It was four, but now three former French Open champions make the little Croatian Open in Umag this week one of the most competitive claycourt events of 2005.
New world No. 2
Rafael Nadal headed the field before winning Stuttgart then pulling from Umag with a "knee injury."
Now
Guillermo Coria heads the field, joined by seeds
Tommy Robredo,
David Ferrer,
Jiri Novak, former French champs
Carlos Moya and
Juan Carlos Ferrero, and
Filippo Volandri.
Also among the unseeded is former Roland Garros champ Gustavo Kuerten.
Competitive opening-round matches of note are (4) Ferrer vs. "You Say"
Potito Starace, (3) Robredo vs. (WC) Kuerten, and (7) Ferrero vs. the hot-handed
Jarkko Nieminen.
In last year's final the under-drug-scrutiny
Guillermo Canas defeated Volandri in straight sets.
Returning champs in the field are the four-time winner Moya (2003-01,'96) and Felix Mantilla (1997).
Scheduled for Monday are Vliegen vs. (WC) Cilic, (Q) Krajan vs. (2) Coria, (8) Volandri vs. (WC) Tuksar, Vanek vs. (Q) Portas, A.Martin vs. Dlouhy, Montanes vs. (5) Novak, and Aldi vs. (Q) Bozoljac.
