Rafael Nadal in Action on Clay
Photo Source Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
The main draw of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament starts at the Monte Carlo Country Club on Sunday 10 April.
The final will be played on Sunday 17 April.
What does this tournament mean for the Top 5 Men’s Tennis Players?
No. 1 – Rafael Nadal
For Rafa, this tournament means getting back to clay tennis and defending his Monte Carlo title to make it seven wins in a row.
On his website, after Miami, where he lost the final to Nole, Rafa said:
I don’t feel him breathing down my neck just yet, but I think Novak will get to be the world No.1. He’s won two top tournaments in a row and a Grand Slam so what it is very likely he will overtake me as world No.1 in a month and a half or two months. I don’t know. It also depends on my results during the clay season. I’m going to work real hard and If I can play well, we will see what happens.”
I, for one, would love to see Rafa make it seven in a row.
I can still feel his sadness when he was injured at the Australian Open and couldn’t win the Quarter Final to keep progressing towards his “Rafa Slam” – I’m looking forward to seeing Rafa in full flight on clay again.
No. 2 – Novak Djokovic
Nole has withdrawn from Monte Carlo due to a knee injury. I guess this means when he plays again it’s possible that his 24 match winning streak will continue, but there will be some unplayed matches in between.
The withdrawal eases the way for Rafa, who Djokovic beat in recent hard court finals in both Miami and Indian Wells.
I was looking forward to seeing Nole’s form on clay but I guess we’ll have to wait a little longer.
No.3 – Roger Federer
Roger, with his lowest seeding since 2002, will play in Monte Carlo after missing the tournament for the past two years. Now seeded number 2 due to Djokovic’s withdrawal, Roger has played this tournament nine times but never won.
After his straight sets loss to Rafa in Miami, and quite a while without winning a title Roger will be looking to get his winning form back. Getting some more playing time on clay, Roger will also play in Madrid and Rome in the lead up to the French Open.
On his website, after the loss in Miami, Roger said:
It just got worse and worse. And when I had a chance I simply played too weak. Today was nothing to write about, I’m afraid,”… “I know that I can do many more things in the game. I’m very excited by what’s to come still.”
Although I want Rafa to win, I’d like to see him get there in a hard won final against a top form Roger.
No. 4- Andy Murray
After losing for as long as Nole has been winning, Andy somehow moved back up to Number 4.
Andy has been given a wild card to play in Monte Carlo so he’ll be able to get some clay play in before the French Open. (I tried Googling to figure out why the world number four would need a wild card but came up with nothing. I’m guessing it’s because he didn’t get his entry in on time, but if you understand it, please let me know in the comments below )
Murray plays the winner of Baghdatis v Stepanek in the first round. I hope he wins but have no confidence in it. I just don’t really know what to make of Murray anymore. I keep hoping for him to play well again and get his confidence back. But that seems to slip further and further away with each early round loss.
I may be wrong but in my memory Andy was playing well when he started looking a bit sharper and tidied up his hair so maybe the first step is to reel in his expanding woolly fro like do.
No.5 – Robin Soderling
Robin has also withdrawn from this tournament due to a knee injury.
I hope Soderling recovers to become a contender for the French Open.
More Interesting Matches to Watch in Monte Carlo
- If both Dolgopolov and Raonic win their first round matches they will face each other in Round Two. They have never played each other in an ATP, Davis Cup or Grand Slam event. Both guys are really talented players, but it will be great to see how they match up on clay. My money is on Dolgopolov.
- Melzer and Davydenko could also meet up in Round Two. Davydenko leads the head-to-head 6 to 1, but my money is on Melzer.
More Information
- Official Monte Carlo Masters 2011 Website
- Draws and Schedule of Play updates at OnCourtAdvantage
What do you think about how the Monte Carlo action will pan out? Please let me know in the comments below.
Until next time
Grand Slam Gal
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