Blockbuster Field On Hand For Monte-Carlo Masters By Ricky Dimon

Written by: Staff on 13th April 2014

Blockbuster Field On Hand For Monte-Carlo Masters By Ricky Dimon

epa03667285 Juan Monaco of Argentina returns the ball to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his third round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 18 April 2013. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER |

The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters may not be a required 1000-point event, but this year’s installment of the tournament does not look much different from any other 56-man Masters event.

Roger Federer, a three-time runner-up from 2006 to 2008, is back in Monte-Carlo for the first time since 2011. That means every one of the top six players in the world is participating. Joining Federer in the field are eight-time champion Rafael Nadal, 2013 winner Novak Djokovic, Australian Open champ Stanislas Wawrinka, world No. 5 Tomas Berdych, and world No. 6 David Ferrer. Milos Raonic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga round out the group of eight seeds with byes straight through to the second round.

Tsonga had previously been seeded ninth and slated to face Ernests Gulbis in the first round. However, fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet pulled out due to a back injury and Tsonga took Gasquet’s place in the draw as the next in line to receive an opening-round bye. Dolgopolov, previously the highest-ranked player to be unseeded, moved into Tsonga’s spot.

The Ukrainian defeated Gulbis 6-2, 6-4 as the tournament got off to its traditional Sunday start. Another early result saw Jeremy Chardy outlast Igor Sijsling in a third-set tiebreaker.

Once on course to face Berdych in the third round and Djokovic in the quarterfinals, Tsonga is now in Federer’s section of the bracket. It also includes an in-form Fabio Fognini, who captured the Vina del Mar title earlier this season and finished runner-up in Buenos Aires. Federer will kick off his campaign against Radek Stepanek or Ivo Karlovic and the Swiss’ nearest seed is a slumping Jerzy Janowicz, so the early stages of his draw are favorable.

Djokovic, who halted Nadal’s reign in last year’s title match, awaits either Benoit Paire or a qualifier. The second-seeded Serb could run into either Kevin Anderson or Gael Monfils in the third round.

Nadal’s bid for a ninth winner’s trophy in Monte-Carlo will begin with either Gilles Simon or a qualifier. The Spaniard’s path could feature Andreas Seppi in the third round, Ferrer or Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals, and Wawrinka in the semis. Wawrinka, though, will have a tough opener on his hands against either Marin Cilic or current Houston finalist Fernando Verdasco.

Topics: djokovic, Federer, Monte Carlo Masters, Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

April 13, 2014 at 9:09 am

Blockbuster Field On Hand For Monte-Carlo Masters By @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/S8GJE6Ao80 #montecarlo #masters #tennis #sports
RD_Tennistalk says:

April 13, 2014 at 12:12 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: Blockbuster Field On Hand For Monte-Carlo Masters By @RD_Tennistalk – http://t.co/S8GJE6Ao80 #montecarlo #masters #tennis…