Artois Championships Website

Singles Draw

Doubles Draw

You know the grasscourt season is here when...

British players, other than Murray, are in the main draw of an ATP tournament *and winning* matches.

Bogdanovic beat Hjung Taik Lee 6-4 6-4, and now plays Jamie Baker, who came back from a set and a break down to beat Alexander Peya 3-6 7-6 6-3. Bloomfield however lost to Ginepri in straight sets whilst Mirnyi beat Verdasco in straight sets too.

Del Potro won handily against Johansson in 2 and 4. It's a good result for him, but then he has the game to do well on fast surfaces. He faces none other than Nadal in the next round - these two can't seem to escape each other lately. If he were ever going to spring the upset it would be now; he gave the No 2 a lot of trouble in the first set at RG, and has one match on grass under his belt already whilst Nadal will still be making the transition and is possibly fatigued to boot.

It's a good result for Guccione as well in winning his first-round match; he didn't really string ATP-level wins together until this year. It goes to show what a surface change can do, and I think results will look a bit topsy-turvy for a time (on clay it'd almost certainly be Seppi d. Guccione rather than the other way round).

I saw Del Potro yesterday, and also watched some of his match v Nadal at Roland Garros. I'm not sure what to think of the gangly Argentinian teenager - he's had an impressive rise up the rankings but I'm not entirely convinced by his game. He hits it fairly flat, and probably has a game for fast hardcourts. His best shot seems to be that backhand, especially when he jumps up in the air on it, and his serve is pretty good. However, he doesn't move especially well and he looked a little one-dimensional to me. Johansson was having a really bad off-day yesterday.

I think Nadal will be moving him around well when they play and will have a little too much craftiness and angles, although it will be fairly close. But I will look closely at Del Potro again as I've probably judged him quite harshly from just one match.

I wasn't over awed by him. And Johansson really isn't up to his form and hasn't been for ages now.

Is Nadal playing today?

no hes playing Del Potro tomorrow

I think he might be playing doubles today with Lopez?

alright clever clogs :lol:

Just trying to be useful...... :P

lucky him ;)

:lol: lucky Lopez

Not many 18-year-olds spring fully-formed from Zeus's forehead with a complete game, I'd wager. But then a player like Roddick is still trying to introduce more variety into his game and he's the ripe old age of 25. :P Del Potro's movement is undoubtedly lacking, but that's a problem for many players his height. He may well have played lacklustre yesterday (I didn't watch) but apart from the usual surface transition issues, I don't think he's ever actually played an ATP-level match on grass before (which makes the win all that more notable). He folded against Nadal at RG once he was broken serving for the first set, but the sting was going to be taken out of his groundstrokes on clay anyhow; I think what I saw of him in Miami better expresses his potential. In particular his straight sets victory over Youzhny was impressive to watch.

Mind I'm not saying he's a world-beater just yet or anything. Nadal should surely come out on top in their match; I was just noting that he's got rather a dangerous opponent given the circumstances.

Tsonga has just taken the first set off Hewitt on the tie break

This guy is playing pretty well isn't he? Looks like a good grass court player.
Currently 4 all in the 2nd set.

i seen him play Roddick a couple of years ago and he gave him a good game, although Roddick had too much for him and ive nevereen him again until now

Wow, he's pulling off some amazing shots. One of those days where it is hard to miss it seems.

Wow!
Tsonga's won!!

Defending champion is out!

and i thought my scoreboard was lying to me...... :blink:

Did Hewitt win or lose? Stella Artois site seems to presume he won (unless they wrote their article before the match actually finished). The Battle of the Brits between Bogdanovic and Baker sounded close - but was it a good match?

Elsewhere, a routine win for Nadal over Del Potro (to be predicted). What else has been happening, folks?

Marat is on now DJ just in case you were un aware. :D

Oops! I'm mixing up Hewitt with Roddick - please ignore previous message - or can it be edited to remove the confusing nonsense I put in!

Safin against Grosjean no less. Tricky match to call. Grosjean's best days appear to be behind him, and he was always vulnerable to heavy hitters with big serves...but Safin is Safin - and the wily Grosjean still can perform tricky shots...

yep, just discovered the live stream :D but i have to go out soon :(

Mr I, you should be able to edit your post yourself......

I'm pround of ya, Thong a! Great fightback in the second set!

Safins got a doubles match with Boggo to play after his singles, hes gonna be knackered

If he wants to, he can always go to the vet's after the match anyway.

no chance now, its raining :(

my, my - Boggo has just broken roddick???? :yikes:

6 points on the trot finishes the match for Safin :yahoo:

Boggo has just broken Roddick to go 2-1 up. Its early days but hes playing some great shots so far

good job really - he's still got another 2 matches to play today :yikes:

well the way Boggos playing, they might BOTH be fresh for their doubles

good news for Henman, Cilic has knocked out Hewitts conqueror Tsonga, so he can 'take positives' out of the fact that he was beaten by a world class player roflmao

Boggo has a point for a double break :o

How's Boggo getting on against A-Rod at moment? Is Boggo heading for one of those big moments for a British player (like Chris Bailey having matchpoint against Ivanisevic, or Barry Cowan taking Sampras to 5 sets)...

Tursunov won :clap:

but Safin lost the first set to Karlovic :cry:

Sorry Jo, but I think I saw that Ivo beat Safin 7-6 7-6. I like both, I'm pleased Ivo is doing well and Safin still has the doubles :D