Masters Series Monte Carlo
April 20 - 27

Official Website

Draws (not yet available as of 17/04):

Singles Qualifying Draw

Main Draw Singles

wildcards go to:

After Gustavo Kuerten who continues his farewell tour on the professional circuit, the Organising Committee has decided to grant 3 remaining wild cards to the following players :

- Marat Safin, Russia

- Mario Ancic, Croatia

- And the French player Jean René Lisnard, member of the Monegasque Davis Cup team

I think it might be a tough draw for Federer . Possibly meeting Djokovic if he does get far. Hopefully he should pace himself well. Nalbandian is also in there somewhere, a potential spoiler for any favourite.

I really feel for Rafa :( he's got got some serious work to do before Roland Garros. I am thinking he may or may not want defend everything . Maybe drop hamburg since he just made the final there. But he may just be the only one who can also survive that level of grind on clay. I wonder if the ranking points and the number one position still plays on his mind.

Very interesting draw.

Federer will probably have a match against Simon in the first round. Second round - Karlovic or Verdasco, or perhaps Monfils? Then it gets really interesting, with a likely match-up against Nalbandian in the quarterfinals. Of course, it might also be Robredo - if Donut Dave doesn't show up. :rolleyes:

In the semis, Fed (if he makes it) may end up facing Djokovic. But he has got a tough quarter himself, and it might well be Murray or Gasquet, if one of them turns it up during the week.

Davydenko's quarter is a bit less interesting - if he's on form, he should make it through to the semis and a likely meeting with Nadal.

Rafa likewise doesn't have it too easy - Ancic in the first round shouldn't be so much of a problem on clay, and afterwards he's likely to meet his countrymen Ferrero and Ferrer, who are not likely to trouble him on the red stuff. The semi against Davydenko could be interesting though, given what happened in Miami.


Go Roger! :pray: :pray: :pray:

Nadal never seems to tire while running on the clay. So I suspect he'll be ok - though one never knows.

ORDER OF PLAY, SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008

COURT CENTRAL 11:00 am
Qualifying - J Benneteau (FRA) vs I Minar (CZE)
M Cilic (CRO) vs N Kiefer (GER)
[10] C Moya (ESP) vs S Querrey (USA)
R Stepanek (CZE) vs R Soderling (SWE)
M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) vs R Gasquet (FRA) / J Tipsarevic (SRB)

COURT DES PRINCES start 11:00 am
Qualifying - S Bolelli (ITA) vs [WC] L Recouderc (FRA)
Qualifying - [WC] B Balleret (MON) vs R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)
Qualifying - N Lapentti (ECU) vs F Cipolla (ITA)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs J Acasuso (ARG)
P Mathieu (FRA) / F Santoro (FRA) vs [WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA)

COURT 2 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - A Montanes (ESP) vs O Rochus (BEL)
Qualifying - M Gicquel (FRA) vs J Del Potro (ARG)

COURT 9 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - G Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs K Vliegen (BEL)

So far Minar, Rochus, Bolelli and Vliegen are through the qualifying rounds :ok:

The Nalby section is intriguing cos Wawrinka and Soderling are in there and each is capable of taking out Robredo early and I really do fancy seeing Tommy out early on and Waw or Sod progressing to meet Nalby - if Nalby turns up that is. If Nalby makes it through he will be a threat to Fed. And then it should eb Djoko in the semi - Fed is pretty rusty so god knows who will make the final at the top half.

I think it's straight forward enough for Djoko to make his semi unless Gasquet of Murray play a blinder, but Djoko does have bizarre off days. Play like he did in Januray and I think he'll easily make the final, if not win.

Agree that the usual consitent Davydenko should get through reasonably comfortably.

Nadal should also progress to the finals, assuming he is fully fit.

