The Monte Carlo Masters has managed to lure Juan Del Potro into the field for the April 14 start with a wild card entry, with the first major of the classic Europe clay season.
Del Potro, who went out early at the Miami event last month after reaching the Indian Wells final against Rafael Nadal, will complete a lineup at the Monte Carlo country club to include nine of the ATP top 10. Only Federer, now down to third in the world after Andy Murrays Miami trophy performance, is missing from the field.
The Swiss is currently on a long training block at home and has all but ruled out any play until a late start and a title defense on clay at the Madrid Masters from May 5. But optimistic Monte Carlo organizers are hoping against hope that the Swiss ace will decide that he needs some clay matches and accept their offer of a wild card being held in reserve.
Del Potro joins French showman France’s Gael Monfils as free entry.
In Barcelona, another hot player leads the field for qualifying for that Spanish event dominated – like Monte Carlo – by Nadal. No.55 Ernests Gulbis, a fourth-round victim of Nadal in Indian Wells, heads a qualie field in which nine of 20 participants are top 100 players. The main draw is headed by Nadal, winner of seven of the last eight editions in the Catalan capital.
©DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE
Topics: Andy Murray, clay tennis news, Ernests Gulbis, Juan Martin Del Potro, Monte Carlo tennis news, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News