Roger Federer, Andy Murray Not Scheduled To Play Monte Carlo

I’d be surprised if Fed turns up as a wild card. With Davis Cup this past weekend, he’s played a lot of tennis and needs a break. He’s not defending any points, and he’s exempt from playing the event anyway, so I suspect he’ll rest up for the Madrid-Rome combo.

April 8th, 2014 at 10:40 am

I’m guessing neither takes a wild card. Murray recently played a bunch on clay for Davis Cup and probably wants to rest his back. Fed probably wants to ease into clay court season to make sure his back holds up through the French Open.

April 8th, 2014 at 11:18 am

I can’t believe the so called top player pass on an important tournament like Monte Carlo. They are afraid of the real clay court season beginning.

April 8th, 2014 at 2:50 pm

Shocker. What a news scoop.

April 8th, 2014 at 2:54 pm

Looks like Fed will play Monte Carlo this year.
Shocking to see him in there.
Isn’t Mirka due any day now?

April 8th, 2014 at 3:16 pm

It is a good time to take a break, if you are Andy or Roger, HR. I’d vote neither taking a wild card.

Nole and Rafa to duke it out again in the final, what else?!

April 8th, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Fed takes a W/C for MC.

April 8th, 2014 at 4:19 pm

Roger has taken the wildcard and he is playing MC.
It looks like he may take a break from Madrid and/or Rome and wants to compensate for that by playing MC. This is directly going to impact Djokovic’s chance of retaining the title here.

April 8th, 2014 at 4:36 pm

I have frequently alluded to the 2011 Monte Carlo semi-final between Nadal and Murray. Anyone who thinks Andy can’t play on clay should watch the highlights video on YouTube, in particular the second set.

Andy had an injured right elbow, received an injection 20 minutes before the match started, and went on court with an armful of cortisone. Nonetheless he played well, though losing the first set 6-4.

The second set was something to behold. Andy won it 6-2, and toward the end was really bossing Rafa, drawing him to the net and then executing beautiful lobs.

In the third set the cortisone started to wear off and Murray, understandably, panicked. Nadal needed no further invitation and pounced, winning the set 6-1.

Had he been fit, Murray might well have won that match, and as I say, he certainly showed he can play on clay.

As far as I know he has already decided to miss Monte Carlo and concentrate on working to be ready for Rolan Garros, so forget that wild card.

By the way, Andy has announced that he hopes to have a new coach in place in time for the FO.

April 8th, 2014 at 4:37 pm

Dont know why fed doesnt take a well earned break after so much tennis?

April 8th, 2014 at 4:44 pm

Federer confirmed he will play MC

April 8th, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Roger will play Mote Carlo.

Hopp Roger!

April 8th, 2014 at 5:14 pm

Last year after taking a long break post IW, roger lost in the 2nd match against kei in madrid and was clearly looking rusty. That probably could be the reason, he doesn’t wanna take a 4 week break. I think, he’s not too much bothered about the possible result in MC, he just wants to stay match fit.

April 8th, 2014 at 10:48 pm

Roger is playing Monte Carlo it is confirmed.

April 9th, 2014 at 1:37 am

Lol, Federer in his old age continues to surprise me. I love Roger Federer. And MC is one title he does not have – I guess I wouldn’t be too upset if he won ; )

Roger could use a win vs Rafa – but that is not realistic, lols…

yeah, not too keen on Roger taking out Nole only to get another beat down on clay by Rafa. Seriously – rather eat tin foil than watch another clay Fedal.

April 9th, 2014 at 1:43 am

Yay for no month-long Roger drought!
Although this probably means Mirka’s due a little later and he’ll end up withdrawing from Rome or Madrid.

April 9th, 2014 at 4:30 am

Fed taking a WC for MC – guess he is buoyed by his win over the Kazhaks (who?)! Lol

April 9th, 2014 at 4:34 am

Colin i thought that match was at the FO not MC,but anyway i would like to see him play that way all the time on clay,whether its against Rafa or whomever,the irony is hes under less pressure at RG as opposed to Wimbledon,so he can hopefully swing away more freely….

April 9th, 2014 at 7:13 am

Not sure if Roger is frustrated with Stan being Swiss No 1. Or probably he knows that he would be in an extended break after the new born and might skip few masters in the later half of the season. Want to bloat the points as much as possible, so that he does not get ranked outside Top 8.

April 9th, 2014 at 9:00 am

Mirka is expecting twins again?

Well as far as doubles is concerned, he’s definitely the GOAT.

His boys can swim (or dance, or whatever).

April 9th, 2014 at 9:20 am

Wonder what made Federer take the WC. Granted, he was rusty last year in Madrid, but he played a lot more tennis this year. He played Miami and DC, he didn’t play all those last year.
I’m not so convinced by Andy’s clay court game to be honest. He has the occasional great match, but also really bad ones.

April 9th, 2014 at 9:44 am

He wants the points to keep his 4th seed for FO and Wimbledon to avoid the possibility of having to face Nole or Rafa prior to the semis.

I also heard he’s trying out a new DHBH.

April 9th, 2014 at 9:48 am

Colin, if you have to go back three years to find a “strong” semifinal loss to illustrate that a man with zero clay titles or even finals can really play on clay, well….

April 9th, 2014 at 10:09 am

I call that Verdasco Syndrome.

When a single close loss is the highlight of your career and used to justify high expectations.

April 9th, 2014 at 10:10 am

I don’t think Roger plays because of rustiness. He skipped MC in 2012, in one of his best years, and had a very tight first match in Madrid. He was chasing No 1 then, but still skipped the tournament.

This looks like more a case of coverup for taking extended break during later part of the season.

April 9th, 2014 at 10:45 am

Federer’s schedule this year is different from previous years. He is committed to the Davis Cup and that adds last week, September against Italy (who knocked off the UK) and since the tie against Italy is in Switzerland you’d have to think there’s a good chance Fed and Stan may find themselves in the finals later in the year.

Plus the timing of Mirka’s pregnancy can throw a wrench into the calendar as well, no?

Or perhaps Edberg has convinced him that playing Monte Carlo is a good idea. It’ll be interesting to see where Federer winds up in the draw.

April 9th, 2014 at 10:49 am

Not sure if Roger is frustrated with Stan being Swiss No 1
—
Nah. He is fine with someone else taking the limelight. Arrogant One is fine sitting on the sidelines and praising the number 1.

April 9th, 2014 at 10:53 am

Nah. He is fine with someone else taking the limelight. Arrogant One is fine sitting on the sidelines and praising the number 1

If Roger can sit on the sideline and praise No 1, how can he be an Arrogant One. It contradicts.

April 9th, 2014 at 11:04 am

Tennis Vagabond i see what your saying,and its frustrating as a fan of Murrays,so it would be lovely if he could always play that well on clay,and the irony is hes under less pressure on clay than grass so hopefully he can just go for it and swing away freely….

April 9th, 2014 at 12:10 pm

contador Says:
“Federer in his old age continues to surprise me”

Yes, the advances in sports medicine will always aid such miraculous stuff.

April 10th, 2014 at 4:25 pm