Nadal Wins, Federer v Wawrinka in All-Swiss Thursday at Monte Carlo

by Staff | April 15th, 2009, 8:22 pm
  • 27 Comments

World No. 1 Rafael got the quick start he wanted on Wednesday at the ATP Masters Monte Carlo, while world No. 2 Roger Federer advanced to a meeting with Swiss countryman and friend Stan Wawrinka.
ADHEREL
Nadal and Federer are hoping to reprise the final-round appearance they have both gained for the last three years, with Nadal winning all three finals.

Nadal defeated Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-2, 6-3, while Federer topped Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4.

“I think it is important to try to start well to have the confidence for the rest of the clay season,” Nadal said. “But the important thing is the tournament. Is really important tournament for me. Monte Carlo is historic tournament.”


Nadal will next meet qualifier Nicolas Lapentti, who survived three match points against former No. 1 Marat Safin 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(6) in three hours and 29 minutes.

Safin led Lapentti 4-0 in the third, and served at 5-2, 40-15. Safin snapped his racquet in two and received a penalty point when broken at 5-5, then eventually lost in a breaker.

The two seeded upsets on the day were wildcard and former Top 10er Ivan Ljubicic surprising No. 5 seed Juan Martin Del Potro 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, and Italian qualifier Fabio Fognini bouncing No. 14 Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-0.

Other seeded winners were No. 7 Fernando Verdasco topping Philipp Kohlschreiber; No. 8 Nikolay Davydenko over Ivo Karlovic; No. 10 David Ferrer dropping only a game against Marc Gicquel; No. 12 David Nalbandian outlasting Marcel Granollers in three; and No. 13 Wawrinka coming from a set down to defeat Martin Vassallo Arguello.

It will be the first meeting between Federer and Wawrinka on clay on Thursday.

“He’s a good friend of mine,” Wawrinka said of Federer. “It will be nice to play him on the centre court here on clay. I’ve played him three times already and always lost. But those were indoor and hard court. It’s gonna be fun to play tomorrow.”

Other highlights Thursday are [7] Verdasco vs. [10] Ferrer in an all-Spanish, [1] Nadal vs. [Q] N.Lapentti, and [12] Nalbandian vs. [8] Davydenko.


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27 Comments for Nadal Wins, Federer v Wawrinka in All-Swiss Thursday at Monte Carlo

zola Says:

I didn’t see Federer’s match, but Rafa played a so so game. He is not playing doubles, so this was his first match here. Besides, Chela is a very good clay court player. Rafa lost concentration several times. His serve was not working and he had lots of unforced errors. Hopefully he will play a better match against Lapenttt, who played a 31/2 hour match with Safin!

Simon killed my bracket! how can you do that to me Gil? and I had picked the guy to play semis! Arrrggg! and Del Potro, still needs to be more consistent before he can play with the big boys.

I didn’t see Murray too. <aybe tomorrow I can catch more matches.


zola Says:

oops, 31/2 means 3 and 1/2!


vared Says:

I think Fognini will take the Snowman out.


Kimmi Says:

Zola, so you pick Simon to be in the semi…I know Fed has not been to his standard but Simon had the worst beginning of the year than Fed. So i think it was wishful thinking !!

Fingers cross for Fed and Murray, Go guys !!

Nadal: “But the important thing is the tournament. Is really important tournament for me. Monte Carlo is historic tournament.”

Mmmm, I heard him say the same thing in Miami or is it IW….good luck.


fed is afraid Says:

it will be time for fed to start crying again when rafa beats him for the sixth straight time.


zola Says:

Kimmi,
I know. That was one of my worst picks and will remain so until the semis, along with Del Potro. I think they did it deliberately just to ruin my bracket!

I think MonteCalo is special to Rafa because perhaps that was the first masters series he won and it is a historic tournament. Rafa and Fed defended MonteCarlo back in 2007 and Rafa participated although it is not a mandatory one. So I think it is really special to Rafa.

But I see what you mean. RAfa never says anything bad about a tournament. How can he? besides, I think he really have good memories from many tournaments and uses those to motivate himself.


