The men are in Stuttgart and Indianapolis this week, here's a link to the draws:

http://www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/draws/

Nadal is top seed in Stuttgart with Davydenko at number 2. Roddick is tops in Indiana and Kiefer no 2. Federer seems to be laying low of late, resting up.

I'm worried for Federer now. He's not playing unitl mid-August because of a foot problem. I know he's all wrapped up for the yearend's final, but he'll miss all the summer series and all the points.

And now Roddick is taking a rest due to an ankle problem and Nadal is resting due to another leg problem.

So here's the draw from the Mercedes Cup tournament in LA: http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/TrackIt...005/423/MDS.pdf

Federer injured ... Nadal injured ... Roddick injured ... what is this, the WTA Tour? wink

Oh, God, don't even suggest it. Get ready for those grand slam finals between Nikolay Davydenko and Joachim Johansson.

Fear not, JC. The power of my suggestion is non-existant, as noted by the infrequent wins notched by the players I like most!

shore,

Don't worry about Federer. The following are his 2004 results after Wimbledon through the US Open:

Gstaad, Switzerland: Federer was the Champion, defeating Andreev in final on clay. It is not easy to go from grass to clay in one week.

Toronto: Federer was the Champion, defeating Roddick in final

Cincinnati: Federer lost to Hrbaty in his first match

Athens Olympics: Federer lost to Berdych in his second match

US Open: Federer was the Champion, defeating Hewitt in final

Dedric

The boys are in DC at the Legg Mason this week. Today at 3:00, Andy Roddick vs. Ivo Karlovich is scheduled to air on ESPN2. Ivo usually only makes his presence known on the grass, so I'll be interested to see how he looks on the hardcourts against Roddick. But you have to figure that Andy can hold his own on the serve and that he's superior in every other aspect of the game. Funny to say that anyone has a superior serve to Andy, but I think Karlovic does. At least the first serve.

Other quarterfinals: Shrichaphan vs. Horna, Blake vs. Clement, and Berdych vs. Reynolds. This would appear to be Andy's tourney to win or lose.

I know Gaga, get to see two televised tournaments today and over the weekend. I will be in tennisball heaven. I am looking very forward to seeing Andy today, and I hope he does well. There was a really nice pic of him in this months edition of Instinct magazine without his shirt on. Looks damn good to me. Except I wasn't wild about the shaved chest look. Lets go Roddick.

Andy was in Instinct? Really? That surprises me. I don't really find him attractive, but I'll check that out. Don't get me wrong - I can tell he's a good looking guy - but he just doesn't flip my switch like ... oh, I dunno ... Marat. wink

Enjoy the match!

Gaga, yeah, all it was was a page pic of him (no story) shirtless with the caption: "why we love Roddick". I am really looking forward to tennis today.

Wow. They don't even let a boy claim to read the magazine for the articles anymore!

Roddick won against Chela yesterday, but didn't play all that well. I think this is a good sign for Andy, especially before a slam. I like his chances when he realizes he can win, even when he's not nearly at his best against a decent player, like Chela. I hope his confidence builds with this tourney. I agree with the statement that after all the upsets that have occured, this definitely seems like Roddick's to win or lose.

How 'bout Blake over Stepanek? Man, I'd really like to see him finally have a breakthrough.

Blake is actually a former champion in DC. I think maybe two years ago? Two or three, something like that.

That's right, he's won this tourney before. I'd like to see him have a breakthrough year, is more what I meant. I mean with the neck injury and the death of his father last year, I wish him only the best. Also, he's had some close matches with Hewitt, and seems to find ways to bother the punk. Another reason I like him.

Blake's a great guy, I agree. It would be nice to see him put together more consistent results.

I'm don't think he's capable of winning a Slam, but he could definitely do more week-in and week-out and make the 16s and quarters of majors on a more regular basis. You certainly couldn't ask for a nicer player (this side of Kim Clijsters). He's so well-spoken and handsome. Although I miss the hair!

I was somewhat shocked that Karlovic takes the first set 7-6 tiebreak. Andy is playing well, but how do you fight a guy that's 6' 10??? I had no idea he was that huge! Step it up a notch Andy. I think he can do it, but of course now needs the next 2 sets.

Andy won their last contest in two tiebreaks. If Karlovic is going to win sets off Roddick, it makes sense that it'd be in breakers ... anything can happen in a tiebreak for a player with a serve like Ivo's. Still, I'd think Andy's got the experience to come back and win it in three. Word is that he's not playing so well in general, though. He'll need to step it up.

Another confidence builder for Roddick. He double faulted on set point in the first set tiebreaker, but still won the match. And against a guy who was booming serves in better than himself.

At 4-4 in the third, it's as though someone flipped Karlovic's switch from "on" to "off." Seriously, he just shut down. Got called on a foot fault, double-faulted, sprayed shots. Can't do that in those "one-syllable" or "two-syllable" type matches. I mean, when each point is just "BOOM" or "BOOM BOOM(mis-hit)," a lost service game is tantamount to giving up a set. It looks like he just ran out of gas.

I have to hand it to Roddick, though. He gets the crowd behind him. I thouhgt it was funny when he hid behind the linesman after he had to duck for dear life when an Ivo serve almost took off his head. Some players might have gotten peeved at that, he just made lite of it, and moved on.

Andy was really sharp today. I for one, hope this trend continues.

I think this morning we get to see Roddick play Schrizipan, which I hope is at least competetive.

French teenager Gael Monfils won his first ATP title today.

Here's the story Nice Smile!

Oops, I just realized that this isn't a hardcourt tournament...but good for him anyway!

[ August 07, 2005, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: Musicalidad ]

I saw the ticker on espn say that monfils had won that tourney and i was pretty sure it was his first title. It's just a matter of time before he's winning alot more.

The Blake/Roddick match was pretty good in DC. Was glad James didn't go down in flames after Roddick jumped out to the early lead.