Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP: Melzer beats Raonic in Straight Sets to win Memphis

Unseeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer beat Canadian 4th seed Milos Raonic to win his fourth ATP tournament at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 in Memphis. Melzer won in straight sets 75 76(4) in a 97-minute battle to secure his third consecutive win over a seeded player in the tournament. Melzer downed top seeded John Isner in the quarterfinals, 3rd seeded Radek Stepanek in the semifinals and now prevented Raonic from winning his third tournament title of the season. It was Melzer's first tournament title since he won the ATP tournament in Vienna in 2010. Melzer will take home the $277,915 in prize money and 500 ranking points for winning the tournament. Raonic will take home the runner-up prize money of $125,300 and 300 ranking points.

02/25 UPDATE: Fourth seeded Milos Raonic of Canada is through to his third title match of the year by advancing to the finals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 in Memphis. Raonic defeated Benjamin Becker in straight sets 64 64 and advances to his second straight tournament final in two weeks. Raonic will battle Austrian Jurgen Melzer for the title after Melzer advanced with a 3-set victory over #3 seed Radek Stepanek 64 36 63. It was Melzer's second straight upset victory after he beat top-seeded American John Isner in the quarterfinals. Raonic and Melzer have not met before in any ATP tournament but both players have won 3 ATP tournaments in their careers. The Memphis tournament singles champion will take home $277,915 in prize money and 500 ranking points while the runner-up will win $125,300 and 300 ranking points.

02/25 UPDATE: #4 seed Milos Raonic is on track to win his 3rd tournament of the season after he beat Olivier Rochus in straight sets to advance to the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 in Memphis. Raonic will be the lone North American player left in the tournament after Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey both lost their quarterfinal matches. Raonic will now face Jurgen Melzer who disposed of the top-seeded Isner, also in straight sets. The other semifinal will feature #3 seed Radek Stepanek against unseeded Benjamin Becker. Stepanek defeated 2010 champion Querrey while Becker downed Lukasz Kubot, both wins came in straight sets.

Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP Results: FRIDAY, 24 FEBRUARY, 2012

B Becker defeats L Kubot 75 76(5)
(#4) M Raonic defeats O Rochus 63 76(3)
(#3) R Stepanek defeats S Querrey 76(5) 60
J Melzer defeats (#1) J Isner 63 76(6)

02/24 UPDATE: Top-seeded John Isner, #3 seed Radek Stepanek and #4 seed Milos Raonic all advanced to the quarterfinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 in Memphis. Isner defeated fellow American Donald Young in straight sets 76(3) 64 to advance against Jurgen Melzer for a spot in the semifinals. Stepanek eliminated Ryan Sweeting in three sets while Raonic beat Sergiy Stakhovsky in straight sets. Stepanek will now face wildcard and former champion Sam Querrey while Raonic will go against Olivier Rochus for a semifinal berth. The fourth semifinal slot will be decided by the winner of the Lukasz Kubot and Benjamin Becker quarterfinal.

Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP Results: THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2012

Singles

(#1) J Isner defeats D Young 76(3) 64
(#4) M Raonic defeats S Stakhovsky 64 64
S Querrey defeats (7) K Anderson 76(4) 64
O Rochus defeats R Harrison 64 75
B Becker defeats X Malisse 76(4) 64
J Melzer defeats I Dodig 26 63 76(5)
(#3) R Stepanek defeats R Sweeting 46 63 76(4)
L Kubot defeats P Petzschner 76(5) 62


Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP Schedule: FRIDAY, 24 FEBRUARY, 2012

STADIUM start 10:00 am
S Arvidsson (SWE) vs A Brianti (ITA) - WTA
V Dushevina (RUS) vs [4] M Erakovic (NZL) - WTA
Not Before 2:00 PM
[3] R Stepanek (CZE) vs [WC] S Querrey (USA) - ATP
[1] J Isner (USA) vs J Melzer (AUT) - ATP
Not Before 7:00 PM
O Rochus (BEL) vs [4] M Raonic (CAN) - ATP
L Kubot (POL) vs B Becker (GER) - ATP

GRANDSTAND start 1:00 pm
[1] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Hradecka (CZE) vs [4] M Krajicek (NED) / A Tatishvili (GEO) - WTA

