enough and will be replaced by Agnieszka Radwanska for the second year running. Radwanska gets to play against Azarenka in a match that means nothing to her (except $100,000) as she can’t advance but Vika needs to win – especially if the Woz loses to Jankovic.

Safin’s in the quarterfinal in St Petersburg. Cilic, Lopez, Tipsarevic, Melzer and Monfils won in Vienna. Ljubicic beat Kiefer in Lyon and Tsonga beat Ollie Rochus.

Dokic won in Poitiers, as did Krajicek and qualifier Rus, but Cibulkova and Shvedova lost. Zakopalova and Strycova are in the semis in Ortisei.

Video: the Radwanska sisters do Poker Face while Wozniacki has a medical timeout

Elena Dementieva beat Venus Williams

2009-10-28T16:19:00.003+10:00

Serena slid past Kuznetsova in Doha to make it interesting in the (maroon) group of death. Elena the (almost) Great basically ended Venus’ interest in the tournament and Azarenka thrashed Jankovic just to show she can. Jelena might as well go home now.

Still picking that Wozniacki and Azarenka qualify from the easy (white) group and Serena and the Kuz make it through from the maroon group. Dementieva only needs one more win though. Only fifteen double faults against Venus.

Still nothing interesting from the men’s tournaments in Vienna, St Petersburg and wherever. Apparently Safin will play sometime.

Dokic won in Poitiers, as did Cibulkova, Krajicek, Shvedova and qualifier Rus. Zakopalova, Strycova, Malek and Voegele won in Ortisei.

Myskina is either out of shape or looking just fine (depending on your outlook) while commentating at Doha.

Foolish Andre Agassi

Doha preview - Serena or Venus to win all?

2009-10-27T17:07:00.002+10:00

So the Doha fun starts tonight. Last year’s winner Bepa is sulking on the sidelines, Jankovic just scrapped in and will be just making up the numbers again. All eyes will be on the noobs Vika and the Woz to see if they can do anything but as usual this is the Williams’ to lose. If either of them (particularly Serena as Venus has been in a little slump anytime she’s away from Wimbledon) are interested enough to play then the championship is theirs. Assuming that’s not the case then it’s probably Kuznetsova’s year and look for Dementieva to slide under the radar pick up one bruising win and then choke when everything’s hers to win. Oh, Safina’s playing too if anyone cares.

Let’s guess that Wozniacki and Azarenka qualify from the easy (white) group and Serena and Kuznetsova make it through from the (maroon) group of death. And the rest is a lottery.

Radwanska the Outspoken (Aga) will have surgery to her ring finger after Doha where she’s required to sit on the sidelines and pout like last year and will probably win a match or two after the usual injury pullouts. She should be right for Melbourne.

Daniela Hantuchova for Bali?

2009-10-26T16:49:00.004+10:00

Bacsinszky won Luxembourg over Lisicki, Youzhny beat Tipsarevic in Moscow and Schiavone went one better than last week in Moscow, beating Govortsova who wilted in the final after a strong week. Baghdatis (remember him?) beat Ollie Rockus in Stockholm.

The eight are set for Doha with perhaps Zvonareva – if she can be bothered – and Radwanska the Elder – reprising last year’s role – as alternates.

The much maligned Donald Young won a tournament somewhere too.

Daniela Hantuchova has been offered a Wildcard for Bali while Sharapova is rumoured to have set conditions on her participation and since as they are unlikely to play appearance money no big names will be going. The other WC for last year’s winner (in a different format) Schnyder perhaps?

The season may be over must many players are trading down to the ITF tournaments which continue and have suspiciously increased to 100K to cater for them. Cibulkova is playing Poitiers (with Dokic, Rus and Olaru) while Safarova, Garbin and Malek are playing Ortisei. Alexandra Stevenson may even qualify...

