Federer Leads Blow-Out Field This Week at ATP Masters Madrid
Posted on October 16, 2006World No. 1 Roger Federer and No. 2 Rafael Nadal head a blow-out field this week at the Masters Series-Madrid where, sans the injured Radek Stepanek, the full Top 16-ranked players are in attendance this week as leading seeds.
"I think Rafa is the player with the advantage at home," Federer told the AP Sunday. "He holds the title and he will defend it, so all I can hope is this year I can play well because it's going to be a difficult tournament for everyone."
Nadal will try to end a five-event title drought stretching back to the French Open.
"I would love to retain the title in Madrid, but this time all the world's best will be here and the surface isn't my favorite," Nadal said. "Last year, I'd practically lost the final and the support of the fans helped me turn the match around."
Federer has never won Madrid.
"The key for me is to get through the first rounds," Federer said. "I really like this surface and I play well on it. Though it's been three or four years since I played here, I had a good time, and if things smile on me I hope to go and win one match at a time."
Joining the Swiss and Spaniard among the Top 8 seeds are Ivan Ljubicic, David Nalbandian, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, Tommy Robredo and James Blake.
The No. 8-16 seeds are Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Gonzalez, Tomas Berdych, Mario Ancic, Tommy Haas, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic and Juan Carlos Ferrero. All 16 seeds receive first-round byes in Madrid.
Only three weeks remain before the year-end Masters Cup, and only two of the eight spots have been clinched, by Federer and Nadal. Madrid is especially important for Blake, Robredo, Nalbandian, Baghdatis, Ancic and Haas, who fight for the potential last three spots, with Ljubicic, Davydenko and Roddick close to clinching spots 3-6.
"Now every match is huge but to extend my lead is great and I think I am more than 100 points ahead of No. 9," said Ljubicic after winning the Vienna title on Sunday. "Now I can focus and think more of closing at No. 3 or No. 4, so I think it's more or less safe."
In the top quarter of the Madrid draw, Federer will likely face Ferrero or the hot-handed Soderling in the third round before meeting Ancic or Robredo in the quarters to emerge into the semis. Ancic after a bye will open against either of two players who have struggled of late, American Robby Ginepri or Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez. Robredo in his opener could have his hands full against countryman and former No. 1 Carlos Moya.
Blake and Nalbandian are the opposing top seeds in the second quarter. Nalbandian is drawn to eventually face No. 14 seed David Ferrer in the third round, that is if Ferrer can navigate a potential opener against wildcard Tim Henman. Blake is looking at a potential opener against hot-handed Russian blogger Dmitry Tursunov, and a second-rounded against Baghdatis who is trying to rebound from a shoulder injury.
Blake hopes to take his small-event success event to the Masters Series level.
"I've never won a match in Madrid but I'm going in there with a 10-0 streak indoors after wins in Bangkok and Stockholm, so mentally I'm feeling great," Blake said. "Hopefully I can get that first win there."
The third quarter of the Madrid draw is a blockbuster, featuring top seeds Davydenko and Ljubicic, both coming off titles last week. Both are faced with intriguing potential openers -- the Russian against the go-for-broke Swede Joachim Johansson who returned last week in Stockholm from shoulder injury, and the Croat against the Brad Gilbert-backed Andy Murray.
Down the road, Davydenko in the third round could oppose Gonzalez, if the Chilean can navigate an opener versus Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, and Ljubicic against Djokovic who himself has a potential tough beginning versus France's Richard "Baby Fed" Gasquet.
Nadal and Roddick top the bottom quarter, and each must overcome big-serving opposition to reach a potential quarterfinal meeting.
After a likely opener against Xavier "X-Man" Malisse, who Nadal has never faced on fast courts, the Spaniard is slated to face the No. 13-seeded Haas, who must overcome his own tricky opener against either Gael "Force" Monfils or Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty.
Roddick, who was surprised last week in the Vienna semifinals by Gonzalez, has a light opener (for a MS event) against either Sebastien Grosjean or Jonas Bjorkman, then a likely meeting with the monster game of Tomas Berdych in the third round.
It would be the first meeting between Roddick and Berdych, separated by only five ranking positions as of last week.
Last year, without an injured Federer in attendance, Nadal took home his homecountry title, beating Ljubicic 7-6 in the fifth set.
