photo via Daylife
I was going to wait to do a “Weekend Winners” but a title for Roger always deserves its own post (its his 71st of his career). Today he hoisted the silver plate in Rotterdam, an ATP 500 tournament that he hasn’t played since winning it in 2005. He thumped Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 6-4 in this final, denying the Argentine all seven of his break chances and capitalizing on three of his five. There were close moments, but Roger kept things firmly under his control. It was nice to watch, especially after that nail biter vs. Kolya Davydenko in the semis and of course his loss to John Isner on Swiss soil last weekend in Davis Cup.

Here’s Roger in a post match interview, obviously thrilled and happy with himself:

I take a few things from his comments: 1. He’s determined to keep the momentum from the end of last year going. He did play beautifully in Australia – the kind of dominating tennis of old until Rafa got to him – and I think him believing he can play at his best level is what will keep him in the running for Major titles. 2. Playing Rotterdam wasn’t just a way to feed his confidence, it was also some kind of peace offering to Richard Krajicek. Seems to have worked.

The rest of the winners so far this weekend. . .Defending champ Nicolas Almagro took the Brasil Open for the third time in his career, beating Filippo Volandri 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and proving himself yet again on the South American clay.

In women’s action, World No. 1 and Aussie Open Champ Victoria Azarenka seems to be having no problem backing up her huge win ins Australian, beating Sam Stosur 6-1, 6-2 in the Doha finals. She’s 17-0 for the season. In Bogota, first time finalists Alexandra Panova and Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino battled it out, with the Spanish teenager winning her first WTA title.

In San Jose, California, defending champ Milos Raonic has yet to take the court vs. Denis Istomin.

UPDATE: Congrats to Milos Raonic for his victory vs. Denis Isotomin in the finals of the SAP Open on Sunday afternoon. He won the match 7-6 (3), 6-2, which brings his career record in San Jose to an impressive 8-0, without dropping a set! It’s nice to see a good guy with a great game and a great future holding the trophy! Yay!