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Madison Keys and Three Other American Women Advance at BNP Paribas Open. Three Men Advance From Qualifying.

Previous BNP Paribas Open Coverage

Women’s Singles

Womens Singles - 3-6-14

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Five top 100 American women took part in the first round on Wednesday with three of them advancing. Madison Keys had a tough matchup against Tsvetana Pironkova but handled her easily in a 6-2, 6-1 win. Varvara Lepchenko also impressed in a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alison Van Uytvanck. Alison Riske had the highest ranked first round opponent and was able to win the first set but ended up losing 6-3, 3-6, 3-6 to Bojana Jovanovski.

Five more American women will play in the first round on Thursday. Only two of them will face lower ranked opponents: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who is taking on Caroline Garcia, and Victoria Duval, who is taking on Alisa Kleybanova.

Women’s Doubles

Womens Doubles - 3-6-14

 

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There are seven doubles teams entered into the women’s event in Indian Wells that have at least one American. Only two of them are composed of two Americans and one of those, Madison Keys and Alison Riske, get things started on Thursday. They’ll be taking on the #5 seed Cara Black/Sania Mirza while fellow American Liezel Huber along with Chan Hao-ching of Chinese Taipei will take on the #2 seed Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina

Men’s Singles

Mens Singles Qualifying - 3-6-14

Three American men were able to advance from qualifying into the main draw. #11 Alex Kuznetsov didn’t have to face a seeded player in either of the two rounds and won 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-2 over Taro Daniel on Wednesday. In a matchup of two Americans Robby Ginepri advanced over Austin Krajicek after a 6-1, 7-5 win. Finally the lowest ranked American to advance was Daniel Kosakowski who knocked off #3 David Goffin 6-3, 6-2.

Mens Singles - 3-6-14

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Nine American men begin the first round on Thursday including three matchups involving two Americans. Sam Querrey takes on Alex Kuznetsov, Michael Russell takes on Donald Young, and Tim Smyczek takes on Jack Sock. The Querrey-Kuznetsov matchup is the least competitive by rankings but should still be competitive. The Smyczek-Sock matchup is between two players ranked just three spots apart. Finally while Donald Young is ranked ahead of Michael Russell he’s only won one of five career meetings.

Broadcasting Information:

Tennis Channel will be broadcasting the tournament from 2 PM – 2 AM ET while ESPN3.com has streams of the play at three stadiums that will include 10 of the 11 singles matches involving the US on Thursday.

Schedule:

  • March 6th – Tennis Channel – 2 PM-2 AM ET
    • Men’s Singles First Round
      • Approx. 2 PM ET – Jack Sock vs. Tim Smyczek – Stadium 1 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Donald Young vs. Michael Russell – Stadium 2 – ESPN3 – Michael Russell leads 4-1 all-time
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Rhyne Williams vs. Jeremy Chardy – Stadium 3 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Robby Ginepri vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu – Tied 2-2 all-time
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Ryan Harrison vs. Andrey Golubev – Stadium 2 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 12 AM ET – Sam Querrey vs. Alex Kuznetsov – Stadium 1 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
    • Women’s Singles First Round
      • Approx. 2 PM ET – Taylor Townsend vs. Karin Knapp – Stadium 3 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Victoria Duval vs. Alisa Kleybanova – Stadium 1 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Coco Vandeweghe vs. Alexandra Cadantu – Stadium 1 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Caroline Garcia – Stadium 1 – ESPN3 – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 12 AM ET – Vania King vs. Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova – Stadium 2 – ESPN3 – Zahlavova-Strycova leads 2-1 all-time
    • Women’s Doubles First Round
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Madison Keys/Alison Riske vs. #5 Cara Black/Sania Mirza – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Liezel Huber/Chan Hao-ching (Chinese Taipei) vs. #2 Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina – First ever meeting

Seven US Women led by Madison Keys and Alison Riske Begin First Round at BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday

Previous BNP Paribas Open Coverage

Women’s Singles

Womens Singles Qualifying - 3-4-14

The only of the four US to begin qualifying to move into the main draw was Allie Kiick. Kick knocked off An-Sophie Mestach 6-4, 7-5 and now the 18-year-old has a chance to make a mark in Indian Wells if she can do any damage in the main draw. Seven US women, including Kiick, will be in action today with four of them facing lower ranked opponents.  Madison Keys is in one of the most interesting matches of the first round when she takes on Tsvetana Pironkova. The two are very evenly ranked with Keys the highest ranked American outside of Sloane Stephens in the field and Pironkova the second highest ranked of all the first round opponents for the US women. Another intriguing matchup is Alison Riske, third highest ranked American, against Bojana Jovanovski who is ranked four spots ahead of her and is the highest ranked opponent any woman from the US will see in the first round.

