The top 11 Americans are in San Jose this week for a star-studded small event. The top seven seeds are all American (thanks to Paradorn's withdrawl due to an ankle injury - yikes!! - fortunately, Thailand's Davis Cup team was still too strong for Pakistan, which didn't have Qureshi. ANYWAY...) and we'll have some thrilling quarterfinal matches if the seeds hold - maybe even enough to get some SportsCenter coverage?

The quarterfinals would look like this:

Roddick v. Blake
Roddick would have to get past Popp and Blake past J. Johansson, but you gotta like this possible matchup. Both were beaten by an in-form Safin in Melbourne so it's possible that Blake has indeed stepped up his ability to face Roddick, and we just weren't allowed to see it.

Dent v. Ginepri
Taylor also has Goldstein and Kendrick in his section. And he'll want revenge for being passed up for DC action.

Spadea v. Fish
Spadea's first opponent? TOMMY HAAS!!!! YAYYYYYY!!! Welcome back, you ole friend of Schwartzenegger, you! Think Gov. Arnold will be in the stands?? Anyway, Fish could face Melzer in the second round. Mardy at his best is better than Spadea, but Spadea has shown guts in his career and will fight through a lot to win.

Ferreira v. Agassi
This, like the Aussie Open, is Andre's tournament. But we know what happened there. And his second round matchup is NOT. FAIR! Todd Martin - at least save that for the third round! Yet another couple of people beat by Safin in Melbourne. Amazing. Ferreira might face a test from Gambill, meaning it's not unthinkable that we'll have an All-American quarterfinal. Which, of course, is exactly what the organizers want. Particularly if one of the 8 is Agassi. And particularly if it's a Roddick/Agassi final (their two matches last year were thrilling 3 setters...)

Blake & Fish are playing doubles together. No Bryan brothers.

In Milan we see defending champ Verkerk desperately needing some success to stave of a rankings freefall. We've got first seed Novak who may or may not be able to play, depending on what kept him from playing (and likely clinching) the Davis Cup tie today.

But most of all, we've got an awesome second quarter of the draw, featuring none other than GORAN IVANISEVICH!!! Wow! It really is the week for out-of-nowhere comebacks!! It also features Robredo v. Corretja, Santoro v. Ancic, and Karlovic v. Nadal. Basically, a tennis fan's dream quarter (different styles, different generations, different sizes...)

Chile gives us our first clay-court tournament of the year, with homeboy Massu the top seed (for the first time?) leading a passel of Chileans, all in the top half of the draw. No Rios, but Gonzalez is slated to meet Massu in the quarters. Massu's got Verdasco first - tough draw!

The bottom half brings us Guga and a bunch of other South Americans, including Gaudio, Acasuso (whatever happened to him?), Lapentti, Chela, and Miranda of Peru. Volandri is here instead of in Milan - and at #7 is the only non-South American seed. Given all the comebacks this week, I half expected to see Andres Gomez in the draw (maybe he's in the qualies). Gasquet is here - does that count as a comeback??

Hi, This is my first day on these boards and I've spent virtually half of the day readin through all of them - great stuff.
I'm particularly glad about Tommy Haas finally playing again. I wouldn't have thought he will be able to do a Safinesque comeback but he's too good to not be a contender over the next few years.
I'd also really like to know more information about the whole Santoro/Forget business? Is Santoro difficult or outspoken as I had no idea he was a particularly controversial figure. And why is it I've fancied Santoro more than any one else? I'm very lonely in this particular club.

Welcome to the boards MikeT. Most of the guys in the tennis area of the boards are nice guys, so feel free to participate. (BTW, Santoro is a cutie ... with a great game, so you're not alone in his fan club. Then again, I'm in lust with most tennis players ... so it's not a big surprise that I fancy Santoro.)

Three great tournaments ... each on different surfaces ... this week. Americapolooza is in full effect in San Jose. I would love to see some upsets this week, to show the depth of American tennis on the Men's side. My dream final would be Dent/Blake vs. Fish, but we'll probably see Agassi vs. Roddick in the finals. In any event, I'm hoping to see ... OK, read about the competitive tennis on Yahoo. It's great to see Haas back in action ... he was playing great tennis in 2001 and for the first part of 2002, so I would like for him to do well here, but I'm not expecting much at this event.

