Tennis Masters Cup Day Five Match Notes

DAY FIVE PREVIEW

• All four singles players in the Red Group can still qualify for Saturday’s semifinals, with world No. 1 Roger Federer in the strongest position having won his first two round-robin matches.

[A full breakdown of the qualification scenarios in the Red Group can be found overleaf.]

 
RED GROUP QUALIFICATION SCENARIOS

Roger Federer will definitely qualify if:

• Federer defeats Ljubicic
• Nalbandian defeats Roddick

Roger Federer could still qualify if:

• Federer loses to Ljubicic in three sets and Roddick defeats Nalbandian in three sets (three-way tie between Federer, Ljubicic and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)

Andy Roddick will definitely qualify if:

• Roddick defeats Nalbandian in straight sets
• Roddick defeats Nalbandian in three sets and Federer defeats Ljubicic
• Roddick defeats Nalbandian in three sets and Ljubicic defeats Federer in straight sets

Andy Roddick could still qualify if:

• Roddick defeats Nalbandian in three sets and Ljubicic defeats Federer in three sets (three-way tie between Federer, Ljubicic and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)
• Roddick loses to Nalbandian in three sets and Federer defeats Ljubicic in three sets (three-way tie between Ljubicic, Nalbandian and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)

Ivan Ljubicic will definitely qualify if:

• Ljubicic defeats Federer in straight sets
• Ljubicic defeats Federer in three sets and Roddick defeats Nalbandian in straight sets
• Ljubicic defeats Federer in three sets and Nalbandian defeats Roddick

Ivan Ljubicic could still qualify if:

• Ljubicic defeats Federer in three sets and Roddick defeats Nalbandian in three sets (three-way tie between Federer, Ljubicic and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)
• Ljubicic loses to Federer in three sets and Nalbandian defeats Roddick in three sets (three-way tie between Ljubicic, Nalbandian and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)

David Nalbandian will definitely qualify if:

• Nalbandian defeats Roddick in straight sets and Federer defeats Ljubicic
• Nalbandian defeats Roddick in three sets and Federer defeats Ljubicic in straight sets

David Nalbandian could still qualify if:

• Nalbandian defeats Roddick in three sets and Federer defeats Ljubicic in three sets (three-way tie between Ljubicic, Nalbandian and Roddick decided on percentage of games won)

DAY FIVE MATCH-UPS

NO. 5 ANDY RODDICK (USA) v NO. 7 DAVID NALBANDIAN (ARG)

Head-to-head: Roddick leads 3-1
02 AMS Toronto Hard (O) QF Andy Roddick  63 62
03 AMS Montreal Hard (O) F Andy Roddick   61 63
03 US Open Hard (O) SF Andy Roddick  67(4) 36 76(7) 61 63
03 Basel Carpet (I) SF David Nalbandian 75 75

It is over three years since the two players last met on the tour. Nalbandian won the last match-up at 2003 Basel, having missed a match point in their previous meeting in the semifinals at the 2003 US Open.

RODDICK

Birthdate: August 13, 1982
YTD W-L: 49-19
YTD Titles: 1
YTD Prize money (at start of event): $2,004,890
ATP Ranking: 5

Tournament History: Roddick defeated Ivan Ljubicic 64 67(9) 61 in his opening match, before missing three match points in a 46 76(8) 64 defeat by Roger Federer.

Roddick qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup for the fourth successive year, although he did not play in last year’s event due to a back injury. He lost in the semifinals on his two previous Masters Cup appearances, at Houston in 2003-04.

