Blake out in Madrid
American James Blake fell in the second round today at the Madrid Masters event in Spain. Blake lost to Gilles Simon 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in an hour and 25 minutes. Blake was broken three times during the match and only broke Simon once in 10 opportunities. When you have that many break chances, you have to convert and that makes the difference in a three-setter. The loss dents Blakes chances of reaching the year-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shaghai. Simon is the first player in to the third round.
The two top seeds, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, both will be tested in the second round. Nadal will face the very talented youngster Ernests Gulbis while Federer will play the crafty veteran (and someone he has lost to already in 2008) Radek Stepanek. I expect both Nadal and Federer to win, but it won’t be that easy.
