SACRE BLEU!: In his first match since being suspended by the ITF for a positive cocaine test in April, 23-year-old Richard Gasquet lost to Dusan Vemic 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-4 in the sec
ond round of qualifying in New Haven. The Frenchman, who confessed that he hadn’t picked up a racket in two months, promised, “I’ll prepare harder next time.”
HARDLY STAR QUALITY: Andre Agassi and Marat Safin were scheduled to headline the upcoming Grand Slam of Asheville exo in North Carolina, but poor ticket sales forced promoter Brian Wood to replace the duo with the more cost efficient (and much lesser known) tandem of Rajeev Ram and Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo.
THE NUMBERS
20: Ranking Sam Querrey hopes to attain (or better) by year’s end.
50%-60%: Strength in Maria Sharapova‘s rehabbed shoulder, according to her coach, Michael Joyce.
HEADLINES
Greatness, Thy Name Is Roger Federer
QUOTEBOOK
“When Roger Federer plays like this, the rest of men’s tennis wonders what’s the use. It’s like competing with Brad Pitt for the same woman or Barbra Streisand for the same note. No wonder Federer is tight with Tiger Woods. They’re two destroyers in the same navy. When skill and will collide, the alchemy is greatness.” — Paul Daugherty
“Tennis is my life.” — Richard Gasquet
“What makes your goals happen are the baby steps you take.” — Taylor Dent, a 6-3, 6-4 first-round winner over Croat Ivan Ljubicic in New Haven
“I felt like Lleyton Hewitt out there.” — Rogers Cup titlist Elena Dementieva, who defeated Maria Sharapova in the final 6-4, 6-3
“Federer’s drive is greater even than his genius.” — Karen Crouse
