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2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 Olympic Games - Tennis Event
Beijing, China
August 10-17, 2008
64 Draw
Surface - Hard
Website: 
Olympics, Beijing - Tennis
The Official Mascots of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Like the Five Olympic Rings from which they draw their color and inspiration, Fuwa will serve as the Official Mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, carrying a message of friendship and peace -- and good wishes from China -- to children all over the world.
Designed to express the playful qualities of five little children who form an intimate circle of friends, Fuwa also embody the natural characteristics of four of China's most popular animals -- the Fish, the Panda, the Tibetan Antelope, the Swallow -- and the Olympic Flame.
Each of Fuwa has a rhyming two-syllable name -- a traditional way of expressing affection for children in China. Beibei is the Fish, Jingjing is the Panda, Huanhuan is the Olympic Flame, Yingying is the Tibetan Antelope and Nini is the Swallow.
When you put their names together -- Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni -- they say "Welcome to Beijing," offering a warm invitation that reflects the mission of Fuwa as young ambassadors for the Olympic Games.
Fuwa also embody both the landscape and the dreams and aspirations of people from every part of the vast country of China. In their origins and their headpieces, you can see the five elements of nature -- the sea, forest, fire, earth and sky -- all stylistically rendered in ways that represent the deep traditional influences of Chinese folk art and ornamentation.
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Q: Tomas, are you looking forward to the Olympics?
TB: Yeah, of course. After my last memories from Athens, it's still the big thing in my mind. And if I get a chance, I'm going to be healthy, so I will be pretty happy to go there and to see another Olympic Games. I think for me it's a really special tournament.
Q: Your win over Federer put you on the map, didn't it?
TB: Yeah, of course. I mean, it was a huge match, especially in the Olympic Games, which is not every single week. A lot of people are watching, not only the tennis, but everybody's watching the Olympic Games. And when there is a big, big result or something in one kind of sport, everybody realises it.
Q: Your victory over Federer was almost four years ago, but do you still think back to that match?
TB:: Yeah, of course, I can see many of the points if I close my eyes; I can see it like on the video. So, yeah, it was pretty fantastic, especially when we start in the morning with the warm-up.
We were sharing the courts; I was sitting and watching and thinking, yeah, this is the guy. Then thinking what I'm going to do on the court, playing with him. And then when we start the match, everything works, everything was fine, and I was feeling great. The atmosphere was nice on the court. So, yeah, it was a pretty fantastic match.
Q: What other memories do you have from Athens?
TB: Staying in the Olympic Village with all of the athletes. You can see everybody from all the other sports, all the basketball players or whatever. It's pretty nice to meet somebody you have only watched on the TV.
Q: How was living that village life during the Olympics?
TB: Yeah, it was pretty special. It was really nice because we had a house, and we stayed there with our basketball players. We were really close to the tent with the food, so we didn't need to travel a lot from the village.
Q: What do you prefer, the winter Olympics or the summer Olympics?
TB: Well, of course the summer Olympics. But it's tough to say, because for the summer Olympics there is a chance that I can be there. And for the winter Olympics we have our ice hockey team. So that's like two different things.
Q: And no doubt your girlfriend, Lucie Safarova, will be there. Does that make it more special?
TB: Yeah, of course. I mean, four years ago it was the beginning of our relationship. And it was for me on the line whether I would get into the tournament or not. So I was lucky to get in. She is younger than me, so now it's going to be the first time for her, and I think she's going to enjoy it. It's going to be a really nice week for us.
