Fish, Almagro, Petrova Win Titles

While the Americans treat Monte Carlo like anathema, world No. 1 Roger Federer has embraced the dirt in 2006, proclaiming he will play all three Masters Series events at Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg in an attempt to sharpen his game for an assault on Roland Garros.

"You want to get momentum here to carry forward into the season. I was happy, happy last year to win three matches," Federer said. "Four or five this time would be great but I have to focus on my first round. Expectations for me are at a normal level, I can't focus on anything except my first match."

Lleyton Hewitt is also taking a pass on Monte, and Richard Gasquet (abdominal), Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic (back), and Thomas Johansson (eye) are injured, but otherwise the remainder of the Top 20 are all in Monaco. Joining Federer among the Top 8 of the 16 seeds are defending French Open champ Rafael Nadal, David Nalbandian, Ivan Ljubicic, French Open semifinalist Nikolay Davydenko, former Roland Garros runner-up Guillermo Coria and champ Gaston Gaudio, and Spaniard David Ferrer.

Opening-round potential upsets of interest for tennis punters include (1) Federer vs. Serb rising star and qualifier Novak Djokovic, (13) Sebastien Grosjean vs. Spaniard Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, (11) Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Russian Dmitry Tursunov who has beaten the Spaniard, (8) Ferrer vs. Chilean grinder Nicolas Massu, (4) Ljubicic vs. Russian dirtballer Igor Andreev, (16) Tomas Berdych vs. Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, (12) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. former French Open champ Carlos Moya, (7) Gaston Gaudio vs. Tim Henman, and (15) Tommy Robredo vs. Peru's Luis Horna who he is 0-2 against.

Other storylines this week in Monte Carlo:

How is Federer looking on clay? Especially in Monte with Ferrero, Ferrer, Massu, Grosjean, Verdasco and Al Martin all waiting as potential opponents before the semifinals? That's a lot of Spaniards.

How are the foot and knee injuries that have plagued Rafael Nadal over the last half year or so, which were bad enough to make him skip Valencia last week? The teenage Nadal didn't need to do a whole lot of "resting" last year...

Are former Roland Garros winners Ferrero and Moya washed up? What have they done for anyone lately? Yeah, Moya won a tiny dirt title earlier this year at Buenos Aires, but on the big stages he has been a no-show. And Juan Carlos has no confidence in his abilities.

Andy Murray just canned his coach, and grew up training in Spain -- can he at least make it to a potential second-round meeting with Nadal?

Russian Nikolay Davydenko was robbed of a French Open final berth last year by doper Mariano Puerta -- is he the real deal on clay, or is the balding Monte Carlo resident ready to put on a show in his adopted country?

Gaston Gaudio -- that guy who won the who-can-choke-less Roland Garros final against Coria -- is he still a threat after shoulder problems earlier this year? And after his poor follow-up effort at the French when he told his opponent's coach he would lose the match, does anybody care?

If Gael Monfil's season gets any worse will he switch tours to paddle ball?

The former French runner-up Coria takes to the dirt with a new coach in Jose Higueras after a dismal 4-4 start to the year -- can he even bypass Russian Mikhail Youzhny in his opener to meet Marat Safin in the second round?

Safin twisted his ankle in Valencia over the weekend, will he pull from Monte Carlo?

Is the No. 8 seed Ferrer healthy after pulling in Valencia with a shoulder injury? Is anyone healthy?

No. 14 seed Jarkko Nieminen, can the ATP make him a star? Just kidding.

Get ready for lots of upsets on the red dirt, but if the favorites hold, potential quarterfinal meetings await in (1) Federer vs. (11) Ferrero, (4) Ljubicic vs. (5) Davydenko, (3) Nalbandian vs. (7) Gaudio, and (2) Nadal vs. (6) Coria.

"At the moment, I can only meet Federer in the final, so I've got to win lots of matches," said Nadal on his website. "I prefer to focus on me."

Highlights on Monday play in Monte Carlos are the struggling Gael Monfils vs. Olivier Rochus, (1) Roger Federer vs. (Q) Novak Djokovic, (7) Gaston Gaudio vs. Tim Henman, and Xavier "X-Man" Malisse vs. (3) David Nalbandian.

Richard Vach is a senior writer for Tennis-X.com, was recently awarded "Best Hard News" story writer for 2005 by the United States Tennis Writers Association, and can currently be seen on The Tennis Channel's "Tennis Insiders: Super Insiders" episodes.

Fish Survives on Land for Houston Title

Andy Roddick failed to reach a sixth consecutive Houston title, but Mardy Fish continued the American success at the U.S. Claycourt Championships Sunday with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Jurgen Melzer for his first title of the year.

It was the second career title for Fish, and a landmark result after returning from two successive wrist surgeries.

"I definitely didn't expect to win the tournament this week, and I have always wanted to come to this tournament and play well. I love this tournament," Fish told reporters. "I feel like I am playing good tennis, and I definitely don't feel like the comeback is complete. I've still a long ways to go. I'm still outside the Top 100, so I need to keep going, and keep motivated and positive."

Fish improved to 2-6 career in finals, winning his first event at Stockholm in 2003.

Melzer dropped to 0-3 in career finals, and entered Houston with a 1-8 win-loss record in 2006.

