Federer-Nadal Rivalry Renewal Likely Cincinnati Tennis Masters
Posted on August 14, 2006For all his humbleness, Rafael Nadal does not like losing. Seeing Roger Federer advance to his 17th consecutive final over the weekend, and knowing he has the upper hand on the Swiss on hardcourts in 2006, the Spaniard is ready to rebound after suffering an upset last week at the hands of explosive Czech Tomas Berdych at the MS-Canada.
Admitting that his preparation since Wimbledon had been haphazard, Nadal this week will be tested straight away at Cincinnati where he opens against huge-serving American hopeful Sam Querrey. In the second round the Spaniard will likely face Arnaud Clement who defeated him earlier this year, and in the third round No. 14 seed Tommy Haas.
Federer opens against the struggling Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, then things get interesting when he meets the winner of an all-Brit opener with Andy Murray again meeting Tim Henman, who he has topped in both their career encounters.
In the third round a potential rematch with hot-handed Russian Dmitry Tursunov looms, then in the quarterfinals possibly the No. 9-seeded Andy Roddick who is coming off a back injury, or No. 5-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
Other opening-round matches of interest are the struggling (15) Robby Ginepri vs. French talent Paul-Henri Mathieu, (9) Roddick vs. Italian Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali who has given the American problems in the past, (5) Davydenko vs. the tenacious Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, (13) Fernando Gonzalez vs. Chilean countryman Nicolas Massu, (10) David Ferrer vs. countryman and former Spanish No. 1 Carlos Moya, and former No. 1 Marat Safin vs. Gael "Force" Monfils, winner to face the victor in (8) Marcos Baghdatis vs. former Slam champ Thomas Johansson.
Meetings to watch in the bottom half are (7) Tommy Robredo vs. Richard Gasquet, (12) Jarkko Nieminen vs. rising Serb star Novak Djokovic, (4) Ivan Ljubicic vs. Greg Rusedski in a serving contest, (6) James Blake vs. Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, (11) Tomas Berdych vs. Swedish seed-killer Robin Soderling, and (14) Haas vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco.
In last year's final Federer defeated Roddick 6-3, 7-5.
Returning champs in the field are Federer (2005), Roddick (2003), and Moya (2002).
Admitting that his preparation since Wimbledon had been haphazard, Nadal this week will be tested straight away at Cincinnati where he opens against huge-serving American hopeful Sam Querrey. In the second round the Spaniard will likely face Arnaud Clement who defeated him earlier this year, and in the third round No. 14 seed Tommy Haas.
Federer opens against the struggling Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, then things get interesting when he meets the winner of an all-Brit opener with Andy Murray again meeting Tim Henman, who he has topped in both their career encounters.
In the third round a potential rematch with hot-handed Russian Dmitry Tursunov looms, then in the quarterfinals possibly the No. 9-seeded Andy Roddick who is coming off a back injury, or No. 5-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
Other opening-round matches of interest are the struggling (15) Robby Ginepri vs. French talent Paul-Henri Mathieu, (9) Roddick vs. Italian Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali who has given the American problems in the past, (5) Davydenko vs. the tenacious Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, (13) Fernando Gonzalez vs. Chilean countryman Nicolas Massu, (10) David Ferrer vs. countryman and former Spanish No. 1 Carlos Moya, and former No. 1 Marat Safin vs. Gael "Force" Monfils, winner to face the victor in (8) Marcos Baghdatis vs. former Slam champ Thomas Johansson.
Meetings to watch in the bottom half are (7) Tommy Robredo vs. Richard Gasquet, (12) Jarkko Nieminen vs. rising Serb star Novak Djokovic, (4) Ivan Ljubicic vs. Greg Rusedski in a serving contest, (6) James Blake vs. Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, (11) Tomas Berdych vs. Swedish seed-killer Robin Soderling, and (14) Haas vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco.
In last year's final Federer defeated Roddick 6-3, 7-5.
Returning champs in the field are Federer (2005), Roddick (2003), and Moya (2002).