Before we talk about “the streak”, let’s talk about a smaller match.

Fabio Fognini vs. Albert Montanes.   Both made some news last year in the clay season.  Fognini was in a prolonged evening match with Monfils well past ten when neither player could see well, but Monfils was hoping for a pro-Monfils support to help him through.  Fognini said it was crazy to continue.  They were forced to moonball because they had no idea where the lines were.  When the match was resumed the next day, Fognini won, perhaps to spite Monfils and his antics.

Montanes, for his part, beat Federer in the semifinals of Estoril and proceeded to defend his title at Estoril over local hero, Frederico Gil.

Perhaps taking a page out of Murray’s notebook, Fognini was cramping but still trying to play, and much like Murray, he won his match over Montanes showing a wounded player can sometimes be very dangerous.  Final score: 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 11-9.

While folks may lament how Federer can no longer beat Nadal or Djokovic with any regularity, the fact is, he still beats everyone else pretty regularly.  This includes his countryman, Stan Wawrinka.  To be fair, Wawrinka needed five sets to beat Tsonga, but he seemed none the worse for wear.  Federer was efficient in his dismissal of the number 2 seed.  Final score: 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

Djokovic was also efficient in his win over Gasquet.  He didn’t feel he played great, but he got a break a set for the first two sets before winning the third handily and that was good enough.  When you’re on a streak, you won’t play your best every day, but you won’t need to either.  6-4, 6-4, 6-2

Djokovic will play Fognini in the next round who is doubtful, much like Murray, though it seemed to be cramps, so perhaps it was more serious.

And finally, in perhaps the most competitive match of the day, Ferrer and Monfils duked it out with one another.  Monfils has a lead in their few head to heads.  He took the first set, but Ferrer easily took the second.  Ferrer was up a break in the third, but Monfils fought back and got back a break and another.  As darkness was causing difficulties in seeing, Ferrer managed an early break in the third, so it is 2-0 to Ferrer, but Monfils leads 2 sets to one.

Tomorrow, Nadal and Murray and Soderling will play.  Currently, Murray’s status is unknown.  He seemed a touch happier with his status today, but we shall see.