OK so we are will into the BNP Paribas Open just now and I have to say its been a bit of a mixed bag, with some really good matches and some not so good. The best matches have come from the ladies side of the tournament so far, as there have been plenty of 3 set battles, but on the men's side its been a bit staid. But here's an update on what's been happening so far.
To start with men's side of things, the world number 1, Novak Djokovic had little trouble advancing through to the 4th round as he defeated a sub-par Kevin Anderson in straight sets winning 6-2, 6-3. Although the scoreline was perhaps a little misleading as it did take Djokovic a bit of time to get through that first set, 55 minutes more or less. But soon enough Djoko sealed the giant South African's fate and got the win he needed. It wasn't vintage Djokovic by any means, as his serve did falter a bit, and his 1st serves particularly in the first set were poor, but he kept it together as he does, and that's the main thing you come to expect from the world's best player.
In other matches, Andy Roddick took a tough defeat from the World No.7 Tomas Berdych, losing in 3 sets, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, but at least he put a brave fight before falling to the big Czeck fella. Mardy Fish however made a shock exit at the hands of the Aussie player Matthew Ebden in 6-3, 6-4, however his fast rising compatriot John Isner made it safely through to the 4th round after a tight encounter Juan Monaco with a 7-5, 7-5 win. In fact I can soon see John Isner moving up into the top 10 and getting that American No.1 spot before long, as he really is coming on and has been since last year. The frenchman, Gilles Simon also advanced past Stan Wawrinka in straight sets in 6-4, 6-4, and the man who pulled off the upset of the tournament, Guillermo Garcio-Lopez, who defeated Andy Murray in the 2nd round, has been put out by the talented American player, Ryan Harrison, winning in 6-4, 7-5. And today Roger and Rafa are due to be back in action, however Roger has apparently come down with a high temperature so he might not be playing after all, but we shall see as its not definite yet.
Which brings me onto the women, some of whom have fallen foul to a stomach bug, which has been sweeping the Coachella valley where the tournament is held, as Vera Zvonareva and Francesca Schiavone have already pulled out, and Petra Kvitova has also fallen ill again. In fact the bug has already knocked out 8 players in all, with probably more to follow, as the men have been affected to including Gael Monfils and Jurgen Melzer.
But onto some of the womans' results, starting with Victoria Azarenka who had little trouble getting past the former No.1 Svetlana Kuznetsova, whom she defeated in 6-1, 6-2, which saw her unbeaten run continue now up to 19 matches. Although Vika has a potentially stern test ahead of her as she is set to face the German Julia Goerges, but she should still come through it. Agnieszka Radwanska also came through a very entertaining match against Flavia Pennetta, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, but they traded many excellent points and rallies along the way. Maria Sharapova also came through a late fight back from another promising player Simona Halep (who is rather weird looking, think of a female Gaz Coombes and you are there!), who put a good fight and traded very well from the baseline, but ultimately fell to the highly erroneous but nevertheless dogged world no.2 in 6-3, 6-4. And Nadia Petrova, who has been out of form in recently, came back against Sam Stosur after taking the 1st set, and losing the 2nd in a tiebreak, she fought back to win the 3rd in a tiebreak, which saw her win against a top 10 player for the first time in quite a while, with a see-saw 6-1, 6-7, 7-6 victory. And finally Caroline Wozniacki also came through a stern test from Sophia Arvidsson, as she fought back from a set down to get past Arvidsson, winning in 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, and Caz will go onto face Ana Ivanovic next.
So that sets up some more great tennis for today, as long as the matches aren't interrupted by more illness here's hoping it gets even better from here.
Till then next one, that's it the now.
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