GOOD SPORT OF THE WEEK: Serb Novak Djokovic suggested that quarterfinal opponent Andy Roddick challenge a call in the first set of their Rogers Cup match that turned in the Texan’s favor and later proved pivotal in a 6-4, 7-6(4) loss.
JUST WONDERING: Is towering Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro‘s hometown of Tandil the greatest south-of-the-Equator hotbed in tennis history? (In addition to the No. 6-ranked player, Tandill is home to Mariano Zabaleta, Juan Monaco and Diego Junqueira.)
RUSEDSKI’S RETURN: Greg Rusedski is back. Well, not quite. But the serve-and-volleying Canadian-turned-Brit won his first ATP Champions Tour title with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Swede Stefan Edberg.
JMDP’S ‘FROZEN ROPE’: Brad Gilbert called Rogers Cup runner-up Juan Martin Del Potro’s forehand “a frozen rope. I’m not sure anyone can hit a bigger stroke from a neutral position.”
THE NUMBERS
1: Italian women who have cracked the top 10 (only Flavia Pennetta, who rode a 15-match win streak into the Cincinnati semis. The 27-year-old called her accomplishment “a big step for me and for tennis in Italy…It’s a dream come true. I always hoped to be one of the best players in the world, and now I’m there.”)
2: Italian men who have cracked the top 10 (only Adriano Panatta and Corrado Barazzutti — back in the ’70s.)
2: Andy Murray‘s new ranking (the Scot surpassed Rafa Nadal with his title run in Montreal)
61: Errors totaled by Maria Sharapova in her 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Flavia Pennetta in the semis of the L.A. Women’s Championships.
QUOTEBOOK
“I kind of feel like I want to go out there and do it all over again.” — Kim Clijsters
ODDS & ENDS
Gilles Muller – who is perhaps best remembered for upsetting Mojo Man Andy Roddick in the first round of the ‘05 U.S. Open – will not play the U.S. Open due to a knee injury.
