Nalbandian to Pass on Asian Tour

Former world No. 3 David Nalbandian will skip the current Asian tour, and focus on the upcoming events in Europe. Nalbandian will end his 2010 season with tournaments in Stockholm and Paris. Nalbandian has won the Stockholm and Paris events as part of his 11 career titles.

Serbia Aims for Fast Hard-Court During Davis Cup Final

The Davis Cup final between Serbia and France will be played on a fast hard-court surface in Belgrade in early December. The hard-court was picked to replicate the surface used at the World Tour finale in London. With Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic taking part in the WTF, team captain Bogdan Obradovic thought it best to provide a surface that his star players would be comfortable on.

Verdasco Enjoys Kick Boxing in Thailand

Prior to his second-round exit at the Thailand Open on Thursday, No. 2 seed Fernando Verdasco took part in a Muay Thai clinic with former tour player Paradorn Srichaphan.

Dawning traditional Thai boxing shorts, Verdasco thrilled the crowd with his atheltic kicks.

“I would love to learn more Thai boxing,” Verdasco told the ATP World Tour. “I’ve always loved martial arts so maybe when I stop playing tennis I can learn some more. It was a lot of fun to learn some of the moves today.”

Verdasco did not however have enough sting left in his legs after his Muay Thai class to get by Benjamin Becker on Thursday.

Djokovic and Isner to Play Hopman Cup

The Hopman Cup team event, which will take place in Perth, Australia before the start of next year’s Australian Open, revealed seven of its eight teams on Thursday.

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic will take part in the exhibition tournament, while towering American John Isner will represent the United States.

The full line ups can be found below.

Australia: Alicia Molik and Lleyton Hewitt
Belgium: Justine Henin and Steve Darcis
France: Kristina Mladenovic and Gael Monfils
Italy: Francesca Schiavone and Potito Starace
Serbia: Ana Ivanovic and Novak Djokovic
USA: Serena Williams and John Isner
Kazakhstan: Yaroslava Shvedova and Andrey Golubev

Nadal Wins in Bangkok; Soderling and Berdych Advance in Malaysia

PTT Thailand Open—Bangkok

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open on Thursday with a straight set thrashing of Ruben Bemelmans, 6-1, 6-4.

Winning 92 percent of his first serve points, Nadal broke his Belgium opponent on three of eight occasions. Improving to 60-7 on the season, Nadal needed one hour and 11 minutes to advance, and will next face Oliver Rochus or Mikhail Kukushkin in the quarterfinals.

“It’s never easy in a first match,” said Nadal. “I had a few days rest after the US Open but I think I am playing well. I’m happy with my match. Bemelmans played well during some moments and the second set for sure was not easy. It’s important to start with a win.

The top ranked Spaniard was further aided in his title bid when No. 2 seed Fernando Verdasco crashed out of the tournament. Losing to Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-4, Verdasco dropped his second match in six meetings against the German.

The No. 2 seed committed four double faults throughout the one hour and 27 minute match, while striking one ace. By contrast, Becker’s booming delivery posted nine aces to only four double faults. The 29-year-old also won 79 percent of his first serve points, while breaking serve on three of five occasions.

“It’s always good to get a win over a Top 10 player,” said Becker. “It’s not every week that it happens, so it gives me confidence for the rest of the indoor season. I had beaten him before so I knew I had a chance today.”

Becker, who reached the finals in Bangkok in 2007, will next face Daniel Brands for a semifinal spot. Brands dispatched Thiemo de Bakker on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, No. 7 seed Viktor Troicki was bounced from the event by Jarrko Nieminen, 7-6 (4), 6-2. Nieminen will next face No. 3 seed Jurgen Melzer.

Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2010

Top seed Robin Soderling wasted little time in reaching the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open on Thursday. Breezing past Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-0, 6-1, Soderling won 80 percent of his first serve points, while striking four aces. Needing one hour and three minutes to advance, Soderling broke Roger-Vasselin’s serve on six of 14 occasions, while saving two break points.

Reaching the semifinals of the Malaysian Open in 2009, Soderling will next face Hamburg champ Andrey Golubev, who defeated Kevin Anderson 6-4, 7-6 (4). Soderling, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the world, remains in the hunt for a top eight position during the Tour finale in London.

Fellow top tenner and No. 3 seed Tomas Berdych raced into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Denis Istomin. Needing a boost of confidence heading into the final stretch of the season, Berdych stung seven aces past Istomin during the one hour and 23 minute encounter. Improving to 2-0 against Istomin in lifetime meetings, Berdych will next face No. 5 seed David Ferrer. Ferrer posted a solid 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 532 ranked Yuki Bhambri.

