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Friday matches

2009 AEGON International | 19 June

Frank Dancevic (qualifier) vs Fabrice Santoro (no4 seed)
Dimitry Tursunov (no2 seed) vs Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (no8 seed)

Friday news

2009 AEGON International | 19 June

The two men's semi-finals were not as badly hit by the biting winds on Centre Court, as Canadian Frank Dancevic and Russian Dmitry Tursunov reached the final with few problems.

But with the crowd less than enthusiastic because of the bitterly cold winds and only odd spot of sunshine, the ambience for such a grand occasional as the semi-finals of a world-class event was sadly lacking.

But world no126 Dancevic surprised even himself by knocking out top seed Igor Andreev on Monday and has breezed through the draw to book his deserved place in the final against Tursunov. His latest victim was French veteran Fabrice Santoro, whose delightful and elegant play was the highlight of an otherwise tame semi-final that Dancevic won .6-4, 6-4 and served seven aces.

"It's been a really fun experience getting to the finals," said Dancevic. "I've faced some great players but ust taken it match-by-match. I actually twisted my leg in qualifying and thought I wouldn't be able to play the next day.  It's been a really tough road to the finals."

Veteran Tursunov turned on the style to surprisingly outclass tall Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (pictured) 6-2 6-2 in 70 minutes and is the overwhelming favourite to capture the inaugural AEGON International tournament to add to his five ATP Tour titles.
 
The world no27, seeded no2 after a number of higher profile players withdrew because of injury, smiled: “it was good to get this one done particularly as they weren’t the easiest conditions to play in. I’m pleased it was a quick match today as I’d had some longer matches at the start of the week."

And with virtually 100 world ranking places dividing the finalists, the serve and volley tactics by the canny Canadian does not mean that Tursunov will be able to dictate play like he did against baseliner Garcia-Lopez.

"This surface suits him because he likes to come into the net,” admitted Tursanov. "It will be a tough match and the difference in ranking doesn’t matter, his results this week speak for the quality of his game.”
 
Australian Rennae Stubbs, who on Friday with compatriot Sam Stosur reached the women’s doubles final against Akgul Amanmuradova and Ai Sugiyama, beamed: “It’s been great having the guys around!” 

2009 tennis videos 

Click here for video playlist 1

Click here for video playlist 2

Click here for video playlist 3

Road to 2009 final

2009 AEGON International | 13-20 June

Read our report on how Frank Dancevic of Canada (qualifier) and Dmitry Tursunov of Russia (no2 seed) reached the 2009 men's singles final.

2009 Saturday round-up
2009 Friday round-up
2009 Thursday round-up
2009 Wednesday round-up
2009 Tuesday round-up
2009 Monday round-up

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT ATP TOUR WORLD RANKINGS

2009 players to watch

Igor Andreev | Played tennis since the age of seven and at 14 Andreev moved away from Moscow to Valencia in Spain to learn to specialise on clay courts. Has perfected his formidable forehand over the years, which has become arguably one the best forehand shots on the ATP Tour. Andreev joined the ATP Tour in 2002 and three years later broke in to the world's top 50 after finishing runner-up at Bucharest and Gstaad as well as defeating Rafael Nadal on clay in Valencia. Reached the semi-finals at Casablanca's Grand Prix Hassan II and the quarter-finals at the Dubai Open. Recently pulled out of the Serbian Open with an abdominal injury and skipped the Madrid Masters to recover, so is in a suspect condition and much lower in the world rankings than he really should be.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Dmitry Tursunov | Having a torrid 2009, having not won more than one match at any of the ATP Tour events. The 26-year-old Russian has been on the circuit since 2000 and collected five singles titles, reaching the dizzy heights of a career best world ranking no20. Has started to concentrate on doubles to help earn a decent living and the 6'1" ace reached the quarter-finals at the 2009 French Open with compatriot Igor Kunitsyn. Could see off lesser opponents but likely to be easily beaten against any in-form players.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Paul-Henri Mathieu | One of France's handful of promising talents, having played tennis from a very young age. Spent three of his teenage years at the Nick Bolletierri Tennis Academy in Florida, USA, where he honed his skills on hard and clay courts. Won 2000 Junior French Open Junior by beating Tommy Robredo in the final, and after 2000 Junior Wimbledon joined the ATP Tour. Two years later, Mathieu was named ATP Tour's Newcomer of the Year and has never broken into the world's top 10. Nicknamed 'Polo', he was knocked out of the 2009 French Open at the third round by Roger Federer but reached the quarter-finals at the BMW Munich Open.
CHANCE OF WINNING | High

Fabrice Santoro | Veteran French star born in Tahiti who has never broken into the world's top 30 yet amassed almost $10m in prize money, including six singles titles, since joining the ATP Tour  in 1989. Last won an ATP Tour match at Miami's Sony Ericsson Open following a run to the quarter-finals at the Dubai Championships. Has stepped down a grade to play Challenger events this year and duly won on hard courts at Johannesburg without dropping a set, but only won in the first round on clay at Bordeaux. No threat at Devonshire Park.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Mikhail Youzhny | Former top 10 player whose erratic performances on the ATP Tour seesaw between poor and incredible. His 2009 campaign has brought the Russian six-footer a strange set of results because of inconsistency. Recently  impressive, finished runner-up at the BMW Open in Munich and made the semi-finals in the Austrian Open. Beaten in the second round at 2009 French Open and having only lost two of past 10 matches is looking like a dangerous opponent for the seeds. However, has climbed up the world rankings and may be seeded at Eastbourne. Won four singles titles since the 26-year-old became a professional in 1999.
CHANCE OF WINNING | High