For some reason, I can't open any pdf files on my computer, so I haven't been able to check out the draws for the event in Milan. Robredo-Corretja is my favorite 1st round match to watch because one of the headcases has to win a match here. I lust for Tommy Robredo, so I would love for him to do well here.

In Chile, I have to go with Gonzalez. I have a feeling that Massu's ranking is going to free fall this year. IMO, his ranking is incredibly high for a player who doesn't have a powerful game. Lots of great claycourt players and I'm bet that the winner of this event is going to win a Master Series event. This event is incredibly tough to pick, but I have to go with Guga.

Nick

Edited to add ... It's funny that you mention that open-mouthed look of Dent's because my best friend refers to Taylor Dent as The Orangutan due to the open mouthed look, fuzzy chest, and large sloping forehead. I think that Taylor has a great game and given that he has improved his fitness, I think that he can do some damage on the hardcourts this year. He was physically spent from the Chela match the round prior to the Roddick match, so I won't fault him for his lackluster play.

[ February 08, 2004, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: The_Hammerman ]

Yes I hope Dent can get over the Australian as he did say it was the most humiliating experience of his life. I haven't seen a great deal of him but he was so impressive for much of the match with Agassi at the US Open last year. I just find that open-mouthed look really hard to watch - bit shallow of me I do apologise.
As for Santoro, I had a heart racing experience at Wimbledon last year when watching him on an outside court in a doubles match, truly believing he kept looking at me. Only to find that I was standing right behind his, admittedly, very beautiful wife. Oh well, it was a memorable 10 mins. anyway. I just wish I could find some info. about this whole Davis Cup furore - is Santoro pretty unpopular I wonder?

Thinking about this tournament, and as a British man myself, I remember when Rusedski completely outplayed Andre a few years ago in the final. Now, some 3 years on, he is about to face the toughest day of his career. For anyone has lived in Britain at anytime over the last 10 years, Greg's contributon to revitalising interest in the sport has been phenomenal and although his best days were some 6 years ago, and surely won't be repeated, I really am quite sad that today has to happen, whatever the result.
Pat Cash made some exceptionally unkind comments in his column for a Sunday paper over here recently, stating that as Greg has absolutely no friends on the Tour, no-one will support him. Pat certainly seems to like bearing a grudge.
I'll probably accept the outcome, whatever it may be, but as a real fan of this sport in the UK, it really is a dark time. With no-one else coming through, it looks like another wilderness beckons.
I think I need to move - anyone have a spare room?

Hey, nice job by Gambill to overcome Ferreira

6-7 (12-14), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1

Shows some moxie!

Unfortunately, Todd Martin was taken out by Moodie, who's got a big game. It was only a matter of time before he had a decent W on tour. I think Andre should handle him though.

All-American quarterfinal still a possibility...

I was mildly perturbed by the Gambill upset: he has lost, and fairly badly, to Ferreira in years past, so instead of picking Gambill as a Tennis Stock Market pick, I went with someone else.

This year so far, head-to-head records have meant very little.

Great win for JM Gambill here - hopefully, this is a sign of good things to come for him.

Watching Fish-Carlsen in San Diego on Tennis Channel this morning. Someone get Fish a stylist please--that bad bad bad ponytail is just dreadful--wear a hat or something. Get a buzzcut and show your patriotism--anything.

Fish's forehand is letting him down. I wonder if he forgets, if only momentarily, he's playing a leftie. I know when I play lefties I have to constantly remind myself that his backhand is my forehand, etc. I don't know who wins this match but the Dane has just leveled the match at one set each.

Curious how each season there is one shirt style everyone's wearing--this year it's that Nike broadstrip number--not really a great shirt. Give me Philipoussis's Australian number anyday--preferably fresh from the court.

Fish wins in the third set tiebreak, but he's a little American rude with the umpire--slapping his hand after the match rather than a shake-so uncouth.

[ February 12, 2004, 06:16 AM: Message edited by: shore ]

I called it! Just not here... D'oh! Anyway, the "it" I called is Saulnier's upset of Ginepri at The Siebel Open. Two other American's got their asses bounced today, too: Blake is out at the hands of equally hot Joachim Johansson, and H-T Lee beat Spadea.

For this event, I went waaaay outside the box and picked Saulnier to beat Roddick in the semis, but to ultimately lose to Agassi, who would beat Fish in the semis.

