The U.S. Open draw has been unveiled with the usual suspects at the top pack.  Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are the highest seeds followed respectively by Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.  For some, the path has multiple green lights, but for others it is lined with yellow flags.  Here’s a breakdown of the draw.

After his victories at the French Open and Wimbledon, Nadal is once more in pursuit of the U.S. Open trophy, the sole major he lacks.  In 2008, the Spaniard was halted in the semifinals by Murray and last year in the same round by Juan Martin Del Potro, the champion.  Although Nadal has been the most prolific performer on grass and clay this season, hardcourt has been a different story.  Nadal has a lone final appearance in January in Doha and went down to Nikolay Davydenko.  With neither injury nor fatigue an issue this time, Nadal is capable of going the distance.  However, there may be a significant boulder in his way in the quarterfinals.

Finally in shape after hip surgery, David Nalbandian has made himself part of the conversation and could clash with Nadal in the quarterfinals.  Although Nadal recorded the win at their last meeting at the Sony Ericsson Open in March, Nalbandian’s form has improved markedly since then.  Moreover, Nalbandian took the title as a wildcard at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic earlier this month.  As a result, the Argentine will not be an easy customer for the Spaniard.

While Fernando Verdasco, the eight seed, is technically another likely quarterfinal counterpart for Nadal, Verdasco is at best a minute obstacle.  With a 10-0 record against his countryman, in a five set match, Nadal is a sure bet.

De novo, Nadal has been placed on a collision course with Murray to reach his first U.S. Open final.  Twice on hardcourt this year, Murray has comprehensively beaten Nadal including the Rogers Cup two weeks ago.  After dreadful results most of the season, Murray is at last in form and defended his title in Toronto.  If they clash in the semifinals, Nadal will have a tough time getting a pass.

Beforehand, Murray may need to handle his own spot of bother in the shape of Sam Querrey in the round of 16.  In the final of the Farmers Classic in July, Querrey prevailed over Murray.  In addition, Tomas Berdych, the French Open semifinalist and Wimbledon finalist, is a probable quarterfinal rival for Murray.  Therefore, a Murray-Nadal semifinal is not set in stone.

The bottom half of the draw is also intriguing with Robin Soderling, Andy Roddick, Djokovic and Federer, the projected quarterfinalists.  Yet, Mardy Fish and Marcos Baghdatis may spell trouble for the top seeds in that section considering their performance this summer.

The last time Federer encountered Lleyton Hewitt, it was the Halle final.  That day, Hewitt walked away with the trophy.  In the third round, Federer may get the opportunity to pay Hewitt back.  A similar scenario could unfold with Soderling who will likely be Federer’s quarterfinal match-up.  Soderling derailed Federer in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. Neither Soderling nor Hewitt has posted good results during the summer hardcourt season.  Conversely, Federer defended his title in Cincinnati and is playing his best tennis since his triumph at the Australian Open.  Hence, Federer’s chances of advancing to the semifinals are strong.

Still with the lingering effect of mononucleosis, Roddick reached the semifinals in Cincinnati last week. If illness is a non-factor, Roddick should have no difficulty getting by Davydenko in the round of 16.  Complications may come in the quarterfinals if Roddick faces Baghdatis or Fish.  The latter ousted Roddick in the semifinals in Cincinnati and Atlanta this summer after being winless nine consecutive times.

Out of deference as the third seed, Djokovic can be said to be a contender.  However, the Serb’s performance these past few tournaments leads one to question his physical and mental toughness in a torrid New York heat.  So, depending on the weather, Baghdatis or Fish could sneak through, thwarting a possible Roddick-Djokovic semifinal.  Nevertheless, if it comes down to a Roddick-Djokovic semifinal, Roddick should be in the driver’s seat.

Federer, Murray, Roddick and Nadal, in that order, are the heavyweights while Nalbandian, Soderling, Djokovic and Berdych are the middleweights with an outside chance for the title.  With major number seventeen, Federer would be three shy of his set objective of twenty.  After being denied twice, Murray is hopeful that on this occasion he will join the elite club of major champions.  For Roddick, a second trophy would silence the critics who are determined to label him as a “one slam wonder”.  By completing the career grand slam, Nadal would demonstrate that he is indeed a complete player and elevate himself to legendary status.

With the biggest title of her career at the Rogers Cup earlier this week, Wozniacki heads into New York with a wealth of confidence.  But, being the top seed at a major is an unfamiliar status for the Dane, how she handles the pressure will be key.  Wozniacki may need every ounce of mental fortitude to get through the round of 16 where 2007 U.S. Open winner Sharapova will be her likely adversary.  In Cincinnati, Sharapova suffered a foot injury.  If Sharapova is at full capacity, Wozniacki could find her claim to her first major postponed another year.

After a difficult few months whereby her ranking dropped outside the top 10, Kuznetsova’s game appears to be clicking again as evidenced by a recent title in San Diego.  As a potential quarterfinal opponent for Sharapova or Wozniacki, the 2004 U.S. Open champion is someone to keep an eye on in the top half of the draw.

The same applies for 2010 Australian Open semifinalist Na Li who will be searching to go one step further at the U.S. Open.  For that to happen, Li may have to knock out Kuznetsova in the round of 16 and stop either Sharapova or Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.  Also, Maria Kirilenko and Aravane Rezai are two dangerous competitors who may prevent any of these players from advancing to the quarterfinals.

In the bottom part of the top half of the draw, if the script follows the seeding, Vera Zvonareva and Jankovic will face off in the quarterfinals.  Lately though, Jankovic has been plagued by a myriad of injuries resulting in her downfall in the early rounds at the warm-up events.  Thus, the Serbian could be ousted in the primary stages by 2009 U.S. Open semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer or 2010 French Open quarterfinalist Kaia Kanepi.

Being a Wimbledon finalist in Zvonareva’s case could be a blessing or a curse.  In light of that experience, the Russian should have the belief to foil any potential upset in the round of 16 by rivals such as Nadia Petrova or Agnieszka Radwanska. Conversely, Zvonareva’s desire to erase that disappointment could lead to additional pressure and open the door for her counterparts.

If the results of the recent tournaments are any indication, it will be a Wozniacki versus Zvonareva semifinal or an all Russian affair, Zvonareva versus Sharapova.  Since Wozniacki defeated Zvonareva in Montreal, the Dane would have the edge.  If it comes down to a test of wills between Sharapova and Zvonareva, the former would have the upper hand.

