Robin Soderling got his first wins and title of the year at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Soderling defeated a surprising Mikhail Youzhny in the final 6-4, 2-0 ret. Youzhny was a surprise finalist because of his upset of Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. My prediction of a Davydenko over Djokovic was a disaster due to both Youzhny and Soderling taking out my picks on the semifinals.
Juan Carlos Ferrero crushed Lukasz Kubot 6-1, 6-0 in the final of the Brasil Open 2010 in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. Its good to see Ferrero not get injured during the tournament, his bff David Ferrer must be proud. The Ku-BOT keeps surprising. He had a nice run at the Aussie Open, and now a final in an ATP event should send his ranking soaring. Once again my early week pick of a Montanes over Bellucci final wasn't even close.
(the Ku-BOT is on the left. Ferrero on the right.)
The best result of the week came in the final of the SAP Open in San Jose, California, United States. Fernando Verdasco battled from a 1 set-to-love deficit to defeat "asshat" Andy Roddick 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. With that win Verdasco was able to shake his own curse and actually defeat a top 10 ranked opponent. I picked Roddick to win this event at the beginning of the week, but this is one time where being wrong is preferred.
Russian, Vera Zvonareva beat a Thai in Thailand to win the PTT Pattaya Open in Pattaya City, Thailand. Zvonareva was able to hold off countrywoman Tamarine Tanasugarn in the final 6-4, 6-4. This victory makes Zvonareva the back-to-back champion of this tournament.
Elena Dementieva defeated surprise finalist Lucie Safarova in a tough final at the 18th Open GDF Suez in Paris, France. Dementieva lost the first set 6-7 to Safarova, but then took control winning the next two sets 6-1, 6-4. This tournament saw young American, Melanie Oudin actually do something at a tournament. Oudin made it to the semifinals where she lost to Dementieva. But Oudin did manage to take a set off Dementieva. Is this the start of a great season, or just "fools gold"? I lean towards the latter.
At the local ITF Womens tournament in Midland, Michigan Elena Baltacha outplayed defending champion Lucie Hradecka in the final. Baltacha took the title in her first appearance at the Dow Corning Tennis Classic. Hradecka was able to take the first set 7-5, but after the first set Baltacha raised her game and took the next two sets 6-2, 6-3. Hradecka looked tired near the end and seemed to be struggling with a leg cramp which may have been a factor in her defeat. Hradecka and Laura Graville were able to win the doubles over Lillia Osterloh and Anna Tatishvili in an extremely entertaining match... Baltacha was the deserving champion. She crushed everyone that was put in front of her. The only set she lost all week was the first set of the final, and even after that she cruised. The victory earned Baltacha $15,000 dollars and boosted her ranking 13 spots. She came into the tournament number 83, but is now #70. The loss bumped down Hradecka one ranking spot from 64 to 65.
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