Weekly Recap

There was quite a lot of action this past week with players looking to get quality matches in before the Australian Open. The ATP started its new 2009 season off with tournaments in Doha, Chennai, and Brisbane with 7 of the top 8 players competing this past week. 3 of the top 4 were competing in Doha, where prize money just happened to be double that of the other two tournaments.

Doha

Andy Murray def. Andy Roddick 6-4 6-2

Once again Murray showed why he is the player to beat going into the year’s first major. He has started the year better than any other player on tour and he continued it through this match facing only one break point, which he saved. With two wins over Federer and one over Nadal, Murray has shown he can beat the top players. Roddick had a very good week in preparation for the Aussie. I still don’t feel like he could win it, but if he plays well he could pull an upset and make a semi.

Brisbane

Radek Stepanek def. Fernando Verdasco 3-6 6-3 6-4

Stepanek won his third title of his career in Brisbane and his third match in a row after losing the first set. Stepanek changed his tactics after the loss of the first set, employing his great drop shot to disrupt Verdasco’s rhythm. With his already unique style of play, this turned the tide giving Stepanek the match. Stepanek can definitely infuriate his opponents, and he is someone nobody will want to face in two weeks.

Chennai

Marin Cilic def. Somev Devvarman 6-4 7-6(3)

Marin Cilic won his second career title in India defeating the former NCAA Champion in the final. This was Devvarman’s first ATP final and he played very well this entire week. Cilic breaks into the top 20 for the first time in his career after this win. Despite having many break points, Devvarman couldn’t convert one until Cilic was serving for the match at 5-3. Then Cilic took control of the tie-breaker early, and then finished off the match. This is a very positive result for Devvarman. A lot of people thought he wouldn’t make a good pro after his success in college, but he seems to be proving all of those people wrong. I hope to see more form him in the future.