These are the current standings in the Doubles race to Shanghai (whose in bold have already qualified):

1 Bryan / Bryan 1135
2 Knowles / Nestor 680
3 Hanley / Ullyett 585
4 Aspelin / Knowle 554
5 Damm / Paes 549
6 Dlouhy / Vizner 495
7 Erlich / Ram 486
8 Bjorkman / Mirnyi 475

Next in the race are:

9 Santoro, F. (FRA) / Zimonjic, N. (SRB) 466
10 Clement, A. (FRA) / Llodra, M. (FRA) 449
11 Fyrstenberg, M. (POL) / Matkowski, M. (POL) 360

I'm assuming that Santoro and Zimonic won't make it on the basis that they're not longer playing together.

Frystenberg and Matowski lost in the Basel, so that's obviously not going to help their chances.

Dlouhy/Vizner and Bjorkmirnyi are also in action in St Petersburg this week.

What happened there? Who dropped who for who, what for?

from what I remember, when Nestor decided that he no longer wanted to play with Knowles, he started talking to Zimonjic (behind Knowles' back - it all seemed a bit soap like for a while), as Zimonjic was apparently looking to change partners. So Nestor and Zimonjic are now playing together - not entirely sure what's happened to Santoro.

it seems a bit silly really - Knowles and Nestor have qualified for Shanghai and I think they are playing there. If Zimonjic and Santoro had continued to play unitl the end of the season, there's a chance they would have qualified too :unsure:

I'll see if i can find the link to the thread where the Knowles/Nestor split was discussed :ok:

sorry, can't find the thread at the moment :shrug:

I'm sure MissS knows a bit more about it than I did........

Thanks. That's strange. I saw Zimo and Santoro play at Wimby this year and though it looked as there was not much friendship, they played pretty well and even thought that Santoro was the more solid player. I saw the match when they beat Paes and his partner (an excellent pair in fact).

It wouldn't have hurt to just see the season through...I would have said they should..but whatever it was...I guess it wasn't helping their partnership. A great pair nonetheless..

Miss S,

Am just bumping this - i can't for the life of me find the articles you post re: the knowles/Nestor split - can you do a better job of answering Tenez's question than i did please????? :hug:

Will do! Sorry for the delay in replying!

that's ok - wasn't sure if you'd seen the thread :hug:

Not sure why Santaro and Zimonjic split. I think it was that Nestor approached Zimonjic but there is hardly any information on that split, especially compared with Knowles and Nestor.

Re: Knowles and Nestor- Jo covered most of it. Basically, Nestor insituted everything, and has largely been portrayed as the bad guy for going behind Knowles' back.

I'll post some of the articles which have circulated on the net over the past few months in a bit.

From Monday's Globe and Mail

E-mail
June 17, 2007 at 8:24 PM EDT

Daniel Nestor has not had to do any jail time but, in terms of melodrama at least, his parting of the ways with long-time doubles partner Mark Knowles has begun to turn into an ongoing soap opera a la Paris Hilton and her travails with the Los Angeles penal system.

Nestor announced in early May that he and Knowles would be splitting after Wimbledon and that he would team up with Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia.

That plan was complicated nine days ago by their triumph at the French Open and yesterday by their victory at the Queen's Club grass-court event in London. A win that included (because of delays) beating the No. 2 team, Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi, and the No. 1, Bob and Mike Bryan, back-to-back on the same day.

The 7-6 (4), 7-5 win over the Bryans moved them into a fifth-place tie for doubles titles (39) in the Open era (1968).

During downtime at Queen's Club last week, Nestor, because he initiated the break-up, was razzed about how he could possibly end an 11-year partnership after the success at Roland Garros.

"[Tim] Henman said, 'I can't believe you're being so nasty,' " Nestor said. "That he didn't know I was that kind of person."

Nestor is not that kind of person. In fact he is completely conflicted about his decision, given what has followed. Particularly since he and Knowles have developed a strong friendship since their first event together (a win) in Bogota, Colombia, in 1994.

"I'm in a tough situation," Nestor said with a laugh yesterday. "I wasn't anticipating the break-up and then that we'd start winning. Not only winning but playing some of the best tennis we've played together.

"It makes it awkward. It's something I hope Nenad understands."

Since winning the French Open, Nestor has backtracked on his decision. He told The Globe and Mail that day in Paris that if Zimonjic approached him, saying that he understood why Nestor would want to reconsider the decision, he might do so.