Lucie Safarova 
Tomas Berdych
Singles
Seeds: (cut: Frank Dancevic - 90)
1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Nikolay Davydenko
5. David Ferrer
6. Andy Murray
7. David Nalbandian
8. James Blake
9. Stanislas Wawrinka
10. Gilles Simon
11. Nicolas Almagro
12. Fernando Gonzalez
13. Mikhail Youzhny
14. Ivo Karlovic *late withdrawal due to illness*
15. Nicolas Kiefer
16. Radek Stepanek
17. Tomas Berdych 
THE MAIN DRAW
(1)Roger Federer (SUI) vs Dimitry Tursunov (RUS)
Hyung-Taek Lee (KOR) vs (WC)Rafael Arevalo (ESA)
Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Yu Xin Yuan (CHN) vs Tomas Berdych (CZE) 
[Chinese youngster Yu Xin Yuan replaces (14)Ivo Karlovic (CRO) *late withdrawal due to a stomach illness*]
(10)Gilles Simon (FRA) vs Robin Soderling (SWE)
(ALT)Frederic Niemeyer (CAN) vs Guillermo Canas (ARG) [Niemeyer replaces Mario Ancic]
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)
(8)James Blake (USA) vs Chris Guccione (AUS)
(4)Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs Nicolas Lapentti (ECU)
(WC)Komlavi Loglo (TOG) vs Kevin Anderson (RSA)
(15)Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs Max Mirnyi (BLR)
(12)Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs Peng Sun (CHN)
Marin Cilic (CRO) vs Juan Monaco (ARG)
Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs Ivo Minar (CZE)
(5)David Ferrer (ESP) vs Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)
(7)David Nalbandian (ARG) vs (ALT)Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN) [Zeng replaces Philipp Kohlschreiber]
Nicolas Massu (CHI) vs Steve Darcis (BEL)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs Victor Hanescu (ROU)
(11)Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs Gael Monfils (FRA)
(13)Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs Jiri Vanek (CZE)
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) vs Thomas Johansson (SWE)
Rainer Schuettler (GER) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)
(3)Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Robby Ginepri (USA)
(6)Andy Murray (GBR) vs Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)
Agustin Calleri (ARG) vs Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Marcos Daniel (BRA) vs Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
(9)Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs Frank Dancevic (CAN)
(16)Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Michael Llodra (FRA)
Samuel Querrey (USA) vs Igor Andreev (RUS)
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs Jonas Bjorkman (SWE)
(2)Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs Potito Starace (ITA)
Seeds:
1. Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2. Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic
3. Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram
4. Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka
5. Nicolas Almagro/David Ferrer
6. Rafael Nadal/Tommy Robredo
7. Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes
8. Igor Andreev/Nikolay Davydenko
THE MAIN DRAW
(1)Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) vs Mark Knowles/Devin Mullings (BAH)
Nicolas Kiefer/Rainer Schuettler (GER) vs Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Chris Guccione/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) vs Agustin Calleri/Juan Monaco (ARG)
(6)Rafael Nadal/Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Jonas Bjorkman/Robin Soderling (SWE)
(4)Roger Federer/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs Simone Bolelli/Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Marin Cilic/Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs (WC)Fernando Gonzalez/Nicolas Massu (CHI)
Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Marcelo Melo/Andre Sa (BRA)
(7)Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) vs Gael Monfils/Gilles Simon (FRA)
(8)Igor Andreev/Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs James Blake/Samuel Querrey (USA)
Guillermo Canas/David Nalbandian (ARG) vs Olivier Rochus/Steve Darcis (BEL)
Andy Murray/Jamie Murray (GBR) vs Daniel Nestor/Frederic Niemeyer (CAN)
(3)Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR) vs Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA)
(5)Nicolas Almagro/David Ferrer (ESP) vs Kevin Anderson/Jeff Coetzee (RSA)
Simon Aspelin/Thomas Johansson (SWE) vs Paul Hanley/Jordan Kerr (AUS)
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) vs Xin-Yuan Yu/Shao-Xuan Zeng (CHN)
(2)Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) vs Martin Damm/Pavel Vizner (CZE)
Oympics Czech Tennis Team 
Tomas returns the ball as he trains at the Olympic Green tennis court SEE PHOTO
Opening Ceremony
The stunning opening ceremony on Friday to the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing - with its panoply of color, painstaking choreography and sweeping portrait of Chinese culture and history - was everything it was supposed to be. A quite extraordinary display of fireworks exploded over the Bird's Nest stadium as Beijing put the full glory of its countries amazing history on display at the Olympic opening ceremony.
The four-hour extravaganza, brainchild of China's most renowned filmmaker, Zhang Yimou, depicted an immensely proud nation that has made monumental contributions to humanity and seeks unity and harmony with nature and other nations as it continues its rise on the world stage.
