Bob Larson's Tennis News | Monte-Carlo Monday Summary

Singles - First Round: (13) F Verdasco def. O Rochus 4-6 6-2 7-5
Fernando Verdasco was the only seed to feel any pressure on this day, and it didn't even earn him enough points to count. His Top Twenty spot remains slightly insecure.

Singles - First Round: (15) J Melzer def. L Kubot 6-2 7-5
Jurgen Melzer's ranking just took a hit, and he is defending enough points this week that he could still fall out of the Top Thirty. But one more win would make him fairly safe. So this is a good start.

Singles - First Round: (16) A Dolgopolov def. J Chela 6-2 6-2
Juan Ignacio Chela loses his chance to hit the Top Thirty; the best he can hope for appears to be #31, and we'd guess it will be a little lower. Alexandr Dolgopolov has a chance for the Top Twenty, but this won't do it by itself.

Singles - First Round: B Tomic def. D Istomin 6-4 6-3
They're all free points for Bernard Tomic, but this by itself hardly budges his ranking. Denis Istomin loses his Top Forty chance.

Singles - First Round: J Benneteau def. M Granollers 6-3 3-6 6-2
Julien Benneteau is edging toward the Top Thirty, but he costs Marcel Granollers his Top 25 spot.

Singles - First Round: (WC) P Mathieu def. D Young 6-0 6-1
This may drop Donald Young out of the Top Fifty (although #51 Kubot's loss helps him distinctly). Paul-Henri Mathieu should rise from #352 to around #275.

Singles - First Round: A Montanes def. M Raonic 6-2 3-6 6-3
Albert Montanes looked pretty bad last week, but he was just back from a month's layoff. It looks as if he's getting his clay form back. He costs Milos Raonic the chance to rise above #24.

Singles - First Round: P Kohlschreiber def. (Q) G Rufin 6-4 6-4
No points yet for Philipp Kohlschreiber, but the next win counts.

Singles - First Round: J Nieminen def. R Stepanek 6-3 7-6(7-3)
Radek Stepanek loses the chance to rise above his current #23; we would guess that he will fall, although it's too soon to be certain.

Doubles - First Round: Troicki/Wawrinka def. (WC) Bolelli/Fognini 7-6(7-4) 6-4