ATP/WTA Previews: Federer, Murray, Nadal on Grass This Week

by Staff | June 14th, 2015, 2:23 pm
  • 24 Comments

Four Top 10 players on the WTA tour take to the grass in Birmingham, while Roger Federer leads in Halle, and Andy Murray, French Open champ Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal at the Queen’s Club during week #2 of the 2015 grasscourt season.

Here’s a look at the three grass court events this week:

AEGON CLASSIC BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham, England; Surface: grass


Seeds: Simona Halep, Ana Ivanovic, Carla Suarez Navarro, Angelique Kerber, Eugenie Bouchard, Karolina Pliskova, Andrea Petkovic, Sabine Lisicki, Garbine Muguruza, Barbora Strycova, Alize Cornet, Victoria Azarenka, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Irina-Camelia Begu, Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Garcia

Floaters: Alison Riske, Tsvetana Pironkova, Magdalena Rybarikova, Daniela Hantuchova

Notes: The Top 8 seeds receive opening-round byes, and (2) Ivanovic starts against a qualifier…Potential tough starts for the struggling (5) Bouchard against the hot-handed American Riske, (4) Kerber against the grasscourt specialist Pironkova, (9) Muguruza against Rybarikova, and (14) Begu against the veteran Hantuchova…Wildcards went to Bouchard, the former No. 1 Jankovic, and Brits Naomi Broady, Johanna Konta and Katie Swan…The slew of players pulling from the event were Timea Bacsinszky, Mona Barthel, Madison Brengle, Dominika Cibulkova, Madison Keys, Peng Shuai, Lucie Safarova, and Yaroslava Shvedova…Ivanovic beat Strycova in last year’s final…Former champs in the field are Ivanovic (2014), Hantuchova (2013), Lisicki (2011), Rybarikova (2009), and Jankovic (2007).

AEGON CHAMPIONSHIPS
London/Queen’s Club, UK; Surface: grass

Seeds: Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Milos Raonic, Marin Cilic, Rafael Nadal, Grigor Dimitrov, Gilles Simon, Feliciano Lopez

Floaters: Sam Querrey, Adrian Mannarino, John Isner, Jared Donaldson, David Goffin

Notes: Interesting road for (2) Wawrinka who starts with Aussie upstart Nick Kyrgios, then former Wimbledon winner Lleyton Hewitt or the giant-serving Kevin Anderson, then (5) Nadal…Other tough starts for (6) Dimitrov vs. Querrey, (4) Cilic vs. Mannarino, the unseeded John Isner vs. fellow American (Q) Donaldson, and (7) Simon vs. the hot-handed Goffin…Wildcards were awarded to Aussies Hewitt and Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Brit James Ward…Pulling from the tournament were Julien Benneteau and Leonardo Mayer…Dimitrov beat Lopez in last year’s final…Former champs in the field are Dimitrov (2014), Murray (2013,’11,’09), Cilic (2012), Querrey (2010), Nadal (2008), and Hewitt (2006,’02-00).

GERRY WEBER OPEN
Halle, Germany; Surface: grass

Seeds: Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych, Gael Monfils, Tommy Robredo, Pablo Cuevas, Bernard Tomic, Ivo Karlovic

Floaters: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Tommy Haas, Lukas Rosol, Jerzy Janowicz, Dominic Thiem

Notes: (1) Federer has a tester right off the bat against the hometown favorite and tough grass out Kohlschreiber…Other potentially tough starts for (4) Monfils against the upset specialist Rosol, (6) Cuevas vs. the towering Janowicz, and (2) Nishikori vs. the rising Austrian Thiem…Wildcards went to Germans Dustin Brown, Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Zverev…Pulling from the event were Benjamin Becker and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga…Federer is 7-2 in Halle finals…Federer beats Alejandro Falla in last year’s final…Former champs in the field are Federer (2014-13,’08,’06-03), Haas (2012,’09), Kohlschreiber (2011), and Berdych (2007).

 


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24 Comments for ATP/WTA Previews: Federer, Murray, Nadal on Grass This Week

sienna Says:

the anticipation of Federer playing is the biggest thing in tennis.
his legend keeps growing and there really is nothing like it.
accept of course slams and tour finals for the rest he is the ultimate attraction.

June 14th, 2015 at 3:55 pm


Hippy Chick Says:

I dont know what will happen at Queens,but i hope Rafa keeps on shortening the points,serving aces for cheap points,and going after that serve like he has this week,rather than getting involved in endless long rallies,ive loved the new aproach this week….

June 14th, 2015 at 4:22 pm


Markus Says:

If you can’t have clay, there’s always grass. Ok now Nadal, time to move on to a new domain. After Federer, who has more Wimbledon titles and finals than you? Be the next grass king now that the king has grown old.