Fireworks exploded at 29 points representing the 29th Olympics and exactly 2008 musicians beat ancient Chinese drums in perfect timing to welcome athletes and spectators to the Games.
The Olympics were opened at precisely 8.08pm on the eighth day of the eighth month, a tribute to the number eight that many Chinese deem lucky as it represents prosperity.
The following hour, left the crowd simply spellbound as 15,000 musicians, performers and trapeze artists in lavish costumes staged a celebration of China's history which focused on its key inventions — the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing. The centre of the stadium was transformed into a constantly unfurling electronic scroll, showing Chinese script and the typewriter.
The march into the stadium of thousands of athletes from 204 nations attending the Games was as mesmerising and included many of the competing tennis athletes. Most notably Roger Federer and Fernando Gonzalez lead their respective countries of Switzerland and Chile as flag bearers.
All of this culminated with former gymnast Li Ning lighting the Olympic cauldron to signify the opening of the games on a quite astonishing evening.
SEE combo 1 combo 2 combo 3 combo 4 combo 5 combo 6
Round 1: Tomas Berdych vs. Yu Xin Yuan
Former world number three Ivan Ljubicic pulled out of the Beijing Olympics singles tournament Saturday, joining fellow Croats Ivo Karlovic and Mario Ancic on the sidelines.
Ljubicic, who has slipped to 51 in the world rankings, withdrew with an unspecified injury and his place was taken by Devon Mullings of Bahamas, the world 1025, who now plays Argentina's Agustin Calleri in the first round.
Karlovic, the world number 18 who recently defeated Roger Federer in Cincinnati, pulled out on Friday after developing a high temperature.
His place was taken by Chinese youngster Yu Xin Yuan, who gets his tournament underway against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Ancic pulled out earlier this month, also due to illness, leaving rising youngster Marin Cilic as Croatia's only men's hope.
On the women's side, a knee injury forced former Olympic champion Lindsay Davenport to quit the singles on Friday, although she still plans to play.
Order of Play - Sunday, Augsut 10, 2008
Singles: Tomas Berdych vs Xinyuan Yu - Court 3
Doubles: Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek vs André Sa / Marcelo Melo - Court 9 *postponed due to rain*
Rain delays start of Olympic tennis
Play had been scheduled to begin at 1030 and organizers had hoped for a delay of only 10 minutes but rain continued to fall at the Olympic Tennis Centre.
The first match due on Centre Court is American James Blake against Australia's Chris Guccione in the men's singles.
Top seed Roger Federer of Switzerland is also in singles action later on Sunday against Russian Dmitry Tursunov.
Result:
Tomas Berdych def. Xinyuan Yu 6-1, 6-2 
Czech no. 17 seed Tomas Berdych, who defeated Roger Federer en route to reaching the Athens quarterfinals (l. to Dent), progressed as he knocked out China's Xinyuan Yu 6-1, 6-2 in just 55 minutes.
The start of play was delayed by rain and showers continue to disrupt the day one schedule in Beijing.
As it happens - Day 1: Sunday 10 August
2.55pm: No. 17 seed Tomas Berdych and rightly so, had no problems versus world No. 782 Yu Xin-Yuan. He was on court for under an hour and heads back to the village for some Peking duck rolls no doubt.
Tomas Berdych during first-round 2008 Beijing Olympics SEE PHOTO
Order of Play - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Men's Singles Second Round - court 4
BERDYCH Tomas vs SEPPI Andreas
Men's Doubles First Round - court 9
BERDYCH Tomas / STEPANEK Radek vs SA Andre / MELO Marcelo
(Result: Berdych/Stepanek lost to Sa/Melo 7-5, 2-6, 6-8)
As it happens - Day 3: Tuesday 12 August 
1.38pm: Czech Tomas 'the birdman' Berdych moves forward another stage. He's just ousted Andreas Seppi of Italy 63 76(4). He plays the winner of Rog Fed and our friend Rafael Arevalo of El Salvador.