 
2006 Highlights:
W: AMS Cincinnati (d Ferrero) F: Indianapolis (l Blake), US Open (l Federer) SF: San Jose (l Murray), London/Queen's Club (l Blake), Vienna (l Gonzalez) QF: Memphis (l Benneteau), AMS Miami (l Ferrer), Houston (l Haas), AMS Rome (l Monfils), Los Angeles (W/O vs Tursunov)

2006 Review:
The American is on course to finish in Top 5 for a fourth consecutive year... Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup for fourth straight season but did not play last year due to a back injury... Captured his lone title at ATP Masters Series Cincinnati (d. Ferrero) in August and followed by reaching his fourth career Grand Slam final at US Open (l. to Federer)... Compiled an outstanding 18-2 record during summer circuit after working with former No. 1 Jimmy Connors... Began summer with a runner-up in Indianapolis (l. to Blake in third set tie-break) and followed with QF in Los Angeles but withdrew after injuring his left side in 2nd RD win... Then was sidelined next two weeks and missed Washington and Toronto... Returned to action in Cincinnati where he survived a three tie-break marathon against Italian Daniele Bracciali in 1st RD and then completed the week with straight-sets wins over Vliegen, Chela, Murray, Gonzalez and Ferrero... Clinched the US Open Series title for second consecutive year by winning final... Highlights in first half of season came in Davis Cup action as he clinched 1st RD and QF wins over Romania and Chile, respectively, to lead U.S. squad into SF against Russia... Lost a 17-15 five-set marathon (4 hours, 48 min.) against Tursunov, which clinched Russia's victory in Moscow... His best ATP results included a SF in San Jose (l. to eventual champion Murray), Queen’s (l. to Blake) and Vienna (l. to Gonzalez)... Also reached QF in Memphis (l. to Benneteau), AMS Miami (l. to Ferrer), Houston (l. to Haas) and AMS Rome (l. to Monfils)... In first Grand Slam tournament at Australian Open, lost in 4th RD to eventual finalist Marcos Baghdatis... In opening round Davis Cup tie against Romania, lost to Pavel in five sets before clinching tie with straight-sets win over Sabau... In QF home tie on grass vs. Chile, defeated Massu in straight sets and Gonzalez in four sets to lead U.S. into SF (or better) for third time in five years... Dropped out of Top 10 on July 10 for first time since Oct. 28, 2002 for four weeks before returning after Cincinnati title... Has won at least one ATP title every year since 2001.

NALBANDIAN

Birthdate: January 1, 1982
YTD W-L: 41-18
YTD Titles: 1
YTD Prize money (at start of event): $1,210,040
ATP Ranking: 7

Tournament History: Defending champion Nalbandian has lost both his round robin matches. He was defeated by Roger Federer 36 61 61 in his first match, the second successive year he has lost to Federer in his opening contest. He then lost to Ivan Ljubicic 57 76(7) 75, having led by a set and 5-3.

Nalbandian is making his third appearance at the Tennis Masters Cup. Last year he avenged his defeat in his opening match by coming from two sets down to defeat Federer in the final. He went out at the round robin stage in his other previous Masters Cup appearance at Houston in 2003.

2006 Highlights:
W: Estoril (d Davydenko) SF: Australian Open (l Baghdatis), AMS Miami (l Ljubicic), AMS Rome (l Federer), Roland Garros (l Federer), AMS Madrid (l Federer) QF: Vienna (l Gonzalez), Basel (l Wawrinka)