June 14th, 2015 at 5:17 pm


Hippy Chick Says:

Markus i like your theory lol ;-))….

June 14th, 2015 at 5:28 pm


RZ Says:

Let’s go Murray and Fed! Time for you both to shine.

June 14th, 2015 at 5:37 pm


Markus Says:

Nadal was supposed to be the heir to the GOAT throne that Federer has and will eventually vacate. When Federer retires, I hope Nadal stays a little bit longer so he can take that crown. He is fully qualified for it.

June 14th, 2015 at 5:38 pm


Humble Rafa Says:

Humble is a decent human being, unlike others. It is disgusting that I was given some car named Benz. Everyone knows Kia is the best in the world. At least for 10 years (before that, they didn’t pay me, so I don’t know).

Plus, the color..seriously Benz. Learn from Kia, the ultimate car machine.

June 14th, 2015 at 7:01 pm


andrea Says:

congrats rafa. didn’t know it was so long since we won on grass. pulling a roger…..the top seed in an event where none of the top 10 are to find his legs.

seriously, if genie bouchard loses in the first round of this tournament you’re gonna hear my scream all the way in australia.

June 14th, 2015 at 11:04 pm


danica Says:

Of course Roger can beat Nole on grass but I think it’s unlikely this year as well. In the last year finals, Nole was really to blame for the match going to five sets. Karlovic tweeted to Nole:”You had no business losing those two sets”. Roger didn’t do anything better or more in those sets.

I hope that by talking about perfect conditions, Roger doesn’t mean roof over the court when no rain is coming, like in the semis a few years back.

June 15th, 2015 at 1:26 am


kjb Says:

I think he is talking about the court speed this year. I have heard that the conditions will be faster. Which would be awesome.

June 15th, 2015 at 2:13 am


KatH Says:

Rafa seems to be finding a new affinity with grass, bodes well for him, especially at Wimbledon in 5 setters.

Queens? any one of 4 could win it – Andy, Rafa, Marin, Grigor – I’d add Stan (if he gets thru Nick in round 1).

June 15th, 2015 at 3:59 am


sienna Says:

KatH
you mean especially in 250 events?

especially at wimbly. Why would that be?
If the duration of his matches at stutgart then lets hope for the poor bistird that he wont be playing 4 HOURS of first week matches. he will be toast Come second week.

June 15th, 2015 at 5:20 am


Hippy Chick Says:

Markus @5.38pm June 14th love your posts and especially that particular one,again love that theory lol :))….

June 15th, 2015 at 5:39 am


calmdownplease Says:

`I hope that by talking about perfect conditions, Roger doesn’t mean roof over the court when no rain is coming, like in the semis a few years back…`

Yes, quite Danica ;-)

June 15th, 2015 at 8:06 am


KatH Says:

Sienna

Rafa looked very much on form. He may well be back to full steam at Queen’s – if so, he is a hot contender. Alternatively, a 5-setter at Wimbledon will give him more time to rise to the occasion – after all – he is a fighter….and he seems to have regained his motivation.

I hope he gets a draw that suits him – although he’s not my favourite I would like him to start getting up the rankings asap because it is the level of good competition at the top that makes tennis so enjoyable.

June 15th, 2015 at 9:36 am


sienna Says:

dont know about the draw. how can it be a suitable draw. he will be ranked outside top 8. What he must hope is that things open up on his side.
Rafa realy needs to get a bonus slam in order to get to his goal.
bonus slam would be 1 of next 3.

otherwise the goal they have set themselves will be non realistic.

June 15th, 2015 at 10:03 am


KatH Says:

Sienna

Agree.

June 15th, 2015 at 10:22 am


Colin Says:

At Queen’s, James Ward takes the first set against Raonic!

June 15th, 2015 at 1:44 pm


Jeez Says:

Federer is 2 points from losing !!

June 15th, 2015 at 1:53 pm


Jeez Says:

He should have closed in the 10th game where he had 2 MATCH POINTS on Kohlschreiber serve!!

June 15th, 2015 at 1:56 pm


Jeez Says:

That was too close for comfort!!

June 15th, 2015 at 1:57 pm


skeezer Says:

And Fed says he’s in top form? Mmm..

June 15th, 2015 at 2:09 pm


Daniel Says:

skeezer, this match was once a final of this tournament, it was one of the worst possible players for a first round, maybe Kyrgios would be worse.

Next 2 rounds he can get easier matches before a potential clash with Berdych. And it’s his first match on grass in a year, expected to be a little rusty. What matters is winning remember Shangai last year?! saved MP and went on to beat Djoko convincingly and win the title.

June 15th, 2015 at 3:31 pm

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