Wozniacki to be probed

2009-10-23T18:56:00.004+10:00

Jankovic is to go to Doha instead of Zvonareva since she couldn’t even beat Pironkova. That’s two wins now for Pironkova who hadn’t won a set since July – now she’s on fire in Moscow.

Safin couldn’t follow up his defeat of Davydenko and crashed to Korolev. Ginepri won too. Soderling won in Stockholm, Haas retired before Nieminen and Baghdatis and Clement also advanced.

Hantuchova couldn’t touch Hradecka’s powerful serve in the first set in Luxembourg, but the teen wilted as she served for the set and Dani reeled off five games to take it. Being Dani, she then won in three sets as per normal. Wickmayer edged Cornet, Peer beat CSN and Clijsters managed to lose to Schnyder and now won’t have to decide whether to go to Bali or not.

The Wozniacki retirement saga continues. The great Dane retired at a set and 5-0 up in Luxembourg on daddy’s instructions allowing some punters to bet on her opponent (as dad told her to retire at 5-0 when she was 3-0). Now there is a betting probe. Realistically Caro and her dad appear to be guilty of nothing more than stupidity.

Wickmayer won’t be banned for missing three drug tests as she can’t login to the WADA computer system. Anyone smell a loophole?

Nikolay Davydenko looking good

2009-10-21T13:09:00.003+10:00

Pironkova finally won a match – her first since July – thanks to a spluttering Pavlyuchenkova in Moscow. Revenge of sorts for Jankovic against Shvedova, Kleybanova spanked Rybarikova and Zvonareva cruised past Olaru.

Davy and Safin still haven’t played yet in Moscow so there’s not much to report. Kiefer came through qualifying only to retire against Granollers. 3rd seed Youzhny managed to avoid losing like 2nd Hanescu and 4th Hanescu. Will Davydenko dial it in after winning last week? The once awesome Janko Tipsarevic managed a win.

Bondarenko the Lesser crashed to Vinci in Luxembourg, Hercog won a match. Cornet took advantage of Lucky Loser Rezai, Peer thrashed Strycova, qualifier Flipkens dumped Radwanska the Lesser and a well-rested Clijsters beat up Shaughnessy. Will Clijsters manage to lose this week to avoid winning the title and forcing her to go to Bali?

Wozniacki has alarmed and confused many by retiring at a set and 5-0 up in Luxembourg. The suggestion is that she picked up an injury and wants to be right for Doha so she retired to allow her opponent to progress and not force a walkover in the next round. However some smarts are suggesting that her dad (and coach) was overheard telling her to retire at 5-0 when she was 3-0 and that the internet boards and betting forums picked up on this. More to come no doubt.

Rumours that Ernie and Monaco are involved in the Stockholm fracas.

Apparently Davydenko’s not good looking. Seriously who asks these questions?

Simona Halep wins in St Raphael

2009-10-20T12:53:00.005+10:00

Chaky’s back but didn’t last long in Moscow thanks to Bondarenko the Elder. Alona’s younger sister now has a higher ranking then her which should serve to spur her on. Kateryna’s playing in Luxembourg this week. The Radwanska sisters, Agnieszka and Uszula have also split up this week.

Also in Moscow, Petrova knocked over Buchina (who was given the Wildcard instead of Dokic), Domi showed her lack of practice and Govortsova took care of the last WC. The men are playing too in Moscow but you wouldn’t know it yet. The only two top names are Davy and Safin and they play each other in the first.

In Luxembourg AMG, CSN and Lisicki took care of business. Brit hopeful Robson lost in qualifying.

Simona Halep rebounded from her 1 and 0 thrashing by Dokic last week to beat Kerber in St Raphael. Good win against a top 100 player. Maybe the surgery is helping her now.

Rumours that Peer will not be granted a visa for the end of year tournament in Bali that she has qualified for. No doubt the WTA is already frantically working on this ie drafting their announcement to spin this for the best.

Wickmayer is a dark horse for the Aus Open according to Wertheim – there goes her chances then...

