So Federer made it to the Halle final yesterday (where he’s won five times), and lost to 34-year-old Tommy Haas 6-7(5), 4-6! Tommy is ranked 87th in the world, and last won Halle in 2009 over Novak Djokovic. After the match, Tommy told the media: “If I thought about it, this would be the perfect way to say goodbye to tennis. Beating Roger, my 13th title. It would be perfect. But I’m not ready mentally. I hope the body holds up for many years to go. I love to play.” Jawohl, Tommy!
Okay…so what the hell happened at the other Wimbledon tune-up at the Queens Club in London?! David Nalbandian vs. Marin Cilic. Nalbandian was up 7-6(3), 3-4 when, out of frustration, he kicked the barrier surrounding one of the line judges. The splintered wood bloodied that linesperson’s shin, so…as per ATP rules (any violent action results in an automatic default), the chair umpire ended the match, giving the title to Marin Cilic. Nalbandian’s been fined 10,000 Euros, and the Scotland Yard is investigating the incident.
Birmingham saw rain on Sunday, so they played a Monday final (for the second consecutive year)…and Melanie Oudin took the trophy winning 6-4, 6-2 over Jelena Jankovic. Melanie had a tougher semifinal over fellow American Irina Falconi 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. It’s been a week of good news from the Oudin camp – she also learned she’s received a wild card into Wimbledon. Welcome back, Melanie – Believe?
The ladies also played in Bad Gastein, Austria – France’s Alize Cornet defeated Yanina Wickmayer in the fianl 7-5, 7-6(1). That’s Cornet’s first title in four years.
Wimbledon starts Monday, with two more tune-ups this week in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands and Eastborne…Here are the current rankings:
1 – Novak Djokovic
2 – Rafael Nadal
3 – Roger Federer
4 – Andy Murray
5 – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
6 – David Ferrer
7 – Tomas Berdych
8 – Janko Tipsarevic
9 – Juan Martin del Potro
10 – John Isner
1 – Maria Sharapova
2 – Victoria Azarenka
3 – Agnieszka Radwanska
4 – Petra Kvitova
5 – Samantha Stosur
6 – Serena Williams
7 – Caroline Wozniacki
8 – Marion Bartoli
9 – Angelique Kerber
10 – Sara Errani
