No Roddick, But Federer-Nadal Rivalry Looks to Resume at Monte Carlo

April 11th, 2009

No Roddick, But Federer-Nadal Rivalry Looks to Resume at Monte Carlo

by Staff

Andy Roddick is the only Top 10 holdout this week at the Masters Monte Carlo, where world No. 1 Rafael Nadal and the slumping Roger Federer are both looking to renew their rivalry in the final after three consecutive meetings in the championship round in 2006-08.

Nadal has drawn Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, who defeated him weeks ago at Indian Wells, in his quarter with a potential quarterfinal match-up.

The second quarter contains hot-handed world No. 4 Andy Murray, and No. 8 seed Nikolay Davydenko who is returning from a lengthy foot injury. Murray is looking at a tester in the third round against No. 14-seeded Croat Marin Cilic.

The third quarter sees a tantalizing potential quarterfinal meeting between No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 7 Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco.

Federer, in the bottom quarter, should remain unchallenged until the quarterfinals when he could face either No. 8 Gilles Simon or No. 11 Tommy Robredo.

Nadal has drawn Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, who defeated him weeks ago at Indian Wells, in his quarter with a potential quarterfinal match-up.

The third quarter sees a tantalizing potential quarterfinal meeting between No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 7 Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco.

Federer, in the bottom quarter, should remain unchallenged until the quarterfinals when he could face either No. 8 Gilles Simon or No. 11 Tommy Robredo.

Opening-round matches of interest include an all-former No. 1 in (WC) Lleyton Hewitt vs. Marat Safin; (12) David Nalbandian vs. Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu; (10) David Ferrer vs. Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez in an all-Spanish meeting; (16) Nicolas Almagro vs. Albert Montanes in an all-Spanish; and (11) Robredo vs. Rainer Schuettler.

Nadal is bidding for a record fifth consecutive Monte Carlo title, last year defeating the top-seeded Federer 7-5, 7-5.

Also Check Out:
Federer Reverses Monte Carlo Decision, Will Take On Nadal
Nadal Wins Twice, Faces Murray Next at Monte Carlo
Tennis Hot as Stars Roddick, Federer Take to Wedding Altar
Nadal Weathers Djokovic Storm, Wins Fifth Straight Monte Carlo Masters Title
Nadal Wins, Federer v Wawrinka in All-Swiss Thursday at Monte Carlo

Filed under: Tennis
Tags: Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, ATP, clay, Monte Carlo, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer

23 Comments for No Roddick, But Federer-Nadal Rivalry Looks to Resume at Monte Carlo

Kimmi Says:

Why is this article repeating itself ? It makes one feel dizzy reading it !
“Andy Roddick is the only top 10 holdout this week” What is the story behind Roddick not playing in Monte carlo year after year ? did he ever played at all ?

April 11th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

anon Says:

What’s the story behind Federer taking a WC away from somebody when he could have entered Monte Carlo in the first place just like he always had?

April 11th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

suzyq Says:

Excuse me but Rafa won the title at IW and the loss was in Miami.

“Nadal has drawn Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, who defeated him weeks ago at Indian Wells, in his quarter with a potential quarterfinal match-up.” tsk tsk

April 11th, 2009 at 11:59 pm

Vared Says:

Fed has cupcake draw.
Novak has Almagro, Verdasco and Ferrer.
Nadal has the worst draw.
I don’t like Murray. Go Cilic.

April 12th, 2009 at 12:22 am

Colin Says:

So Vared doesn’t like Murray. Jeez, who’d have guessed that?

April 12th, 2009 at 3:22 am

buttah Says:

… “Federer-Nadal Rivalry Looks to Resume at Monte Carlo” ….

What rivalry?

April 12th, 2009 at 3:26 am

osazone4real Says:

Federer gets married.

I am really happy for him and really commend him for the big Step(Guess I am a romantic).See link below.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/news/newsarticle_3041.asp

April 12th, 2009 at 3:37 am

osazone4real Says:

I guess this is why he initially skipped monte carlo,Is he not going on a honeymoon?

April 12th, 2009 at 3:42 am

Von Says:

Kimmi, Roddick doesn’t normally play MC neither most of the Americans because we have Houston. Anyway, Andy’s bachelor party takes precedence over MC. A boy’s got to get hitched, ya know.

The top 4 have it made until the QF.

Nadal has the worst draw? He has four (4) senior citizens, Chela, Safin, Hewitt and Stepanek who will cancel out each other, en route to the third round, after which he’ll meet either Monfils and/or DelPotro in the QF. What’s badd/tough about that draw? The only possible threats are Stepanek, who has sort of fizzled out recently, and Hewitt who will probabaly be tired from playing in Houston. He could get beaten by Safin or Stepanek, before he gets to Nadal in Round 3. After round 3 Nadal meets the winner of DelPotro?/Monfils or one of the eight in that section.

Federer has another soft, gift of a draw until the QF, the only one who could push him would be Andreev or Wawa until he meets Simon in the QF.

