First Serve: April 5-11

Published Apr 11, 2010

Reading between the lines: TENNIS.com's Monday morning quarterback recaps last week's pro tennis action—and offers his reaction.

Last Week's Tournaments

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Casablanca, Morocco(ATP, Clay)	Final: Stanislas Wawrinka def. Victor HanescuSemifinal 1: Stanislas Wawrinka def. Potito StaraceSemifinal 2: Victor Hanescu def. Florent SerraBrackets: Singles \| Doubles
Houston, United States(ATP, Clay)	Final: Juan Ignacio Chela def. Sam QuerreySemifinal 1: Juan Ignacio Chela def. Horacio ZeballosSemifinal 2: Sam Querrey def. Wayne OdesnikBrackets: Singles \| Doubles
Marbella, Spain(WTA, Clay)	Final: Flavia Pennetta def. Carla Suarez NavarroSemifinal 1: C. Suarez Navarro def. M.J. Martinez SanchezSemifinal 2: Flavia Pennetta def. Sara ErraniBrackets: Singles \| Doubles
Ponte Vedra, United States(WTA, Clay)	Final: Caroline Wozniacki def. Olga GovortsovaSemifinal 1: Caroline Wozniacki def. Elena VesninaSemifinal 2: Olga Govortsova def. Dominika CibulkovaBrackets: Singles \| Doubles



Querrey had some choice words for Odesnik both before and during their semifinal encounter. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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Jeers? Nope, It Was Genial
I didn’t hear many hecklers in Tiger’s galleries at Augusta, and didn’t catch any catcalls during Wayne Odesnik’s semifinal in Houston. Really, Odesnik’s most vocal opponent was his actual opponent, Sam Querrey, who made reference to the HGH controversy on a couple of occasions. Querrey bested Odesnik in an entertaining three-setter, 7-6 (4), 1-6, 7-5, and it was probably for the best, if for no other reason than the post-final ceremony. Jon Wertheim put it best on Twitter:
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Odesnik into Houston semis. One more match and we have the all-time most awkward trophy presentation ceremony (which is saying something)...
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Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Will we look back at 2010 as a seminal year for Irish tennis? I did a double take when I saw “IRL” in the Houston draw, and the name next to it wasn’t Louk Sorenson, the Irishman who won a first-round match at this year’s Australian Open. Rather, it was Conor Niland, a 28-year-old Dubliner who qualified for his first ATP main draw. Niland played his first Futures tournament in 1999, and he’s still playing them this season. But he was also just one qualifying match away from joining Sorenson in the Aussie main draw, and is now ranked at a career-high No. 226. To Arthur!

Southern Comfort
I’m heading to Charleston later this week, so here’s a quick preview:

First Quarter: Woznaicki keeps playing, keeps winning, and should do the same here, even on short rest.
Second Quarter: There are seven Americans in this section, but in the end, it’ll be Azarenka.
Third Quarter: Clay will suit Bartoli well; she should have no problems reaching the semis.
Fourth Quarter: Jankovic will find a way to drop a set or two, but she’ll make the weekend.
Semis: Azarenka def. Wozniacki; Bartoli def. Jankovic
Final: Bartoli def. Azarenka
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This Week's Tournaments*


Monte Carlo, Monaco (ATP, Clay)	Brackets: Singles \| Doubles
Barcelona, Spain (WTA, Clay)	Brackets: Singles \| Doubles
Charleston, United States (WTA, Clay)	Brackets: Singles \| Doubles

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Ed McGrogan is an assistant editor for TENNIS.com.

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