Tomas Berdych during second round 2008 Beijing Olympics SEE PHOTO
Czech No. 17 seed Tomas Berdych could meet ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer in the third round after avenging his ATP Masters Series Cincinnati defeat to Andreas Seppi of Italy with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory in one hour and 38 minutes. Berdych hit 14 aces and won 33 of 37 points on first serve. The World No. 20, who reached the Bastad final (l. to Robredo) in July, improved to 25-16 on the season.
Order of Play - Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Men's Doubles Third Round - Center Court
BERDYCH Tomas vs FEDERER Roger
Berdych looks for Athens repeat
Four years ago, Roger Federer seemed the hot favourite for Olympic gold, but on a windy Athens day, he lost to an 18-year-old Czech Tomas Berdych. Four years later the two meet again in the most appetising match on the fourth day of the tennis event in Beijing.
In theory Federer should be untroubled. He has won the intervening six matches and has dropped just one set in those, but in recent weeks he has to fight off a certain Angst that has entered his game, similar to the Angst that did for him against Berdych in Athens after he had served for victory. If he gets through this, his route would appear to be clear for a repeat of the Wimbledon final against Nadal in Sunday's gold medal match, but having missed out on a bronze medal in a three-set playoff in Sydney eight years ago, Federer is quietly desperate for a medal this time and won't want to let Berdych throw him off course again.
As it happens - Day 4: Wednesday 13 August
7.45pm: Class has come to the top, the little gem of a match on Centre Court is over, Federer taking it 63 3 76 on a 7-4 tiebreak to erase the memory of his defeat to Berdych in Athens four years ago. He'll probably deny that defeat made any difference, but he seemed more than usually focused in this match, hitting through his backhand more than he's done of late, and his roar at the end when a Berdych backhand went wide testifies to what this means for Federer. Nothing guaranteed yet, but he'll be playing James Blake for a place in the semis. That medal he wants to much is getting closer.
Tomas Berdych during third round 2008 Beijing Olympics SEE PHOTO
SEE PHOTO Roger Federer avenges his 2004 Olympic loss
ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer kept alive his chances of clinching an Olympic gold medal when he defeated his Athens Olympics conqueror Tomas Berdych, the Czech No. 17 seed, with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win during the night session at the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday. Top-seeded Swiss Federer, a veteran of three Olympic Games, hit 11 aces and won 32 of 37 points on first serve. He struck 18 winners and committed 32 unforced errors.
Posté le 05/08/2008 | 796 consultations | 0 commentaires | Voir et commenter l'article
2008 Masters Series Cincinnati
Place: Cincinnati, Ohio
Date: July 28-August 3, 2008
Draw Size: 64
Surface: Hard Outdoor
Prize Money: $2,615,000
Website: www.cincytennis.com
The Seeds
Singles Tomas
Seeds: (cut: Andrea Serra - 76)
1. Roger Federer
2. Rafael Nadal
3. Novak Djokovic
4. Nikolay Davydenko
5. David Ferrer
6. Andy Roddick
7. James Blake
8. Andy Murray
9. Stanislas Wawrinka
10. Fernando Verdasco
11. Richard Gasquet
12. Tommy Robredo
13. Fernando Gonzalez
14. Mikhail Youzhny
15. Radek Stepanek
16. Ivo Karlovic
is not seeded in Cincy 
Main Draw
(1)Roger Federer (SUI) bye
Robby Ginepri (USA) vs (q)
Mario Ancic (CRO) vs Jose Acasuso (ARG)
(16)Ivo Karlovic (CRO) vs Thomaz Bellucci (BRA)
(12)Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Mardy Fish (USA)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs (q)
(6)Andy Roddick (USA) bye
(4)Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) bye
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) vs Carlos Moya (ESP)
(WC)John Isner (USA) vs (q)
(15)Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Igor Andreev (RUS)
(11)Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs Michael Llodra (FRA)