The outcome of the bottom half of the draw hinges on the health of Clijsters’ hip.  With her come from behind victory in the Cincinnati final, Clijsters demonstrated she was ready to capture consecutive U.S. Open titles.  But since Montreal, Clijsters’ dream is in doubt because of the hip issue.  If Clijsters hip is at 100%, she should sail into the quarterfinals.

Sam Stosur, the fifth seed, is a possible quarterfinal match-up for Clijsters.  Yet, the French Open finalist’s results have been poor the last few months.  Therefore, with Alisa Kleybanova, Elena Vesnina or Dementieva as potential challengers in the beginning rounds, Stosur may be sent packing sooner than later.  If she makes it through, Dementieva is equipped with the game which can trouble Clijsters in the quarterfinals.

French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, the sixth seed, has had a tough time translating her clay success to the hardcourt.  On the other hand, with a semifinal showing at the Rogers Cup and the Stanford title under her belt, Azarenka is peaking at the right moment.  Thus, in a round of 16 meeting between these two, Azarenka would be the favorite.  Still, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is another name to ponder in that section since the Russian has the best record on hardcourt to date.  A projected third round rival for Azarenka, Pavlyuchenkova has put in the work which could get her to the quarterfinals or beyond.

Venus, the third seed, has not seen any action since July because of a knee injury.  Despite excelling on hardcourt earlier this year, Venus’ lack of play recently will be a factor.  In the third round, Venus could collide with Tsvetana Pironkova who defeated her in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon while Shahar Peer or Flavia Pennetta loom in the round of 16.   As a result, the prospect of Venus ending her nine year title drought at the U.S. Open does seem bleak.  In fact, Clijsters or Dementieva moving on to the semifinals against either Azarenka or Pavlyuchenkova rather than a Clijsters-Venus semifinal appears a better deduction on that side of the draw.

In conclusion, a back to back Wozniacki versus Clijsters final is not out of the question.  However, Sharapova, Azarenka and Dementieva also seem to have one hand on the trophy.  Consequently, it’s safe to surmise that within this lot lies the ultimate proprietor.  Although, it’s difficult to picture exactly who it may be at this point.

Following his Australian Open victory in February, Roger Federer’s game had been in a tailspin.  In his best form since Melbourne, Federer made the final at the Rogers Cup last week, but went down to Andy Murray.  However, today, Federer edged out wildcard Mardy Fish 6-7,7-6,6-4 at the Western and Southern Financial Group Masters for his second straight Western and Southern Financial Group Masters title and  his 17th Masters’ shield.

This hardcourt season, Fish has positioned himself as a man to fear.  After a grass title in Newport, Fish claimed the initial trophy of the Olympus U.S. Open series in Atlanta.  In Cincinnati the first three rounds, Fish dismissed Gilles Simon, 9th seed Fernando Verdasco and Richard Gasquet in straight sets.  Subsequently, in the quarterfinals, Fish defeated Andy Murray for the third consecutive time.  Then, in the semifinals, Fish collected his second successive win over Andy Roddick by erasing a 4-6,2-5 deficit and improved his record to 16-1 since Wimbledon.  Thus, with these results, Fish’s confidence was astronomical.

Moreover, with Fish in the most outstanding physical shape of his career and an easy triumph over Federer in their last meeting at Indian Wells in 2008, the chances were excellent that in his fourth attempt, Fish would gain his first Masters’ shield.  Conversely, despite advancing to two other finals besides Toronto, Federer was denied in Madrid and Halle this year.  In his 90th career final, Federer was hungrier than ever to capture his 63rd career title and gain momentum heading into the U.S. Open.

Subsequent to a comfortable hold by each player, Fish got embroiled in a 15 minute plus game.  After surviving two break points, on the ninth deuce, Fish obtained a game point with a backhand volley winner and sealed the game with a strong serve for 2-1.  Thereafter, both men cruised on serve until the tenth game when Fish misfired on a forehand up the line to give Federer set point.  With an ace, Fish wiped out Federer’s advantage and later tied the set at 5 all.  At 5-6 on Fish’s serve, Federer arrived again at set point when Fish’s stroke hit the net and flew long.  Once more, Fish repelled his opponent and forced a tiebreaker.

On Federer’s backhand crosscourt error, Fish got a mini-break for 4-3.  But, with two forehand winners, Federer stole both points off Fish’s serve for 5-4.  Still, Fish reversed the tides with an overhead winner and a backhand error by Federer to fabricate set point at 6-5.  With Federer unable to catch up to Fish’s serve, the American bagged the tiebreaker.

Yet to face a break point, Federer continued to coast on serve in the second set.  However, Fish had no problem matching the defending champion.  In fact, Fish’s first serve percentage improved as the set progressed.  At two all, Fish pushed Federer to a deuce game.  But, Federer guarded serve to stay ahead 3-2.  After holding at love for 6-5, Federer got to deuce on Fish’s watch with a forehand up the line winner.  By readily finding his first serve, Fish held for a second tiebreaker.

With a forehand crosscourt winner, Federer inched ahead with a mini-break for 2-0.  After stretching his lead to 4-1, Federer provoked two errors from Fish to take command of the tiebreaker at 6-1.  Next with an ace, Federer leveled the match at one set a piece and forced a decisive set.

Most of the ultimate set had a pattern similar to the prior two with neither person giving a millimeter on serve.  Following a quick hold, Fish caused Federer to flub a forehand for 30 all.  Yet, this was the extent of the American’s progress.  With two unreturnable serves, Federer maintained serve for 4 all.  At this point, a third tiebreaker seemed eminent.  But, at 30 all, Fish sent a forehand out of play giving Federer a break point.  Finally, on his fifth break opportunity, by staying patient in a long rally, Federer capitalized as Fish’s backhand sailed wide for a 5-4 advantage.  Then, with Fish’s miscue on a backhand return, Federer had double match point.  Although Fish salvaged one, on the next chance, Federer bagged the championship when Fish failed to accurately stick another backhand.

The last wildcard to prevail in Cincinnati was Boris Becker in 1985.  Fish would have been deserving of the title and a note in the history books after coming so close in the 2003 final against Roddick.  As he collected his second finalist trophy, Fish received a huge round of applause.  Fish recognized the crowd and expressed his appreciation for its support in saying “this is one of my favorite tournaments . . . I gave it everything I had . . . Roger is the greatest of all time . . . I’ll be back next year”.

Federer was also impressed with Fish’s performance citing “Mardy played fantastic. . . It could have gone either way”.  Federer also acknowledged that without the fans the week would not have been as gratifying commenting “you made it special”.  With this win, Federer equals Mats Wilander’s all time record in Cincinnati with four titles and becomes the first person since Andre Agassi in 1995-96 to repeat at this event.