Sam Stosur won Osaka

2009-10-19T16:23:00.004+10:00

Stosur the (0 from 5) choker beat Schiavone the 1 from 9 finals choker and finally titled. Will she go to Bail now?

Davydenko won Shanghai in a close match with Rafa. He’s good Davydenko isn’t he? Davy’s reward is to play Marat in Moscow.

Wickmayer beat Kvitova after everyone lost interest in Linz.

Sacha Jones won yet another Aussie 25K – this time at Port Pirie. 3 now and counting.

Ioana Raluca Olaru makes Linz quarter-final

2009-10-16T17:38:00.003+10:00

Mirza beat Bartoli (who retired), Schiavone got a walkover and the Woz showdown went down to three before the Dane beat the Canuck. Olaru got a handy win and surprise quarter-final appearance after a marathon effort against Goerges. Her kind draw runs out though as Pennetta looms.

Cornet lost to Radwanska the Elder but Radwanska the Lesser lost to Safarova. Aga will now attempt revenge for her little sister’s beating. Stosur thrashed Morigami.

Davydenko marched on while Wawrinka and Monfils retired. Must be that time of the year. Lopez continued his good form and Djokovic and Nadal cruised. Simon took out Berdych no doubt inspired by Safin’s comments yesterday.

Jones, Bobuscic, Wejnert and Molik made the Semi’s in Port Pirie. Presumably this leads to yet another Jones Molik final.

Alize Cornet won in Linz

2009-10-15T16:00:00.003+10:00

Mirza’s finally woken up for 2009, Schiavone took a bagel from Latisha Chan before progressing, and Bartoli thrashed the local wildcard.

Cornet gesticulated wildly, argued with herself and missed many easy shots but still won – how bad do you feel Barrois? Benesova lost to Kvitova again and the Radwanska sisters can meet in the next round if they can get past Cornet (Aga) and Safarova (Urszula). You know you want it to happen.

(We also want an all Woz QF in Osaka which will happen if when Wozniacki beats O'Brien.)

Jelena Dokic continued her roll in Joue-Les-Tours and has apparently asked for a wildcard for Moscow. Tickets for the Dokic express please.

Hewitt fell apart losing six straight games and the match to Monfils, Lopez took down Ferrer, Robredo’s still winning, Verdasco lost, del Potro’s hurt – no doubt caused by the too long season which he just had a month off – Blake took another set off Rafa before inevitably succumbing and Djokovic and Simon both strolled.

The great Marat Safin lost in Shanghai and afterwards beat up his conquer Berdych and then Andy Roddick for good measure. Berdych was feigning injury and needs to grow up and Roddick has to think a little bit with his brains. Roddick opposed Safin’s attempts to shorten the season in 2004 and has now called on the ATP to do so which angered Safin. Safin’s shortened season will of course end at the Paris Masters.

Ivo Minar got banned for eight months. I'm still not sure which Minar he is.

Yahoo blog takes another swipe at the foot-fault lineswomen.

Jelena Dokic destroys Halep

2009-10-13T16:07:00.001+10:00

Jelena Dokic, the former top five player with a mad father, previous boyfriend issues and darling of the last Australian Open, has followed up her tournament win of a week ago by blasting poor Simona Halep off the court in the 50K event in Joue-Les-Tours 6-1 6-0. That’s the kind of form we like to see Jelena in. Now if she can only reproduce it at a proper tournament and not just at the challenger level. Anyway, it’s time to get aboard the Dokic express.

Not much happened at Linz or Osaka. Safin won in Shanghai and Gasquet lost. 14 year old Emily Fanning qualified for the Port Pirie 25K where she’ll be sacrificed to the angry Rogowska god.

Meanwhile it’s whispered that Safina will automatically reclaim the top spot due to YEC scheduling. Nobody tell Serena.