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) vs (WC)Marat Safin (RUS)
Samuel Querrey (USA) vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
(8)Andy Murray (GBR) bye
(7)James Blake (USA) bye
Nicolas Kiefer (GER) vs Gilles Simon (FRA)
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) vs Ernests Gulbis (LAT)
(9)Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) vs Thomas Johansson (SWE)
(13)Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs (q)
(3)Novak Djokovic (SRB) bye
(5)David Ferrer (ESP) bye
Nicolas Lapentti (ECU) vs Marin Cilic (CRO)
(WC)Jesse Witten (USA) vs (q)
(10)Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs (q)
(14)Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs Tommy Haas (GER)
Gael Monfils (FRA) vs (WC)Donald Young (USA)
Florent Serra (FRA) vs (q)
(2)Rafael Nadal (ESP) bye
Doubles : The Seeds
Seeds: (cut: Lipsky/Martin - 95)
1. Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan
2. Daniel Nestor/Nenad Zimonjic
3. Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram
4. Mahesh Bhupathi/Mark Knowles
5. Jonas Bjorkman/Kevin Ullyett
6. Lukas Dlouhy/Leander Paes
7. Martin Damm/Pavel Vizner
8. Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski
Doubles: Main Draw
(1)Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) bye
James Blake/Samuel Querrey (USA) vs Mario Ancic/Jeff Coetzee (CRO/RSA)
Paul Hanley/Jordan Kerr (AUS) vs Tommy Robredo/Andre Sa (ESP/BRA)
(8)Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) bye
(4)Mahesh Bhupathi/Mark Knowles (IND/BAH) bye
Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA) vs (WC)Mardy Fish/John Isner (USA)
(5)Jonas Bjorkman/Kevin Ullyett (SWE/ZIM) bye
(7)Martin Damm/Pavel Vizner (CZE) bye
Simon Aspelin/Jamie Murray (SWE/GBR) vs Rohan Bopanna/Jamie Cerretani (IND/USA)
Robert Lindstedt/Jarkko Nieminen (SWE/FIN) vs. (WC)Jesse Levine/Donald Young (USA)
(3)Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR) bye
(6)Lukas Dlouhy/Leander Paes (CZE/IND) bye
Fernando Gonzalez/Janko Tipsarevic (CHI/SRB) vs Ivo Karlovic/Rogier Wassen (CRO/NED)
Scott Lipsky/David Martin (USA) vs Simone Bolelli/Andreas Seppi (ITA)
(2)Daniel Nestor/Nenad Zimonjic (CAN/SRB) bye
Results:
Doubles Round 1 - Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE)
def. Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7-5 7-6(6)
Big Monday Line-up on Opening Day
MASON - July 27, 2008 - Monday's opening schedule has been released and an outstanding Center Court afternoon line-up includes No. 12 seed Tommy Robredo (vs. Mardy Fish), Sam Querrey (vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu) and No. 13 Fernando Gonzalez (vs. Tomas Berdych).
The evening session, which begins at 7 p.m., features former No. 1 and recent Wimbledon semifinalist Marat Safin against Russian countryman Dmitry Tursunov. That match will be followed by Frenchman Gael Monfils against Donald Young.
In the first match, Robredo takes a 3-2 career advantage against Fish, who reached the W&SFG Masters final five years ago (l. to Roddick). Robredo advanced to the semifinals here in 2004 and '06.
In the next match, Querrey, who was a quarterfinalist last year, takes on Mathieu for the first time. Earlier this season, the 20-year-old Querrey captured his first ATP title in Las Vegas.
In the last day session match, Gonzalez brings a 3-0 career mark against Berdych. Gonzalez is a two-time semifinalist in Cincinnati (2002, '06) and enters with a 12-6 career mark in the tournament.
Tursunov won the only previous meeting against Safin, who is a former two-time quarterfinalist in Cincinnati. Earlier this month, Safin turned in his best career showing at Wimbledon with a semifinal performance, defeating No. 3 Novak Djokovic along the way.
In the final match, Monfils plays up-and-coming American Young for the first time. Both players have finished as the No. 1 junior in the world, Monfils in 2004 and Young in 2006.
In other opening round matches, No. 14 seed Mikhail Youhzny plays former World No. 2 Tommy Haas (tied 2-2) on Grandstand, and No. 16 Ivo Karlovic takes on Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci.
