Federer, Nadal Lead Super Six into Monte Carlo Quarterfinals

The top six seeds in the quarterfinals of Masters Series Monte-Carlo marks the first time at the tournament in the Open Era. It is also the first time in an ATP Masters Series tournament the top six seeds have advanced to the quarterfinals since 1999 Cincinnati.

World No. 1 and two-time finalist Roger Federer battles long-time rival No. 6 seed David Nalbandian, No. 2/three-time defending champion Rafael Nadal meets Spanish countryman No. 5 David Ferrer, No. 3 Novak Djokovic plays unseeded Sam Querrey, and No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko takes on unseeded Russian compatriot Igor Andreev. Djokovic, Andreev and Querrey are playing in the Monte Carlo quarterfinals for the first time.

Federer and Nalbandian meet for the 17th time in their career on Friday (tied 8-8) and this marks the seventh straight year they have played each other. Their first meeting came here in Monte Carlo six years ago in the second round with the Argentine winning 6-2, 6-1. Last year Nalbandian won in back-to-back weeks in the final at ATP Masters Series Madrid and in the third round at ATP Masters Series Paris. Prior to that, Federer had won the previous four meetings, all in 2006, including on clay ATP Masters Series Rome and Roland Garros (both in SFs).

Nadal takes a 27-match winning streak against his countrymen on clay into Friday’s quarterfinal against compatriot No. 5 David Ferrer. The last time Nadal lost to a Spaniard on clay came in the quarterfinals of Stuttgart on July 16, 2004 to Ferrer. Since the beginning of Monte Carlo in 2005, Nadal has won 95 of 96 matches on clay with his only loss to Federer in the final of ATP Masters Series Hamburg last May.

The lone American in the singles draw and lowest-ranked player (at No. 50) remaining is 20-year-old Sam Querrey. The California native is the first American to reach the quarterfinals (or better) in Monte Carlo since 2003 when Vincent Spadea advanced to the semifinals (l. to Ferrero). With his win over No. 9thranked Richard Gasquet on Thursday, Querrey became the first American to defeat a Top 10 player on clay since Spadea beat No. 5 Rainer Schuettler in the first round at ATP Masters Series Rome in May 2004. The victory broke a 19-match losing streak on clay by Americans vs. Top 10 opponents. Querrey came in this week with a 1-6 career record on clay but he’s posted wins over No. 10 seed/1998 champion Carlos Moya in the first round and Andreas Seppi in the second round along with Gasquet. When asked about his breakthrough week on clay, Querrey said, “Yeah. I mean, when I came here, I was playing Moya on Sunday. I booked a flight home for Monday morning. Then when I won that, moved it to Tuesday morning. Won yesterday. Moved it to this morning. Then won today. Then I've got to move it to Saturday now, so... Yeah, I'm surprising myself. “

Russians Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev meet in the first quarterfinal on Friday and the winner will become the first Russian to reach the semifinals in Monte Carlo since Marat Safin in 2004. The winner will also advance to the semifinals for the first time against the survivor of the all-Spanish battle between Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer. A Spaniard has advanced to the semifinals or better every year since 2002. (ATP Digital Services)

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