Then last week a story out of Queen's Club suggested Nestor would play with Knowles until the end of the year.

Yesterday, he revealed his latest thinking, saying, "Ideally, the best thing to do is talk to him [Zimonjic] and then play [with Knowles] through the end of the summer [Montreal, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open] and then see where we stand."

The muddy waters could be clearer in a day or two. "I've got to talk to Nenad," Nestor said. "He's coming for the qualies [the Wimbledon qualifying] and I'll probably go and watch the Canadians [Frank Dancevic and Frédéric Niemeyer] play and try and meet up with him.

"A lot depends of their [Zimonjic and partner Fabrice Santoro] relationship, too. If they're getting along and Santoro is willing to keep playing until the end of the U.S. Open, it probably makes sense to go down that route. We're both playing well and we're both going to go to Shanghai [year-end Masters Cup in November]."

A strong case can be made that Nestor should stick to his original decision. It has led to a remarkable revitalization of the partnership with Knowles and they can now go out on a high.

The ultimate high would be to win Wimbledon, the only Grand Slam missing from their record.

Over the past three weeks, Nestor and Knowles have gone 10-0, winning 20 of 21 sets. It is a charmed run, which followed a mediocre 11-9 stretch, and is bound not to last.

Nestor turns 35 and Knowles 36 on their shared birthday Sept. 4.

Zimonjic, 30, has a big serve and could be the spark Nestor needs to extend his career by a few more years. "Mark and I aren't getting as many free points on our serves," Nestor said last month announcing their split. "That adds a lot of pressure."

In 2000, Nestor and Knowles separated so Nestor could play with Sébastien Lareau of Montreal to try (successfully) for a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics.

It was painful then and it is painful now. But it is best to look at it as a business decision, which again could work to Nestor's benefit.

I think, this articles best cover the issues..

By Paul Bauman - Bee Staff Writer
Last Updated 6:25 am PDT Monday, July 23, 2007

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/286778.html

"Obviously, I was a bit stunned and probably mystified," said Knowles, who clearly remains hurt but still considers Nestor a friend. "It came out of left field. We were ranked third in the world at the time and having a pretty good season.

"It was not the normal time of the season to split. Usually, it's at the end of the year. I was disappointed that he had spoken to someone else with no regard to our commitment."

In June, Knowles and Nestor won consecutive titles in the French Open on clay and at Queen's on grass in London, beating the top-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan in the final of the latter. Oops.

Knowles said Nestor "probably lost faith in our partnership. We had two or three relatively bad weeks, and automatically he wanted to go a different direction. Subsequent events lead you to believe he panicked. You expect your partner and friend to be with you when times are tough."

It also irked Knowles that Nestor said publicly that Knowles doesn't serve hard enough.

"I would never sell him out to the press or another player," Knowles said. "Our relationship is sacred in my eyes. It's obviously not twofold."

Nestor said he regrets the timing but not necessarily the decision.

"We were struggling for a couple of months and the last year and a half more than normal. We're not getting any younger, and with the scoring changes implemented on the tour (super tiebreakers have replaced third sets in some tournaments), the serve becomes much more important," Nestor said.

"It was probably the right thing to do, but with our results (since then), you definitely look back and wonder. In one way, it shook us up and helped us focus and play better, but if you make a commitment to someone else, you have to honor it."

As a compromise, Knowles and Nestor will play together through the U.S. Open and in the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, China.

Knowles is considering teaming with India's Mahesh Bhupathi (four Grand Slam men's doubles titles), France's Michael Llodra (three), South Africa's Wesley Moodie (one) or Florida resident Mardy Fish (none).

you're an absolute star MissS :D

Why the hell are they actually splitting up?They are my mums favourite team!

Thanks a lot for this MissS. That makes excellent reading. It just tells us how much of a business this sport is for those guys. Safin's love and hate approach is very unique and must be seen as a waste of cash by guys like Nestor.

Would be amusing to see Brian splitting from Brian!

:lol: Now that will be a heart breaker, if not for they themselves, probably for most americans.... :ok: good post MIssSos

I see Bjorkman/Miryni and Erlich/Ram have both lost in the last couple of days :blink:

Damm/Paes, Clement/Llodra Secure Berths

Shanghai, China – Doubles veterans Martin Damm and Leander Paes and Wimbledon titlists Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra have secured their berths in the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup, leaving just two spots open in the elite eight-team doubles field going into the final week of the regular ATP season.