Novak Djokovic won Beijing

2009-10-12T17:13:00.001+10:00

Cilic blew a great chance and the experienced Djokovic took full advantage of the rain delay to win Beijing. Cilic will be back though. He’s the hottest upcoming player on the tour but he won’t be sneaking under any more radars after annihilating Nadal in the semis. Meanwhile the Djoker refused to do any more impersonations that the Chinese politely requested. He’s a grown boy now and is a little embarrassed by all the attention-seeking stunts he used to do. Wait till he drops out of the top ten and ask him then.

Tsonga beat Youzhny in the who cares Tokyo final. Good for him though.

Svetlana the Basher destroyed the very credible Radwanska the Greater in a beautiful exhibition of power hitting to win a nice cheque and quite happily admitted it was good to get paid more than the men – twice as much in fact.

Jones beat Molik again at the Mt Gambier 25K. Now they do it all again at Port Pirie.

Dokic, Zahlavova, Halep and Rus are playing at the 50K in Joue-Les-Tours, France. Dokic plays Halep first up.

Agnieszka Radwanska advances

2009-10-10T12:59:00.003+10:00

Nadal beat up Safin, Bepa lost to Bartoli (how does this happen?), Hewitt’s still cleaning up, Cilic ended Davydenko’s fun, Djokovic and Verdasco flipped a coin to see who won – the Djoker guessed correctly and Radwanska the Outspoken showed Dementieva how to play solid uninspiring tennis and still win.

Petrova ended Chinese interest in the tournament, Tsonga tossed Gulbis, Youzhny exposed Berdych as the flashy layabout we all knew he was and Monfils continued Wawrinka’s downward spiral.

At the Mt Gambier 25K Molik and Jones continued their inevitable path towards the final.

Marge Simpson is better than Serena

Video: Marion Bartoli using a fridge to practice

The Marat Safin of old

2009-10-09T12:39:00.000+10:00

Safin destroyed Gonzalez in Beijing and looked, well, like Safin. Can we persuade him to do a Henin next year? Nadal went wander against Blake but recovered to win and Soderling beat Robredo.

Tsonga came back to beat Gasquet, Simon’s out, rich boy Ernie’s still there, Hewitt pushed Santoro out the door and Berdych beat Beck.

Serena lost to Petrova, Zhang lived down to expectations, Radwanska the Greater was down a set and 0-4 to Martínez Sánchez before deciding to win anyway and Vera Z – towel over head and all – managed a tempestuous win over an unhappy Flavia the Indomitable as payback for her US Open meltdown. Can these two please play every tournament?

Molik beat Rogowska at the Mt Gambier 25K. But Jones beat Bobuscic and looks strong. Holland and Wejnert managed to join the inevitable Aussie exit. Golds is still on track for a semi spot.

Serena full of grace. “I ran into a girl today that has never played so good in her whole life so I don't know... I honestly don't know what was going on then. I know I was grunting and fighting.”

Mad Damir Dokic update:
Jelena’s father is now on a hunger strike in prison.

Svetlana Kuznetsova in Beijing

2009-10-08T16:24:00.003+10:00

Maria Sharapova went tumbling out of Beijing courtesy of Peng, the Kuz dusted the remaining Bondarenko and Dementieva carved up Li Na. Caroline Wozniacki strove to lose her nice girl reputation by having a spit at the WTA and /or Beijing tournament organisers (not sure which) for making her play when she wasn't ready. Perhaps she should play less than 200 tournaments a year if she wants to stay healthy.

Davydenko beat Kohlscreiber, Verdasco edged Ferrero and Djokovic sliced up Troicki including serving up a nice bagel. Cilic also scored a bagel beating Benneteau.

Gulbis took out the Worm in Tokyo, and Tsonga, Monfils, Gasquet and Wawrinka all won.

Clijsters is coming to Brisbane next year and bringing Henin with her. Could be a nice early flashpoint. Monfils and Roddick for the men. However the headline act will be some glamorous Serb whose career has been in terminal decline since she inherited Henin’s top spot.

