Article

  • The 2008 South American clay court swing kicks off in Vina del Mar, Chile.

    1/27/08 5:23 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - At the Movistar Open. Fernando Gonzalez, Chile's number one player and the tournament's top seed, is coming off a disappointing third round exit at the Australian Open. He will play his countryman Paul Capdeville.

    His path will not be easy; his quarter of the draw includes the number 5 seed Agustin Calleri, last year's champion Luis Horna and cheerful Argentine Mariano Zabaleta. Don't be surprised if Gonzalez doesn't make the final.

    Also in the Gonzalez half of the draw are Spanish clay courter Fernando Verdasco and the always tough Jose Acasuso. Recent ATP absentee Guillermo Coria will also be making an appearance thanks to a wildcard. Problems with a shoulder injury, and terrible service yips have caused Coria to lose his ATP singles ranking. Though not a serious contender for the title, Coria is a nostalgic draw.

    In the bottom half of the draw lurks the dangerous Juan Monaco. He is the number 3 seed, and my favorite to get to the final. Though clay is his best surface, he's already made a semi-final apperance on hardcourt this year at the Australian Open tune-up tournament in Auckland. He also tested hard hitting Tomas Berdych in Melbourne before going down in 4. Looking to stop Monaco will be the number 2 seed, Juan Igancio Chela, Oscar Hernandez and Nicolas Massu. Though recovering from an ankle injury, perennial crowd favorite Gaston Gaudio is also in the bottom half of the draw.

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Comments

Monaco to win the tournament. Most interested in seeing if Coria and Gaudio are actually playing tennis or still just messing around.

Also I love the reference to Gaudio as "perennial crowd favorite." Not sure if that's accurate, but he's certainly one of mine.

RickyDimon , 1/28/08 7:05 PM



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