MONTE-CARLO DRAW PUTS DJOKOVIC AND NADAL IN THE SAME HALF & ROGER FEDERER COULD MEET STAN WAWRINKA IN QUARTERS BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: on 11th April 2015
Monte-Carlo Masters in Roquebrune Cap Martin
MONTE-CARLO DRAW PUTS DJOKOVIC AND NADAL IN THE SAME HALF & ROGER FEDERER COULD MEET STAN WAWRINKA IN QUARTERS BY RICKY DIMON

epa04170260 General view of the stadium while Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2014. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER  |

Monte-Carlo draw puts Djokovic and Nadal in the same half

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal found themselves in the top half of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters draw when the ceremony was held on Saturday.

 

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to Andreas Seppi of Italy during their third round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tennis tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2014. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

Thus the top two favorites for the title are on a collision course for the semis, but neither one–especially not Nadal–will be looking that far ahead. On the heels of disappointing results in Indian Wells and Miami, the fifth-ranked Spaniard is in the same quarter of the bracket as David Ferrer. Even before a possible meeting with Ferrer, Nadal may have to open against Dominic Thiem and his nearest seed is John Isner.

 

Djokovic’s opener may not be a cakewalk if it comes against dangerous clay-courter Nicolas Almagro, but he is in a soft section. Marin Cilic has been injured, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is rusty, and Ernests Gulbis is in a massive slump.

 

Fellow Swiss stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka have the two first-round byes in an intriguing bottom quarter. Also on hand there are Grigor Dimitrov, Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini, Fernando Verdasco, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and Borna Coric. Dolgopolov and Coric have to face each other in the first round.

 

If Federer and Wawrinka collide in the quarterfinals, it would be a rematch of last year’s final–won by Wawrinka.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic during their third round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 17 April 2014. EPA/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Last year was really special for me,” the 2014 Australian Open champion assured. “It was my first Masters 1000 (title). Beating Roger in the final, [it] was an amazing week, so I’m really happy to be back in the tournament. It’s a special tournament and I think all the players enjoy playing here.”

 

A long list of intriguing first-round showdowns includes an all-American clash between John Isner and Steve Johnson. Both players are looking to bounce back from relatively poor showings in Houston. Isner lost his opener to Teymuraz Gabashvili, while Johnson was bageled in the third set of his second-rounder against Sam Querrey.

 

Speaking of Querrey, he will be facing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga right off the bat. Tsonga is competing in just his second tournament of the year after returning from injury in Miami–where he beat Tim Smyczek then lost to Gael Monfils.

 

Other enticing first-round matchups are Jerzy Janowicz vs. Fabio Fognini (expect all kings of fireworks in that one), Grigor Dimitrov vs. Fernando Verdasco, and Juan Monaco vs. Casablanca semifinalist Jiri Vesely.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

 

Printable Draws

Men’s singles – click here

Men’s doubles – click here

Qualifying singles – click here

Order of play – click here

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