Somdev falls in ATP rankings

India's singles star, Somdev Devvarman, who will return to action this week, has suffered a steep slide of 19 places to 89 in the ATP rankings issued on Monday. Somdev, who was advised two weeks' rest after suffering a shoulder strain in India's recent Davis Cup tie against Japan, will battle in the Malaysian Open. He will open his campaign against a qualifier.

Another out-of-action player, Sania Mirza, has gained two places to be 86. Sania's doubles ranking was unchanged at number 10 and there was no modify in her team ranking with Elena Vesnina, as they stand at number four. In the ATP doubles rankings, Mahesh Bhupathi (6), Leander Paes (8) and Rohan Bopanna (14) also maintained their individual positions.

In the doubles race to year-end championship also, Paes and Bhupathi held on to their fourth rank and the Indo-Pak pair of Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi were also still at number seven.

Athletic Equipments

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Ljubicic beats Devvarman

The red clay of Roland Garros is not one of Somdev Devvarman favoured surfaces. It proved to be true as he crashed out in the first round of the French Open, losing in straight sets to Croat Ivan Ljubicic in a little over two hours on Tuesday. To counter his explosive serves, one's own should be up to the mark. That's what let the 26-year-old Indian down

The 2006 semifinalist also served six more aces than Somdev's four. Somdev could only look on helplessly as Ljubicic beat him 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 at his own style of play. The world No. 37's baseline game was far superior than Somdev's as he hit 40 winners compared to his opponent's 23.

"I was trying to find ways to break him but unluckily he served really well," said Somdev after the match. "That's what good players do against you. This guy made the semis here a few years ago, is a former top-five player, and has the experience and game to hurt anybody out here."Last year, Somdev had lost in the first round in Paris and has never gone beyond the second round in a Grand Slam.

Tough draw for Somdev

India's Somdev Devvarman and Sania Mirza have been handed out a tough draw in their respective singles type at the French Open, starting on Sunday. Somdev Devvarman is set to face Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, while Sania Mirza has been drawn against Kristina Barrois of Germany at Roland Garros. Ranked 66, Somdev will face an climbing task against World No 36 Ljubicic

Somdev has never played the former World No 3 Ljubicic before but he can take heart from the fact that has been in good form this season, having made it to the pre-quarterfinals at Indian Wells, where he lost to World No 1 Rafael Nadal. This would only be the second look in the Roland Garros main draw for the 26-year-old Indian.

World No 74 Sania is also not expected to have an easy outing against Barrois, ranked 59, who had reached the final of the Estoril Open in April. In her four appearances in French Open, Sania have cleared the second round only once in 2007.

Somdev rises in singles rankings

Somdev Devvarman took his singles rankings to a new high by hiking to number 68 in the ATP chart while Sania Mirza raised three rungs to 74 in the WTA list, released on Monday. Somdev gained two positions by making the quarter-finals of the Serbia Open, where he lost to Janko Tipsarevic last week. Sania had exited the Madrid Open in the first round after entering the main draw through qualifiers. In the doubles also she continual to improve as she now sits at number 27 with a gain of two slots.

In the ATP doubles chart, both the veteran stars -- Mahesh Bhupathi (5) and Leander Paes (7) -- were unchanged while Rohan Bopanna registered a one place advance to be at number 13.In the doubles team rankings, Paes and Bhupathi sustained to be world number two pair but Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi have slipped to sixth from fifth.

Somdev back to 70

Indian tennis ace Somdev Devvarman gained a place to be back to career-best singles ranking of 70 while Sania Mirza slipped a step to 77 in the latest charts released on Monday. Somdev’s quarterfinal appearance in the Serbia Open in Belgrade last week helped him get better his standing in the ATP singles chart. The Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medallist Somdev had upstaged world number 26 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round in Belgrade.

Somdev had broken into top-100 early this year. Sania slipped a place in the WTA singles charts though her position in doubles rankings remained unmoved on 29.Meanwhile in the men's doubles rankings, Mahesh Bhupathi (5) and Leander Paes (7) were static in the ATP charts. Indian Davis Cupper and doubles specialist Rohan Bopanna dropped two places to be at 14 with 3960 points.

Somdev to play Starace in Miami opener

Indian top tennis player Somdev Devvarman has been drawn to play against Italian Potito Starace in the opening round of the Sony Ericsson Open to be played in Miami. Somdev, who on Monday reached a new high achieve his career-best ranking of 73 in the latest ATP list, has never played against the World No 47 Starace. However, Somdev's current form gives him an edge over his Italian opponent. Somdev had a fantastic run at the Indian Wells Masters reaching the pre-quarterfinals where he was ousted by World No 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain.


On the other hand, Starace reached the semi-finals at Santiago earlier this season, but his show in the last three tournaments has been poor with Indian Wells where has was ousted in the first round by David Young. The winner of this match will play World No 34 Canadian Milos Raonic, who got a bye in the first round. Meanwhile, Sania Mirza is just a game away from entering the women's major draw after winning her first qualifying match against China's Xinyun Han 7-5, 6-0.In the final qualifying round, Sania will take on Renata Voracova of Czech Republic, an opponent she has never face before.

Somdev to take on Nadal

Continuing his forceful run at Indian Wells, Somdev Devvarman caused another upset as he beat Belgian Xavier Malisse in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open ATP Masters 1000 tournament. Somdev won the last five points in the third-set tie-break to win 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (5) and set up a pre-quarterfinal clash with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, who outplayed American qualifier Ryan Sweeting 6-3, 6-1.

Somdev was down 2-5 in the tie-break against the world number 52 Belgian before he reeled off five points to win the match in two hours late on Monday night. “It’s one of those things when you’re playing with confidence, playing well, you want to keep playing, and it doesn’t happen too often,” Somdev said after the match. “I mean, for Rafa and Federer it does, but for a majority of players it’s one of those things you want to kind of ride on the impetus and keep playing, and hope for the best in your next matches,” he said.

“Rafa is obviously No. 1 in the world, won a lot of Grand Slams. I have a lot of respect for the guy. He’s one of my favourite tennis players, one of my idols, so when I’m out there I’m gonna do everything I can to win the match. I’m gonna battle as hard as I can and leave everything on the table,” Somdev added. The 26-year-old India No. 1, ranked 84, who had never won a Masters 1000 match before coming here, had earlier upset 19th seed and World No 22 Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in the second round. Somdev is now the only qualifier left in the fray and even if he loses against Nadal, will take 180 ranking points the highest he has ever accumulated from a single event.