I could probably write an entire post on Roger Federer’s loss to Guillermo Canas, but I’m going to resist temptation and try to sum it up in one statement: The greatest player of all time didn’t play his best tennis, didn’t appear to be 100% healthy, and lost to a top 10 caliber player who is on a mission to vault himself back into the upper echelon of Men’s tennis after a steroid suspenion. End of story.

In other news, many other well knowns have fallen as well. Hewitt fell in a three-setter to Tisparevic, Safin went down in typical Safin fashion (getting bageled in the 3rd), Baghdatis and Berdych both lost, and James Blake’s rough start to 2007 continued with a loss to Julien Bennetau in straight sets. Even worse for Blake, he was in Federer’s quarter, not that I am implying Blake would have cruised there, but playing Moya or Ferrer is a big more attractive that playing the GOAT (greatest of all time). Blake is in line to drop a bit with next week’s rankings, as he did not come close to defending the points he earned last year for reaching the final. On the other side of the draw, favorite Roddick and Nadal still seem like the players to beat, although Gasquet could certainly challenge Roddick in the Round of 16. On the GOAT’s side, it really is wide open, but you have to like the winner of the Haas/Gonzalez matchup as a favorite to get through to the final.

Over on the Women’s side, there is not much to talk about. Most of the top seeds remain, with most of the top 10 seeds remaining – Dementieva pulled out, and Safina lost in a minor upset Marion Bartoli. The real story is the lack “name” players on the Women’s side, Sharapova and Hingis, the draw is lacking top women (although I am sure plenty of males out at Indian Wells would go far out of their ways to watch Ana Ivanovic play). Missing are four out of the top five women – Henin, Mauresmo, Clisters and Kuznetzova, not to mention the Williams sisters. Hopefully the draw for the Sony will shape up a bit better.

My picks from last Friday: the GOAT and Sharapova

My new picks: Roddick and not Sharapova, but instead Vaidisova, and the Kevin Durant led UT Longhorns for all you NCAA bracketers out there.

***UPDATE*** Guess I spoke to soon about lack of upsets on the Women’s side as Sharapova, Hingis, and Petrova (3 out of the top 5 seeds) fell yesterday in the 4th round. The two highest seeds remaining, Vaidisova (my pick) and Kuznetsova meet in the quarterfinals, with the winner clearly the favorite to take home the title.

Last year’s Pacific Life Open boasted 9 of the top 10 men in the world, and 15 of the top 25 women in the world.  The player fields at the Sony Ericsson (named the NASDAQ 100 Open last year) were more or less the same.  In addition, these two tournaments are also the most highly attended tournaments besides the four Grand Slams, with both sites totaling more than 270,000 people. 

The locations of both tournaments have plenty to offer as well.  The Sony Ericsson takes place on Key Biscayne, a ten minute drive from downtown Miami.  So there is plenty of shopping, dining and clubbing to suit anyone’s needs, not to mention South Beach.  Indian Wells, California, is a bit tougher to get to that Miami, but once you do it is definitely worth it.  Surrounded by four different mountain ranges, including the Sierra’s, there really isn’t a more picturesque backdrop to watch top tennis players, play on any of Palm Springs’ 125 golf courses, or take a jeep tour of the California Desert. 

The real beauty of these tournaments lies in the intimate settings.  Everything at these tournaments feels, and in most cases is, more accessible than at the larger Grand Slams.  Food lines (and bathroom lines!) are typically shorter, practice courts are easier to view, and the crowds are usually a bit friendlier.  So, while the Pacific Life and Sony Ericsson may not have quite the same prestige as the Grand Slams do, they will surely not disappoint, even the most die-hard tennis fan.