2006 Review:
The No. 1 Argentine and defending Tennis Masters Cup champion is in the process of finishing in the Top 10 for the fourth consecutive season... Jumped off to a 15-5 start in first four months of play and reached a career-high No. 3 INDESIT ATP Ranking on Mar. 20 with SF showings at Australian Open (l. to Baghdatis in five sets) and ATP Masters Series Miami... Became third active player at the time (Agassi, Federer) to reach SF or better at all four Grand Slam tournaments in his career... He and countryman Guillermo Vilas (No. 2 in 1975) are the highest-ranked Argentines in history of ATP Rankings (since 1973)... Helped his country to Davis Cup final with a four-sets win over Sweden's Robin Soderling in 1st RD tie in Buenos Aires and defeated Marin Cilic in QF tie in Croatia... In SF vs. Australia, defeated Philippoussis in straight sets in opening rubber to lift his country to its first Cup final since 1981 (l. to U.S.)... In first three ATP Masters Series tournaments, reached 4th RD in Indian Wells (l. to Srichaphan), SF in Miami (l. to Ljubicic) and 3rd RD in Monte-Carlo (l. to Robredo)... Captured his fifth career ATP title in Estoril (d. Davydenko), then advanced to SF at Rome, losing to Federer in a third set tie-break and at Roland Garros where he was tied one set all against Federer before retiring with a pulled stomach muscle at 2-5 in the third set... Only played four tournaments (4-4 mark) in next two months and advanced to 3rd RD at Wimbledon (l. to Verdasco) and 2nd RD at US Open (l. to Safin)... After helping Argentina to Davis Cup final, played in European indoor circuit and reached QF in Vienna (l. to Gonzalez), SF at ATP Masters Series Madrid (l. to Federer) and QF in Basel (l. to Wawrinka).

NO. 1 ROGER FEDERER (SUI) v NO. 4 IVAN LJUBICIC (CRO)

Head-to-head: Federer leads 10-3
00 Marseille Hard (I) QF  Roger Federer  62 36 76(5)
01 Gstaad Clay (O) R32  Ivan Ljubicic  62 61
02 AMS Cincinnati Hard (O) R64  Ivan Ljubicic  26 64 63
03 Marseille Hard (I) R32  Roger Federer  76(3) ret.
03 Dubai Hard (O) SF  Roger Federer  63 62
03 Basel Carpet (I) R16  Ivan Ljubicic  76(5) 67(5) 64
05 Doha Hard (O) F  Roger Federer  63 61
05 Rotterdam Hard (I) F  Roger Federer  57 75 76(5)
05 Dubai Hard (O) F  Roger Federer  61 67(6) 63
05 AMS Indian Wells  Hard (O) R16  Roger Federer  76(3) 76(4) 
05 TMC Shanghai Carpet (I) RR  Roger Federer 63 26 76(4)
06 AMS Indian Wells  Hard (O) QF  Roger Federer  62 63
06 AMS Miami Hard (O) F  Roger Federer  76(5) 76(4) 76(6)

The two players meet at Shanghai for the second successive year, Federer winning in a third-set tiebreak in last year’s round robin.

FEDERER

Birthdate: August 8, 1981
YTD W-L: 89-5
YTD Titles: 11
YTD Prize money (at start of event): $6,823,885
ATP Ranking: 1

Tournament History: Federer has extended his unbeaten Tennis Masters Cup round-robin record to 14-0. He defeated defending champion David Nalbandian 36 61 61 in his opening match, before saving three match points to beat Andy Roddick 46 76(8) 64.

Federer is making his fifth consecutive Tennis Masters Cup appearance. After reaching the semifinals at Shanghai in 2002, he won consecutive titles at Houston in 2003-04, before his 14-match Masters Cup winning streak was ended in last year’s Shanghai final by Nalbandian.

Federer was honoured on court on Monday evening for his record-setting season, and presented with the INDESIT ATP 2006 Race trophy for finishing the year at No. 1. Federer’s victory over Andy Roddick on Tuesday saw him become the first professional player to earn $7 million prize money in a season.

2006 Highlights:
W: Doha (d Monfils), Australian Open (d Baghdatis), AMS Indian Wells (d Blake), AMS Miami (d Ljubicic), Halle (d Berdych), Wimbledon (d Nadal), AMS Canada (d Gasquet), Tokyo (d Henman), US Open (d Roddick), AMS Madrid (d Gonzalez), Basel (d Gonzalez) F: Dubai (l Nadal), AMS Monte-Carlo (l Nadal), AMS Rome (l Nadal), Roland Garros (l Nadal)