Womens Singles - 3-4-14

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Men’s Singles

There were 14 American men in the qualifying draw when I covered it yesterday. That changed as Michael Shabaz became the 15th when he was added as an alternate after one entrant was unable to compete. Shabaz took on Robert Kendrick who I wrote about yesterday. It was a decent battle between the two Americans with Shabaz emerging with the win 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. The other American vs. American matchup on Tuesday was #23 Bobby Reynolds taking on Clay Thompson. This one went to tiebreakers in both sets with Reynolds winning the tiebreakers 7-4 and 8-6 to get the straight sets win. Only one American lost to a lower seeded player, #12 Wayne Odesnik lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (1) to John-Patrick Smith.

On Wednesday only two Americans will be the higher ranked player in their matchup. #11 Alex Kuznetsov is taking on Taro Daniel and in the American vs. American matchup of Austin Krajicek and Robby Ginepri, Krajicek is the higher ranked player by almost 100 spots. 11 American men are already placed in the main draw with at least one more guaranteed in the Krajicke-Ginepri matchup. It’s possible though that the US could have as many as 18 in the draw depending on how well the final day of qualifying goes.

Mens Singles Qualifying - 3-4-14

Schedule:

  • March 5th
    • Men’s Qualifying
      • 2 PM ET – Greg Ouellette vs. Daniel Munoz de la Nava
      • 2 PM ET – Nicolas Meister vs. #8 Dominic Thiem
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Daniel Kosakowski vs. #3 David Goffin
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – #23 Bobby Reynolds vs. #4 Stephane Robert
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Austin Krajicek vs.  Robby Ginepri
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Michael Shabaz vs. #5 Paolo Lorenzi
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – #11 Alex Kuznetsov vs. Taro Daniel
    • Women’s First Round
      • 2 PM ET – Shelby Rogers vs. Petra Cetkovska – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Alison Riske vs. Bojana Jovanovski – Jovanovski leads 1-0 all-time
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Lauren Davis vs. Yung-jan Chan – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Madison Keys vs. Tsvetana Pironkova – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Allie Kiick vs. Kurumi Nara – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Christina McHale vs. Casey Dellacqua – First ever meeting
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Varvara Lepchenko vs. Alison Van Uytvanck – First ever meeting

Two American Women Advance in Qualifying as 14 Men About to Start at BNP Paribas Open

Previous BNP Paribas Open Coverage

Women’s Singles

All four American women who started qualifying were unseeded facing seeded opponents in the first round. The US went 2-2 in those matches with Madison Brengle beating Romina Oprandi 6-4, 6-1 and Allie Kiick with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 win over Mandy Minella. They both need wins on Tuesday to reach the main draw. 18-year-old Kiick seemingly has the better chance as her opponent, An-Sophie Mestach, was also unseeded.

Womens Singles Qualifying - 3-3-14

Men’s Singles

Things will get underway for the men on Tuesday with qualifying beginning with 12 spots up for grabs. There are 14 American men involved and ten of the 12 spots have an American among the four men who could grab it. There are three potential USA-USA matchups in the second round of qualifying but there’s also one in the first round as #23 seed Bobby Reynolds takes on Clay Thompson. Other than Reynolds only two other Americans are seeded, Alex Kuznetsov (#11) and Wayne Odesnik (#12). Five of the US men are wildcard entries into the field.

Perhaps the most interesting story belongs to Robert Kendrick. Kendrick is a former top 70 player in the world who was banned for a year after a positive drug test at the 2011 French Open. He came back after that and played for about a year before retiring. He did play in a tournament in Sacramento in September losing 6-7 (5), 3-6 in the first round. He’s a player who once nearly beat Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2006 but lost in five sets when Nadal was ranked #2. If he could get through qualifying it’d be interesting to see if he could make some noise in the main draw. He is now 34 so time is certainly ticking on any career he may hope to have.

Mens Singles Qualifying - 3-3-14

WeSupportTheUS.com will have coverage of the BNP Paribas Open all tournament long. The women’s singles main draw starts play on Wednesday with 12 Americans already in it and the potential for two more. Check back tomorrow morning for an update on men’s qualifying and a preview of the women’s first round.