Former champs in the field are Nadal (2005), Safin (2004) and Ferrero (2003). In doubles, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor have captured the title in three of the last four years.
"I think Rafa is the player with the advantage at home," Federer told the AP Sunday. "He holds the title and he will defend it, so all I can hope is this year I can play well because it's going to be a difficult tournament for everyone."
Nadal will try to end a five-event title drought stretching back to the French Open.
"I would love to retain the title in Madrid, but this time all the world's best will be here and the surface isn't my favorite," Nadal said. "Last year, I'd practically lost the final and the support of the fans helped me turn the match around."
Federer has never won Madrid.
"The key for me is to get through the first rounds," Federer said. "I really like this surface and I play well on it. Though it's been three or four years since I played here, I had a good time, and if things smile on me I hope to go and win one match at a time."
Joining the Swiss and Spaniard among the Top 8 seeds are Ivan Ljubicic, David Nalbandian, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, Tommy Robredo and James Blake.
The No. 8-16 seeds are Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando Gonzalez, Tomas Berdych, Mario Ancic, Tommy Haas, David Ferrer, Novak Djokovic and Juan Carlos Ferrero. All 16 seeds receive first-round byes in Madrid.
Only three weeks remain before the year-end Masters Cup, and only two of the eight spots have been clinched, by Federer and Nadal. Madrid is especially important for Blake, Robredo, Nalbandian, Baghdatis, Ancic and Haas, who fight for the potential last three spots, with Ljubicic, Davydenko and Roddick close to clinching spots 3-6.
"Now every match is huge but to extend my lead is great and I think I am more than 100 points ahead of No. 9," said Ljubicic after winning the Vienna title on Sunday. "Now I can focus and think more of closing at No. 3 or No. 4, so I think it's more or less safe."
In the top quarter of the Madrid draw, Federer will likely face Ferrero or the hot-handed Soderling in the third round before meeting Ancic or Robredo in the quarters to emerge into the semis. Ancic after a bye will open against either of two players who have struggled of late, American Robby Ginepri or Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez. Robredo in his opener could have his hands full against countryman and former No. 1 Carlos Moya.
Blake and Nalbandian are the opposing top seeds in the second quarter. Nalbandian is drawn to eventually face No. 14 seed David Ferrer in the third round, that is if Ferrer can navigate a potential opener against wildcard Tim Henman. Blake is looking at a potential opener against hot-handed Russian blogger Dmitry Tursunov, and a second-rounded against Baghdatis who is trying to rebound from a shoulder injury.
Blake hopes to take his small-event success event to the Masters Series level.
"I've never won a match in Madrid but I'm going in there with a 10-0 streak indoors after wins in Bangkok and Stockholm, so mentally I'm feeling great," Blake said. "Hopefully I can get that first win there."
The third quarter of the Madrid draw is a blockbuster, featuring top seeds Davydenko and Ljubicic, both coming off titles last week. Both are faced with intriguing potential openers -- the Russian against the go-for-broke Swede Joachim Johansson who returned last week in Stockholm from shoulder injury, and the Croat against the Brad Gilbert-backed Andy Murray.
Down the road, Davydenko in the third round could oppose Gonzalez, if the Chilean can navigate an opener versus Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, and Ljubicic against Djokovic who himself has a potential tough beginning versus France's Richard "Baby Fed" Gasquet.
Nadal and Roddick top the bottom quarter, and each must overcome big-serving opposition to reach a potential quarterfinal meeting.
After a likely opener against Xavier "X-Man" Malisse, who Nadal has never faced on fast courts, the Spaniard is slated to face the No. 13-seeded Haas, who must overcome his own tricky opener against either Gael "Force" Monfils or Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty.
Roddick, who was surprised last week in the Vienna semifinals by Gonzalez, has a light opener (for a MS event) against either Sebastien Grosjean or Jonas Bjorkman, then a likely meeting with the monster game of Tomas Berdych in the third round.
It would be the first meeting between Roddick and Berdych, separated by only five ranking positions as of last week.
Last year, without an injured Federer in attendance, Nadal took home his homecountry title, beating Ljubicic 7-6 in the fifth set.
Former champs in the field are Nadal (2005), Safin (2004) and Ferrero (2003). In doubles, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor have captured the title in three of the last four years.