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Benoit Paire and Dr. Ivo Karlovic had a marathon battle. The good doctor prevailed on a chilly DC night on the far out court 76 67 76. The fun began in the second set breaker where Paire saved a handful of match points and finally eked the set out after Ivo double faulted at eleven all. Paire roared a a few ferocious comeons and fist pumps. He really really wanted this one.

The third set was a dandy, they battled again all the way to a tiebreak.

Paire’s backers were extremely loud and passionate for their man in the third set. A young kid about ten, even jokingly said with some annoyance “Shuuut upp.” The main loudmouth was exaggeratedly backing Paire. We’ll get to why later in a few sentences.

Anyway, Ivo got a lead and closed it out 7-2. And when he won, he made a big dance move with both arms, sort of whooping it up and rubbing it in on Paire before the handshake. Words were exchanged and Paire pointed back at Ivo. Ivo walked back over to Paire’s side and more words were said with angry faces. One fan shouted, “Sore loser,” to Paire. Most of the fans were for Ivo, except for that loud Paire block.

But the tensions continued as they walked off. Ivo had more words for Paire. I ran out to see what happened after they got out of the court and walked back to the locker area. Paire stopped and took photos with fans and Ivo walked by him, still looking angry. Then Ivo suddenly halted himself and did an about face and stopped for photos as Paire walked by him. The other reporter watching later said, Ivo appeared to be seething mad still at that point, and that he stopped only to cross paths again with Paire who this time walked by him and completely ignored his opponent.

Later on myself and two other media members followed Karlovic and his coach into the gym area and got the scoop. According to the Karlovic side, Paire was mocking Ivo in French for most of the match, saying things to his group like, This isn’t tennis, I should never lose to this guy, he sucks. And on and on. But to the surprise of Paire, Ivo understands French as he lived in France for some time and after the match he told Paire he should show respect to his opponent and not insult an opponent publicly as he did. Paire responded that Ivo should not tell him to do anything.

Basically, it was sour grapes by Paire, similar to James Blake who griped the same ‘This isn’t tennis’ after he lost to Ivo in Delray a few years back.

So there you have the inside scoop on the Karlovic-Paire feud.

In other action, Lleyton Hewitt had some hiccups but was able to straight set Marinko Matosevic 6463, remember Marinko beat him in Delray in February.

The amazing Victor Estrella outlasted Tobias Kamke 76 in the third. I did a Biofile with Victor after his pre-match hit. Estrella, as you may know, is the oldest man to enter the ATP top hundred for the first time. He turns 34 on Saturday. He’s playing the best tennis of his career now. Estrella may well be the ultimate Rocky Balboa example in pro tennis. I suggested a possible book about his life and Estrella was not uninterested. We’re going to keep in touch about it.

I also did a Biofile with my man Dudi Sela after his three set win over Samuel “Drago” Groth. Dudi told me his original plan was to bring the chair on the court DURING the match with Ivo but because the match was so close and tight he couldn’t do it while serving. He also showed me a funny video of Djokovic playing Delpo in Shanghai. More on that later. By the way, Dudi also said ESPN made him stand on the chair for the prematch Isner interview with Brad Gilbert in Atlanta, but he didn’t really like the idea. And the You Tube of the chair video has over a million four hundred thousand hits so far.

Sam Querrey, here with his parents, beat Mike Russell.

Benjamin Becker continued his strong year with a win over Blaz Kavcic who is back after a foot surgery.

Milos Raonic wore lime green socks while playing practice sets with F Lopez.

Jack Sock won in straight sets vs. Michael Berrer and then headed straight to the practice courts to work on his backhand cross courts. While Sock was working OT, Stefan Kozlov and Jared Donaldson were hitting with Taylor Dent and another coach, before they played a set, young guns vs. the older guys. Dent was still poppin’ that serve and charging the net. Tom Gullikson was on court with them and at point told Kozlov he should have gone to the net with Donaldson, not stay back as he did. Sock was watching the match up with amusement. Petr Korda was hitting with his son on the court on the other side of Sock.

Sloane Stephens got bageled in the third set by Christina McHale after winning the second. Sloane just seems out of it. She either needs a new coach who can motivate her…or perhaps that whole war of words with Serena damaged her mentally. She really has not been the same since the Serena controversy, has she?

I’ve been here two days and still have not laid eyes on Nishikori or Berdych yet.

I gave Facing Hewitt copies to Taylor Dent and Ivan Ljubicic, and also Justin Gimelstob who asked me about it and how it’s going. Gimelstob did a post match live interview with Hewitt at the Tennis Channel outdoor studio. Paul Annacone and Brett Haber called the match.

Donald Young was watching some of the Taylor Townsend (with Vania King) doubles match with his mom.

Big John Isner was hitting with Robby Ginepri in the early afternoon.

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