Holland, Rogowska, Jones, Bobuscic and Wejnert all won at the Mt Gambier 25K. No idea of today’s scores as Tennis Oz has stopped its useful live streaming and can’t even mention or update scores.

Cronin on why Jankovic and Sharapova don’t like each other.

Video: “Is her last name Jankovic?” Maria Sharapova disses Azarenka

Serena Williams is again the best player in the world

2009-10-07T13:07:00.002+10:00

Roddick crashed out in Beijing but Nadal, Verdasco and Davydenko went through. Del Potro left Hewitt and Simon as the only (big) names left in Toyko. Hope it wasn’t a two match appearance fee... Nadal will face the might of Blake but Safin against Gonzalez will get the crowd pumping. Let’s hope some racquets are smashed for posterity’s sake.

Vera (remember me?) Zvonareva smashed Schiavone but Daniela Hantuchova left her comeback too late against Petrova. Only one Bondarenko remains... Wozniacki stayed to cheer on Aga Radwanska who had little trouble with the heavily slumping Schynder. Serena Williams beat Makarova to again become the best player in the world. Moody Maria held tough to come back against the young screamer but Vika needs to learn how to win these.

“Is her last name Jankovic?” Maria Sharapova managed to diss both Jankovic and Azarenka at once when the latter took yet another timeout. Let’s face it if we didn’t have Maria we’d have to invent her.

ESPN go naked to take on SI’s swimsuit issue. Rumours already that one big WTA star will tastefully appear. Let the photoshopping begin...

Most Aussies crashed out at the Mt Gambier 25K with the honourable exception of Alicia Molik. Her potential next round matchup with Olivia Rogowska could decide the title but then we thought that last time too until Sasha Jones crashed the party. Jones’ draw has cleared up nicely too with Sally Peers losing, possibly injured. The unranked WC Bojana Bobuscic lurks.

Zhang Shuai ends Safina’s reign

2009-10-06T16:22:00.003+10:00

Wildcard Zhang bounced the soon to be former number one Safina in Beijing meaning all Serena has to do is fall over Makarova to regain the poisoned chalice.

Safina’s probably not saying so but she must be relieved to be rid of the thing. She’s a likable person and a fine competitor but the world number one she is not, and she’s been slowly crumbling under the weight of the comparison with the much less playing but better credentialed Serena Williams. What’s the bet that with the pressure off number two Safina cleans up at the end of year championship?

Marat Safin gave hope in Beijing, strolling past Acasuso – even James Blake had a win. Also Cilic, Ferrero, Djokovic and Robredo. The not so shy Karlovic went home early. Hewitt beat local wildcard Ito in Toyko.

Cornet crashed out in Beijing, both Bondarenko’s are doing well, Venus is not and must now hate to see Pavlyuchenkova’s name in her draw. The Kuz thrashed AMG and Li Na – formally the best of the Chinese – dished out a bagel to Safarova in her win.

Video: Athens winner’s ceremony

Dokic Alert!

2009-10-05T16:48:00.002+10:00

The once great Jelena Dokic won a tournament! Well it was only a 100K in Athens but still, she won more than one match in a row and actually cares again. Next up she’s at a 50K in Joue-Les-Tours then hopefully in Linz and Moscow.

Wozniacki crashed out in Beijing, Lisicki retired against Schiavone, Hantuchova forgot to take her usual mid-match vacation and managed to toss CSN in two sets and King beat Voskoboeva in the battle of the Lucky Losers.

Davydenko took out Verdasco in Kuala Lumpur. It’s about time too. This is what Davy’s supposed to be like, robotic, machine like, churning out titles without emotion. He might even make it to London now (so he can get pummelled by Fed, Rafa and the Djoker). Is making the final a step forward for Verdasco? Or losing to King Kolya a move backwards?

Meanwhile Venus is the Madonna of tennis...