Tsonga, Del Potro In Action Tuesday At Monte Carclo; Houston Champ Isner Gets Gulbis

by Staff | April 15th, 2013, 11:21 pm
  • 24 Comments

A few of the higher seeds take the court Tuesday in Monte Carlo. Wildcard Juan Martin Del Potro opens his clay campaign against the unpredictable shotmaker Alexandr Dolgoplov. Del Potro was a late entrant into the event after a left wrist injury cast a mid-April return in doubt. But the Argentine, who admits clay is not his favorite surface, is healthy against and playing Monte Carlo for the first time since 2009.

Local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has high hopes of doing well. The Frenchman draws former Top 5 Nikolay Davydenko in his opener.

“It’s the most important part of the season for me, especially because I have to play a Grand Slam in my country,” said Tsonga. “I will use this period to practice a lot, to be ready for Roland Garros. For me, [playing at home] is an extra motivation, because I always like to play under pressure. I always use the crowd to help me during my matches.”


Also on Tuesday, in all French flair face-off it’s Benoit Paire against Richard Gasquet. Janko Tipsarevic meets the stylish Grigor Dimitrov and Marinko Matosevic meets Fernando Verdasco for the right to face Rafael Nadal on Wednesday.

American John Isner took a late wildcard and after winning his maiden clay title on Sunday in Houston, he’ll have to make a quick adjustment to the European red clay against Ernests Gulbis tomorrow.

Earlier today Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic posted wins while fellow seeds Gilles Simon and Andreas Seppi were upset by Roberto Bautista Agut and Fabio Fognini, respectively.

“I think it’s a very good start,” said Raonic who dusted Juliean Benneteau 6-1, 6-4. “A lot of things I did well, especially only having a limited amount of preparation before here. Davis Cup was a very good thing, but it was also a very draining thing. It takes a lot of energy to get through that weekend. So I was very happy with how I was able to prepare and play today.”

Top seeds Novak Djokovic, Nadal and Andy Murray are all scheduled for Wednesday. Djokovic will announce tomorrow is does in fact plan on playing the event or further resting his injured right ankle.

COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am
[8] J Tipsarevic (SRB) vs G Dimitrov (BUL)
B Paire (FRA) vs [7] R Gasquet (FRA)
[6] J Tsonga (FRA) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
A Dolgopolov (UKR) vs [5] [WC] J Del Potro (ARG)
J Benneteau (FRA) / N Zimonjic (SRB) vs D Bracciali (ITA) / A Seppi (ITA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:30 am
M Matosevic (AUS) vs F Verdasco (ESP)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [Q] P Andujar (ESP)
[WC] G Monfils (FRA) vs [Q] A Montanes (ESP)

Not Before 3:00 PM
E Gulbis (LAT) vs [WC] J Isner (USA)
[3] R Lindstedt (SWE) / D Nestor (CAN) vs G Simon (FRA) / M Youzhny (RUS)


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MUST SEE VIDEO: Watch John Isner Get Hit By A Lob And Lose The Point!!

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24 Comments for Tsonga, Del Potro In Action Tuesday At Monte Carclo; Houston Champ Isner Gets Gulbis

alison Says:

Congrats to Big John on the title last week,and hopefully he will go on to better things,hopefully he will give Gulbis a good beatdown,who seems to think hes doing the world a favour because he chose to play tennis,his attitude towards tennis is terrible,go John.


Brando Says:

Breaking news (Canal + Sport) : Novak Djokovic will play against Youzhny tomorrow.


Giles Says:

The Drama Queen finally decides to play MC.
But we knew that all along, right??


Humble Rafa Says:

Money means more to the Egg Lover than the other top players. He is a poorly paid No.1 by most estimates.


skeezer Says:

Drama Queen? There is only one. And Nole’s not it.


Brando Says:

Yep skeez is right: how can we ever forget Roger’s ‘ God it’s killing me” monologue at the AO final in 2009. Real drama queen stuff- infact, Oscar worthy stuff!