Schedule:

  • March 4th
    • Women’s Qualifying
      • Approx. 4 PM ET – Madison Brengle vs. #5 Camila Giorgi
      • Approx. 6 PM ET – Allie Kick vs. An-Sophie Mestach
    • Men’s Qualifying
      • 2 PM ET – Stefan Kozlov vs. #22 Samuel Groth
      • 2 PM ET – Daniel Kosakowski vs. #16 Thiemo De Bakker
      • 2 PM ET – Greg Ouellette vs. #15 Jimmy Wang
      • 2 PM ET – Nicolas Meister vs. #20 Illya Marchenko
      • Approx 4 PM ET – Jesse Witten vs. #8 Evgeny Donskoy
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – #23 Bobby Reynolds vs. Clay Thompson
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Raymond Sarmiento vs. #10 Paul-Henri Mathieu
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Austin Krajicek vs. #17 Damir Dzumhur
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – #12 Wayne Odesnik vs. John-Patrick Smith
      • Approx. 8 PM ET – Robert Kendrick vs. #24 Rik De Voest
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Robby Ginepri vs. #9 Jan Hajek
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – #11 Alex Kuznetsov vs. Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela
      • Approx. 10 PM ET – Marcos Giron vs. #4 Stephane Robert

After Two Doubles Losses, All Americans Out at the Mexican Open

Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

By Thursday only doubles action in Acapulco contained Americans. By the end of Thursday they were all done. Eric Butorac and South African Raven Klaasen played their first match of the tournament (they had a walkover in round one) and lost a tough one to Kevin Anderson/Matthew EbdenButorac/Klaasen forced a tiebreaker in set one but lost the tiebreaker 7-5. They took set two 6-3 to force the super tiebreak to decide things. That one took a while to decide before they lost it 13-11.

In the other match American, Scott Lipsky and Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico lost to the all Mexican-team of Cesar Ramirez/Miguel Angel Reyes-VarelaLipsky/Gonzalez started great taking set one 6-1 but couldn’t win it in two losing 6-3. That forced a super tiebreak and that one went to Ramirez/Reyes-Varela 10-8.

Mexican Open - Doubles - 2-28-14

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With the Americans all out my coverage of the Mexican Open has come to a close. The next event on the schedule is the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, California. Qualifying begins in that event on Monday and the entire event will run for a full two weeks.

All Four Americans Done at Mexican Open, Just Doubles Players Remain

Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

Two Americans were left in the single’s draw going into Wednesday’s play at the Mexican Open, but neither survived long against seeded players. Donald Young took on #6 Gilles Simon and lost 6-4, 6-3 in a match where serve was held just 10 times in 19 games. Young was broke six times though to three for Simon so he came out the loser. Sam Querrey put up a real battle against #5 Kevin Anderson, there was only one break in the two sets played, but still lost 7-6 (2), 6-4.

That’s the end of singles play for the Americans in Acapulco. We’ll have more coverage of men’s singles very soon with the BNP Paribas Open starting on Monday.

Mexican Open - Singles - 2-27-14
In doubles action. Eric Butorac and South African Raven Klaasen didn’t even have to take the court as Jeremy Chardy and Gilles Simon retired due to a Chardy injury. The other American, Scott Lipsky, teamed up with Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico, took out #2 Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-4, 4-6, 10-5. This was a very even match with Lipsky/Gonzalez winning just three more overall points. In the next round Butorac/Klaasen take on Kevin Anderson/Matthew Ebden while Lipsky/Gonazlez take on the all Mexican-team of Cesar Ramirez/Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela.

Both are first time meetings and in both the team featuring the Americans would seem to be favored. If they do both advance they would meet in the semifinals on Friday.

Mexican Open - Doubles - 2-27-14

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Schedule

  • Approx. 6 PM – Scott Lipsky/Santiago Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Cesar Ramirez/Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela
  • Approx. 10 PM – #4 Eric Butorac/Raven Klaasen (South Africa) vs. Kevin Anderson/Matthew Ebden

John Isner Upset at Mexican Open, Donald Young Into Second Round

Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

The top American in the Mexican Open, #3 seed John Isner started his tournament on Monday vs.  Ivo Karlovic. To say he played poorly wouldn’t be accurate, he won 74% of his service points. The problem is, as can happen with Isner, that this game turned into a “I can’t break you but you can’t break me” deadlock. Both men were only broken once, in the first set, and Karlovic won an even higher 86% of his service points, with Isner only winning 11 points off him all night. On a side note managing to break once while only winning 11 points off your opponents serve in 12 service games is kind of amazing. Lots of 40-0 games I imagine…

Anyways this match went to tiebreakers in both of the first two sets and in those small sample sizes Karlovic was better, winning the match 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5). Isner has not had the greatest start to 2013 and it will be interesting to see how he does next month with the two big tournaments back in the US looming.

In other action on Tuesday Tim Smyczek looked out of his league against Gilles Simon as he lost 6-1, 6-2 and was broke four times in seven service games. Donald Young, who Smyczek had originally knocked out of the event in qualifying, will get his shot at Simon on Wednesday after beating Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 6-3. Young is 0-4 against Simon with their last meeting a 6-2, 7-5 win in Rome last year in the round of 64.

Wednesday means the return of Sam Querrey to action with a second round matchup with #5 Kevin Anderson. Querrey holds a 6-3 all-time edge in the matchup with the two splitting four matchups last season. Querrey won the last meeting, a 6-4, 6-4 decision in the quarterfinals in Washington D.C.

