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The ATP tour has three tournaments on this week,  a big one in Rotterdam, an interesting one in San Jose and the ubiquitous clay court tournament in South America (Brazil, to be exact.) Here’s everything you need to know going into the weekend:

ABN AMRO WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT: Rotterdam, the Netherlands/ATP World Tour 500 level/Indoor Hard Court

Storyline(s): The big one for me is the rise of Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov, who upset Tomas Berdych in the first round and took Nadal to three in the second. The kid came in to the tournament as a wild card and ranked 478 in the world, but comes out being touted as “better than Federer” by his coach, Peter Lundgren, and as a future top ten player, “for sure” by Rafael Nadal. Speaking of Rafa, he’s been (understandably) struggling by his standards this week, having been stretched to a third set in both his matches. Like their WTA counterparts in Paris, the French guys are also representing well this week, with Tsonga, Monfils, Gicquel and Benneteau all making it into the quarters.

Still in it to win it*: All those French guys plus Youzhny, Ancic and top seeds Murray and Nadal.

Hot matches: Oh, there are many! Just in the quarters we have Nadal vs. Tsonga in a replay of Aussie Open 2008. Monfils could play the winner of that match in the semis (if Gael get’s past Benneteau) and Murray (if he gets past Gicquel) will play either Youznhy or Ancic. And who wouldn’t want a Nadal vs. Murray final?

I’m betting: Murray/I’m hoping: Tsonga

How to watch: Click here for live streaming.

SAP OPEN: San Jose, U.S.A./ATP World Tour 250/Indoor Hard Court

Storyline(s): As I write this, Andy Roddick just beat Ernests Gublis in straight sets, so that’s something. The field’s so strong that the likes of Ginepri, Hewitt and Baghdatis were kicked out in the first round. Also, it was great to see Taylor Dent back in the game and winning his first match against fellow American Bobby Reynolds before going out to another American, qualifier Todd Widom.

Still in it to win it*: Besides top seeded Andy Roddick, Americans Blake, Querrey, Fish, and Widom (who?) are all into the quarters, along with second seed del Potro, Haas and Stepanek.

Hot matches: Good stuff! Just in the quarters we have three intriguing ones – Blake vs. Querrey, Haas vs. Roddick, and Fish vs. del Potro (the other being Stepanek vs. Widom). Assuming del Potro gets past Fish, we’re looking at a great semi against either Blake or Querrey. In the finals, it could be Roddick vs. del Potro (a good test for Andy, considering he lost to JMdP in LA last summer) or maybe an all American type thing. (Of course Stepanek or Haas are serious spoilers.)

I’m betting: Roddick/I’m hoping: an American

How to watch: Click here for live streaming.

BRASIL OPEN: Costa do Sauipe, Brazil/ATP World Tour 250/Clay Court

Storyline(s): Mmm. . .like the Pattaya tournament, I wouldn’t mind going there for some R&R. If pushed for a tennis storyline, I’d say look out for the 23-year-old Frederico Gil, who is ranked 86 in the world and is into his second semi final in two weeks after beating top seed and defending champion Nicolas Almagro. Last week, Gil became the first Portuguese player to make an ATP semifinal in 17 years, when he met Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the SA Open. Go, Gil!

Still in it to win it*: Gil will play Brazilian hope Thomaz Bellucci and Tommy Robredo will play Jose Acasuso in the semi finals.

Hot matches: Acasuso vs. Robredo is the best I’ve got

I’m betting: Robredo/I’m hoping: Gil

How to watch: Really? Okay, click here.

*as of post time

Photo by Ron Angle