While the top 3 were making the semifinals of Madrid last week, the conspicuous missing fourth is Andy Murray.  To be sure, Murray’s weakest surface is clay.

Murray’s flatter style often leads to more errors.  His opponent’s high kicking spin can give him trouble.  Still, he reached the semis of Monte Carlo after a slumping season following Melbourne.  He lost early in Madrid to Bellucci.  Normally, this would be one of those inexplicable losses to a guy Murray should beat.  But Bellucci made the most of this victory, following it up with a defeat of Berdych in the following round and scaring the hottest player on the planet by taking a set off of Djokovic before Djokovic recovered his senses and took the second set (after being down a break) and the decider.

Rome was all about Murray trying to get back on track on clay, his weakest surface.  To that end, Murray drew a pretty good opponent to try to bounce back into the victory column.  Malisse is about Federer’s age and is a solid player, but not outstanding.  Just the kind of player that Murray should win against.  And he did, but not before Malisse took a 6-2 set from him.  A shaky win, but a win nonetheless.

Up next for Murray is the winner of Troicki and Starace.  Starace is the hometown favorite while Troicki has shown improvement the last year or so.

Speaking of Bellucci, he lost to Lorenzi.  It’s common for players that lose early (which is the vast majority of tennis players), then have one great tournament, to fade badly in the next tournament.  They aren’t used to playing more than 2 matches a tournament, so to play 4 or 5 usually leads to fatigue and an early loss in the next tournament.

Soderling played a close match, but beat Verdasco, saving 3 match points.  He and his coach, Pistolesi, have split ways after only a few months.  When Larsson said he didn’t want to travel with Soderling any more, Soderling paired up with Pistolesi.  Although Soderling has come off injury, he has not had particularly good results the last few months which may have compelled him to split and find a new coach.

He is with a Swedish coach, Fredrik Rosengren, now short-term.  That was his first choice, but there’s concern whether this new coach will travel with Soderling long-term.  In the meanwhile, he’ll work with Rosengren.

Berdych had an easy win over Juan Monaco, beating him 2 and 2.  Gasquet won easily as well over Andreev.  Lucky loser, Nieminen beat Stakhovsky in 3 sets.

Three other Italians lost.  Almagro beat Bolleli.  Wawrinka needed 3 sets to beat Fognini.  Ljubicic won over Cipolla in straight sets.

Cilic beat Karlovic when Karlovic retired in the second set.  Similarly, Querrey beat Kevin Anderson when Anderson also retired in the second set.

Chela beat Isner in straight sets.  Lopez beat Llodra in straights as well.

The top seeds all play tomorrow.  Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer all play.  Federer has the toughest match of the 3, playing Tsonga.