In the doubles final, Germans Michael Kohlmann/Alexander Waske upset No. 3 seeds Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer of Austria 5-7, 6-4, 10-5 for their first title of the year as a team.

Almagro Clinches 1st Career Title ATP Valencia

Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro won his career-first ATP title Sunday with a 6-2, 6-3 win over another first-time finalist, France's Gilles Simon, in the final of the IV Open de Tenis Comunidad Valenciana.

"I played eight matches during this event, three in the qualifying and five in the main draw and started feeling a bit tired," Almagro told reporters. "This was a great week for me and my team. I think this win will open many doors for me."

Almagro improved to 10-4 this year with all his wins on clay, and beat slam winners and former No. 1s Juan Carlos Ferrero and Marat Safin.

In the doubles final Czechs David Skoch/Tomas Zib ousted (4) Lukas Dlouhy/Pavel Vizner 6-4, 6-3 for their first title of the year as a team.

"I never teamed-up with David Skoch before," Zib told reporters. "I was supposed to play with Robin Vik, but he was sick and decided not to play, so I was lucky to find a new partner in David. We are pretty good friends and it's great to win the tournament, I didn't expect that at all. It's a nice surprise."

Petrova Wins 2nd Straight at WTA Charleston

Nadia Petrova has taken advantage of the injuries ravaging the upper echelon of the WTA Tour, on Sunday winning her second consecutive title after Amelia Island with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win over Patty Schnyder in the Family Circle Cup at Charleston.

"I must say I can't believe I've done it," Petrova told reporters. "I was really feeling bad today, I think it was the heat. In the second set I had difficulties to move on court but then in the third set I suddenly was three-love up, and I decided I would just give everything I have."

Petrova is the sixth woman to complete the "American claycourt sweep," joining Chris Evert (1981), Steffi Graf (1986-87), Martina Navratilova (1988), Gabriela Sabatini (1991-92) and Conchita Martinez (1995).

"I am still surprised that I could beat Justine (Henin-Hardenne) because I never expected it, but I fought the whole time, and I tried everything," Schnyder told reporters. "I had experience with beating Nadia, but also with losing a tight final in Linz last year. I mean her game is definitely on, and she's really very solid, and she never gives you an easy shot, and I felt like she was dominant all the time. That's how I felt from the start...I couldn't really ever turn it around."

In the doubles final, top seeds Lisa Raymond and Sam Stosur beat No. 2 seeds Virginia Ruano Pascual and Meghann Shaughnessy 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 for their fifth title of the year.

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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
From Gavin Versi writing for The Telegraph on the Andy Murray drama and the canning of coach Mark Petchey: "Petchey believed that in order for Murray to reach the upper echelons of the sport he needed to be more aggressive. The Scot disagreed, preferring to build his game around consistency. The former British No. 3 Barry Cowan, who commentates on Sky alongside Petchey, feels that Murray's current style of play is inhibiting his progress. "I think he's someone who can go the whole way, but the way he's playing at the moment could hold him back," he told The Sunday Telegraph. "With his talent, belief, athleticism and understanding of the game he can definitely win a Grand Slam, but he's playing too passively...He needs to take risks. Roger Federer, Marat Safin, even David Nalbandian, these guys are aggressive players. They take the game to their opponents. Murray doesn't do that and it could hurt him."...Nadia Petrova joins the Top 5 for the first time on the WTA Rankings...Mardy Fish will have to play the qualifying at the French Open, but his goal is to make the main draw at Wimbledon after winning a Challenger and the tour event in Houston in consecutive weeks: "It's reachable now. I need to bear down again, forget about the last two weeks and start over."...Marat Safin only got into the Monte Carlo draw as an alternate after a number of players withdrew...Find the fun part in this excerpt from AndyRoddick.com: "Most Andy fans would agree that 30 seconds of A-rod is hardly enough, yet some of our favorite Andy moments are from his various commercials. A natural in front of the camera, Andy has entertained us in several American Express, Lexus and ESPN promotions. Andy's latest commercial with Lacoste gives a behind the scenes look at Andy both on and off the court. Dawning a variety of Lacoste items throughout the montage, Andy shows how to win in style."...Nice four-leaf-clover run from Mardy Fish at Houston, getting a walkover versus Rainer Schuettler and a default from Tommy Haas...From the New York Daily News on the ongoing saga on Joey G.: "He was born in Yonkers and raised on the streets and came to be known as Joey G, a playful nickname that seems quite ill-fitting given his current circumstances. There are a lot of people looking for Joey G -- aka Joe Giuliano -- these days. Some are friends who are worried about him. Some are alleged victims who are repulsed by him. Some are investigators for the Carlsbad (Calif.) Police Department who are eager to talk to him. Joe Giuliano is a tennis coach, or at least he used to be, before he disappeared some five months ago, before the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) banned him for life amid charges of sexual indiscretions, making him the first person in the sport to be permanently suspended. And the Tour does mean permanently. The WTA has even barred Giuliano from buying a ticket to a Tour event; his face was posted at entry points and ticket booths at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C., last week."...Tommy Haas has pulled from Monte Carlo with his wrist injury...Tim Henman and Andy Murray are playing doubles together in Monte Carlo.