For both athletes, it was a banner week.  By vanquishing Marcos Baghdatis in the semifinals, Federer assured a second place seeding at the U.S. Open.  Last week, Federer reclaimed the number two ranking by overcoming Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.  In Fish’s case, his status as a finalist means that his ranking will shoot up from 36 to 21 thereby locking his spot as a seed in New York.

Unlike the Rogers Cup where the top four seeds reached the semifinals, three crashed out in the quarterfinals.  Rafael Nadal was stopped by Baghdatis, Murray by Fish and Djokovic by Roddick.

Interestingly, since the Australian Open final, both Federer and Murray, the runner-up, have struggled.  But, the last couple of events in North America, these two appear to have rediscovered their form with each successfully defending his respective title.  As such, Federer and Murray will certainly be two of the favorites in New York.  However, with the likes of David Nalbandian, Fish and Baghdatis excelling this summer, the plot thickens as the U.S. Open approaches.

Although Clijsters had a slim edge over Sharapova in their head to head at 4-3, the latter had prevailed at their ultimate three meetings.  However, a lot had taken place since the 2007 Australian Open semifinal, the last time Clijsters and Sharapova clashed.  For Clijsters, the wanting of a family and marriage pushed her away from competition for almost two years.  Yet, in the summer of 2009, Clijsters marked her returned on tour in grand style with the title at the U.S. Open.  Sharapova had a near 10 month absence from the game due to shoulder surgery.  Since getting back in May 2009, Sharapova’s serve, one of the principle components which propelled her to three major titles, has been unpredictable.

Strangely enough, it was Clijsters’ serve which was her Achilles heel from the outset.  After being ahead 40-15 in the first game, Clijsters double faulted to give Sharapova break point.  Despite recovering and salvaging a 0-40 game subsequently, Clijsters could not find any answers to an attacking and aggressive Sharapova.  After fighting off two break points to arrive at 2 all, from 15-40, Sharapova aided by miscues from Clijsters got to deuce.  Then, when Clijsters’ backhand crosscourt sailed long, Sharapova had her fifth break point.  The Russian banked the break when Clijsters committed her fourth double fault.  After consolidating for 4-2, Sharapova’s provoked three consecutive backhand mistakes from Clijsters to obtain a second break.  Next, with a love game, Sharapova closed out the set.

Clijsters opened the second set with a love hold.  Once Sharapova netted a backhand, Clijsters had break point.  With a backhand return winner, Clijsters capitalized for a 2-0 lead.  But, with two errors and a double fault, Clijsters faced triple break point.  With another Clijsters’ backhand going out of play, Sharapova was back on serve.  Later, on a deep return by Sharapova, Clijsters dumped her next stroke into the net handing Sharapova double break point. As a result of Clijsters’ forehand up the line landing wide, Sharapova captured the break for 4-3 and went on to consolidate for 5-3.   By unleashing on a forehand return, Sharapova struck a winner for match point.  With Sharapova sending a forehand crosscourt long, Clijsters got to deuce.  Two more championship points followed for Sharapova with Clijsters successfully salvaging both.  On the game’s fourth deuce, the rain intensified causing play to be stopped.

When the women took the court after the weather interruption, a new Clijsters quickly guarded serve for 4-5.  With Sharapova serving for the title, Clijsters coaxed the Russian into two backhand errors to earn double break point.  Thanks to a couple of big second serves, Sharapova brushed those aside for deuce.  However, another backhand miscue by Sharapova led to break point for Clijsters.  As a result of a double fault, Clijsters leveled the set at 5 all.   The second set was decided by a tiebreaker.

By double faulting on the initial point, Clijsters gifted Sharapova a mini-break.  The Russian went on to take a 3-0 lead.  Because of mistakes by Sharapova including a double fault, Clijsters seized the next five points.  After Sharapova erased the mini-break advantage, she double faulted to give Clijsters a 6-4 edge.  As Sharapova misfired with the backhand crosscourt on set point, Clijsters was back in contention.

Following a comfortable hold by both players, a double fault and two more backhand flubs gave Clijsters triple break point.  The Belgian pocketed the break for 2-1 when Sharapova double faulted.  At this point, Sharapova summoned the trainer.  Unbeknownst, in the second game, Sharapova misstepped and sustained a foot injury.  After Clijsters consolidated, Sharapova had difficulty serving and stared at triple break point.  With a backhand winner, Clijsters bagged the break and with a love game stretched her lead to 5-1.  Sharapova continued to battle after maintaining serve, effacing triple match point and fabricating a break point.  But, limited by injury, Sharapova could not do much.  On her fifth championship point, Clijsters watched Sharapova’s stroke travel long and claimed her 38th career title.

In spite of the disappointing ending, for Sharapova, as the U.S. Open nears, the hope is that her foot issue is only minor because she is once again a threat.  Sharapova’s ranking will improve from 15 to 12.  Cincinnati is Clijsters’ third title of the year and her second premier trophy of 2010, the maiden one was at the Sony Ericsson Open.  On Monday, Clijsters’ ranking will go from number 7 back into the top four.

Since claiming the French Open championship in 2008, Ana Ivanovic has made a mad dash toward the bottom of the sport.  From a ceiling at number one two years ago, Ivanovic’s ranking has been heading in the direction of the cellar this year.  Entering this tournament, Ivanovic was the world number 62.  However, things appeared on the upswing for the Serbian.

Just a couple of games from defeat in the first round, Ivanovic rebounded to steal the match from 9th seed and 2010 Stanford champion Victoria Azarenka.  That victory was followed by straight set wins over Yaroslava Shvedova in the second round, Elena Vesnina in the third round and Akgul Amanmuradova in the quarterfinals.  But, in the semifinals, Ivanovic suffered another setback.  Simply three games into the match against Clijsters, Ivanovic experienced pain in her left foot.  After being attended by the trainer, Ivanovic proceeded back on court.  One point later, unable to move, Ivanovic threw in the towel.

Ivanovic’s countrywoman and defending champion, Jelena Jankovic was ousted by qualifier Amanmuradova in the third round. Jankovic, the top seed, was not the only surprise departure in that round.  Caroline Wozniacki, the second seed, also went out.  Reigning French Open champion and fifth seed Francesca Schiavone was sent packing in the second round by Vesnina.

