VALENCIA and BASLE (500) 2009, 2-8 November: Main Thread

[Sallydaisy]

http://www.cititravel.es/uploads/noticias/foto_76_1.jpg

VALENCIA OPEN 500,
CIUDAD DE LA ARTES Y DE LA CIENCIA, EDIFICIO AGORA, AUTOPISTA DEL SALER s/n, 46013 VALENCIA, SPAIN
WEB SITE: http://www.valenciaopen500.com/index.php?i=3&p=home

Dates: 2–8 NOVEMBER 2009
Prize Money: €2,019,000
32 DRAW
SURFACE: GREENSET, BALL: HEAD ATP

Qualifying draw: Friday, October 30, 9:00 p.m.
Main draw: Saturday, October 31, Noon
Doubles draw: Saturday, October 31, 6:00 p.m.

DOUBLES ENTRY LIST

1 FYRSTENBERG, Mariusz 14 - MATKOWSKI, Marcin 12 - D+D 26
2 KUBOT, Lukasz 13 114 MARACH, Oliver 16 681 D+D 29
3 KNOWLES, Mark 5 - LLODRA, Michael 31 118 D+D 36
4 CERMAK, Frantisek 21 957 MERTINAK, Michal 20 1086 D+D 41
5 DAMM, Martin 27 - LINDSTEDT, Robert 25 - D+D 52
6 GRANOLLERS, Marcel 54 78 ROBREDO, Tommy 32 16 D+S 70
7 HUTCHINS, Ross 43 909 KERR, Jordan 29 - D+D 72
8 COETZEE, Jeff 35 - HUSS, Stephen 46 - D+D 81
9 BUTORAC, Eric 39 - RAM, Rajeev 42 99 D+D 81
10 HANESCU, Victor 210 31 TECAU, Horia 53 - S+D 84

ALTERNATES
11 BRUNSTROM, Johan 44 784 ROJER, Jean-Julien 45 - D+D 89
12 ALMAGRO, Nicolas 153 27 VENTURA, Santiago 63 117 S+D 90
13 ANDREEV, Igor 348 41 KUNITSYN, Igor 62 107 S+D 103
14 HERNANDEZ, Oscar 199 73 MONTANES, Albert 129 40 S+S 113
15 BALL, Carsten 55 129 RETTENMAIER, Travis 66 986 D+D 121
16 CERRETANI, James 68 - QURESHI, Aisam-Ul-Haq 71 547 D+D 139

This tournament used to be held on clay courts and much earlier in the season.
Now it's an indoor hardcourt event and the venue is a spectacular arena - and worth an image or two just this once......

http://www.urbanity.biz/albums/pics/panorama_puente_y_agora.jpg

http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss88/dutch_mentor/agora1.jpg

================================================== =======================================

http://assets.odlo.com/img/dsi_4c_neg_2622.jpg

BASEL, Switzerland.
DAVIDOFF SWISS INDOORS, ST. JAKOBSHALLE BASEL, BRÜGLINGERSTRASSE 21, 4052 BASEL
WEB SITE (http://www.davidoffswissindoors.ch/Davidoff-Swiss-Indoors-Basel.2+M52087573ab0.0.html)

2-9 November 2009 32 DRAW
SURFACE: GREENSET

OOP
SINGLES DRAW
DOUBLES DRAW
1 KNOWLE, Julian 19 - MELZER, Jurgen 26 39 D+D 45
2 ASPELIN, Simon 23 - HANLEY, Paul 30 - D+D 53
3 LEVINSKY, Jaroslav 37 - PARROTT, Travis 28 - D+D 65
4 KAS, Christopher 36 - TROICKI, Viktor 85 32 D+S 68
5 ARNOLD KER, Lucas 59 - GONZALEZ, Fernando 97 11 D+S 70
6 BECK, Andreas 254 37 BECKER, Benjamin 148 38 S+S 75
7 MELO, Marcelo 33 - SA, Andre 48 - D+D 81
8 LIPSKY, Scott 60 - POLASEK, Filip 24 - D+D 84
9 CHARDY, Jeremy 198 36 SANTORO, Fabrice 177 50 S+S 86
10 FISHER, Ashley 38 - WASSEN, Rogier 51 - D+D 89


ALTERNATES
11 BRUNSTROM, Johan 44 784 ROJER, Jean-Julien 45 - D+D 89
12 BALL, Carsten 55 129 RETTENMAIER, Travis 66 986 D+D 121
13 CERRETANI, James 68 - QURESHI, Aisam-Ul-Haq 71 547 D+D 139
14 FLEMING, Colin 74 426 SKUPSKI, Ken 70 881 D+D 144
15 LUCZAK, Peter 120 83 MOTTI, Alessandro 100 - S+D 183

[Sallydaisy]

Fitzy or anyone with doubles knowledge?

Flemski are on the Alts list for Basle.
If they reached the Final of St Petes (or better still won it) what are they chances they'd get one of the Wildcards into the draw?

Also, could they be offered a WC into Valencia even though they are not on the entry list for it?

[wolfie]

Only the British tournaments give doubles wild cards to random foreigners, no-one else is that stupid.

