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David Ferrer defeated Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. He’ll next face compatriot Feliciano Lopez, and have a so-so Juan Martin del Potro as a potential third-round match-up. If he makes it through, Tsonga will likely be his quarterfinal opponent. Draw here.
Gold: Ferrer is wearing pieces from Lotto‘s Shock collection, this time in black and gold. He also wore this at the 2009 U.S. Open.
More: A few more pics of David after the cut…
What a motley crew, these guys. Snowman Richard Gasquet, the unsportsmanlike Robin Soderling, gambler Nikolay Davydenko, and casanova Fernando Verdasco — all in batik shirts at an event for the Proton Malaysia Open, happening this week in Kuala Lumpur.
Leave it to Verdasco to add Spanish flair to the traditional Malaysian attire by tucking it into his jeans. We didn’t expect anything less from the fashionista.
Bracket: After first-round byes, Kolya faces Dent, Verdasco will play Karol Beck, and Soderling is up against qualifier Brendan Evans (who played fellow qualifier/American Michael Yani in the first round). Gasquet is still slated for a first rounder against Romanian Victor Crivoi.
(image via PMO)
Powder took some time out during this week’s Estoril Open to learn about a world-famous Portuguese cake: the Pasteis de Nata. Sabine Lisicki joined him for the tutorial.
Watch: Check out the video here.
Scoreline: Currently ranked 11th in the world (oh, how the mighty have fallen!), Davydenko entered the combined tournament as the second seed. He was upset by James Blake 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 3-6 in the semis.
And speaking of white powder, Frenchman Richard Gasquet has now confirmed an initial report by L’Equipe that he tested positive for cocaine during a routine drug test at the Sony Ericsson Open in March. He claims innocence and has begun compiling evidence to prove this to the ITF and the World Doping Agency.
We’re hoping he’s innocent and that the case gets dropped; two years of Gasquet-less tennis would just be too much to handle.
(screengrab from ATP)
FYI, Simone Bolelli got his left forearm marked up (to go along with another new tattoo and his long-standing “S“).
Unconfirmed post at MTF says it’s his girlfriend’s name. Can anyone back it up?
Scoreline: At this week’s Barclays Dubai Championships in Dubai, Simone lost in straight sets to Richard Gasquet in the second round.
(images via Getty Images)
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Writing the epilogue: The unpredictable career of Marat Safin has reached some consistency now that he’s steered himself toward retirement sunset.
At this week’s Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships, the eighth seed — bumped up by the absence of the injured Federer (back), Nadal (knee), Davydenko (ankle), Verdasco(ankle), and Roddick (Dubai slapped him in the face).
Too bad he fell in three sets — 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 — to Richard Gasquet.
“I struggled in the beginning with the serve, especially, and returns from the baseline, but I started to get used to it and I started to get better and better,” Safin said. “But unfortunately, it’s a lack of confidence and I didn’t play for a long time after Australia. I played in Marseille, and it’s my second match.”
Meanwhile, after giving his neck a little breather, Marat’s back in business with his charms. Is that the imperial crown?!
Scoreline: Djokovic and Murray are doing just fine in Dubai. We’re expecting these top two seeds to face each other at Sunday’s final.
(photo via Getty Images)
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