2006 Review:
The Swiss superstar comes into the Tennis Masters Cup with an ATP-best 11 titles in a career-high 15 finals... Became first player in Open Era to win at least 10 titles three straight years... Advanced to finals in 15 of 16 tournaments played (21 of 22 back to June 2005) during year and only time he failed to reach a final was Cincinnati where he lost in 2nd RD... Finished No. 1 for third straight season and only fifth player since 1973 to end year at No. 1 at least three consecutive years... Became first player to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a year since Rod Laver in 1969 and going back to 2005 Wimbledon, advanced to six straight Slam finals, first player to accomplish that feat since Laver in 1961-62... Also joined Laver as only players to win at least three Grand Slam titles twice in a season (Laver won Grand Slam in 1962, '69)... Going back to June 2005, advanced to 17 consecutive finals, second-best behind Ivan Lendl's 18 straight final appearances in 1981-82... His five losses came to two players -- No. 2 Nadal in finals of Dubai in March, ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo in April, ATP Masters Series Rome in May and Roland Garros in June and to Andy Murray in 2nd RD of Cincinnati in August... His loss to Murray ended a 55-match winning streak in North America... He also won a record 29 consecutive ATP Masters Series matches since Hamburg in May 2005 (along w/Cincinnati, ’06 Indian Wells, Miami) before Nadal ended streak with his four-set win in Monte-Carlo… Had also won nine consecutive Masters Series finals since 2004... Began year with a repeat title in Doha (d. Monfils) without dropping a set, followed with his third straight Grand Slam crown at Australian Open (d. Baghdatis) and became first player since Pete Sampras in 1993-94 to win three consecutive Slam titles… Returned to action in Dubai and reached final, only to lose to Nadal in three sets…The loss broke his Open Era record 56-match hard court winning streak going back to '05 Australian Open. (l. to Safin in SF)… Moved on to Indian Wells and became first player to win three straight tournament titles (d. Blake)… Then in Miami, defeated Ljubicic in three tie-breaks to repeat his title… Made clay court debut in Monte-Carlo and lost only one set en route to his first final (d. Ferrer in QF, Gonzalez in SF) before losing to Nadal in three hours and 50 minutes... In his next clay court showing in Rome, held two match points against Nadal before falling in a fifth set tie-break in a five hour and five minute marathon... Went into Roland Garros and dropped only two sets en route to his first final in Paris, only to fall in four sets to defending champion Nadal... Then in Halle won four of his five matches in three sets to capture Germany's grass court tournament for a fourth straight year and tie Bjorn Borg's grass court record of 41 consecutive matches won... Saved four match points in his QF victory over O. Rochus... At All England Club dropped his only set to Nadal in title match to capture his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title and join Sampras (7 overall) and Borg (5) as only players to win at least four straight crowns in Open Era... Went undefeated on grass (12-0) for fourth straight year and owns longest grass court winning streak (48)... Returned after Wimbledon and captured ATP Masters Series Toronto title (d. Gasquet)... At US Open, became first player to win three straight US Open titles since Lendl in 1985-87 with his four-set win over Roddick... Then helped his country to '07 Davis Cup World Group with three wins against Serbia... Returned to tour play in Tokyo and captured title (d. Henman) before heading into European indoor circuit... Captured his sixth different ATP Masters Series title in Madrid (d. Gonzalez) and followed with his first hometown title in Basel (d. Gonzalez)... Has ranked No. 1 every week since Feb. 2, 2004, the third-longest consecutive streak (146 as of Nov. 13) behind Jimmy Connors (160) and Ivan Lendl (157)… Will break Connors' mark if he remains No. 1 until Feb. 26, 2007... Stands fifth in Total Weeks at No. 1 behind Sampras (286), Lendl (270), Connors (268), John McEnroe (170), and Federer (146).

LJUBICIC

Birthdate: March 19, 1979
YTD W-L: 61-19
YTD Titles: 3
YTD Prize money (at start of event): $1,503,167
ATP Ranking: 4

Tournament History: Ljubicic lost his opening round robin match to Andy Roddick 64 67(9) 61. He then defeated defending champion David Nalbandian 57 76(7) 75, having trailed by a set and 5-3.