ORDER OF PLAY, MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2008

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[13] J Ferrero (ESP) vs M Llodra (FRA)
F Lopez (ESP) vs [14] A Murray (GBR)
J Tipsarevic (SRB) vs [9] P Mathieu (FRA)
[WC] G Kuerten (BRA) vs I Ljubicic (CRO)
[WC] G Couillard (MON) / J Lisnard (MON) vs R Nadal (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
F Santoro (FRA) vs [Q] K Vliegen (BEL)
N Mahut (FRA) vs F Volandri (ITA)
[Q] N Lapentti (ECU) vs P Starace (ITA)
G Monfils (FRA) vs F Verdasco (ESP)
P Hanley (AUS) / L Paes (IND) vs D Nalbandian (ARG) / S Prieto (ARG)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
[Q] I Minar (CZE) vs [WC] M Ancic (CRO)
T Haas (GER) vs [Q] O Rochus (BEL)
[10] C Moya (ESP) vs S Querrey (USA)
N Djokovic (SRB) / R Stepanek (CZE) vs J Kerr (AUS) / R Wassen (NED)

COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
R Stepanek (CZE) vs R Soderling (SWE)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs J Acasuso (ARG)

Monday, 21 April

Singles First Round
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [9] P Mathieu (FRA) 64 26 63 :yahoo:
S Querrey (USA) d [10] C Moya (ESP) 63 16 63 :yikes:
[13] JC Ferrero (ESP) d M Llodra (FRA) 67(5) 61 61
[14] A Murray (GBR) d F Lopez (ESP) 76(5) 64 :yahoo:
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d J Acasuso (ARG) 76(4) 63
I Ljubicic (CRO) d (WC) G Kuerten (BRA) 61 62 :(
F Volandri (ITA) d N Mahut (FRA) 62 63
R Soderling (SWE) d R Stepanek (CZE) 64 67(6) 63
G Monfils (FRA) d F Verdasco (ESP) 75 64 :angry:
[WC] M Ancic (CRO) d [Q] I Minar 63 64 :yahoo:
[Q] K Vliegen (BEL) d F Santoro (FRA) 76(4) 61
[Q] O Rochus (BEL) d T Haas (GER) 61 30 ret. (shoulder) :( :(
[Q] N Lapentti (ECU) d P Starace (ITA) 76(3) 67(2) 64

ORDER OF PLAY, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 2008

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
J Chela (ARG) vs [Q] S Bolelli (ITA)
S Grosjean (FRA) vs [15] I Karlovic (CRO)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs I Ljubicic (CRO)
F Volandri (ITA) vs [14] A Murray (GBR)
R Nadal (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP) vs [3] D Nestor (CAN) / N Zimonjic (SRB) - To be arranged

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
J Nieminen (FIN) vs [Q] M Gicquel (FRA)
[WC] M Safin (RUS) vs X Malisse (BEL)
A Calleri (ARG) vs A Seppi (ITA)
N Almagro (ESP) vs [WC] J Lisnard (MON)
P Mathieu (FRA) / F Santoro (FRA) vs [WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
M Mirnyi (BLR) / J Murray (GBR) vs M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) vs S Wawrinka (SUI)
[Q] R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) vs G Simon (FRA)
M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA) vs R Gasquet (FRA) / J Tipsarevic (SRB)
I Andreev (RUS) / I Ljubicic (CRO) vs F Cermak (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER)

COURT 9 start 11:00 am
I Andreev (RUS) vs D Tursunov (RUS)
H Lee (KOR) vs [11] J Monaco (ARG)
Not Before 3:00 PM
J Coetzee (RSA) / W Moodie (RSA) vs J Acasuso (ARG) / D Ferrer (ESP)

Looking at Nadal's draw...

Ancic is better on clay than people think, but on the slow slow surface of Monte Carlo he won't be as effective as he'd like to do be against Nadal. Nadal should be OK in that match.

Ferrero has lost many times to Nadal and unfortunately (I like JCF) I can't see him getting a victory against Nadal on clay.

Ferrer is an interesting one - he doesn't seem to be too scared of Nadal, and will run around all day and night, and may beat Nadal at his own game on quite a few points - Rafa could be vulnerable in that one.

Davydenko - one of the form players of the year - he may make a few too many mistakes on clay, but given the confidence that Miami will have given him, it could be close.

Final - if its Federer, I reckon Nadal will preserve his record at Monte Carlo, if its Djokovic, then the confident (cocky?) young Serb will be really fired up and it could be an epic match - do they have 5 setters in the final at Monte Carlo anymore? Alternatively, I'd like to see a Nalbandian v Nadal final on clay...

