Julien Benneteau And Nenad Zimonjic To Team Up For Clay Play

Written by: Staff on 17th April 2013

BNP Paribas 2012 Masters Tennis Tournament

Julien Benneteau And Nenad Zimonjic To Team Up For Clay Play

epa03451463 Julien Benneteau of France returns the ball to Viktor Troicki of Serbia during their first round match at the BNP Paribas 2012 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 29 October 2012. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

The doubles parings are in flux again as former No. 1 Nenad Zimonjic is now teaming with France’s Julien Benneteau. Zimonjic’s partnership with Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt did not work out as the two slumped after Indian Wells and Miami after they had fine showings in Rotterdam and Dubai. Lindstedt is now playing with the Canadian Daniel Nestor.

Benneteau has actually beaten Zimonjic twice this year and has played with three different French partners in 2013, including Richard Gasquet and Michael Llodra.

“Several teams were splitting in Miami. I personally needed a very high ranked player to play with me,” Benneteau said. I usually played with Jo [Tsonga] or Richard because they’re French and it’s nice. But both of them are not playing doubles any more. He asked me in Miami if I wanted to play with him. It’s great for me because it’s good to have a fixed partner. It will help me improve my game. Sometimes it might be a handicap because you get tired, but generally speaking it’s very positive.”

Benneteau, who is also a top-30 singles player, is hoping to develop a long-term partnership with someone, but he is taking a wait and see approach.

“Our deal is for Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid,” he said. “After that, we’ll see. He asked me to play on grass with him, but I already promised to play with Edouard [Roger-Vasselin].”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: clay court tennis, Julien Benneteau, Madrid Masters, Michael Llodra, Monte Carlo Masters, Nenad Zimonjic, Richard Gasquet, Rome Masters, Sports, Tennis News