Djokovic has a second round encounter with the winner of Benneteau/quali, and then faces either the winner of Almagro/Montanes, or Rochus/Lisnard in the third round. Djoko has a prior win over beaten Montanes. After Djoko gets to the QF he awaits the winner of one of the eight in the Verdasco group viz. Verdasco/Ferrer/Lopez. However, Verdasco could lose to Ferrer or Lopez, setting up a Djoko/Ferrer QF.

Murray has 2 qualis in his section, but could first meet Hanescu, then the winner of Berdych/Cilic in Round 3 and if he gets by the 3rd round he’ll wait on the winner of Davy/Karlovic, Nalby/Mathieu or Acasuso/Granollers in the QFs. No one to send shivers up his spine.

The draws seem to become softer and softer for the top 4. The real action is in the 8 man sections of seeds 5 thorugh 8.

In top half SF, we’ll probably see Nadal or Delpotro v. Murray or Nalbandian. The bottom half SF, Djoko or Verdasco/Ferrer v. Simon or Federer.

April 12th, 2009 at 5:11 am

Von Says:

I wonder why they both wore black considering it’s a day-time wedding, and I’ve never seen a bride wear black before on her wedding day.

April 12th, 2009 at 5:14 am

Colin Says:

I suppose if Mirka had worn white some old-fashioned folks would have been making rude remarks about her being preggers. Maybe she’s old fashioned enough herself, to realise that.

April 12th, 2009 at 5:29 am

Von Says:

Black has its advantages — it’s very slimming. Preggers, I’d forgotten that owrd, but it’s so much more genteel sounding than pregnant.

April 12th, 2009 at 5:51 am

Colin Says:

Von, I believe the Victorians (before even my time!) used to refer to “an interesting condition”.

April 12th, 2009 at 7:08 am

Joe O'Brien Says:

Great news about Federer getting married. Hopefully the MC title will be a very lavish wedding present!

April 12th, 2009 at 9:33 am

Gordo Says:

For a guy who is so open with the media you have to hand it to Federer for being able to keep his wedding a secret.

There are some big name celebrities who could learn a thing or two from Mr and Mrs Fed about keeping an event secret that you want to be secret.

Congratulations Roger and Mirka. I wonder if they are holding off naming their baby until they see what transpires over the summer - if the baby gets named Roland or Wim I imagine it will have been a good summer indeed for the current #2.

April 12th, 2009 at 11:18 am

Giner Says:

“What is the story behind Roddick not playing in Monte carlo year after year ? did he ever played at all ?”

He never plays Monte Carlo, even when it was compulsory. In past years he played Houston, and traveling to MC was an inconvenience. They even moved it to accommodate American players but it didn’t work. It’s scheduled at a bad time for Americans. At least that’s the word.

The ATP is cognizant of the problem - they made it the only non compulsory Masters 1000 event. In my opinion they should have gone a step further and scrapped its status as a 1000 event. 8 is enough for a year. But that might bring on some lawsuits..

April 12th, 2009 at 10:13 pm

Twocents Says:

Von,

Was there an (ancient) saying or not that white wedding veil was for v**g*ns?

I’m glad that Roddick is on a roll.

April 13th, 2009 at 3:07 am

Von Says:

Twocents;

What are you trying to do to me, get me into MORE trouble? Ha, ha. Yes, I suppose that was the analogy. White was not meant for those who, as Colin stated, had “an interesting condition”, per the Victorian era. In the Elizabethan era, Elizabeth’s sister, the queen, had a tumor growing in her stomach, which she thought was a baby, albeit her husband was absent from the marriage chamber. Now that’s one that should keep you pondering. Ha, ha. ☺ The end result, the quen died and gave bith to the Elizabethan era — a different kind of birth.

Thank you, I’m glad to see A-Rod’s on a roll also. I’m angry, I never received my wedding invite. The little stinker, how dare he, considering all the fighting I have to do to keep him in the conversation on this site. Children ….

April 13th, 2009 at 3:51 am

Von Says:

Correction: “The end result, the quen died and gave bith to the Elizabethan era”

Should be: the queen died and gave birth …

April 13th, 2009 at 3:53 am

Twocents Says:

Nice little history, Von. Thanks. There’s no trouble, no judgement, no anything, just facts.

I think you should pay Roddick for keeping you sharp minded, battle ready, and entertained, all for free, with zero risk of losing a penny. Send A-Rod a wedding gift before it’s too late?

April 13th, 2009 at 5:48 am

Von Says:

Twocents:

Glad you liked my history trivia. The Elizabethan era was filled with debauchery and every kind of promiscuity one could think of, and yet Elizabeth was dubbed “The Virgin Queen”. Go figure that one.

Oh no, I think it’s the other way around, A-Rod owes me one-half of his prize money for the assist I give him when playing. Go over to Austin and let him know that will ya.

April 13th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

Twocents Says:

All right, Lady. Time to take a bike ride along the spring way in Austin.

April 13th, 2009 at 10:33 pm

Catherine Says:

That picture of Feds & Mirka is not from his wedding, it’s an old one…

April 14th, 2009 at 5:02 pm