Petrova Suprises Tokyo Field, Monaco and Gasquet Also Win

Tokyo was setting up to be a clash of the titans as six of the top 8 seeds had made the quarterfinals but a 30-yr-old Russian stole the show.  Nadia Petrova beat Errani and Stosur and then the defending champion Radwanska in the final 6-0 1-6 6-3.  It is true that some of the top players faltered with Azarenka pulling out, Kerber getting just 2 games off Radwanska in the semis and Sharapova bowing out but this is still an excellent result for Petrova, who is having a good year after a lousy one last year, and has had doubles success as well include a bronze medal at the Olympics.

-It is her 12th career title, 2nd of 2012, last '12 's-Hertogenbosch
-It is her 3rd Tier I title, others '06 Berlin and '08 Cincinnati
-She rises to no. 14 in the world
-Azarenka, Sharapova, and Radwanska all made the quarters in Tokyo in both '11 and '12

WTA Championships Race Update:
With the top players doing so well in this tournament and the fact that only there is only one big tournament left means the top 7 are virtual locks: Azarenka, Sharapova, Radwanska, Williams, Kvitova, Kerber, and Errani.  The only drama is between Li and Stosur for 8th.  Stosur gained on Li with her SF result while Li only made R3.  Li leads by 451 points so it will be tough but not out of the question.  Bartoli and Wozniacki must win Beijing to have a chance.

In ATP action, it was a good week for French players as they occupied 3 of 4 final spots and also Monfils is showing progress after his injury with a trip to the QF and wins over Anderson and Troicki.  Gasquet, though, was the only Frenchman to win a title, but it ended a nearly 2-1/2 year title drought in Bangkok.  Juan Monaco outlasted Benneteau in Kuala Lumpur to win his 4th title of the season as his career year continues.

ATP 250: Bangkok, Thailand

2) Richard Gasquet (FRA) def. 4) Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-2 6-1

-Gasquet wins 7th career title, last '10 Nice (28 month drought)
-He has won titles on 4 surfaces (2 hard, 2 clay, 2 grass, 1 carpet)
-Other QF:  1) Janko Tipsarevic (SRB)-SF, 3) Milos Raonic (CAN), 5) Fernando Verdasco (ESP), 7) Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)-SF, 8) Bernard Tomic (AUS), Gael Monfils (FRA)
-Other seeds:  6) Troicki (R2 l. to Monfils)

-Murray was the defending champion, but did not participate this year.  He beat Young in the final, who has barely won since.
-Simon, Monfils, and Nieminen were all in the quarters last year too.

-Gasquet will rise to no. 14 in the world with his win.
-Seeded players went 15-1 in the first two rounds, and arguably Monfils over Troicki isn't an upset.
-Young was the only American in the draw, and he beat Lu before losing to Verdasco.
-There were 2 Thai wildcards but they both lost opening round matches.
-Best scoreline was Dimitrov defeating Taiwanese qualifier Yang 6-3 3-6 7-6(7)

ATP 250: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2) Juan Monaco (ARG) def. 7) Julien Benneteau (FRA) 7-5 4-6 6-3

-Monaco wins 7th career title, 4th of 2012, last Hamburg
-It is his first title off of clay
-Other QF:  1) David Ferrer (ESP)-SF, 3) Kei Nishikori (JPN)-SF, Nikolay Davyendko (RUS), Alejandro Fallo (COL), Igor Sijsling (NED), Vasek Pospisil (CAN)
-Other seeds:  4) Dolgopolov (R2 l. to Falla), 5) Lopez (R2 l. to Sijsling), 6) Andujar (R1 l. to Istomin), 8) Melzer (R1 ret. to Pospisil)
-Tipsarevic was the defending champion, but played Bangkok this year.

-Nishikori and Davydenko both made the quarters last year.
-There were two Americans in the draw, Baker and qualifier Michael Yani.  They played in the first round and Yani won, then lost to Pospisil.
-Speaking of Pospisil, this was his first ATP quarterfinal.
-There was only Malaysian wildcard and he long his first round match.  One also went to Philip Davydenko, who lost in R1 and Taiwanese Jimmy Wang, who beat a qualifier before falling to Monaco
-The best scoreline Monaco over Nishikori in the SF, 6-2 2-6 7-6(4)