Round 1: Tomas Berdych vs Fernando Gonzalez
Order of Play - Monday, July 28, 2008
CENTER COURT start 11:00 am
[12] Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Mardy Fish (USA)
Sam Querrey (USA) vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
[13] Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) vs Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Not Before 7:00 PM
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) vs [WC] Marat Safin (RUS)
Gael Monfils (FRA) vs [WC] Donald Young (USA)
Berdych, Haas Post Wins Over Seeds
MASON - July 28, 2008 - Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Tommy Haas of Germany eliminated seeds in opening round action while Dmitry Tursunov defeated former No. 1 Marat Safin in a battle of Russians on Monday.
Berdych beat No. 13 seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, posting his first win over the Chilean in four career meetings and Haas ousted No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4.
In the evening session, Tursunov prevailed for the second time over Safin 7-6(5), 6-4, while Frenchman Gael Monfils needed only 53 minutes to defeat American wild card Donald Young 6-1, 6-1.
After splitting the first two sets, Berdych broke Gonzalez in the second game of the final set and never faced a break point the rest of the way in the one hour and 40-minute match.
"My memories are good for this week and for this tournament," said Berdych, who beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal three years ago. "Well, I'm always happy coming here, but in the few last years I didn't have as good results as I would expect. I hope this year it's going to change and it's going to be everything different."
Haas fired 17 aces and improved to 3-2 lifetime against Youzhny in the two hour and eight minute battle. Both players won 88 points each but the difference came in the third set as Haas broke in the ninth game and served out the match.
Haas will face Gael Monfils in the second round with the winner having a chance to possibly take on the hottest player in the world, No. 2 Rafael Nadal, who comes into Cincinnati with a career-best 29-match winning streak.
Tomas Berdych in action against Fernando Gonzalez in Cincinnati SEE PHOTO
Interview Tomas Berdych July 28, 2008
CINCINNATI, OHIO
T. BERDYCH/F. Gonzalez
6-3, 3-6, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. People here still obviously remember you from the match when you beat Nadal after he won Canada. I was wondering what this place means to you? Do you have any fond memories of Cincinnati?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, well, like you said, the match with Nadal, it's not every week, so of course I remember all the matches with those guys.
I mean, with Federer, with Nadal, yeah, those guys. Especially when you play the match and you can beat him on any surface, any tournament, then it gets to your memory and it stays there.
Yeah, I mean, my memories are good for this week and for this tournament. Well, I'm always happy to come here, but in the few last years I didn't have as good results as I would expect.
Yeah, I hope this year it's going to change and it's going to be everything different.
Q. It's funny, because when you beat him that year I remember in your post-match press conference it didn't seem that big of a deal to you that you had beaten him.
TOMAS BERDYCH:: Well, I mean, if it's like straight after the match, and then like all kind of emotions and everything from the court, you're tired and everything and you just want to relax. So maybe you don't like have it in your mind that you beat Nadal and all the things like this.
It came a little bit after, or maybe the next day or anything like that, so I think it was this case.
Q. How do you feel your summer so far?
TOMAS BERDYCH:: Well, I mean, my season starts pretty good, but then with the injury in the Davis Cup match in Russia everything got changed. I was playing really good coming after semis from Miami.
Everything was fine, but then I was like one month off the tournaments and then coming slowly and lost couple of pretty close matches.
So far, the summer, it's -- yeah, it can be always better than this. But, yeah, I had the finals in Bastad, and now I think it's getting better and better.
Q. The Olympics are coming up. The buzz, are players feeling it?
TOMAS BERDYCH:: I don't think it's already right now. I think it's going to be maybe few days before or when you arrived to Beijing.
Because I think like the tournament, when you came to the site, it's the same like here or in New York or anywhere else in the world.
But the atmosphere on the village, like on the place where the Olympics are, it's completely different. You can meet all the athletes and everybody. You're staying in the Olympic Village with all the other athletes from your country, so this is quite a big difference.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to go there. I like to be there. I had a great memories for my last Athens Olympic Games. Yeah, it's going to be nice for me.