Mexican Open - Singles - 2-26-14
Things get underway in the doubles draw for two Americans on Tuesday as well. Eric Butorac is teamed up with South African Raven Klaasen and they’ll take on Jeremy Chardy and Gilles Simon in the first round. The teams have never met in doubles play. The other American in the draw is Scott Lipsky who is teamed up with Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and is taking on #2 Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau. These teams have never met as well.

Mexican Open - Doubles - 2-26-14

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Schedule

  • 5 PM – Sam Querrey vs. #5 Kevin Anderson – Querrey leads 6-3 all-time
  • 5 PM – Donald Young vs. #6 Gilles Simon – Simon leads 4-0 all-time
  • Approx. 9 PM – Eric Butorac/Raven Klaasen (South Africa) vs. Jeremy Chardy/Gilles Simon – First ever meeting
  • Approx. 1 AM Thursday – Scott Lipsky/Santiago Gonzalez (Mexico) vs. Jean-Julien Rojer/Horia Tecau – First ever meeting

Michael Russell, Only American in the Draw, Out In First Round of Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP)

Previous Dubai Tennis Championships Coverage

As quickly as it started it was over. The only American to enter the Dubai Tennis Championships this week was Michael Russell. Russell got off to a really strong start against Radek Stepanek, taking the first set 7-5. Stepanek rebounded to a 6-3 win in set two before slamming the door 6-1 in the third set. The 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win ended Russell’s stay and sent Stepanek into a second round matchup with Roger Federer.

Dubai Tennis Championships - Mens Singles - 2-25-14

We’ll have continuing coverage of the other ATP World Tour 500 event this week, the Mexican Open, as there are still six Americans left competing in Acapulco.

Sam Querrey Into Second Round, Donald Brown Gets Lucky Loser Spot in Mexican Open Draw

Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

The first American to get the main draw started in Acapulco was Sam Querrey. Querrey took on Tigre Hank in the night cap of the first night. It was a competitive match with Hank taking the first set 7-6 (5) to put some pressure on Querrey. He responded just fine by pulling out the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the next round. It wasn’t the strongest opponent for Querrey but playing Hank, a Mexican, in front of a pro-Hank crowd was definitely a challenge.

On Tuesday three more Americans will get underway. Donald Young didn’t think he’d be part of the main event after losing to Tim Smyczek in qualifying, but that changed when Jurgen Melzer had to withdraw. That left a lucky loser spot open into the main draw and it went to Young, making him the fourth American in the main draw. Young will be taking on Jarkko Nieminen on Tuesday for the right to face the winner of fellow American Tim Smyczek’s match with Gilles Simon. Both of the matchups are the first time the players have met. While the chance is small, since both Young and Smyczek would need to pull upsets, there is the slight chance that they could meet for the second time in a matter of days.

The other American to begin on Tuesday will be the #3 seed John Isner. Isner won’t have to face a top-25 player in the world in his quarter so the makings could be here for a nice run to the semifinals. He’ll start things off with a matchup with Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in the first round. The two have split their four previous matchups with Isner winning the latest, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals at Newport last year.

Mexican Open - Singles - 2-25-14

Schedule

  • 5 PM – #3 John Isner vs. Ivo Karlovic – All-time series is 2-2
  • Approx. 9 PM – Tim Smyczek vs. #6 Gilles Simon – First ever meeting
  • Approx. 9 PM – Donald Young vs. Jarkko Nieminen – First ever meeting

Michaell Russell Will Be Only American to Compete in Dubai Tennis Championships

Dubai Tennis Championships (ATP)

The only American in the field for the Dubai Tennis Championships will be Michael Russell. Russell will be an underdog in his opening match against the Czech, Radek Stepanek. The two have faced off twice in the past with Russell winning a match in Auckland in 2003 and Stepanek taking a 6-2, 6-0 decision in the round of 64 in Paris in 2010. If Russell can get past Stepanek he’d have to face the rejuvenated Swiss Roger Federer in the second round, no easy task.Dubai Tennis Championships - Mens Singles - 2-24-14

Schedule

  • Tuesday 2.25.14 – 5 AM ET – Michaell Russell vs. Radek Stepanek – All-time Series 1-1

Tim Smyczek Reaches Main Draw at Mexican Open, Three Americans Will Start First Round

Mexican Open (ATP)

Previous Mexican Open Coverage

Only one of five Americans who started qualifying, #5 Tim Smyczek, will be in the main draw at the Mexican Open. Smyczek was up 6-2, 3-0 on fellow American #1 Donald Young when Young retired.

#7 Wayne Odesnik was down 6-2, 2-0 to #3 Stephane Robert when he retired as well. Nicholas Meister went the distance vs. #2 Alejandro Falla but lost 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Mexican Open - Qualifying - 2-24-14

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