Perhaps Ernests Gulbis wishes he had stayed home rather than take that wildcard into the Stockholm Open. Although he has yet to acknowledge or deny Sunday night’s events, his tennis career is still not going in the right direction as he endured a 6-2, 6-4 loss in the first round by eighth seed Feliciano Lopez. Other winners included Robin Soderling and Tommy Haas.
In Moscow at the Kremlin Cup, Marat Safin’s retirement party in his native country was extended thanks to his mild upset of top seed Nikolay Davydenko 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. I say “mild” as Davydenko admitted to being a bit tired after his extraordinary title run at Shanghai the week before. But Davydenko still looks in good shape to qualify for the ATP Barclays Final in London.
In other end of the year qualifying news, Agnieska Radwanska saw her chance to make it to Doha end when she lost to Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-3. The early exit means that it is now down to Jelena Jankovic and Vera Zvonareva to battle for the final spot as they are both still alive in the Kremlin Cup.
Adjusting the Net 