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3/26/08 4:36 PM | Ricky Dimon
As usual, Roger Federer's first match at the Masters Series Miami will take place on Saturday night under the lights of Crandon Park Tennis Center. While all eyes are always on Federer, Saturday night and for however long he remains in the tournament, all eyes will be on him more than ever. Normally fans can't take their focus off him because they don't want to miss whatever brilliance the world No. 1 comes up with next. This time, however, the focus will be to find out exactly what the heck is going on. Federer has not won any of the three tournaments he's entered in 2008 and he is coming off a humiliating 6-3, 6-2 loss to Mardy Fish in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open.
If Federer is unable to turn things around in Miami, he does not have the draw to blame. The Swiss has either John Isner or Gael Monfils on Saturday night. In the third round he would get Robin Soderling, Stefan Koubek, or 28th-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka. Either of those three would be tough, but far from imposing if Federer plays anywhere close to his best. After that it would most likely go Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth round and Andy Roddick in the quarters. Federer routinely dominates both of those guys.
Still, there is plenty of intrigue aside from Federer in this section of the draw. Roddick, who took the Dubai title earlier this month, could meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round. Those two have exchanged a minor war of words regarding the Davis Cup, and this would be a perfect stage to preview next month's USA-France quarterfinal showdown. Roddick shouldn't have much difficulty getting through a portion of a draw where the nearest seed is No. 30 Juan Ignacio Chela. Tsonga, however, will have to make his way through a first match with either Jurgen Melzer or Michael Llodra, who has already won two titles this season, and a potential third-round clash with Ivo Karlovic.
But the story, of course, is Federer.
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Did you know that... Arnaud Clement and Fabrice Santoro fought during 6 hours and 33 minutes in the longest match ever played, in French Open 2004.
ed251137, Aug 28, 2008 4:16 PM
agf25agf, Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM
tenstar, Aug 28, 2008 11:06 AM
ed251137, Aug 28, 2008 9:39 AM
cherylmurray, Aug 27, 2008 3:10 PM
RocketQueen, Aug 28, 2008 8:28 PM
DejaBlue, Aug 28, 2008 7:05 PM
dusko82, Aug 28, 2008 11:33 AM
Did you know that... Jimmy Connors is the only player to have won the US Open on grass, clay and hard court.
ed251137, Aug 28, 2008 4:16 PM
agf25agf, Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM
tenstar, Aug 28, 2008 11:06 AM
ed251137, Aug 28, 2008 9:39 AM
cherylmurray, Aug 27, 2008 3:10 PM
RocketQueen, Aug 28, 2008 8:28 PM
DejaBlue, Aug 28, 2008 7:05 PM
dusko82, Aug 28, 2008 11:33 AM