This is Ljubicic’s second successive Tennis Masters Cup appearance. Last year he went 1-2 in the round robin at Shanghai, failing to reach the semifinals.

2006 Highlights:
W: Chennai (d Moya), Zagreb (d Koubek), Vienna (d Gonzalez) F: AMS Miami (l Federer), Bangkok (l Blake) SF: Roland Garros (l Nadal) QF: Australian Open (l Baghdatis), Marseille (l Ancic), AMS Indian Wells (l Federer), AMS Monte-Carlo (l Gonzalez), AMS Cincinnati (l Robredo), Gstaad (l Lopez), Beijing (l Lee)

2006 Review:
The No. 1 Croat is appearing in his second straight Tennis Masters Cup and he is on pace to finish in Top 5 for first time in his career... Comes in with a personal-best 60 match wins and reached a career-high No. 3 in INDESIT ATP Rankings... He advanced to QF (or better) in 13 tournaments, including first seven through April, highlighted by ATP titles in Chennai (d. Moya) in January and Zagreb (d. Koubek) in February… Also reached first career Grand Slam QF at Australian Open (l. to Baghdatis in five sets) and later SF at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal)... Advanced to QF in Marseille (l. to Ancic) and then in Indian Wells, losing to eventual champ Federer… Followed with his first career ATP final on U.S. soil in Miami, losing to Federer in three tie-breaks in early April… After Miami, played in Davis Cup QF tie vs. Argentina and won both of matches against Calleri and Nalbandian but Croatia lost 3-2… Made career-best QF showing at ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo (l. to Gonzalez)… Led Croatian efforts at ARAG ATP World Team Championship title, clinching title with victory over Kiefer in final… Followed with Grand Slam-best SF showing at Roland Garros… Also made career-best performance at Wimbledon by reaching 3rd RD (l. to Tursunov in five sets)… Reached two more QF during summer, on clay in Gstaad (l. to Lopez) and at AMS Cincinnati (l. to Robredo)… After an opening round loss at US Open (l. to Lopez), played well with QF in Beijing (l. to Lee), runner-up at Bangkok (l. to Blake) and repeat title in Vienna (d. Gonzalez)... Did not lose his serve in 52 games (for second straight year)... Last season had the most indoor match wins (35) on the ATP circuit and was leading again (19) this year... Led RICOH ATP MatchFacts in aces (875), first serve points won (79%), No. 3 in service games won (89%), and No. 7 in break points saved (66%).

NO. 6 MARTIN DAMM (CZE)/LEANDER PAES (IND) v NO. 7 JONATHAN ERLICH/ANDY RAM (ISR)
Head-to-head: first meeting

DAMM/PAES

Damm and Paes have suffered two round-robin defeats… They lost to Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett 76(6) 46 63 in their opening match, before going down to Bob and Mike Bryan 62 67(4) 76(5)… After a combined 29 years and 65 career doubles titles on the ATP circuit, the doubles veterans joined forces for the first time this year... Secured their spot in Tennis Masters Cup by winning their first Grand Slam title at the US Open, the one Grand Slam title eluding former doubles No. 1 Paes and the first career Slam title for Damm... Started 2006 with run to the Australian Open final in their Grand Slam debut (l. to Bryan-Bryan)... Did not advance to another final until June in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where they captured their first team title (d. Clement-Haggard)... Maintained momentum by achieving SF finishes at Wimbledon and the ATP Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati before going on hoist the US Open trophy (d. Bjorkman-Mirnyi)... Both players have made previous appearances at the season-ending championship... Paes is a two-time event finalist, in 2000 with countryman Mahesh Bhupathi and in 2005 with Nenad Zimonjic... Damm made Tennis Masters Cup appearances in 2003 and 2004 with compatriot Cyril Suk.

