Once the weekend rolls around, most tournaments are heading into the semis and finals.  Last week, there were three tournaments being played.  This week, three more: in Memphis, in Marseille, and in Buenos Aires.  Next week, in Acapulco, in Delray Beach, and in Dubai.

Today, in Memphis, Andy Roddick beat Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets.  He will join new Canadian upstart, Milos Raonic, in the finals.  Roddick has faced his own share of up-and-comers.  In 2008, Roddick skipped the Olympics.  He went to Los Angeles and lost to del Potro in the finals when no one had heard of del Potro.  He then lost to Victor Troicki in the semis of Washington DC (who then lost to del Potro in the final).  Roddick will likely be more savvy than he was with del Potro as Raonic has become a known quantity since the Australian Open.  Roddick’s return isn’t the best, but he just faced a big server in del Potro.  I expect Roddick to win, but given the roll that Raonic has been on, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls the upset.  I’m just leaning to the guy with more experience.

In Marseille, Soderling is again rolling, having one of his best starts ever.  He won Rotterdam last week.  Now, he’s in the final of Marseille ready to face Cilic.  Cilic is finally starting to play better again.  He beat Berdych in the quarters, perhaps the player he is most similar to (height, and game-wise).  Cilic faced match point but won over Youzhny in three sets.  Dmitry Tursunov, who was once a top 20 player, has also played well the last two weeks.  Soderling is the hotter player, but if Cilic can play close, he can at least feel good his game might be coming back to top ten form.

In Buenos Aires, Almagro continues his roll.  Last year, it was Ferrero and Ferrer that were the class of the field in the South/Central American clay swing that occurs after the Australian Open but before Indian Wells.  Neither seems to be playing this swing.  Almagro reaches the final again where he will play veterna Juan Ignacio Chela who is having a decently good year too.  There were 3 Spaniards, 4 Argentines, and 1 Swiss in the quarterfinals.  However, only one Argentine (Chela) made the semifinals.

Next week, three more events are scheduled: Acapulco (Raonic is expected to play to help him prep for a Davis Cup match between Canada and Mexico), Delray Beach, and Dubai (which should mark Federer’s return to the tour).