Sam Querrey and his battalion of Samurai, via d.yimg.com

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When Sam Querrey dropped the second set in the finals of LA yesterday, it seemed like deja vu all over again.

Querrey had dropped two finals in the previous two weeks to much lower ranked opponents (Rajeev Ram in Newport and Robby Ginepri in Indianapolis), and he seemed on the verge of making it three upset losses in a row when Australian qualifier Carsten Ball took the second set off the sixth-seeded American by the score of 6-3.

But whether it was out of (relative) experience or fear of embarrassment, Querrey solidified his play in the third, playing the way he should have been all along to take the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, thereby winning his second career ATP title (both of which have come in the Pacific time zone, for what that's worth).

Carsten Ball doesn't play a pretty game by any stretch, but he's got a huge upside.  Anybody with that big a serve is going to give opponents trouble, and any lefty is going to give opponents trouble.  I don't think there's a lefty on the ATP tour with anywhere near as big a serve as Ball's, so he should be able to ride that asset to a bunch of wins.

While Querrey was impressive in winning the title (and taking a commanding lead in the US Open series), most of the press coverage focused on his cheering section of friends from high school, better known as his "Samurai."  LA's top seed Tommy Haas made headlines after his loss to Querrey by saying that the Samurai "have no class."

Having seen him in press conferences several times, I think Haas' reactions had a lot more to do with Haas' general crankiness in the media room than any legitimate complaint.  I'm all for enthusiasm and noise between points at tennis matches, which seems to be what 99% of what the Samurai were doing.  There were complaints about them standing and obstructing views, so they moved to an empty section.

Tennis can use any injection of youthful energy that players or fans are willing to give it, and that's exactly what the Samurai are.

Mardy Fish, via d.yimg.com.

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As you might expect from a match that featured a fish and a ginger, the tennis was pretty raw.  It's the L.A. tournament, folks, a sushi joke was in order.

Mardy Fish defeated wild card Chris Guccione the match 6-7(3), 7-6(12), 6-4.  The #2 seeded American fended off four match points in the second set tiebreak, including one saved with an impressive stab backhand volley only feet from the net.

With Will Ferrell watching from the front row, Fish was comically powerless against the Australian's serve, only breaking it once.  That one time Fish broke was the first game of the third set, immediately after Guccione had blown four match points and was clearly demoralized.  Watching Fish struggle the entire 2 hour, 22 minute match vs. Guccione's serve makes me wonder if he would have actually been any better against Karlovic in Davis Cup than James Blake was

ESPN2 commentator Pam Shriver kept commenting on how hampered Fish seemed to be in the third set because of a rib injury, but I personally didn't see any evidence of that.  If there is any lingering issue, however, it could mean a huge opportunity for someone else in Fish's decimated half of the draw, which includes only Carsten Ball, John Isner, and Leonardo Mayer.  Not exactly a murderer's row. 

Isner especially should like his chances, but may still be feeling the effects of his ankle injury late vs. Baghdatis.  If he does get better, he'll bring even better serving than Guccione did, which, based on today, mean's Mardy's title hopes could be swimming with the fishes.

I know, I know. I'll be here all week.