Wk.43- Juan Martin Del Perfect, Ferrer Fights, Finds Fird Valencia Title

Hey Y'all. Galileo here.

This week Ferrer won, and the reason I'm writing this so late was because I've been doing some of the year-end stuff for the WTA (which will be included with some of Todd's season review posts on WTA Backspin). Although, to be fair, it's not hard to just write, "Damn, Serena's scary." Congrats to Djokovic for ending the year as world number one and even more congrats to Delpo, who beat Federer to win Basel. We're all very impressed. In a third set tie-breaker, he won, too. I love both Delpo and Ferrer and it's great that they both won titles this week. Also Juan is on a 9-match win streak, which is just brilliant no matter which way you look at it. Ferrer is actually part-owner of Valencia, and so perhaps it is right he won the title. This week, as part of my horror season , I watch "The Omen," which was, frankly, crap. I also watched "Psycho," which was really good. It really scared me a helluva lot. At the same time, though, it was such a brilliant film that I would recommend y'all to go and see it. Oh, and seeing as its nearly the WTF I think we all know what song needs to be played...



OK, first of all, well done to Serena, but and let's be honest here, it's just too easy for her. I mean it's not even fair anymore because, at the end of the day, Serena is just too good for anyone out there. While she's still around, being the world number one means nothing. And Sharapova and Azarenka both played here and neither got past 6-4 in a set. She is going to be number one soon though, that is a guarantee. I just think she's too good for anybody right now. Every match she plays is on her terms. However, the WTA is lucky to have such a good player and one with such an interesting personality.

Also, the race for London is hotting up with many players having a shot at it. I think Gasquet has a huge huge huge chance to get there. If Tsonga goes out early, he loses a lot of ranking points because he was a finalist last year. If Tipsarevic loses early, he would be in trouble, too. If Gasquet gets through to the semis which -- with Federer's withdrawal, not to mention the partisan crowd -- is possible, then he is probably in the WTF. He needs to overcome Berdych (unless he is upset by Seppi) first, though. For Tipsarevic, he needs to most likely beat Murray to be assured a place. For Tsonga, a semi place, too, is a must, although even then he would lose ranking points. Nicolas Almagro still has a slim chance, but it's unlikely.



*WK.43 CHAMPIONS*
BASEL, SWITZERLAND
S: Juan Martin del Potro/ARG d. Roger Federer/SUI 6-4/6-7/7-6
D: Nestor/Zimonjic d. Huey/Inglot
VALENCIA, SPAIN
S: David Ferrer/ESP d. Alexandr Dolgopolov/UKR
D: Peya/Soares d. Marrero/Verdasco