Losing in the first-round of the event last year, Ferrer will take a 4-2 head-to-head series lead against Berdych on Friday.

Quotes courtesy of ATP World Tour.

Davydenko Debuts New Dunlop Frame in Kuala Lumpur

World No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko debuted his new Dunlop frame at the Kuala Lumpur event in Malaysia this week. Previously using the Prince Ozone Pro Tour, Davydenko has switched frames to a prototype Dunlop racquet. Originally slated to use the Dunlop Aerogel 4D 300 (3Hundred) racquet, Davydenko has chosen a slimmer beam frame, which bears a similar cosmetic to his previous Prince model.

More on the Russian’s racket as information becomes available.

New Haven Event Could be Canceled

The New Haven event, which is a duel ATP and WTA tournament held just before the US Open, could be canceled or moved for 2011 if a title sponsor is not found to replace Pilot Pen.

The ATP will not aid the event with a relief fund, but has extended the tournament’s time frame to find a new sponsor until the end of October.

The long-standing Indianapolis event was recently moved to Atlanta this year.

Melzer Reaches Thailand Quarterfinals; Davydenko Upset in Kuala Lumpur

PTT Thailand Open—Bangkok

French Open semifinalist Jurgen Melzer reached the quarterfinals in Bangkok on Thursday by defeating Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-4. Comfortably easing past his Israeli opponent in one hour and 15 minutes, Melzer struck six aces and broke serve on five of 11 occasions. Improving to 42-11 on the season, Melzer will next face either No. 7 seed Viktor Troicki or Jarkko Nieminen for a semifinal berth.

Elsewhere, No. 4 seed Ernests Gulbis reached his seventh quarterfinal of the season, and first since the Madrid Masters 1000 by fighting past Rainer Schuettler. Defeating the German 7-6 (4), 6-7 (4), 6-4, Gulbis needed nearly three hours to capture his 29th victory of the year. Crushing 16 aces past his 34-year-old opponent, Gulbis will next face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who dispatched Florent Serra 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-5.

In first-round action, Benjamin Becker rolled through Metz finalist Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-4.

Top seed Rafael Nadal, and No. 2 Fernando Verdasco will be featured on Thursday.

Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur 2010

Second seed and defending champ Nikolay Davydenko suffered another early loss on Wednesday at the Malaysian Open. Falling to fellow Russian Igor Andreev, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3, Davydenko failed to convert on four break point chances throughout the encounter, while winning 43 percent of his second serve points. Dropping to 23-13 on the year, Davydenko will now regroup for next week’s China Open.

Andreev, who previously trailed Davydenko 3-1 in career head-to-head meetings, will next face up-and-coming Canadian Milos Raonic. The bullet serving 19-year-old reached his first career Tour quarterfinal by defeating New Haven champ Sergiy Stakhovsky, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (9), 6-3. Adding 15 aces to his second straight victory, Raonic nailed 23 aces past his first-round opponent Igor Kunitysn.

Raonic, who qualified for the US Open, teamed up with Vasek Popisil at the Rogers Cup to defeat Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Elsewhere, No. 4 seed Mikhail Youzhny d. Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 5-7, 7-5; No. 6 seed Marcos Baghdatis d. Santiago Giraldo 7-5, 7-5; No. 5 seed David Ferrer d. Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-4; Denis Istomin d. Marsel IIhan 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Edouard Roger-Vasselin d. Frantisek Cermak 6-0, 6-4.

Thursday’s action in Kuala Lumpur will feature top seed Robin Soderling, and No. 3 seed Tomas Berdych.

Dolgopolov Signs With Adidas

Ukrainian youngster Alexandr Dolgopolov recently unveiled his new clothing and shoe sponsor Adidas, during his first-round win at the Malaysian Open on Tuesday.

Increasing his ranking by nearly a 100 spots from the beginning of the season, Dolgopolov is currently ranked No. 55 in world, but was ranked as high as No. 39 in July.

Possessing an unorthodox but flashy game, Dolgopolov has recorded victories over Fernando Gonzalez, James Blake, and Mikhail Youzhny throughout 2010.

The 21-year-old Kiev native is currently coached by Jack Reader.

Murray to Play Beijing Next Week

World No. 4 Andy Murray will make his first Tour-level appearance in Beijing next week for the China Open. Losing in the third-round of the US Open to Stanislas Wawrinka, Murray will begin a two week trek through Asia which will end in Shanghai.

Murray, who will leave for China on Wednesday, updated his status to Asia on this Twitter page.

“Great practice with Jamie Baker and Ireland’s finest Conor Niland! Off to Beijing tomorrow loooooooong flight.”

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