Along with Sharapova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova  was another Russian who made headlines in Cincinnati this week.  Pavlyuchenkova, the world number 25, quickly adjusted back to the hardcourt after her clay court title in Istanbul two weeks ago bouncing Daniela Hantuchova in the first round and dispatching third seed Elena Demetieva in the second.  Then, the teenager fought off 13th seed Shahar Peer and 12th seed Yanina Wickmayer in the third round and quarterfinals respectively before being edged out by Sharapova.  With 28 wins and her first WTA career title in Monterrey,  Pavlyuchenkova leads the tour in hardcourt victories.  At the upcoming U.S. Open, Pavlyuchenkova will undoubtedly be a headache for her peers.

Neither Serena nor Venus Williams participated at this event.  Moreover, these two will be absent next week in Montreal.  Serena is still recuperating from foot surgery while Venus is nursing a right knee problem.  As the women sharpen their game on route to New York, one wonders how much of a factor the Williams sisters will be following a two month break.

In the last two years, Roger Federer’s tennis obituary has been written more than once.  In fact, the notion of the great one’s eminent demise has crossed this writer’s mind on a few occasions only to be refuted.  Since his victory in Melbourne, Federer has hit a speed bump from which he has yet to recover.  Thus, rumors again are rampid as to the Swiss genius being put out to pasture.  Unequivocally, the fear factor which Federer previously instilled in his opponents pre-match has waned.  Yet, to deduce that his career is at its conclusion is a tad premature.

Tennis followers are accustomed to Federer being a sure thing especially at the majors.  With a total of 32 titles from 2004 thru 2007 and double digit trophies three of those years, Federer has been brilliance personified.  In 2004, the stellar Swiss was perfect in finals, 11-0.  Moreover, three of the fore mentioned years, Federer prevailed at three of the four majors.  During that four year span, the ‘Federer Express’ was detained only twenty three times and relinquished at the most matches eight matches in a single season.

Even at his peak, Pete Sampras garnered double figure titles, 10, only one time in 1994 and obtained maximally two majors in a calendar year.  Arguably, 2008 was the best year to date for Federer’s archrival, Rafael Nadal.  Along with Olympics gold, the Spaniard claimed two majors in that cycle.  Therefore, this underscores further the reason that fans expect excellence from Federer.

Before 2008, with the exception of Nadal, Federer vanquished a lot of his competitors in the locker room.  It was the 2008 Australian Open semifinals which marked Federer’s transition to the land of mortals.  With Novak Djokovic halting Federer at that stage, it signaled to other adversaries that they had a prayer.  Although Federer’s languid movement, which could be ascribed to mononucleosis, contributed largely to his defeat.  The illness exposed a layer of vulnerability from which Federer had difficulty recovering the remainder of the year.  In some respects, this year seems a flashback to 2008 with the express difference that Federer’s counterparts are upstaging him even earlier at the majors; something unseen previously.

Why the transformation?  Confidence.  While Robin Soderling’s victory over Federer at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi this past February may have been categorized by some as insignificant.  In hindsight, it proved not to be trivial. That win cultivated in Soderling belief for their next meeting.  A few weeks ago at the French Open, Soderling had his initial triumph over Federer after 13 attempts.  Moreover, the encounter was historic as Soderling terminated Federer’s extraordinary streak of major semifinals at 23.

Another example is Tomas Berdych.  After eight successive takedowns by Federer, the mentally fragile Berdych bested his nemesis in Miami this year.  Then, in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Berdych went on to replicate that feat.  Later, at the post match press conference, Federer revealed that a stiff back and a leg injury which first surfaced in Halle were in part to blame for his failure.

Indeed, there were echoes of Australia 2008 at Wimbledon this year.  Federer just seemed a step slower than his opponent.  Seldom would one associate the word mediocre with a Federer stroke, but it crept up to mind in watching his backhand.  Moreover, the sting had slipped off  the forehand side.  Consequently, the rest of Federer’s game could not coalesce.  In spite of the injuries, considering the result in Paris, the question lingers whether with a fully fit Federer, the outcome would have altered. Following the French Open, Federer’s ranking dropped to number two.  After Wimbledon, it dipped to number three, his lowest since November of 2003.

Through most of his career, Federer has been injury free which was partially the secret to his dominance.  The last two years, different injuries and illnesses have cropped up to decelerate him.  Besides the back and leg, there was a respiratory ailment this February. Outside priorities such as marriage and children are now part of the equation.  Additionally, age is suddenly a consideration as Federer turns 29 this month.  As such, his body does not have the ability to rebound in the same manner.  Moreover, unlike the women’s tour where Serena Williams, who will be Federer’s age in September, has been dominant precisely at the majors, the ATP’s talent pool seems deeper which adds another hurdle.

After a disappointing 2008 by Federer standard, the Swiss genius had a renaissance last year.  Federer finally chased down the elusive French Open trophy and culminated 2009 by surpassing Sampras to become the winningest male in the majors in the modern era.  Then, Federer started this season by claiming his sixteenth major in Australia.  Knowing Federer’s past modus operandi, after Melbourne, visions of 2007, the last time he won three majors, were revived.  Of course, recent developments render that eventually unachievable.

At this moment, Federer’s record stands at 31 victories and 9 defeats for the year.  Subsequent to an almost two month hiatus, the Swiss’ North American hardcourt swing resumes at the Rogers Cup this month.  With a bunch of points at stake, Federer’s career is at a crossroad.  Without question, Federer still has the hunger to compete and be the best.  In his interview, following the Berdych debacle, he was asked “do you feel you can get back to a position of domination in tennis?”  Federer responded: “I do think that. That’s why I’m here”.  Great champions are wizards at making themselves relevant and Federer has a proven track record.  Therefore, the upcoming U.S. Open will offer Federer the ideal stage to show he has plenty of tennis left in him.

The time has come to cease wishing for the ‘good old days’ and bid farewell to the age of Federer capturing three or even two majors in one term.  Perhaps, Federer fans should change their mindset and acclimate themselves to the fact that one major a year may the Swiss’ best accomplishment.  Certainly, that’s not a far reaching objective for the next two or three years.  For Federer, the hardest part may be resigning himself to the possibility of never again attaining the number one ranking.

Like many athletes who have enjoyed phenomenal success, Federer is not immune to downturns.  In essence, this seems to be the second act of Federer’s career.  When the final act arrives, Federer will the first to recognize it.  Until then, there are many glorious chapters yet to be written.

As a former world number three, Nalbandian’s current ranking of 117 due to hip surgery and other injuries the past twelve months did not reflect his talent.  In phenomenal form this week, dropping just one set prior to the final, Nalbandian felt his game was now coming together.  Classify it as arrogance, confidence or clairvoyance, after his semifinal win yesterday, Nalbandian intimated that if his form held up, he would run away with the title.

