Federer Returns in Hamburg; Roddick, Safin, Agassi Join In

After missing Rome with inflammation in both feet (sounds like a bad pair of Nike’s, eh?), World No. 1 and defending champ Roger Federer returns to action. Federer will be joined by No. 2 seed Andy Roddick, No. 3 Marat Safin and the fourth-seeded Gaston Gaudio in Hamburg conditions which are usually much slower (and often wetter) than Rome.

However, when handicapping the event, it really boils down to the health and overall interest of surging Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who enters riding a cozy 17-match win streak and as the hottest player on the circuit. If Nadal is up to par it will be his title to lose as the 18-year-old figures to have a pretty good look to get the semifinals, with only Roddick posing threat in the quarterfinals.

Federer, meanwhile, will have his hands full right from the get go with heavy-hitting lefty Fernando “Pass The” Vardasco. Should Club Fed prevail, he’ll then likely get the goods from the underrated David Ferrer, with yet another Spaniard, Tommy Robredo, looming and then Guilermo Coria waiting in the wings in the quarters. Of course Federer beat Coria in the Hamburg final in 2004, but Coria this year may have a bit more fire in the belly especially after suffering a stinging loss to Nadal Sunday in Rome. With that loss, Coria has fell in the final of the last four clay “majors” – 2004 Hamburg, 2004 Roland Garros, 2005 Monte Carlo, 2005 Rome. Ouch!

Andre Agassi is not a big fan of Hamburg as this is just his fifth career appearance but he did have a great draw until rising Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro got placed to possibly face the former No. 1 in the second round. Safin also lurks in the Agassi quarter but we’ll take qualifier (that’s right, qualifier) Juan Carlos Ferrero to prevail in this section to meet Coria in the semifinals. As for the Nadal SF opponent (or Tommy Haas), look for an Argy like Davide Nalbandian to come out.