Damm and Paes, the No. 5 team in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, will be appearing in their second consecutive Tennis Masters Cup. Last year, the two reached the semifinals where they fell in a battle of three tie-breaks to eventual champions Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi.

The Czech-Indian duo made a quick start to the second full year of their partnership with a runner-up finish in Doha and the title win in Rotterdam. In March, they clinched their team’s first ATP Masters Series title at the Pacific Life Open and took their winning streak to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, where they were defeated by the top-seeded Bryans in the final.

Clement and Llodra will be making their team debut at the circuit finale after they received the berth reserved for Grand Slam champions with US Open titlists Simon Aspelin and Julian Knowle’s confirmed Top 7 finish. Llodra won the Tennis Masters Cup title in his last event appearance, partnering compatriot Fabrice Santoro to the 2005 title.

In addition to their triumph at Wimbledon, the Frenchmen collected two titles on home soil, at Marseille and Metz. The No. 10 team in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race will attempt to defend their title at the BNP Paribas Masters this week.

Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner, Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram and defending Tennis Masters Cup champions Bjorkman and Mirnyi are the three teams vying this week for the remaining two circuit finale berths. Bjorkman and Mirnyi are both past doubles titlists at the BNP Paribas Masters, Bjorkman winning in 2004 (w/ Woodbridge) and Mirnyi in 2000 (w/ Kulti).

If I saw correctly, Erliram just lost in Paris. So a good run at Paris should see Bjornyi qualify! :clap:

the ATP site is saying that Bjorkman and Miryni have clinched the last place in Shanghai :bow:

:huh: I just read that the Bryan brothers have withdrawn or something like that from the championship because one of them is suffering from elbow injury.... it is Mike I think........

Yes I saw that earlier this mornng and I was going to comment about the Americans not so keen to export themselves (Blake, Roddick (most likely) and now the B bros). Looks like they really want to win this DC.

Here's a bit more on the Bryans withdrawl...

Shanghai, China – Israelis Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram were elevated from their alternate status to a playing berth at the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup-to be held at Shanghai's Qi Zhong Stadium from November 11-18-after an elbow injury has prevented the No. 1 duo of Bob and Mike Bryan from making the trip to Shanghai for the third consecutive year.

"I am extremely disappointed that I won't be able to compete in the Tennis Masters Cup this year," said Mike Bryan. "Unfortunately I have had a problem with my elbow for the past couple of weeks and it hasn't recovered in time to be ready for the tournament.

"Bob and I were really looking forward to coming to Shanghai to play in front of all our fans, who are some of the most enthusiastic in the world. We hope to back next year."

The 29-year-old American twins, who clinched the year-end No. 1 Stanford ATP Doubles Ranking in September, were looking to capture their third Tennis Masters Cup title after winning back-to-back crowns in 2003 and 2004 in Houston. They clinched their career-best 11th title of the season on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Masters.

Erlich and Ram, who finished at No. 9 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race, will be making their second appearance at the Tennis Masters Cup after making their debut last year. They went 1-2 in round robin play with their sole victory coming against the Bryans.

The duo excelled on North American hard courts in 2007, clinching their first career ATP Masters Series shield by defeating the top-seeded Bryans in the Cincinnati title match and reaching back-to-back finals in Las Vegas and ATP Masters Series Indian Wells early in the season. They also helped Israel attain Davis Cup World Group status for the first time in 13 years, prevailing over Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu in a 10-8 fifth set of the doubles rubber in September's playoff against Chile.

The other teams rounding out the elite eight-team field include Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett, Simon Aspelin and Julian Knowle, Martin Damm and Leander Paes, Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner. Wimbledon champion Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup as Grand Slam winners, who finished within the Top 20 of the Stanford ATP Doubles Race.

with bryans out, it opens up as knowles/nestor to win. but will the animosity spill out onto the tennis court?? it's too bad they're competing under those circumstances. yet seeing that the world no. 1s are out, that whole lot have a great shot at a decent title. are bjorkman/mirnyi looking to reassurt themselves?? a damm/paes win would be nice :)

The Bryan's must be fairly annoyed - they're way ahead at the top of the rankings, have won the race but can't go to Shanghai :shrug: i guess it at least makes it a bit more open B)