The first game of the match, following two errors by Baghdatis, Nalbandian connected on a forehand crosscourt return winner to earn triple break point.  When Baghdatis’ forehand landed long, Nalbandian took the game.  Next, the Argentine consolidated for a 2-0 lead.  His next time serving, Baghdatis got on the board for 2-1.  Too many return mistakes by Baghdatis especially on second serves led to short rallies and permitted Nalbandian to maintain the break advantage for 4-2. After having game point, Baghdatis double faulted for deuce.  Then, by netting a backhand down the line, the Cypriot donated another break point.  Nalbandian capitalized by hitting a backhand pass for a winner and 5-2.  By comfortably holding, Nalbandian wrapped up the first set in 32 minutes.

In yesterday’s semifinal, Nalbandian required just 72 minutes to dismiss fourth seed Marin Cilic.  His first set performance gave off the vibe that this might be another short match.  After having a game point, Baghdatis double faulted and later on in the first game gave Nalbandian a break point.  Fortunately for the Cypriot, he guarded serve.  The subsequent game, it was Nalbandian who cracked, committing two double faults to gift Baghdatis his first break and a 2-0 lead.  Quickly though, Nalbandian rebounded with a forehand down the line winner for double break point which he banked after a backhand error by Baghdatis.  In the fourth game, Baghdatis obtained double break point on another Nalbandian double fault.  Despite Nalbandian having to resort to his second serve, Baghdatis failed to seize those chances. Too casual on a forehand volley, Baghdatis dumped it in the net on his fifth break point.  Ultimately, Nalbandian salvaged six break points to level the set at 2 all.  Next, on another mistake filled game, Nalbandian broke to move ahead 3-2.  Nevertheless, Baghdatis did not relent and promptly stole the following game to get back on serve.  After holding, Baghdatis knocked at the door again, earning two break points, yet was rebuked by Nalbandian.  Following three love holds by the players, with Nalbandian serving at 5-6, Baghdatis reached set point.  As before, Nalbandian dug out of trouble and pushed the set to a tiebreaker.

Aided by miscues from Baghdatis, Nalbandian rolled off five straight points in the tiebreaker for 5-0.  With Baghdatis misfiring on an easy forehand, Nalbandian arrived at 6-3 and had three championship points.  As Baghdatis’ forehand up the line sailed wide, Nalbandian claimed his 11th career trophy.  The Argentine’s first since Sydney 2009.

Subsequent to the match, Baghdatis’ analysis was as follow when asked by MiamiTennisNews:
Q.  Did you feel you had to go for more on your second serve because Nalbandian returns so well?
Baghdatis: Yes. I felt in the second set I had to mix it up a bit, go for more.  I think I did pretty well in the second set.  We are two players who are great at returning.  I think if I served better today especially first serve, with more free points, I could have won.. I did not do that which was the key to the match.

Still, after being ranked in the 150’s last year and relegated to the challenger circuit to regain his form after injury, Baghdatis expressed there are multiple positives to build on from this week since his ranking will be back around 21.

For his part, Nalbandian stated despite practicing well, coming into the tournament he did not hold any expectation.  However, “when I started hitting the ball well. . .after the first match [then] the second, I felt really good”.  Thus, at that point Nalbandian started to believe he could triumph.

MiamiTennisNews inquired:
Q.  The last time Baghdatis and you played was three years ago and he had a 3-1 record against you.  Both of you are coming back from injuries, how did you approach the match?  Was there anything different about your game or his game that you had to adjust to?
Nalbandian:  Not really.  His style of play was the same, and that goes for all players. [The difference is whether the person] is playing with more or less confidence.  He was injured and came back earlier than me.  So, it was a little tougher for me.

Regarding the U.S. Open, Nalbandian says “I will try my best . . . If I continue to play this well, I have a chance to go far”.

Although the tournament has been around since 1969,  records have been meticulously maintained only since the 1980’s.   While it could not be confirmed with absolute certainty, today, Nalbandian officially became the first wildcard player to prevail. On Monday, Nalbandian’s ranking will soar to around 45.

Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles fought back in the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic overcoming Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek 4-6,7-6,10-7 to bag their second title as a team.

Berdych and Stepanek sprinted to a 3-0 advantage by breaking Knowles and Fish twice in the first set.  Then, with a love hold, Stepanek further extended their lead to 4-0.  Knowles and Fish managed to break once. Nevertheless, with the insurance break, the Czechs took the set.

Knowles and Fish have been a tandem since February 2008 while their Czech counterparts usually play doubles only in the Davis Cup.  Moreover, for Berdych and Stepanek, this was their first ATP doubles final as a team.  Thus, Knowles and Fish called upon their experience to weather the storm especially after Knowles double faulted in the second set to give their opponents a 3-2 edge which they consolidated for 4-2.  Later though, with Berdych serving at 40-30, Fish struck a forehand down the line winner to force a deciding point.  With Berdych double faulting, the set was squared at 4 all.  Ultimately, a tiebreaker was played.

Off a sensational forehand return by Fish, Stepanek dumped the forehand volley in the net.  Down the road, Fish made another volley winner to give his team a double mini-break for 5-2.  Next, on a miscue from the Czechs, Knowles and Fish had three set points.  Stepanek and Berdych battled back for 6 all.  Subsequently, on an error, Stepanek and Berdych were at 7-6 and championship point.  Again, Fish and Knowles produced some remarkable shots to stay afloat and steal the tiebreaker.

In the super-tiebreaker, with Berdych’s backhand sailing long, Knowles and Fish had a mini-break for 1-0.  On a Fish forehand error, Berdych and Stepanek got back on serve for 3-4.  But, with a net court favoring Fish and Knowles, that pair regained a mini-break for 5-3.  Again, the Czechs climbed back to make it 7 all. Soon, on a superb return by Fish, Stepanek flubbed the volley giving Fish and Knowles championship at 9-7.  The pair won the next point to capture the trophy.

After the match, MiamiTennisNews and one other media outlet sat down to talk to Fish and Knowles.  For 38 year old Knowles, this was his 53rd doubles title.  Therefore, MiamiTennisNews wanted to know:
Q. At your age, what keeps you still motivated and what has been the key to your success?
Knowles:  I still enjoy playing and competing . . . It’s a challenge competing against the current players.  I’ve seen the game evolve a little bit from when I first started.  It still gives me a high to compete at this level and win.

Q. Is it more difficult though with having a family?
Knowles: I play less now because of a wife and two kids.  This year was a little difficult.  I was injured at the start of the season and I was out for three months.  Mardy and I have agreed to play doubles this year which is an exciting prospect.  Things have taken a while to develop because of my injury but things are going well now.