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Juan Martin del Potro, ARG
...Well, here we are once more. I didn't have much choice here did I? The Argentine number one, South American number one and, in fact, number one in all of the Americas won again last week. If he hadn't picked up a wrist injury, I truly believe we would have had a big five. And I think Murray might never have won a slam, too. I think had Delpo not been injured he would have taken over the role of number four. He has a better serve, forehand and temperament than Muzza. I think he would have been a much better number four, too, because then we could have had a Powerhouse, a Counterpuncher, A Federer and A Nadal (I can't class them -- sorry!). I think Delpo will win more slams if he keeps this up. I have seen him completely outpower even the likes of Djokovic,Murray and especially Richard Gasquet. He is a fabulous player and competitor and I think perhaps one day the top spot could be in his sights.
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RISERS: Aleksandr Dolgopolov, UKR & David Ferrer, ESP)
...I predicted him to rebound and I was right, so the drinks are on you. He played fantastic tennis and, like Ferru, he dropped only two sets in the tournament. Unfortunately, they were in the final. He beat Volandri, beat Muller, massacred -- butchered, slaughtered, annihilated, whatever you want to call it -- defending champion Granollers and then thrashed Melzer in a clinical display of daring and skill. Ferrer, however, was at a higher level then him in the final, but only barely. Ferrer was 4-4, 15/40 but came back to hold and then, of course, broke the Dog to win. Ferrer dispatched Almagro in the quarters and pretty much put paid any London hopes for Almagro. He survived a fightback from Dodig to win 6-1 in the third and then he claimed his third Valencia title. He's the only player to win one on clay and one on hard.
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SURPRISE: Paul-Henri Mathieu, FRA
...He was like the Spanish Inquisition this week. He defeated skilled Dimitrov, Davydenko and a Swiss native, too. He even played well against Fed in the semis before folding in two tight sets.
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VETERAN: Juan Carlos Ferrero, ESP
...Bon Voyage! He finally lost his final match partnering Ferrer, losing to the second seeds in the semis. The former world number one, French Open titlist and U.S. Open RU will be missed.
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COMEBACK: Jurgen Melzer, AUT
...He came back to win a title earlier this year, but since then has been on very poor form and finally he seems to be back in reaching the semis in Valencia.
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NEW FACES: Huey/Inglot, GBR/PHI
...They reached the finals of Basel and the guy's name is Treat Huey. I think that's pretty cool, personally. If I could have had any name I wouldda liked to be named either after a famous celebrity (Barry White, Bob Dylan, Sylvester Stallone) or something really average (Alex Smith, etc.). But I digress, Huey and Inglot have both been playing excellently this season and look like they're really going up the rankings. They have reached three finals together and won one in Washington D.C. in August.
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DOWN: Lance Armstrong, USA
...Seriously? Seven years doping. That’s just messed up a whole bunch of stuff for everyone. I personally think that everyone who came second should be bumped up. I think it's a massive disappointment for everyone involved that this hole doping thing has come up again, and not just in cycling, but in every sport. They've even affected out sport of tennis. OK, down is Bernie Tomic who went down 6-0/6-2 to Youzhny. Take a break and come back refreshed.
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ATP CHALLENGER: Diego Sebastian Schwartzman, ARG
...He won the Copa Topper, which sounds like an exotic drink. I know but he beat the seventh seed, third seed and top seed, and that is some going.
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1. Basel Final - Del Potro d. Federer
...6-4/6-7/7-6. WOW. Just WOW. Del Potro is the unbreakable man. He overpowered Federer, which is something very few can do in this absolute classic of a match. I think when it comes to matches of the year this will be up there.
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2. Valencia Final - Ferrer d. Dolgpolov
...6-1/3-6 /6-4. It's rare to get two high quality finals but we got lucky this week. Dolgopolov played smart, clever tennis throughout, but doing that against a brick wall will only get you so far. Ferrer was too smart, too consistent and for every question asked, Ferrer had the answer. It was a smart, efficient performance and Ferrer was fully deserving of the title.
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3. Valencia Rd. 2 - Goffin d. Isner
...7-6/4-6/6-4. A classic clash of contrasting styles. Big serving Isner met smart, clever Goffin and, well, he lost. It was still a great match nonetheless.
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*PARIS, FRA*

Now, me and my mate Patrick F, sometimes -- OK all the time -- talk tennis and we do predictions, too. He usually kicks my ass at them and so I asked him for his quarterfinal predictions, and this is what he came up with:

[ Patrick's Picks ]
=QF=
Nishikori v. Berdych
Murray v. Tipsarevic
Tsonga v. Ferrer
Isner v. Djokovic

=QF=
Gasquet d. Nishikori
Murray d. Monaco
Ferrer d. Almagro
Del Potro d. Djokovic
=SF=
Murray d. Gasquet
Del Potro d. Ferrer
=FINAL=
Del Potro d. Murray

Depending on his mood, I might be asking Patrick for his advice more often. I think that Delpo on form is scary and he'll continue to smash through people. I also think Gasquet will just do enough to qualify for the WTF.

Our feel good moment always brings me to tears and sends tingles up my arm because I'm an Aussie. It is Cathy Freeman winning a gold in the 400m in Sydney...just incredible.



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