For the event in Milan, I predicted Nadal over Kucera and Verkerk over Hrbaty in the semi's, with Verkerk beating Nadal in the final. Fat chance: Nadal and Hrbaty both lost today. D'oh!

For the event in Vina del Mar, I predicted Gaudio over Zabaleta in the final, with Massu and Volandri as semifinalists.

Clearly, I was forecasting upsets this week, and big results from younger players.

After watching Saulnier nearly upset Roddick in Indy last year ... IIRC, it was 7-4 in the 3rd set tiebreak, I had a feeling he was going to be a dangerous floater this year. He's like Fabrice Santoro because he's a crafty shot maker with a wicked slice backhand, he moves extremely well on the court ... and to his benefit, he has a bit more power on his serve and forehand than Santoro. Over the past year, he has given nearly every player in the Top 10 a tough match or two, so I'm not surprised that he took out Ginepri in 3 sets. Vive le Saulnier!

Nick

I had Cyril Saulnier making the 4th round in Australia. He would play well here and knock off the scrumptious Ginepri. I notice Tommy Robredo (another of my Aussie failures) has decided to show up for Milan, too. Blake going down to Joachim Johansson is disappointing, as well.

Man, the Yanks are falling. Good thing it's not on ESPN.

Just got back here after a break away to get over the disgraceful attitude, preparation and performance of the Australian Davis Cup team in the Adelaide tie against Sweden.

Life apparently goes on.

Now up at San Jose for the local guys there is plenty to see in the quarter finals. Kendrick Roddick, Fish and Gambill.........wow!!
It would be sensational if,by chance,the glamour boys Kendrick and Gambill both got through to the final, though not likely I suppose. Looks like the final will be a base line slash and bash between Agassi and Roddick, with Roddick in great form now, prevailing.

Kendrick is cute, eh? Hmmmmm...I'll have to hunt down that photo (I think I have seen him before, though, now that I really think on it...)

My draws are BUSTED UP. In Milan, Kucera lost to Johansson and Verkerk lost to Carraz, which is especially disappointing.

Both of my Vina del Mar finalists, Gaudio and Volandri, lost today, too. At least Volandri had a match point (vs. Guga, no less).

Kendrick is cute, not really my type, but I wouldn't complain if he was in my bed ...

http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/19...rt.Kendrick.jpg

http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/19...t.Kendrick3.jpg

For more recent pics:

http://www.liverpooltennis.co.uk/images/li...rpool%20179.jpg

http://www.xlcapitalbermudaopen.bm/images/...ertkendrick.jpg

Another pair of American cuties:
http://www.liverpooltennis.co.uk/images/li...rpool%20234.jpg

Graydon Oliver & Jan-Michael Gambill (Jan-Mike has good taste in picking partners)

Nick

[ February 13, 2004, 02:28 PM: Message edited by: The_Hammerman ]

I don't wish to be controversial, but I just don't see fuss about Gambill is. I'm probably just put off by what I perceived to be a homophobic attitude in The Journeymen. Still that was a few years ago and these kids hopefully grow up some time.
By the way, if anyone has any other pics of Santoro stripping at Aus Open, please put them on here. The only ones' I have seen show him in shorts and my love for him goes through that. Damn I need to get out more!

Here's my take on Jan-Mike ... He has an incredible body. Incredibly muscular, movie star good looks, a set of pearly whites ... he really looks like a Ken doll. If I wanted to have a few hours of hot kinky lovin' and nothing more, I would be on the prowl a Jan-Mike clone.

Having said that, after seeing him a few times at the RCA tournament last year, his personality leaves much to be desired. He was really bitchy on the practice courts whenever his father tried to work on a few parts of his game. Lots of attitude and I was like ... Damn, watch your mouth. Upon watching the Journeyman DVD, I wasn't really surprised by his attitude. *shrug*

Nick

I think Jan-Michael has settled for being second best. If he were truly serious about cracking the top 10, or being in the top 5, he would have gotten a seriously good Coach years ago. Its too bad, because he is talented, but certainly not top 10 material. He sure is easy on my eyes though.

Props to Blake & Fish for winning the doubles ... unfortunately, they've got the Bryans up second in Memphis - tough draw. Ginepri & Macphie get the Bryans first - all the interesting pairs in the same section REALLY bites.