Next week in Toronto, with Fish concentrating on singles, Knowles will partner with Stepanek. Thus, MiamiTennisNews asked:
Q. It must be strange having to play with Stepanek since you’ve beaten him today.  How does one deal with that? Also, you’ve had a few partners, how do you select the person you want to play with?
Knowles:  I look for a guy who will complement me well.  Someone I get along with on and off the court.  Radek is a phenomenal doubles and singles player.  A big part of doubles is finding the right partner.  It’s kind of awkward that we competed against each other today and play together tomorrow.  But, we are all professions and get along well.  We understand the nature of the business so it will be exciting next week as well.

With Andy Roddick falling in the third round at this event, for the first time since 1973, on Monday’s ranking there will be no American male in the top ten in singles.  Thus, MiamiTennisNews questioned Fish about his thoughts on the matter after winning his 8th career title in doubles:
Q.  What’s your feeling on that development?
Fish:  It’s only going to last for one week since [Jo-Wilfried] Tsonga is injured and not playing in Toronto.  So, Andy will go back to [number] 10.  [Therefore], I think it’s sort of ridiculous.  But with that being said, it’s such a worldly sport now, so deep.  There are guys coming from all corners while [U.S.] athletes are going to play more popular sports, football, basketball.  [On the other hand, with the other countries], tennis is just as big as soccer, so it’s tough.

Q. So do you feel that the state of American tennis is still healthy?  Any good prospect? Ryan Harrison has been a name which has come to the surface lately?
Fish: [Harrison] is extremely young and talented.  But, he has a long way to go. He has the [hunger] which is certainly a good thing. Still, Sam Querrey is playing great.  Surely, Roddick would have something to say if you said he is done, he has a few years left for sure.  We are all trying as hard as we can.  Besides Spain, there’s no other country which has too many guys at the top. And for Spain, there’s only one in the top ten.  There aren’t many spots in the top ten, so it’s hard to get there.

Knowles and Fish will reunite in Cincinnati next and plan to play at the U.S. Open.  The two are currently ranked 30th and will move up after this win.

In the doubles semifinals in Washington, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek regrouped after dropping a contested first set to edge out the fourth seed Julian Knowle and Andy Ram 5-7,6-2,10-4.

After ousting the top seed Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic,  Berdych and Stepanek got a walkover into the semifinals. Subsequent to Ram and Knowle carrying the first set, the team’s failure in serving effectively, allowed the Czechs to dominate the rest of the match. In the super tiebreaker, Berdych and Stepanek took control to acquire their first berth in a doubles final on the ATP tour as a team.

Following their triumph, MiamiTennisNews was one of only three sources to sit down with the duos and discuss a variety of topics.  After his singles defeat, Berdych expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which he was treated as the top seed.

Post sleep and perhaps having reflected, MiamiTennisNews wanted to know his views since yesterday.  Berdych was ambivalent about participating next year.
Q.  The two of you had such tremendous crowd support for your match today.  How do you feel after what transpired yesterday?  Will today weigh more in terms of making a decision for 2011?
Berdych: I was quite sad yesterday.  [Today], I just wanted to go back on the court, try to win, play better tennis and enjoy it.  It’s not a question of the next day.  There’s still a year to go. . . I will think about it and see what to do next year . . .so it’s difficult to say right now.

Moreover, Berdych states that thus far his issues had not been taken under advisement nor had the appropriate authorities spoken to him on the subject.

Because of injuries and personal reasons, Stepanek has been absent from the court. In singles, he lost his first match out to Marco Chiudinelli.  MiamiTennisNews asked:
Q.  What are your thoughts on being in the final?
Stepanek:  It’s a great result for us as a team . . . We’ve always played together in Davis Cup, played great matches.  But, we’ve never been able to do so well at [the ATP level], so we are very please.  Especially for me, after being out for five months with [mononucleosis and knee injury] my first tournament, I’m in the final; it’s a great feeling even though it’s doubles.  I’m getting on the court, getting some matches, gaining confidence . . .so I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s final.

Q. Are the two of you planning to play more doubles on the ATP tour as oppose to Davis Cup?
Stepanek:  No.  We always try to play a little before Davis Cup just to keep in touch.  The priority for both of us is still singles.  Tomas is now in the top ten and has a great chance to move up even more.  When we have a chance we will play, but not on a weekly basis.

Q.  Any thoughts on facing Serbia in the Davis Cup semifinals?
Stepanek:  Still a long way off.  It’s just nice to know that we are on the doubles court.  Everything is falling into place, going the right way.  We have the spirit and that’s the most important thing heading into Davis Cup after the U.S. Open.

In tomorrow’s final, Berdych and Stepanek will battle Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles.  The pair prevailed over Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-UI-Haq Qureshi 7-5,7-5.  In the quarterfinals, Bopanna and Qureshi surprised Bob and Mike Bryan, the world number two.

At the Legg Mason Tennis Classic, the first semifinal showcased Marcos Baghdatis, the eighth seed, against Xavier Malisse.  Baghdatis defeated Malisse 6-2,7-6 to earn his initial spot in the final of a tournament States side.  Later, David Nalbandian booked his maiden berth in a final on U.S. soil by thumping fourth seed Marin Cilic 6-2,6-2.

Although this was their first meeting on the ATP tour, Malisse and Baghdatis faced off twice in the finals at the challenger level with Baghdatis prevailing both times.  From the difficult hold that Baghdatis had his primary game, Malisse gave the impression that he was going to reverse the former results.  However, with Malisse unable to make the volley off a dipping forehand,  Baghdatis gained double break point.  As Malisse’s forehand went out of bounds, Baghdatis nudged ahead 2-1.  By surprising Baghdatis with a sliced backhand down the line and forcing an error, Malisse attained break point.  But, with Malisse misjudging the second serve return, Baghdatis eventually consolidated for 3-1.  By inciting a few unforced errors from Malisse, Baghdatis captured a second break and later shut down the set with a love game.

The first two games of the second set, Baghdatis had two break points; Malisse handled the pressure to stay in front 2-1.  Following a couple of easy holds, Malisse connected on a forehand down the line winner for break point.  But, by sending a backhand outside the field of play, Malisse wasted that opportunity.  As Baghdatis shifted his movement in an attempt to track down the ball, he twisted his left ankle slightly.

