The US Open series is often used by Americans to showcase their talents.  It starts in Atlanta and ends in New York City at the US Open.  Many non-Americans often skip the first month of the US Open series and start play in Canada.  The downside of all this play is Americans generally play poorly after the US Open, and part of that is not going to either the Asian swing or the European swing, preferring to spend those weeks at home training.  Fish made it out to the Asian swing, but has sat out the European swing.  Isner has also been missing the last two weeks.

This has allowed a few players who generally go under the radar to do well in their absence.

Vienna

The quarterfinals are almost set with Tsonga trying to beat Malisse who has taken the first set.  The following are in the semifinals.

  • Anderson d. Melzer 63, 63. Melzer is defending champ.  He had his best year in 2010 when he reached the French Open semifinals after beating Djokovic in the quarters.  He continued to have good success throughout the year and reached the top ten.  2011 has been less kind to Melzer and has seen his rank drop.  Anderson, meanwhile, has honed his big-man tennis and is having his best year with a win in Johannesburg, his home country.  Anderson has the skill to become among the best of the big men (Cilic and del Potro not withstanding).  Like Isner, Anderson played US college tennis, but he’s taken a bit longer to mature than either Isner or Querrey.  Up next for Anderson: del Potro.
  • del Potro d. Haas 62, 64.  Injury-prone Tommy Haas continues to make comebacks.  This is his first quarterfinal of the year, but he was no match for del Potro who is seeking his own comeback.  del Potro still has an outside chance to get into the final 8 but will have to perform well from here to the end of the year.  Winning Paris would be the easiest way for most of those looking to make the final 8 to get in, but with all the top players expected to show up, this may be a tough ask.  Up next for del Potro: Anderson.
  • Brands d. Darcis 63, 64.  A battle between two qualifiers.  It’s tournaments like this that make up-and-comers hopeful.  When you can beat a seed and make it past the next round, you might get a chance to meet a player in the exact same situation.  Big serving Daniel Brands beat Belgian Steve Darcis.  Brands in the semis to face the winner of Tsonga-Malisse.

It’s currently deep in the second set between Tsonga and Malisse.  Tsonga is currently number 8 in the year-end list so his position is the most tenuous.

St. Petersburg

This is the second tournament in a row in Russia.  Last week was Moscow, this week St. Petersburg.  Semifinals are already set.

  • Youzhny d. Mannarino 62. 63.  A good tournament for Mannarino who upset Gilles Simon in the first round, but the Russian veteran had an easy win.  Up next: Cilic
  • Cilic d. Seppi 46, 76(8), 64.  Looks like Seppi put up a bit of a fight.  Cilic is starting to get back some of the form that had him up around the top ten.  He reached the finals of Beijing a few weeks ago.  Looks like Seppi had his chances.  Cilic pushed to a tough second set tiebreak and a close third setter. Up next: Youzhny
  • Bogomolov d. Lajovic 62, 61. Lajovic could be the next great Serbian player.  At 21 years of age, he’s still pretty young.  But apparently not today as he lost handily to Bogomolov who has been having his best year.  Bogomolov continues to play well in the Russian swing.  Bogomolov reached the quarters of Moscow losing to Troicki.  This time he will play Troicki’s Davis Cup buddy, Janko Tipsarevic in the semis.
  • Tipsarevic d. Starace 67 62 61. The Italians had a good show at St. Petersburg.  Starace pushed Tipsarevic to 3 sets, but lost sets 2 and 3 easily.  After Andy Murray, the hottest player in post US Open play is Janko Tipsarevic.  He’s won 2 titles already and given the field, he has a solid shot at title number 3.  Pretty good for a guy who hadn’t won a title until a few weeks ago.