Q. The last Olympic games, of course the match with Roger. Out of the Olympics, do you take more out of the experience of four years ago, or is it beating Roger that really stands out?
TOMAS BERDYCH: Well, I mean, it's like you said, it's four years ago. There it was one of my first tournaments because I was one of the last in the draw. I was around 80, 90 in the rankings, so I was just pretty close to just get in.
Then I was starting to play my first like big matches. Well, I think it's these two things together. Come to the big tournament and have a good results, and then it didn't stay just with this result.
Because sometimes it's kind of player who just came to one tournament then he can win or be in semifinal and then nobody heard about him no more.
I'm pretty happy that I can start there and then to consistently keep going and make a better result.
Q. Everybody now in the tennis world is talking about the fight for No. 1. Rafa could do it this week. Is there a buzz in the locker room about that, or is it, for most of the players, just another week like you said?
TOMAS BERDYCH:: Yeah, I think it's maybe sometimes you just talk with maybe your coach or maybe when you just sit at the dinner or something like this. But it's not like -- I mean, everybody watch what's -- I don't know maybe Roger or Rafa are doing, if they're doing anything different or things like that.
I think both of them are trying to play their best tennis. If it's the way that Nadal is going to be first or Roger is gonna stay for another weeks, I think it's going to be -- yeah, just it goes, and this is life.
Q. How did Lucie like your blog last week?
TOMAS BERDYCH:: Well, she was at home so she saw everything. Well, I mean, took it like as a normal.
End of FastScripts
Round 2: Tomas Berdych vs Andreas Seppi
Order of Play - Wednesday, July 30, 2008
COURT 3 start 11:00 am
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs [LL] Arnaud Clement (FRA)
Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA)
[Q] Chris Guccione (AUS) vs [10] Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
[1] B Bryan (USA)/M Bryan (USA) vs (A) T Widom (USA)/M Yani (USA)
S Bolelli (ITA)/A Seppi (ITA) vs [2] D Nestor (CAN)/N Zimonjic (SRB)
[WC] M Fish (USA)/J Isner (USA) vs [5] J Bjorkman (SWE)/K Ullyett (ZIM)
To Be Arranged
[4] M Bhupathi (IND)/M Knowles (BAH) vs T Berdych (CZE)/R Stepanek (CZE)
Results:of Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Singles Second Round 
Andreas Seppi, Italy, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.
Doubles Second Round
Mahesh Bhupathi, India, and Mark Knowles (4), Bahamas, def. Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, walkover.
Posté le 26/07/2008 | 567 consultations | 0 commentaires | Voir et commenter l'article
2008 The Rogers Cup, Toronto, Canada
Place: Toronto, Canada
Date: July 21-27, 2008
Draw Size: 98
Surface - Hard
Website: www.rogerscupmen.com
Nadal and Djokovic Arrive at Rexall Centre
July 18, 2008
With main draw action for the Rogers Cup set to get underway in just a couple of days, players from the ATP Tour have touched down in Toronto and made their way to Rexall Centre for practice.
Many of the sport's biggest stars have already been spotted around the grounds making last minute preparations before main draw play begins on Monday.
The biggest names seen so far are reigning French Open and Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal of Spain and defending Rogers Cup champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Djokovic arrived in Toronto on Thursday evening and spent his Friday working on his game on centre court with both countryman Janko Tipsarevic and Croatia's Mario Ancic. Meanwhile, 2005 Rogers Cup winner Nadal landed at Pearson International Airport early on Friday and showed up at Rexall Centre in the evening for his first practice of the week.
Several other top players have also been on site in the past couple of days. Russia's Marat Safin, the 2000 Rogers Cup champion who received a wildcard into the main draw after his stunning semifinal run at Wimbledon, was around on Thursday practicing with Spain's Tommy Robredo. In addition, players like world No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, No. 10 Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland), Richard Gasquet (France), Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic), Mikhail Youzhny (Russia), Marcos Baghdatis (Cyprus) and Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) are currently in Toronto warming up for the tournament.
Q