They would never give a wild card to a non-Swiss or a non-Spainard unless they are a big name singles player (and I'm rather hoping Andy/Aucks get one in Valencia).

So basically the chances are zero (although technically there is no rule against it).

[Sallydaisy]

Oh OK, thanks and sorry if it seemed a dumb question but I have no idea how these things are dealt with.
They'll have to rely on trying to get one of the 4 'on-site' places then.

No idea about Aucks. Thought I read somewhere that he was retiring at the end of this year.
:confused:

Allan posted in am.com that Morgan Phillips is into the Qualifying Draw (Alt) and plays Ivan Navarro first round.

[wolfie]

No idea about Aucks. Thought I read somewhere that he was retiring at the end of this year.
:confused:

Yes and he said his last tournament would be with Andy (and this is basically his last chance I seriously doubt they would get a wild card into Paris).

I doubt Flemski will try and sign-in on site, it's very unlikley they will get in and they had Astana down on Colin's website but it's now been taken off and that week left blank.

[Sallydaisy]

Oh well, perhaps Aucks has been smuggled aboard the Easyjet plane to Valencia and is with Andy?
Guess it'll be a case of watch this space.........
:wink:

There's always the WTF and perhaps a chance for some 'exho' matches from British players?
Maybe that's a very silly idea - I'll just shut up now.
:)

[janeInScotland]

I hope Aucks does get his chance to play competitively with Andy.

[Allan]

There's always the WTF and perhaps a chance for some 'exho' matches from British players?
Maybe that's a very silly idea - I'll just shut up now.
:)Andy/Aucks v Flemski or the Jamies. :shades:

[Sallydaisy]

Nice ideas!!!
I guess I recall reading somewhere that there is 'entertainment' scheduled and tbh it would be good to showcase some British talent.
The doubles guys are having some success out there on the tour and I am sure there will be some sort of 'junior' showcase somewhere along the line.

[Fitzy]

When I interviewed Aucks, he said the plan was to play a fall tournament with Andy as a final bid adieu to the ATP tour. He certainly didn't factor in Andy incurring an injury. Andy has good ties in Spain though with his junior days of training, so I hope they grant the wildcard if he asked for it.

[janeInScotland]

I'm not sure our doubles guys would want to be there as entertainment - if it was me I'd want to be there as one of top 8 teams.

[Sallydaisy]

Well yes - and I'm sure so would they!!!
However, we're not quite there yet and IMHO it might be better to get some publicity than none at all - for this year at least.
2010 we could have a team up there............

[janeInScotland]

...
2010 we could have a team up there............

that'd be fantastic :thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

VALENCIA
Hutchins/Kerr have drawn 3rd seeds Cermak/Mertinak in the first round of doubles in Valencia.
Doubles draw here (http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/573/mdd.pdf)- am a bit tired this evening so probably will type it up tomorrow.


BASLE
Flemski didn't get into the draw. Federer is partnering Chiudinelli and they first play Cerretani/Qureshi.
Doubles draw here. (http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/328/mdd.pdf)

[janeInScotland]

VALENCIA
Hutchins/Kerr have drawn 3rd seeds Cermak/Mertinak in the first round of doubles in Valencia.
Doubles draw here (http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/573/mdd.pdf)- ....

There's hope - in St Petersburg this week, Cermak/Mertinak lost 63 76 in R1 to Erlich/Ram who Flemski defeated today in the Semis. Good luck to Ross/Kerr - it'll be interesting to see the score.

[Sallydaisy]

Hutchins/Kerr now up on Livescore for Valencia.
I'll post updates from time to time - busy morning at my desk.
:wink:

[Sallydaisy]

Kerrchins 5-4 up with t'others to serve. They held their last service game to love.
A break now to take the first set would be useful.
:)

[Sallydaisy]

:swingin:

First set to Kerchins 6'4.

They'll serve first in the 2nd set.
Ross is serving first - did a double fault at 30-0 to give the others a point but he's just held so that's OK.
:)

[Sallydaisy]

1 set all; score so far to Kerrchins is 6'4, 4'6.

CTB - going with serve. Kerrchins just held for 3-2.

4-2* minibreak!!!
4-3* vital that Kerrchins hold serve right now
*4-4 they didn't
*4-5 twice so now Cernak are a break up!!! Come on Ross and Jordan!!!
4-6*
4-7* now they are in trouble....
*4-8 erm........
*5-8 Cernak need just 2 points on their own serve to take the match.
6-8* that's 1 mini-break back
6-9* 3 match points to Cernak
*7-9 held
*7-10 lost it...........

Sheesh - these match tie-breakers suck.
:confused:

Final score 6'4, 4'6, 7'10 and Cermak/Mertinak are through to the next round.

[Allan]

Ross is as bad, as Flemski is good at these MTBs.

[JAMES4579]

It certainly was a tough loss but the consolation is that they went out to the champions. Cermak/Mertinak beat Granollers/Robredo (who had put out Mark and LLodra earlier) in straights. Surprised Nestor and Zim beat the Bryans so easily 6-2, 6-3 to take the Basle title.