With Baghdatis on the ground, play was interrupted and the trainer dispatched. Genuinely concerned for his opponent, Malisse quickly crossed the net and brought Baghdatis a bag of ice to apply.  After the ankle was attended to, play resumed and Baghdatis held for 4 all.  Subsequently, Malisse rebounded from love 30 to keep his nose in front 5-4.  Later, following a loose forehand by Malisse, Baghdatis connected on a forehand crosscourt pass for break point.  With another mistake by Malisse, Baghdatis claimed a 6-5 lead.  Yet, serving for the match, Baghdatis was bitten by the error bug.  Therefore, the set moved on to a tiebreaker.  At that stage, Baghdatis justified his 11-3 tiebreaker record.  In baiting Malisse into two miscues, the Cypriot raced to a 5-1 advantage.  Then, on his fourth match point, Baghdatis succeeded to punctuate the match.

In reference to his noble act, Malisse cited in the post match briefing:  “I know he has been injured for a while . . .you don’t want [the ankle to] be more inflamed. . . You don’t want to win a match in that way”.

MiamiTennisNews asked:
Q.  You got the equalizer in the second set, what went wrong in the tiebreaker?
Malisse:  At 3-1, I hit a good forehand but it clipped the tape.  He served well the whole tiebreaker . . . I kept [going] for my shots . .  At 6-4, it’s a little different because he feels he has to win the point because it’s on his serve . . . I made a couple of mistakes, but if you are going to hit your shot, you are going to miss a couple.  Too bad, it’s in a tiebreaker.

Q.  Despite the result today, it’s been a good week for you.  What are the positives you take away?
Malisse:  I’ve played good matches, so I can’t really complain . . . I gave it my all and beat a lot of good players in the top 20.  I lost today, but I fought hard . . . You can’t win everything . . . But the positive is that my ranking [will go] up to almost 50 . . . The pressure is off now, I can play freely.   My confidence is really high  . . I’m a bit tired, but we will see how Toronto goes after some days of rest.

In assessing his performance, Baghdatis surmised that the key to his victory was “playing smart” and coming up with “the perfect game” plan.  Essentially, Baghdatis said:  “I played the right point at the right time . . .not opening the court on his forehand and not giving him any angles”.  On the ankle, Baghdatis’ comment was “I twisted it a bit . . . I feel ok now and hope that it won’t be bad tomorrow”.

In the second semifinal, Nalbadian clashed with Cilic.  The last time these two tangoed, it was in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup in 2006 and Nalbandian was the victor.  Needless to say, with 21 year old Cilic now ranked 13th, Nalbadian was facing a different player.

In the first game, Cilic took advantage of multiple errors by Nalbadian and broke.  However, Nalbandian also pressured the Croatian into miscues to promptly level the set at 1 all.  Nalbandian then held at love for 2-1.  After getting to double break point with a backhand down the line winner, Cilic failed to capitalize on Nalbandian’s second serves.  Thus, the Argentine inched ahead 3-2.  With Cilic netting a forehand, Nalbandian earned his third break point of the sixth game.  Nalbandian converted when Cilic made his third forehand error in that game.  In his three previous matches, Cilic had only been broken twice, dismissing 12 of 14 break points.  After consolidating with a love game for 5-2, Nalbandian bagged another break to polish the first set in just 36 minutes.

After Nalbandian had an easy hold to begin the second set, aided by Cilic’s miscues and a forehand winner, the Argentine arrived at double break point.  With a forehand winner, Nalbandian pocketed the game for 2-0, then readily captured the subsequent game for 3-0.  Nalbandian continued to cruise on serve while putting Cilic on his heels.  But, with Nalbandian serving at 4-2, Cilic battled back behind 40-0 and pushed Nalbandian into misfiring a backhand for a break point.  Once again, Cilic’s poor returns permitted Nalbandian to guard serve and extend his lead to 5-2.  Serving to prolong the match, Cilic double faulted to donate double break/match point to his opponent.  On a deep return, Cilic dumped the backhand into the net.  Consequently, Nalbandian claimed the match and booked his first spot in a final since his last title in Sydney in 2009.

MiamiTennisNews commented the following:
Q. Cilic had a lot of trouble catching up with the forehand when stretched out wide.  Was this a weakness in his game that your coach and you deduced that you could exploit?
Nalbandian:  Any time the ball is far from the body, it will be tough [regardless] of the forehand or the backhand.  I tried to keep him on the move.  He’s very tall . . .so I [wanted] to keep him on the [run].

From Cilic’s perspective, MiamiTennisNews inquired:
Q.  You had been playing so well.  Yesterday, your forehand wing was particularly strong.  Today, that shot was frequently off, what was the reason?
Cilic:  Today, the big difference was the serve.  Yesterday, I was serving much better, while today I was not hitting my spots . . .Also, he did not miss many returns, especially from the backhand side.  He was really consistent which put a lot of pressure on me.  So, I did not have as much time as yesterday.  That’s the reason I could not take control of the points and couldn’t get any free points.

Cilic emphasized that Nalbandian was simply unbeatable tonight.  Therefore, it was useless to “blame myself on too many things. I have to credit him because he played really good tennis”.

Despite the outcome, Cilic was satisfied with his overall performance this week.  The Croatian expressed that these results can only help him as he looks to better his 2009 quarterfinal showing at the U.S Open.

Although Baghdatis has a 3-1 record against Nalbandian, the last time they met was at Wimbledon in 2007.  Since then, both have had injuries to contend with.  Nalbandian is feeling fit and expressed after his semifinal win “when I play this well, it’s tough for anybody.  It doesn’t matter who is on the other side”.  In spite of Baghdatis’ winning mark, Nalbandian hinted that his opponent will have his work cut out for him in tomorrow’s final.

In the evening session, David Nalbandian bested Gilles Simon, the 13th seed, 3-6,6-2, 6-3.  At number four, Marin Cilic is the highest surviving seed. Cilic toppled Janko Tipsarevic 7-6,6-4.

Having split their prior two encounters in 2006, for both Malisse and Berdych it was case of getting reacquainted.  Malisse drew first blood by capitalizing on his second break point chance in the third game.  The Belgian went on to readily consolidate for 3-1.  Down love-30 in the fifth game,  Berdych worked his way back to game point.  However, with Berdych failing to convert on eight game points, Malisse seized a second break and 5-2 lead.  Although Berdych narrowed the arrears to a single break, with the insurance edge Malisse managed to wrap up the set.

Unable to break in the second game, Berdych was gifted a double fault on double break point by Malisse for 5-4.  The Czech secured the following game to force a third set.  After opening the fourth game with a double fault, Berdych compounded it with a series of unforced miscues.  As a result, Malisse inched ahead 4-3.  With Berdych misfiring on three consecutive backhands, Malisse increased his lead to 5-3.  For good measure, Malisse broke Berdych one last time to earn his first semifinal berth in Washington.