Giles Says:

Brando. They take tips from each other! Lol


skeezer Says:

Brando,
When talking about there injuries, before and after, losing or winning? Don’tthink so.


Brando Says:

@Giles: LOL, all actors need a practise partner right? To go over their drama queen routine- refine their craft. A perfect pair of drama queens in that case!


skeezer Says:

Brando,

Using your bottom line. For days only Rafa fans have been using these terms on Nole. Drama queen etc. Not Nole fans, Fed fans, Murray fans, any fans other than Rafa fans. Why is that? And here you go again. Same old bitterness.

He has this ONE time testing his ankle prior to play, to see if its good to go. He does not have a history of playing out his injury status.

Take a tip from nadalista, whos happy Nole is playing, so Rafa has someone to play with.


Giles Says:

Brando. LMAO.
In the meantime Delpo is struggling against Dolgo, down a set.


Brando Says:

@ Skeezer: LOL, I think Andy Roddick would disagree. What was it: Novak the brave playing on whilst suffering from back spasm, anthrax, foot and mouth, bird flu. I’m sure I am missing like 10 other medical issues. But then retiring because the match was slipping away? How brave of him. But that was Novak 1.0 I guess- you know the one: who was going for a retirement career slam. Novak 2.0, the upgrade, likes to complain about the weather, his ankle, his back, call medical time out when players serve for slams, act all injured and lethargic when he’s behind in a match, the weather again. God what an upgrade!


Brando Says:

@skeezer: Take it easy there now Skeez- no need to start playing the honest Sheriff when you are the one who implied first of Rafa being a drama queen. Let’s just agree to this: best let the drama unfold on the court as opposed to of it for now!


Brando Says:

And now Dolgo has the break also in the 2nd set. Delpo is going out at this rate.


Giles Says:

Brando. If I have ever seen unsportsmanlike behaviour it was Cincy 2011 Drama Queen v Muzz retiring just when Muzz was a couple of games from victory. That was really the pits. Even Jamie Murray was tweeting furiously criticising the behaviour of the No 1 player. No 1 players should know better! Sigh


Denver Says:

Hopefully Delpotro gets out of the jail now.


Brando Says:

@ Giles: yep. That was a crappy move for sure. 2.0 carrying out 1.0 old moves- not nice to see that. And I don’t blame Jamie murray for calling him out on that!


Brando Says:

@ Giles: Here is a confession of loving attention from the drama queen: Before the start of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, Novak Djokovic gave CNN a taste of what it’s like to be the No. 1 player in the tennis world from a media obligations perspective.

During the brief feature Djokovic admits that he likes being in front of the cameras. “I do prefer the televisions more,” he said. “Let’s be honest. I like the camera.”


Giles Says:

Brando. He is constantly seeking attention. Poor guy has to work daily on it through joking, simulating, dancing, singing and even shedding crocodile tears.
#HardWork


Giles Says:

Delpo grinding Dolgo down now.


Tennis coach Says:

At least he is honest, unlike others….


Legend Says:

This guy is really funny. Can he be a bit more honest.

http://www.monte-carlorolexmasters.com/News/Tennis/2013/Tournament/Monte-Carlo-Monday-Nadal-Preview.aspx

If Rafa is not the favourite at MC then the usage of the term “favourite” should be banned from all kinds of sports.


Brando Says:

@Legend:

Do you even know who you are talking about?

ANYONE who knows of Rafa’s take on such matters knows that he doesn’t give a damn about BS tags like ‘favorite’.

He’s never seen himself as a favorite for any tourny- regardless of what people like to tag him as.

So this is hardly news- at least not for everyone except your naive self.

His MO is simple:

Do his best in every match, treating every opponent as a serious and dangerous rival and the rest shall take care of itself.

Tags like favorite are for the media and fans to discuss- Rafa doesn’t give a monkey’s about such tags!


Giles Says:

Brando. I agree. Well said.

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