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4/15/09 1:40 AM | Kelli DeMario
Juan Martin Del Potro is set to begin his 2009 campaign at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Wednesday. Marat Safin will meet Nicolas Lapentti in a second-round match.
Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Ivan Ljubicic
Fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who reached a career-high world No. 5 a week ago, makes his debut in Monte-Carlo this week. The Argentine is off to a terrific start in 2009, reaching the quarterfinal round or better in six consecutive tournaments. Del Potro added ATP World Tour title No. 5 to his resume in this past January, defeating American Sam Querrey in the finals of Auckland. The world No. 5 turned in a solid showing at the Masters event in Miami, posting his first career win over world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals. He faces Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia in the second round on Wednesday. Ljubicic, ranked 66th in the world, survived a three-set battle with Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen in the opening round. Wednesday’s match marks the first meeting between Del Potro and Ljubicic.
Marat Safin vs. Nicolas Lapentti
Former world No. 1 Marat Safin will take the court against Ecuadoran qualifier Nicolas Lapentti in round two. The Russian, making his 10th appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters, came through a first-round encounter with Australian former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 7-5. Lapentti prevailed in a tough three-setter in the first round on Monday, dismissing 15th seed Radek Stepanek. Safin and Lapentti have met once on the ATP World Tour, with the Russian snagging a quarterfinal round victory at the 2000 tournament in Barcelona.
Simone Bolelli vs. Janko Tipsarevic
Italian Simone Bolelli is set for a first-time matchup with Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. Bolelli, ranked 41st in the world, makes his second appearance at the Monte-Carlo Masters. The Italian, who reached a career-high world No. 36 in February of this year, has not advanced beyond the round of 16 in eight consecutive tournaments. Bolelli battled into the second round of the Monte-Carlo tournament in 2008, falling to Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the round of 32. World No. 56 Janko Tipsarevic notched an impressive win in his opening-round encounter, dispatching ninth seed Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-1.
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Whoa, huge loss for JMDP. But Ljubicic is playing way above his ranking this year.
-Arvis
Arvis , 4/15/09 7:29 PM
What to say Arvis, I am sad with the thought that JMDP has to wait for another tournament to play Rafa on clay!
Good serving and beautiful backhand of Ljubi there.
Raindrops , 4/15/09 7:54 PM
Raindrops - don't worry about it. If Del Potro lost to Ljubicic on clay, he would have lost to Nadal in less than an hour. We aren't missing anything with this loss. Nadal is actually probably upset that he won't get a chance at revenge.
RickyDimon , 4/15/09 8:33 PM
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Nice job Ljubo, good play.
posmatrac , 4/15/09 7:19 PM