After the match, Berdych expressed his discontentment with playing his third round on a non-show court and being scheduled first today after getting to his hotel late this morning.  At the preceding conference, Berdych alluded to jet lag being an issue, the early match he felt added to his wretched play in the first set.  Nevertheless, Berdych acknowledged that Malisse merited the win because he performed well.

For his part, Malisse commented that the key to his victory was his ability to return.  Malisse remarked that the third set was near perfect tennis from his end.

In the second singles, Verdasco had three break opportunities in the opening game.  Baghdatis survived the challenge and went on to break for 2-1.  Yet, Verdasco quickly got back on serve by manufacturing a break of his own.  Ultimately, the set was decided by a tiebreaker.  Courtesy of three double faults by Verdasco, Baghdatis built a 5-2 advantage.  As another Verdasco forehand traveled out of play, Baghdatis bagged the first set.

After Verdasco held to carry the initial game of the second set, Baghdatis netted a backhand giving the Spaniard triple break point.  However, Baghdatis once again disappointed his rival.  The next game, a disenchanted Verdasco dropped his serve.  Although Verdasco immediately equalized the set at 2 all, the errors became uncontrollable leading to further breaks.  When Verdasco’s forehand pass sailed long, Baghdatis had double break point.  With Verdasco flubbing a backhand down the line, Baghdatis secured a 5-3 lead which was the difference in the match.

MiamiTennisNews asked:
Q.  This was your first meeting with Baghdatis, was his game different than expected?
Verdasco:  No . . . I did not play [well].  It was very windy . . .so it was tough to play for both of us . . . [Too] many double faults [because of ] the changing direction of the wind . . . The bounce of the court was sometimes [irregular] . . . The conditions were not easy.

MiamiTennisNews was curious about Verdasco’s racket conundrum.
Q.  Earlier in the year you experimented with a different brand and you’ve since switched back.  What’s the reason?
Verdasco:  Before [the season started] I tried Yonex and I was suppose to play in Australia with it.  But, [the manufacturer] did not [fabricate] the racket the way I wanted.  So, I was told to play with my old racket in Australia . . . In San Jose and Memphis, I played with the Yonex racket.  On clay in Acapulco, I [noticed] it was not the racket I want . . . After Acapulco, the [team] spoke to Dunlop to see if it can make the [equipment that suits] my game. Dunlop worked on it for a few months, that’s why I played the clay and grass seasons with a black racket.  It’s still an [evolving process], trying to find the perfect racket.  It’s never easy like changing clothes or sunglasses because it’s such an [integral] part of the game.

Q.  Any plans to defend your title at the Pilot Pen?
Verdasco: I will just be playing the two Masters and the [major].  Last year I won New Haven, it was great and I enjoyed it . . . The people really treated me well . .  . But, last year, when I got to the U.S. Open, I had a micro-tear in my abs and lost in the first round  because of too many matches in a row.  I don’t want that to happen this year because I want to do well in [New York].

Of Baghdatis MiamiTennisNews inquired:
Q.  You’ve recently changed coaches (back to Guillaume Peyre), how is that working out? What part of your game is he helping you improve?
Baghdatis:  Perfect.  I worked with my coach when I was 16, 17, 20 . . .I know him, he knows me.  So it was not really a big change. . . We just started two weeks ago. . For sure, he is going to help me a lot.  Not so much inside the court, but outside the court.  To stay focus, the mental side which is very important.  He is a smart guy and I think we will find solutions together.

Q. You are playing Malisse next, have you met before?
Baghdatis:  I played him twice last year in two finals of challenger and beat him twice.  I saw a bit of today’s match against Berdych, he is not missing much.  He is really aggressive, he is taking his time and [choosing] the right shot at the right time.  I will sit with my coach tomorrow morning and talk about [strategy].

The evening’s first feature was Simon and Nalbandian clashing in their maiden ATP match. Simon sprinted to a 3-0 lead to open the first set.  But, Nalbandian broke and equalized for 3 all.  Still, Simon obtained another break to reclaim the lead at 5-4 and served out the set.

In the second set, Simon again claimed Nalbandian’s initial service game.  However, as a result of a multitude of errors by Simon, Nalbandian had triple break point.  The Argentine converted with a forehand crosscourt winner.  Following a love hold, Nalbandian saw Simon’s forehand clip the net and land long which gave him double break point.  As the mistakes from Simon mounted, Nalbandian secured the break for 3-1.  Holding on to his serve more readily, Nalbandian extended his lead to 5-2 and broke Simon again to close out the set.

In the third, it was Nalbandian who obtained the early break and Simon charging. Subsequent to getting the break for 4-2, Nalbandian double faulted to hand Simon a break point.  With Nalbadian’s forehand miscue, the players were back on serve.  Yet, Simon followed a double fault with a forehand error.  When Nalbandian nailed a forehand up the winner, Simon stared at triple break point.   With Simon’s forehand finding the bottom of the net, Nalbandian captured the break and next bedded the match with a love hold for his initial semifinal of the season.

Both Nalbandian and Simon are baseline players, so MiamiTennisNews inquired:
Q.  Do you think the key to the match was the fact that you were more aggressive  and coming forward?
Nalbandian:  Yes.  He is a good player from the baseline, but he did not hit as hard as me. I had to play much better in the second and third sets to try to make it. I tried to believed in my game, push him hard, play more offensive and it worked.

With neither Cilic nor Tipsarevic ceding serve in the first set, the two battled it out in the tiebreaker.  With an overhead winner, Cilic got a mini-break for 2-0.  As a result of backhand error, Cilic relinquished his edge.  Later with a forehand from Tipsarevic sailing long, Cilic obtained another mini-break for 4-3 and widened his advantage to 6-3. As Tipsarevic lost his balance, his backhand missed its mark allowing Cilic to lock up the first set.

Early on, the second set pursued a course similar to the first until seventh game.  With Tipsarevic up 40-0, Cilic managed to get to deuce.  Then by provoking errors from his adversary, Cilic earned the break for 4-3.  After having no problem consolidating, Cilic manufactured triple break/match point.  But, Tipsarevic fought back to extend the match.  Undeterred, Cilic clasped the set with a love game to acquire his first semifinal berth in Washington.  Moreover, Cilic improved his record to 5-0 against Tipsarevic.

The hemorrhage continued for the Americans as Mike and Bob Bryan, the world number two, were ousted in the quarterfinals 7-6,7-5 by Rohan Bopanna and Aisim-UI-Haq Qureshi ranked 15th in the world. Mardy Fish is still alive in doubles.  The American and partner Mark Knowles prevailed in straight sets to advance to the semifinals.