Nalbandian Leads as Players Bail on ATP Vienna
Posted on October 10, 2005Vienna tournament organizers were none too happy with the withdrawals of Top 10 stars Rafael Nadal and Guillermo Coria, and are this week left without any marquee names at the BA-CA Tennis Trophy, the ATP stop in Vienna.
David Nalbandian is now the default top seed, joined by fellow seeds Gaston Gaudio, Radek Stepanek, Ivan Ljubicic, Tommy Robredo, Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez, flagging former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, and fellow Spaniard Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.
Nalbandian will face a tester from the first round in French veteran Sebastien Grosjean, then the winner of two qualifiers. Other opening-round matches of note are (7) Ferrero vs. the Swiss riser Stan Wawrinka, (3) Stepanek vs. the underrated fastcourt player Luis Horna, (WC) Tim Henman back from injury vs. (Q) Anthony Dupuis, (6) Gonzalez vs. Tomas "I Beat Federer in 2004" Berdych, former No. 1 Carlos Moya lurking unseeded again Bjorn Phau, former No. 2-ranked Tommy Haas vs. Tomas Zib, and (2) Gaudio vs. the sporadic Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer.
Lopez is the defending champ, in last year's final defeating the now-doping-suspended Guillermo Canas in five sets.
Former champions in the field are Lopez (2004), Haas (2001) and Henman (2000).
On tap for Monday in Vienna are Novak vs. (WC) Marach, (6) Gonzalez vs. Berdych, (WC) Henman vs. (Q) Dupuis, (WC) Peya vs. (8) F.Lopez, (Q) Eitzinger vs. (Q) Almagro, and N.Lapentti vs. Seppi.
David Nalbandian is now the default top seed, joined by fellow seeds Gaston Gaudio, Radek Stepanek, Ivan Ljubicic, Tommy Robredo, Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez, flagging former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, and fellow Spaniard Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.
Nalbandian will face a tester from the first round in French veteran Sebastien Grosjean, then the winner of two qualifiers. Other opening-round matches of note are (7) Ferrero vs. the Swiss riser Stan Wawrinka, (3) Stepanek vs. the underrated fastcourt player Luis Horna, (WC) Tim Henman back from injury vs. (Q) Anthony Dupuis, (6) Gonzalez vs. Tomas "I Beat Federer in 2004" Berdych, former No. 1 Carlos Moya lurking unseeded again Bjorn Phau, former No. 2-ranked Tommy Haas vs. Tomas Zib, and (2) Gaudio vs. the sporadic Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer.
Lopez is the defending champ, in last year's final defeating the now-doping-suspended Guillermo Canas in five sets.
Former champions in the field are Lopez (2004), Haas (2001) and Henman (2000).
On tap for Monday in Vienna are Novak vs. (WC) Marach, (6) Gonzalez vs. Berdych, (WC) Henman vs. (Q) Dupuis, (WC) Peya vs. (8) F.Lopez, (Q) Eitzinger vs. (Q) Almagro, and N.Lapentti vs. Seppi.