Well, by country, it looks like France and Argentina were the big losers in the first round. France was 1 out of 8, with Monfils providing the only bright spot. Argentina didn't fare much better, with Monaco providing the only win out of four first-round matches. Of course, Gasquet and Nalbandian are also in there with first round byes.

and the UK has 100% record in the first round :P

As does the USA. :D

Tuesday, 22 April

Singles Second Round
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d I Ljubicic (CRO) 63 63
[14] A Murray (GBR) d F Volandri (ITA) 64 61 :yahoo:

Singles First Round
[11] J Monaco (ARG) d H-T Lee (KOR) 60 75
[12] T Robredo (ESP) d S Wawrinka (SUI) 64 75
[15] I Karlovic (CRO) d S Grosjean (FRA) 46 64 41 ret. (left groin)
A Seppi (ITA) d A Calleri (ARG) 64 63
I Andreev (RUS) d D Tursunov (RUS) 75 63
N Almagro (ESP) d [WC] J-R Lisnard (MON) 64 64
J Nieminen (FIN) d [Q] M Gicquel (FRA) 60 64
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d X Malisse (BEL) 63 62 :yahoo:
[Q] R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) d G Simon (FRA) 61 61
[Q] S Bolelli (ITA) d J-I Chela (ARG) 62 62

ORDER OF PLAY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2008

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[Q] S Bolelli (ITA) vs [4] N Davydenko (RUS)
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [Q] R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP)
[WC] M Ancic (CRO) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[Q] K Vliegen (BEL) vs [7] R Gasquet (FRA)
[4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) vs M Melo (BRA) / A Sa (BRA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) vs [WC] M Safin (RUS)
G Monfils (FRA) vs [15] I Karlovic (CRO)
S Querrey (USA) vs A Seppi (ITA)
[Q] O Rochus (BEL) vs [6] D Nalbandian (ARG)
P Hanley (AUS) / L Paes (IND) vs [2] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR)

COURT 2 start 10:00 am
[Q] N Lapentti (ECU) vs J Tipsarevic (SRB)
[8] M Youzhny (RUS) vs I Andreev (RUS)
[13] J Ferrero (ESP) vs J Nieminen (FIN)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) vs R Soderling (SWE)

COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs N Kiefer (GER)
N Almagro (ESP) vs [11] J Monaco (ARG)
[8] J Bjorkman (SWE) / K Ullyett (ZIM) vs M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL)

COURT 11 start 12:00 noon
N Djokovic (SRB) / R Stepanek (CZE) vs [5] S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT)
[6] L Dlouhy (CZE) / P Vizner (CZE) vs I Andreev (RUS) / I Ljubicic (CRO) or F Cermak (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER)

btw, gasquet pulled out of the doubles with a back injury, so not sure if he's going to be playing tomorrow :unsure:

Wednesday, 23 April

Singles Second Round
[1] R Federer (SUI) d [Q] R Ramirez Hidalgo (ESP) 61 36 76(1)
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [WC] M Ancic (CRO) 60 63
[4] N Davydenko (RUS) d [Q] S Bolelli (ITA) 62 76(5)
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) d [WC] M Safin (RUS) 62 63
[6] D Nalbandian (ARG) d [Q] O Rochus (BEL) 64 63
[7] R Gasquet (FRA) d K Vliegen (BEL) 61 62
I Andreev (RUS) d [8] M Youzhny (RUS) 63 ret. (neck)
N Almagro (ESP) d [11] J Monaco (ARG) 62 30 ret. (right hand)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) d R Soderling (SWE) 64 76(3)
[13] JC Ferrero (ESP) d J Nieminen (FIN) 63 63
G Monfils (FRA) d [15] I Karlovic (CRO) 76(8) 61
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) d N Kiefer (GER) 62 64
J Tipsarevic (SRB) d [Q] N Lapentti (ECU) 57 76(5) 64
S Querrey (USA) d A Seppi (ITA) 61 75

ORDER OF PLAY, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008

COURT CENTRAL start 10:00 am
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) vs J Tipsarevic (SRB)
[13] J Ferrero (ESP) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs G Monfils (FRA)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs [14] A Murray (GBR)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) vs [WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 10:00 am
I Andreev (RUS) vs N Almagro (ESP)
[16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [4] N Davydenko (RUS)
[12] T Robredo (ESP) vs [6] D Nalbandian (ARG)
S Querrey (USA) vs [7] R Gasquet (FRA)
F Cermak (CZE) / P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs R Nadal (ESP) / T Robredo (ESP)

COURT 2 start 1:00 pm
J Coetzee (RSA) / W Moodie (RSA) vs [7] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA)
[8] J Bjorkman (SWE) / K Ullyett (ZIM)) vs [2] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR)

OOOOH Those are some pretty good match-ups. :drool:

Yes, some fascinating matchups on both courts... but the one that intrigues me most is Djokovic - Murray.
Not that I think either is a tournament favourite, nor that it's career-defining for Murray (as mutton-heads on Another Forum would have it), just that if they both bring their best games it should be a cracker.

