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  • Masters Series Madrid: Federer, Nadal back in action

    10/12/08 3:48 AM | Ricky Dimon
    - Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and the rest of the top ATP players are back in the ballgame this week for the Masters Series Madrid. Federer's quarter of the draw is without question the toughest.

    Welcome back, tennis fans.

    The first huge tournament since the U.S. Open is finally upon us as the Masters Series Madrid begins on Sunday. Every single one of the Top 30 players in the world (No. 31 Mario Ancic recently pulled out) is in action, including Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

    Federer withdrew shortly before last week's IF Stockholm Open, so he will be playing for the first time since winning one of the singles rubbers in Switzerland's Davis Cup win over Belgium three weeks ago. The second-ranked Swiss won't have long to get back in the swing of things, either, as he has been placed in by far the most difficult quarter of the draw. His potential road to the semifinals is the following: Radek Stepanek in round two, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in round three, and either Juan Martin Del Potro or David Nalbandian in the quarters. The path is especially brutal for Nalbandian, who could open with Tokyo champion Tomas Berdych before meeting Del Potro.

    Nadal has Novak Djokovic on his half of the draw, but whose to say right now that the hand is more troubling than, say, Federer having Andy Murray in his half? The Spaniard's quarter is certainly more manageable than that of Federer. Nadal could get Ernests Gulbis, who gave him a fight at Wimbledon, in round two, but Gulbis might go out to Nicolas Kiefer in round one. The other thre seeds in Nadal's section are David Ferrer, Stanislas Wawrinka, and Richard Gasquet.

    Djokovic's portion of the draw is littered with players looking to turn around recent slumps. Seeds Nikolay Davydenko, James Blake, and Ivo Karlovic have done nothing of late, and Djokovic has not exactly been setting the tennis world on fire himself. Marat Safin and indoor-court genius Robin Söderling could take advantage of a vulnerable section.

    Murray probably has the easiest journey--on paper--to the semis of them all. Unless Marin Cilic returns from injury with a bang, the Scot should cruise into the quarterfinals, where he could face either Andy Roddick, Fernando Gonzalez, or Gael Monfils.

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Comments

Finally, Rafa and Roger time!

RafaNadalGirl20 , 10/12/08 7:43 AM


It's quite boring the weeks after the U.S.Open. Rafa and Roger are back... fire in tennis is restored!

agf25agf , 10/12/08 12:19 PM


Go Rafa!!

INNA , 10/13/08 12:28 PM


Go Novak go...

gordana , 10/13/08 3:17 PM


u can say that again, i enjoy tennis regardless of who is playing, Nadal and Fed just some spark in the game

rakten , 10/13/08 4:22 PM


common fedex..u gotta win madrid masters.......

ravikiran , 10/14/08 6:12 PM


I would pick the winner between FedEx and Nole. Somehow, I don't see Rafa go all the way.
As I am Nole's compatriot ... GO NOLEEEE!!! :)))

danica , 10/15/08 12:12 PM


For a very first time I'm not quite sure if someone from goldest 3 would pick up the medal, Federer, Nadal and Novak didn't show to all tennis fans very good play, it's very tough for them, cause there are too many good players in Madrid, so no matter what, I'm praying for Novak to be constant in his playing, otherwise, I don't want to think, what would happen and not only for him, but for the two others as well.

gordana , 10/16/08 12:18 PM


What to say, Novak has showed good tennis but he didn't get two chances for a brake, I'm more than disappointed, Karlovic won but his tennis is not interesting at all, just service and aces no game beauty, have to admit, Federer was great as well as Nadal...

gordana , 10/17/08 8:54 AM



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