It's so bizarre to be writing about these matches almost 24 hours after they happened. Oh, Asian tennis.
It is just not right for someone to be that beautiful. At least he won today, giving his Chinese devotees at least one more opportunity to enjoy the show. They're really turning it out for his farewell tour, the signs in the audience are not quite as good as the Savage Garden lyrics in Beijing, but they're still pretty great.
"Just be yourself"? Awesome. And is that a... puppy in a dress on the bottom one? [sigh] It's not just Marat I'll miss, it's the insanity he generates. Anyway, no major surprises today in Shanghai; all the seeds who played won, as did Stan and Blah. Of course, all the seeds winning means we also got this:
... as Richie went out in straights to #16 seed Ferrer. There was also the little matter of Ernie losing in straights to Fabio Fognini. I'm sure it must have been something about the eyebrows. Personally, I really believe that these two people must be the two must frustrating players to be a fan of, like, in the tennis universe. How do people subsist for so long on nothing but unfulfilled talent? Okay, I guess at least Ernie is still pretty young. But Gasquet fans... that's some major devotion.
(Speaking of, I'm actually watching the rerun of Ferrer/Gasquet right now, and the commentators just described Dah-veed as "a very adequate volleyer". That goes right under the heading "Damning with Faint Praise.")
Singles - First Round
[10] F Gonzalez (CHI) d M Zverev (GER) 75 67(0) 22 ret. (right wrist)
[13] R Stepanek (CZE) d J Ferrero (ESP) 63 60
[14] T Robredo (ESP) d [Q] M Llodra (FRA) 61 64
[16] D Ferrer (ESP) d R Gasquet (FRA) 64 63
J Blake (USA) d I Karlovic (CRO) 36 76(4) 63
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d [WC] M Gong (CHN) 64 64
S Wawrinka (SUI) [Q] L Kubot (POL) 26 76(5) 76(3)
[Q] F Mayer (GER) d P Petzschner (GER) 63 62
[Q] R Schuettler (GER) d M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 64 36 76(2)
[Q] F Fognini (ITA) d [WC] E Gulbis (LAT) 76(3) 63
[Q] T Bellucci (BRA) d [Q] M Chiudinelli (SUI) 76(3) 64
[10] F Gonzalez (CHI) d M Zverev (GER) 75 67(0) 22 ret. (right wrist)
[13] R Stepanek (CZE) d J Ferrero (ESP) 63 60
[14] T Robredo (ESP) d [Q] M Llodra (FRA) 61 64
[16] D Ferrer (ESP) d R Gasquet (FRA) 64 63
J Blake (USA) d I Karlovic (CRO) 36 76(4) 63
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d [WC] M Gong (CHN) 64 64
S Wawrinka (SUI) [Q] L Kubot (POL) 26 76(5) 76(3)
[Q] F Mayer (GER) d P Petzschner (GER) 63 62
[Q] R Schuettler (GER) d M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 64 36 76(2)
[Q] F Fognini (ITA) d [WC] E Gulbis (LAT) 76(3) 63
[Q] T Bellucci (BRA) d [Q] M Chiudinelli (SUI) 76(3) 64