Sam Querrey | American 21-year-old who stands at a giant 6'6" and is an imposing opponent, except on clay. His clay court season has been disappointing with first round exits at the French Open, Serbia Open and Italian Open. After his first round defeat at the Australian Open made the quarter-finals on home soil at both the Morgan Keegan Championships and SAP Open in Costa Rica. Reached the final of the 2009 Heineken Open in Auckland, beaten by Argentine ace Juan Martin Del Potro. Won his first title by capturing the World series tournament of the 2008 Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Andreas Seppi | Best event this year was reaching the final four at Belgrade's Serbian Open. The 6'3" Italian last won a tournament by capturing both the singles and doubles titles on home soil at the 2008 Challenger event in Bergamo. Once broke into the top 30 but soon slid back down the world rankings. Fast approaching career prize money of $2m since turning professional in 2002.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez | Tall Spaniard has reached jumped up the world rankings and broken into the world's top 50 for the first time. But the 2009 campaign saw him suffer first round flops in the Barcelona Open, Estoril Open and Madrid Open before he surprised even himself by winning May's Austrian Open. Followed it up with another first round exit, this time at the 2009 French Open. Blows hot and cold so no real threat but very capable of causing an upset or two.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Julien Benneteau | French six-footer who has yet to win a singles title on the ATP Tour since joining the circuit in 2000, but came close at the 2009 Austrian Open where he finished runner-up to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez as a qualifier. The previous year Benneteau reached a career high ranking of world no35 after finishing runner-up at the Bergamo International in Italy, the Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco and the Lyon Grand Prix in France. Never likely to break into the world's top 30, and was soundly beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the first round at the 2009 French Open.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Simone Bolelli  | Young and enthusiastic Italian six-footer who joined the ATP Tour in 2003. Not got further than the second round this campaign apart from an impressive run to the third round at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he easily brushed aside Swede Robin Soderling and Serb Janko Tipsarevic before bowing out to Croatian veteran Ivan Ljubicic. Best career run saw saw him finish runner-up to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez at the 2008 BMW Open in Munich, Germany. Although he will not win the title at Devonshire Park, a favourable draw is likely to see the 23-year-old make an impact.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Ivan Ljubicic | Veteran giant Croatian who reached the dizzy heights of world no3 but slipped out of the top a long time ago. Has collected almost $8m in career prize money, including eight singles titles. Last title was the 2008 South African Airways Challenger where he was given top seeding as a wildcard entrant and did not face any well-known opponents. Made the two 2009 quarter-finals, at Monte Carlo and Madrid. After bowing out at the first hurdle in the 2009 French Open has opted to ply his trade at the Prosrejov Challenger in the Czech Republic.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Robby Ginepri | American six-footer who has two titles to his credit, having picked up the top prize at 2005 Indian Wells and 2003 Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, USA. Although raced into the world's top 20 has for past few years been hovering around the world's top 50 ranking and below. Unimpressive 2009 campaign, bounced out in the first round at Queen's Club, the French Open, the SAP Open in Costa Rica and the Australian Open. Game is better suited to fast surfaces than clay, but is not expected to cause an upset at Devonshire Park having won only two in past 12 matches including a first round exit at Queen's. The 26-year-old is making up the numbers.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Janko Tipsarevic | Serbian star, who has played tennis since the age of six, was beaten by a qualifier at Queen's Club shortly after pulling out of his fourth round French Open match with Andy Murray because of a leg injury. Won the 2001 Junior Australian Open and finished junior career as world no2. Joined the ATP Tour in 2002 and three years later broke into the world's top 100 after reaching the third round of Wimbledon and the second round at both the Australian Open and the French Open. Tipsarevic finished as the no2 Serbian player to Novak Djokovic in 2006. His most memorable Grand Slam performance came in 2008, when he stretched Roger Federer to a five-set epic match before losing. The 24-year-old has yet to win an ATP Tour title and made a dismal start to 2009 but was nearer his best form with five victories in seven matches before being dismantled in London.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Reasonable

Teimuraz Gabashvili | Yet to claim an ATP Tour title and reach $1m in prize money. Lost in the first round at four tournaments prior to the 2009 French Open, where the Russian scored a rare victory before being thrashed by world no1 Rafael Nadal. With confidence low and form poor, the 24-year-old has opted to play in the Furth Challenger event in Germany where he is the top seed and doing extremely well against lesser opponents.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Lu Yen-Hsun | Chinese 25-year-old has yet to win a singles title and reach the $1m mark for prize money. May skip making his Eastbourne debut after retiring injured from the 2009 French Open after trailing German Mathieu Montcourt in the first round. Out of his depth on the ATP Tour, so has been playing Challenger events and won May's Ramat Hasharon Challenger in Israel on hard courts. His game is more suited to fast surfaces as he is extremely quick on his feet, although was destroyed in the first round at Queen's.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Eduardo Schwank | The 23-year-old Argentine retired injured in the opening round of the Furth Challenger event in Germany, where he had to go through the qualifiers as a late entrant following his first round exit at the 2009 French Open. Has not impressed in 2009 with first round defeats at Queen's, Madrid, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Miami, Indian Wells and Buenos Aires. Unlikely to win a match at Eastbourne and merely making up the numbers.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

Fabio Fognini | Young and enthusiastic short Italian who generally wins one match at each tournament. But suffered four first round exits prior to the Monte-Carlo Masters where he was narrowly beaten in the third round by Andy Murray. Since then reached the second round at the Madrid Open, Estoril Open and Italian as well as the opening round at Queen's. Newcomer who faces a stiff task to beat any of the big guns.
CHANCE OF WINNING | Unlikely

2009 Draw

Singles

Qualifying

Doubles