Nadal, Djokovic, Murray on Court Wednesday in Monte Carlo
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The big guns – Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray – make their 2010 debut in Monte Carlo on Wednesday. ADHEREL
Two time champ and No. 9 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero opens the day against German Benjamin Becker in a first-time meeting. In the second match, Djokovic, who is the top seed in a Tennis Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career, takes a 2-1 head-to-head edge against Frenchman Florent Serrra. In the third match, Nadal, who is 29-1 lifetime in Monte-Carlo, having won 27 straight matches and five straight titles, plays Dutch qualifier Thiemo de Bakker for the first time.
Said Nadal, “I am coming here with I don’t know sure I try to play my best to try to win. I’m another one that I hope have my chances to play a tournament and have a chance to have a very good result. But, you know, is a Master 1000. Is a very difficult tournament. Almost all the best players of the world are here. I did well last years on clay. I hope continuing doing like in the past, no?”
In the final singles match, Murray, a semi-finalist last season, squares off against top German Philipp Kohlschreiber for the first time.
“Actually I feel pretty good,” Murray said. “I’ve been practicing well, but playing good in practice. You know, obviously in the matches, last few months, haven’t gone particularly well. But if I’m feeling good in practice. If I can fight through some matches, I’ll start to play better and better. So I’m not too worried about the last couple months, you know, because I’ve been playing well. You know, I’ve been playing well in practice; not in the matches. You know, I know it might take me a little bit of time, but I’ll start to play well in them, too.”
The highlight of outer court matches includes No. 7 seed Mikhail Youzhny against former World No. 3 David Nalbandian, and No. 8 seed Ivan Ljubicic against Frenchman Michael Llodra.
COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am
B Becker (GER) vs [9] J Ferrero (ESP)
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs F Serra (FRA)
[Q] T de Bakker (NED) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [3] [WC] A Murray (GBR)
M Granollers (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) vs [WC] R Gasquet (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA)
COURT DES PRINCES start 10:30 am
[Q] A Golubev (KAZ) vs [11] D Ferrer (ESP)
A Seppi (ITA) vs A Montanes (ESP)
[8] I Ljubicic (CRO) vs M Llodra (FRA)
D Nalbandian (ARG) vs [7] M Youzhny (RUS)
[4] W Moodie (RSA) / D Norman (BEL) vs N Djokovic (SRB) / V Troicki (SRB)
COURT 2 start 10:30 am
E Gulbis (LAT) vs [13] S Wawrinka (SUI)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) vs V Troicki (SRB)
[14] J Monaco (ARG) vs M Berrer (GER)
COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
[15] J Melzer (AUT) vs P Petzschner (GER)
D Ferrer (ESP) / M Lopez (ESP) vs [3] L Dlouhy (CZE) / L Paes (IND) – After Suitable Rest
COURT 11
E Butorac (USA) / M Kohlmann (GER) vs G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) / S Wawrinka (SUI) – After Suitable Rest
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