(Although for the clay-court purist Ferrero-Nadal should be the one to watch I suppose?)

definitely some good matches today - they would of course go and put Djoko vs. Murray on when i'm likely to be in a meeting :rolleyes: It'll be interesting to see what Fed can do against Monfils - I think yesterdays match will have either scared Fed and he'll wake up and realise he needs to move up a gear, or it'll dent his confidence further and he's going to have to battle his way through :unsure:

:rolleyes: .... Signs 'O' Times ... when FED needs a cheer to get through the early rounds.... :unsure: even any match now......

That's a nice set of pom-poms you've got there, Suzi. B)

;)2 Yes... they have to be if Fed is to win... *but you can keep on Oogling :P he probably wouldn't mind*

BTW .Good win for FED and the Sam Q, not a natural clay courter but he seems to have the right mind for the red stuff. :)

Yeah. I'm pleased for Sam. He had won only one ATP level match on clay prior to this. Beating both Moya and Gasquet on clay is pretty impressive. Even if they weren't at their best, those are some pretty talented clay court players.

Thursday, 24 April

Singles Third Round
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) d J Tipsarevic (SRB) 64 60
I Andreev (RUS) d N Almagro (ESP) 75 46 64
[2] R Nadal (ESP) d [13] J Ferrero (ESP) 64 61
[1] R Federer (SUI) d G Monfils (FRA) 63 64
[4] N Davydenko (RUS) d [16] P Kohlschreiber (GER) 36 75 62
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) d [14] A Murray (GBR) 60 64 :(
S Querrey (USA) d [7] R Gasquet (FRA) 26 64 63
[6] D Nalbandian (ARG) d [12] T Robredo (ESP) 61 60

ORDER OF PLAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2008

COURT CENTRAL start 10:30 am
I Andreev (RUS) vs [4] N Davydenko (RUS)
[1] R Federer (SUI) vs [6] D Nalbandian (ARG)
[5] D Ferrer (ESP) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[3] N Djokovic (SRB) vs S Querrey (USA)

COURT DES PRINCES start 12:00 noon
[4] M Bhupathi (IND) / M Knowles (BAH) vs [5] S Aspelin (SWE) / J Knowle (AUT)
[1] B Bryan (USA) / M Bryan (USA) or [WC] J Benneteau (FRA) / N Mahut (FRA) vs J Coetzee (RSA) / W Moodie (RSA)

I'm thinking it'll be seeds 1, 2, 3 and 4 advancing to the semis.

Based on current form, Nalbandian over Federer may be the most likely upset. Ferrer looks awfully good, too. I think he'd have a good shot against any of the quarterfinalists except for Nadal . . .

i dunno - i'd say Nadal and Djoko for sure - although Nadal might have a hard time against Ferrer.

but Andreev could beat Davydenko, and if Nalby has a non-donut day he could pull off the upset :unsure:

The semi-finalists will be Davydenko, Nadal, Djokovic and, um, one of the other two guys... you read it here first ;)

I do think Federer- Nalbandian is too close to call, possibly slightly easier to find reasons for Nalbandian winning. For sure, if he gets 5-1 up in the third he won't freeze or start doing trick shots :rolleyes:

And he wasn't afraid to beat Roger even before Roger's current dip in form...

But then Roger's form although still fluctuating does definitely seem to be on an upward curve.

Too many unknowns: as the saying goes, it might come down to how hungry Nalbandian is for it...

:coat:

you'd be great at the predictions contest y'know :P

So Murray and his big gob have left the scene?? Good for the sport.

Well, if you're right about Nadal and Djoko being sure bets, then my 1, 2, 3, 4 prediction looks pretty good.

:P

i know - i should give up on predictions, i really should :rolleyes:

You can't be that bad. Didn't I see that you were in the Top 10 in BotB, out of 130 or so entrants?

:hug:

i think *were* is the operative word in that sentence :rolleyes:

best prediction is rfa wins if cklay i s surface... :)