Play of the week

Mercedes ATP Play of the week. Nicolas Lapentti v Mario Ancic. A perfect example from Lapentti of how to use the classic drop-shot, lob combo. Watch it here.

It's a great shot, but for me the Play of the Week was Rafa's diving winner against Djokovic last Sunday.

Shot of the year?

He may not have bagged that elusive slam but Federer did depart Paris with shot of the tournament, no, lets call it what it is, shot of the year.

Here's how Jonathan Overend on his BBC blog described it:

It was an off-forehand, crosscourt to Ancic's backhand side, but the ball stayed low and Federer's entire body shape suggested a shot down the line.

He whipped his arm through, snapped the wrist alarmingly, and next thing you knew the ball was landing on the line at a ridiculous angle.

Ancic applauded, Federer roared his approval, nobody else could believe it so they just got to their feet.

I've seen Federer play similar shots a hundred times, but this was different because it was hit so hard.

To generate the angle, and get the ball down in time after crossing the net, it usually needs a softer hit.

But this was smacked at full pelt and the poor ball should have been retired hurt.

Watch it here.

Play of the week

Mercedes ATP Play of the week. Juan Carlos Ferrero v Mario Ancic. Ridiculous trick shot winner from Ferrero. Watch it here.

Who is defending what in Miami?

Murray's failure to close out against Ancic yesterday means he will slip out of the top 20 when the updated rankings are published next Monday. Murray is defending 250 ranking points following his run to the semi's last year.

It will be the first time he's been out of the top 20 for nearly 2 years. And as the Telegraph points out Murray's drop in the rankings means that he now faces the prospect of not being seeded at the coming clay-court Masters Series events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg. So if he is unlucky he could get a top 5 player in the first round.

The good news is that Murray's absence from the French Open and Wimbledon last year means he has no points to defend and is likely to climb back up the rankings if he can go deep in both tournaments.

Murray ranking problem prompted me to look up who is defending what in Miami. It makes for interesting reading:

Djokovic - champion 500 pts already out, second round

Canas - final 350 pts

Murray - Semi 225 pts already out, second round

Ljubicic - Semi 225 pts

Roddick - Quarter final 125 pts

Robredo - Quarter final 125 pts

Chela - Quarter final 125 pts

Nadal - Quarter final 125 pts

Federer - 4th round 75 pts

Davydenko 3rd round 35 pts

Nalbandian 3rd 35 pts

Safin - 2nd round 20 pts already out, first round