02/22 UPDATE: Defending champion Andy Roddick was bundled out of the tournament in straights by Xavier Malisse to prevent another showdown between the American veteran and rising Canadian Milos Raonic. Roddick's season has not started well as he lost in the opening round at the Australian Open and now, he lost to an unseeded veteran 76(8) 75. #4 Raonic who was expected to battle Roddick in the semifinals advanced with a 62 76(3) victory over Ernest Gulbis. #3 seed Radek Stepanek also advanced but #5 Alex Bogomolov, Jr and #6 Julien Benneteau were upset by unseeded opponents and will now join Roddick in the sidelines.

Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP Results: Singles - Round of 32
J Melzer defeats D Istomin 67(2) 63 76(4)
(#7) K Anderson defeats R Ginepri 75 63
X Malisse defeats (#2) A Roddick 76(8) 75
(#4) M Raonic defeats E Gulbis 62 76(3)
(#3) R Stepanek defeats B Reynolds 63 62
B Becker defeats D Sela 64 61
L Kubot defeats J Levine 76(2) 64
P Petzschner defeats (#6) J Benneteau 76(5) 76(6)
O Rochus defeats (#5) A Bogomolov Jr. 16 64 76(5)

Memphis 2012 Tennis ATP Schedule: THURSDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2012

STADIUM start 11:00 am
[4] M Erakovic (NZL) vs M Krajicek (NED) - WTA
S Arvidsson (SWE) vs L Tsurenko (UKR) - WTA
Not Before 3:00 PM
[WC] S Querrey (USA) vs [7] K Anderson (RSA) - ATP
O Rochus (BEL) vs [WC] R Harrison (USA) - ATP
Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] J Isner (USA) vs D Young (USA) - ATP
S Stakhovsky (UKR) vs E Gulbis (LAT) or [4] M Raonic (CAN) - ATP

GRANDSTAND start 10:00 am
S Foretz Gacon (FRA) vs V Dushevina (RUS) - WTA
V Lepchenko (USA) vs A Brianti (ITA) - WTA
Not Before 1:30 PM
J Melzer (AUT) vs I Dodig (CRO) - ATP
[3] R Stepanek (CZE) vs R Sweeting (USA) - ATP
B Becker (GER) vs X Malisse (BEL) - ATP
I Dodig (CRO) / M Melo (BRA) vs J Benneteau (FRA) / O Rochus (BEL) - ATP-After Appropriate Rest
[1] M Mirnyi (BLR) / D Nestor (CAN) vs [WC] R Harrison (USA) / D Kudla (USA) or J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) - ATP-To Be Determined

COURT 1 start 11:00 am
[1] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Hradecka (CZE) vs L Lee-Waters (USA) / M Moulton-Levy (USA) - WTA
[3] L Dekmeijere (LAT) / N Petrova (RUS) vs [2] V Dushevina (RUS) / O Govortsova (BLR) - WTA - After Suitable Rest
[4] M Krajicek (NED) / A Tatishvili (GEO) vs M Erakovic (NZL) / K Pervak (KAZ) - WTA-After Suitable Rest
Not Before 2:00 PM
P Petzschner (GER) vs L Kubot (POL) - ATP
C Fleming (GBR) / R Hutchins (GBR) or E Butorac (USA) / B Soares (BRA) vs [3] F Cermak (CZE) / F Polasek (SVK) - ATP

02/21 UPDATE: #1 seed John Isner advanced to the next round at the REGIONS MORGAN KEEGAN CHAMPIONSHIPS in Memphis with a straight set 76 76 victory over Gilles Muller. He advances to the second round where he will face fellow American Donald Young. Other American players such as Sam Querrey, Ryan Sweeting and Ryan Harrison also advanced to the next round. Ivan Dodig caused a minor upset by beating #7 seed Bernard Tomic in a third set tiebreak. #2 seed Andy Roddick will start his campaign against Xavier Malisse on Wednesday evening.

