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  • Madrid semifinal spot there for Murray's taking

    10/12/08 9:07 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - Andy Murray's first ATP tournament since finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open is already off to a good start--even though it hasn't officially started. His quarter of the draw is not too taxing.

    All Andy Murray has to do to realize he has a favorable draw this week at the Masters Series Madrid is take a look at Roger Federer's section.

    The fourth quarter of the draw not only boasts Federer, but also Stockholm winner David Nalbandian, on-fire Juan Martin Del Potro, Bangkok titleist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Tokyo champion Tomas Berdych.

    While Murray has plenty of players in solid form nearby, he avoided any potential matches in which he would not be considerably favored. The No. 4 seed's potential path to the semifinals includes Nicolas Almagro, Fernando Verdasco, and Andy Roddick. Roddick, however, will be hard-pressed just to make it to the quarters with both Fernando Gonzalez and Gael Monfils as potential early opponents. Unless Marin Cilic returns from injury with a bang and reaches the third round to face Murray, the Scot should cruise into the quarterfinals.

    First-round matches set for Monday are Cilic vs. Olivier Rochus, Tommy Robredo vs. Andreas Seppi, and Simone Bolelli vs. Nicolas Almagro. Bolelli got in as a lucky loser when Moscow runner-up Marat Safin pulled out citing a shoulder problem, and the Italian will have a great chance against Almagro, who prefers clay courts.

    Gael Monfils gets a day of rest after losing in the Vienna final before he plays Fabio Fognini.

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