Colin Says:

Severe rain delay in Monte Carlo. One thing about the climate changes – more sports events seem to be affected by rain round the world. Maybe there will be fewer tired jokes about the English weather! Mind you, it’s raining here too…


Colin Says:

Wow! Wawrinka 5-3 up and 15-love serving for the first set. Then it rained again, which may be a turning point.


jane Says:

Well, it’s too bad about the rain delay. I see Wawrinka actually has a lead on Fed; interesting. Stan can play well on clay; he pushed Djoko in the Rome final last year. Also, Verdasco up 6-2 against Ferrer! That’s also surprising; I could see him winning but I’d’ve expected it to be close. Anyhow, I hope the rain rain goes away, so play can resume.


gordon Says:

Hi Jane, is there a live feed where we can see if they start playing.


jane Says:

Hi gordon,

All I can find is the atdhe.net link. Stan and Fed are warming up to begin playing again. It looks like the sun’s breaking through the clouds, but there are still a lot of dark ones up there.

Hope you’re well!


jane Says:

gordon, http://channelsurfing.net/ is also showing Fed/Stan match. It’s the second Monte Carlo link.


jane Says:

Sorry it’s the first Monte Carlo link at channelsurfing.

And Verdasco is smoking past Ferrer, wow. Djoko, if he makes it to the next round, will have his hands full, I’d assume, if Verdasco plays like this. Stan just closed out the first set against Fed. Looks like Murray and Fognini are about to begin too.


gordon Says:

Thanks Jane, Verdasco is very unpredictable player. I was expecting that Ferer will be stronger, since he played very well recently.


jane Says:

Me too gordon; and did you see the score in Murray’s match!!?? Fognini is up 5-0 in the first set! Who IS this Fognini who is cruising through the draw; I checked him out at the ATP site and it doesn’t even say when he turned pro; I know only that he’s about 22 years of age. I see Stan gave the break back in the second set.


zola Says:

Fognini just blew away a 5-0 lead over Murray! There is a reason somenone in in top 10 and someons in in the bottom 200! It was so exciting to watch him zoom past Murray but he could not keep it up.

Same with Stan. He can go to 40-0 or 40-15 on Fed’s serve but cannot convert!

Seeme Verdasco is playing great on clay. But he is a headcase too. Never know when he is going to play well or just give the match away!


jane Says:

Wonder what happened in the Murray match? Do you know zola? I can’t see it, can only follow scores: did Murray wake up or did Fognini collapse?


NachoF Says:

Wawrinka is serving for the match… cant believe this :(


jane Says:

Stan’s really going for his shots, even on break points he’s stepping in and whacking the ball. This recalls his match in Miami against Rafa, and he played really well in Davis Cup too.


jane Says:

Wawrinka’s done it, finally. Gosh, even though i like Murray I feel kind of sad for Fognini, who clearly must have choked or something. But to lose a set 7-6 (11-13) after he was up 5-0 has to hurt big time!


vared Says:

Fognini might still beat the Snowman


Mary Says:

Good for Stan for hanging in there and winning! For some reason, not that suprised.
Did Fed have the idea that “okay, got the wedding done, so now I’ll pop in and play in MC.”? He’s becoming the poster boy for not mixng pleasure and business.


zola Says:

Jane,
I couldn’t watch the Murray-Fognini because the tennistv froze on me. Then I decided to watch the end of Stan-Fed match but the first five games were just amazing. I thought I have found another Rafa! then I saw it was pretty premature celebration! Murray was back to his old self, shouting anc cursing. He held serve at 5-1 and then everything changes. I think Fognini couldn’t beleive he could win . He just choked!
and now just at Duece on Fognini’s serve, it is raining. It might help him. we’ll see.

How come Rafa has to always wait for his matches. He is the No 1 for God’s sake. Can’t he for once get done with his matches and the others wait in the rain?

Anyway, got to coordinate this with the forces above I guess!

Interesting day. I am happy for Wawrinka. He is a good player. I think Fed came to Monaco without proper preparation and this being the first tournament on clay, is a really tough one with all the stars lined up. Even Rafa and Murray are having rough times. Seems Djoko is the one cruising at the moment.


jane Says:

zola “Seems Djoko is the one cruising at the moment.” Well, hmmm, he just got broken back once in the second set. I was disappointed to see that, but I hope he closes out this match quickly when he gets back. Looks like he’ll need all the help / rest he can get to meet Verdasco!


gordon Says:

It seams that Murray got lucky again. There was unchallanged call that decided the first set…


zola Says:

gordon
I didn’t see the tie-break. I don’t know where this Fognini guy came from, but he was playing great. He just couldn’t close it down! I guess as Jane said, it should be mentally tough on him.
I think the rain will help Fognini more. Hopefully he will talk to his coach and will be able to gather his thoughts and concentration and come back and play awesome again.

I like Murray too, but was very disappointed to see he him resorting to his old antics again . I thought that time was over.


gordon Says:

I like Murray too, but was very disappointed to see he him resorting to his old antics again ..

What happend?

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