02/21 Update: The Regions Morgan Keegan Championships 2012 in Memphis, USA is the first million dollar tournament in North America for this tennis season. Several ATP players congregate to play tennis in Memphis including top American players John Isner and Andy Roddick. Talented and young Canadian Milos Raonic will be going for his third title of the year after wins in Chennai last month, and in San Jose last week. Young American players Donald Young and Ryan Harrison are also present in the main draw.

The defending champion is Roddick, now the #3 American behind Isner and Mardy Fish. He is going for his fourth ATP Tennis Memphis tournament title. In 2011, he defeated Raonic in three tightly contested sets 7-6(7), 6-7(11), 7-5 to win his 30th ATP tour title. Former tournament champion and current #85 American Sam Querrey returns to play in the tournament, he beat Isner in 2010. Other promising players in the list include young Australian Bernard Tomic who reached his first Grand Slam fourth round in Melbourne last month. Tomic is seeded 8th this year.

After the draw has been announced, fans will be looking forward to the following match-ups: Isner vs Tomic in the quarterfinals, a potential rematch of last year’s final match between Roddick and Raonic in the semifinals, and finally, an explosive match between Isner and Roddick if both reach the finals.

ATP Tennis Memphis 2012 – Seeded Players

Seed #1 ISNER, John - Rank #14
Seed #2 RODDICK, Andy - Rank #17
Seed #3 STEPANEK, Radek - Rank #29
Seed #4 RAONIC, Milos - Rank #32
Seed #5 BOGOMOLOV JR., Alex - Rank #33
Seed #6 BENNETEAU, Julien - Rank #34
Seed #7 ANDERSON, Kevin - Rank #35
Seed #8 TOMIC, Bernard - Rank #36

Projected Quarterfinals based on Draw Top Half:

#1 Isner vs #8 Tomic
#3 Stepanek vs #7 Anderson

Projected Quarterfinals based on Draw Bottom Half:

#2 Roddick vs #6 Benneteau
#4 Raonic vs #5 Bogomolov

ATP Tennis Memphis 2012 – Prize Money (Ranking Points) by Round

Winner: $277,915 (500)
Finalist: $125,300 (300)
Semifinals: $59,350 (180)
Quarterfinals: $28,640 (90)
2nd Round: $14,600 (45)
1st Round: $8,030 (0)

ATP Tennis Memphis 2012 Schedule, MONDAY, 20 FEBRUARY, 2012

STADIUM start 10:00 am
H Watson (GBR) vs S Arvidsson (SWE) - WTA
I Dodig (CRO) vs [8] B Tomic (AUS) - ATP
[4] S Gonzalez (MEX) / C Kas (GER) vs J Isner (USA) / S Querrey (USA) - ATP
G Dimitrov (BUL) vs D Young (USA) - ATP
Not Before 7:00 PM
J Blake (USA) / S Querrey (USA) vs J McEnroe (USA) / J Sock (USA) - Exhibition
[1] N Petrova (RUS) vs [Q] C Giorgi (ITA) - WTA

GRANDSTAND start 10:00 am
M Krajicek (NED) vs [6] E Baltacha (GBR) - WTA
[WC] M Keys (USA) vs V Dushevina (RUS) - WTA
[4] M Erakovic (NZL) vs S Stephens (USA) - WTA
[Q] A Glatch (USA) vs L Tsurenko (UKR) - WTA
Not Before 4:30 PM
[1] A Hlavackova (CZE) / L Hradecka (CZE) vs I Pavlovic (FRA) / E Rodina (RUS) - WTA - Possible Court Change
[WC] A Hibberd (AUS) / T Welcher (USA) vs L Lee-Waters (USA) / M Moulton-Levy (USA) - WTA

COURT 1 start 10:00 am
[WC] L Davis (USA) vs V Lepchenko (USA) - WTA
A Tatishvili (GEO) vs [3] L Hradecka (CZE) - WTA
A Brianti (ITA) / P Parmentier (FRA) vs H Watson (GBR) / J Woehr (GER) - WTA - After Suitable Rest
[4] M Krajicek (NED) / A Tatishvili (GEO) vs M Kondratieva (RUS) / S Lefevre (FRA) - WTA - After Suitable Rest
V Dolonts (RUS) / S Foretz Gacon (FRA) vs [2] V Dushevina (RUS) / O Govortsova (BLR) - WTA - After Suitable Rest