ERLICH/RAM

Erlich and Ram defeated top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan 76(2) 26 61 in their opening match, before losing to Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett 64 64… The Israelis make their first appearance at the Tennis Masters Cup after serving as alternates last year... The pair picked up their sixth career title at the season-opening event in Adelaide... In June, defended their Nottingham crown during the grass court swing... Found Davis Cup success, winning the doubles rubber in SF action to help Israel defeat Great Britain for the first time (d. Delgado-Murray, 6-4 in the fifth set)... Over their next seven tournament appearances, captured the New Haven and Bangkok titles and advanced to three SF, in Washington, ATP Masters Series Cincinnati and Vienna... The duo played in a career-high six finals in 2006, winning a career-high four titles... Finished as runners-up in Rotterdam and at ATP Masters Series Rome... Ram made history at Wimbledon when he took home the mixed doubles title with Russia’s Vera Zvonareva, making him the first Israeli to win a Grand Slam title.

NO. 1 BOB BRYAN/MIKE BRYAN (USA) v NO. 4 PAUL HANLEY (AUS)/KEVIN ULLYETT (ZIM)         

Head-to-head: Bryan/Bryan lead 4-1
06 Australian Open Hard (O) SF Bryan/Bryan  63 64
06 Queen’s Grass (O) SF Hanley/Ullyett 75 76(4)
06 Washington Hard (O) F Bryan/Bryan 63 57 [10-3]
06 AMS Toronto Hard (O) F Bryan/Bryan 63 75
06 AMS Madrid Hard (I) SF Bryan/Bryan 67(10) 63 [10-6]

BRYAN/BRYAN

The Bryans lost their first match to Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 76(2) 26 61, before defeating Martin Damm and Leander Paes 62 67(4) 76(5)… The American twins look to earn their third Tennis Masters Cup title after earning back-to-back crowns in 2003 and 2004... The duo made 11 appearances in finals in 2006, winning a career-best seven titles... In 2003, became the first-ever team of brothers to finish at No. 1... Repeated the feat in 2005, when they became the second team in 50 years to reach the final in all four Grand Slams (Bhupathi-Paes in 1999), and in 2006... Continued their streak of Grand Slam finals into 2006, reaching the title matches at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon... In February, became the first pair to win the US and Australian Opens back-to-back since Aussies Woodbridge and Woodforde won the 1996 US Open and 1997 Australian Open... By advancing to Roland Garros final, became first team in the Open Era to advance to six consecutive Grand Slam finals, breaking the previous record of five, held by Woodbridge and Woodforde... Completed a career Grand Slam on July 8 with the Wimbledon title (d. Santoro-Zimonjic)... Went on an 18-match win streak following Wimbledon, defending their title in Washington and picking up crowns in Los Angeles and ATP Masters Series Toronto... Also won the ATP Masters Series Madrid title. 

HANLEY/ULLYETT

Hanley and Ullyett have already qualified for the semifinals after winning their first two matches… They defeated Martin Damm and Leander Paes 76(6) 46 63, before beating Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 64 64… The Aussie-Zimbabwean duo enter the Tennis Masters Cup as one of the most successful first-year partnerships of 2006... In their first tournament together, the duo reached the Adelaide final... Followed with a run to the SF of the Australian Open in their Grand Slam debut... In February, claimed their first team title in Rotterdam and the next week won in Dubai... Early hard court success translated over to clay – in the form of the ATP Masters Series title in Hamburg – and then to grass, with the duo capturing the Stella Artois crown... Excelled during the summer swing taking on the top-seeded Bryans in back-to-back finals in Washington and Canada... Capped their summer success with a run to the US Open SF... Returned in October to capture fifth team title in Stockholm and reach the SF at ATP Masters Series Madrid... Both players are making their third appearance in the season-ending championship... Hanley paired with countryman Wayne Arthurs in 1999 and 2005, while 2004 doubles runner-up Ullyett partnered compatriot Wayne Black the last two years. (ATP/ITF)