Topic: ATP - Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters - 14-22 April 2012

[conchita]

The Gem Of the Mediterranean



The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006, is the first of three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. The tournament is a player and fan favourite due to its magnificent location and long tradition of champions. Spain's Rafael Nadal won an Open Era record seventh successive title there in 2011 and has a staggering 39-1 event record.

Name: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Category: ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Place: Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Date: 15.04.2012-22.04.2012
Draw Size: S-56 D-24
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: € 2,427,975
http://www.monte-carlorolexmasters.com/


Seventh Heaven For Nadal
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal reigned supreme at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for the seventh year in a row as he defeated fourth seed David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5 in an all-Spanish final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Nadal improved to a 39-1 record at the clay-court tournament and lifted his 19th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy.

Djokovic already in the starting blocks -In parallel to the Davis Cup tie between the United States and France, spectators were able to attend practice sessions by Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Country Club where he started getting ready for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. The Serbian player, who is beginning the 2012 season in top shape, missed the 2011 edition of the event due to a knee injury. This year, nobody doubts that "Nole", boosted by his recent victory at the Masters 1000 in Miami, will radiate in front of his numerous supporters in the Principality, his home of residence throughout the year.

Strong Week For Ferrer - Fourth seed David Ferrer dropped 17 games in eight sets en route to his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final (also 2010 Rome). He has a 21-8 tournament record.

Murray Worries Nadal - Andy Murray, making his fifth appearance at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, reached the semi-finals for the second time in three years (also 2009), where he took Rafael Nadal to three sets.

2012 Official Entry List
Player Name Nat. Rank
Novak DJOKOVIC SRB 1
Rafael NADAL ESP 2
Andy MURRAY GBR 4
David FERRER ESP 5
Jo-Wilfried TSONGA FRA 6
Tomas BERDYCH CZE 7
Janko TIPSAREVIC SRB 9
John ISNER USA 10
Nicolas ALMAGRO ESP 12
Gilles SIMON FRA 13
Gael MONFILS FRA 14
Feliciano LOPEZ ESP 15
Kei NISHIKORI JPN 16
Richard GASQUET FRA 17
Alexandr DOLGOPOLOV UKR 18
Florian MAYER GER 19
Fernando VERDASCO ESP 20
Juan MONACO ARG 21
Jurgen MELZER AUT 22
Marin CILIC CRO 23
Marcel GRANOLLERS ESP 24
Radek STEPANEK CZE 25
Milos RAONIC CAN 26
Viktor TROICKI SRB 27
Kevin ANDERSON RSA 28
Stanislas WAWRINKA SUI 29
Mikhail YOUZHNY RUS 31
Juan Ignacio CHELA ARG 32
Julien BENNETEAU FRA 33
Philipp KOHLSCHREIBER GER 35
Bernard TOMIC AUS 36
Carlos BERLOCQ ARG 37
Pablo ANDUJAR ESP 38
Ivan LJUBICIC CRO 41
Michael LLODRA FRA 43
Denis ISTOMIN UZB 44
Andreas SEPPI ITA 45
Donald YOUNG USA 46
Thomaz BELLUCCI BRA 47
Jarkko NIEMINEN FIN 48
Juan Carlos FERRERO ESP 49
Lukasz KUBOT POL 51
Olivier ROCHUS BEL 52
Robin HAASE NED 53
Fabio FOGNINI ITA 55

[Djokovic Champion]

The Gem Of the Mediterranean



The Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006, is the first of three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments played on clay. The tournament is a player and fan favourite due to its magnificent location and long tradition of champions. Spain's Rafael Nadal won an Open Era record seventh successive title there in 2011 and has a staggering 39-1 event record.

Name: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters
Category: ATP World Tour Masters 1000
Place: Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Date: 15.04.2012-22.04.2012
Draw Size: S-56 D-24
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: € 2,427,975
http://www.monte-carlorolexmasters.com/


Seventh Heaven For Nadal
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal reigned supreme at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters for the seventh year in a row as he defeated fourth seed David Ferrer 6-4, 7-5 in an all-Spanish final at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Nadal improved to a 39-1 record at the clay-court tournament and lifted his 19th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy.

Djokovic already in the starting blocks -In parallel to the Davis Cup tie between the United States and France, spectators were able to attend practice sessions by Novak Djokovic at the Monte-Carlo Country Club where he started getting ready for the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. The Serbian player, who is beginning the 2012 season in top shape, missed the 2011 edition of the event due to a knee injury. This year, nobody doubts that "Nole", boosted by his recent victory at the Masters 1000 in Miami, will radiate in front of his numerous supporters in the Principality, his home of residence throughout the year.

Strong Week For Ferrer - Fourth seed David Ferrer dropped 17 games in eight sets en route to his second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final (also 2010 Rome). He has a 21-8 tournament record.

Murray Worries Nadal - Andy Murray, making his fifth appearance at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, reached the semi-finals for the second time in three years (also 2009), where he took Rafael Nadal to three sets.

2012 Official Entry List
Player Name Nat. Rank
Novak DJOKOVIC SRB 1
Rafael NADAL ESP 2
Andy MURRAY GBR 4
David FERRER ESP 5
Jo-Wilfried TSONGA FRA 6
Tomas BERDYCH CZE 7
Janko TIPSAREVIC SRB 9
John ISNER USA 10
Nicolas ALMAGRO ESP 12
Gilles SIMON FRA 13
Gael MONFILS FRA 14
Feliciano LOPEZ ESP 15
Kei NISHIKORI JPN 16
Richard GASQUET FRA 17
Alexandr DOLGOPOLOV UKR 18
Florian MAYER GER 19
Fernando VERDASCO ESP 20
Juan MONACO ARG 21
Jurgen MELZER AUT 22
Marin CILIC CRO 23
Marcel GRANOLLERS ESP 24
Radek STEPANEK CZE 25
Milos RAONIC CAN 26
Viktor TROICKI SRB 27
Kevin ANDERSON RSA 28
Stanislas WAWRINKA SUI 29
Mikhail YOUZHNY RUS 31
Juan Ignacio CHELA ARG 32
Julien BENNETEAU FRA 33
Philipp KOHLSCHREIBER GER 35
Bernard TOMIC AUS 36
Carlos BERLOCQ ARG 37
Pablo ANDUJAR ESP 38
Ivan LJUBICIC CRO 41
Michael LLODRA FRA 43
Denis ISTOMIN UZB 44
Andreas SEPPI ITA 45
Donald YOUNG USA 46
Thomaz BELLUCCI BRA 47
Jarkko NIEMINEN FIN 48
Juan Carlos FERRERO ESP 49
Lukasz KUBOT POL 51
Olivier ROCHUS BEL 52
Robin HAASE NED 53
Fabio FOGNINI ITA 55

Why Federer will not play the tournament?

[swish]

When is the draw?   
 
 

[hercules]

draw:
 
4/14/12

[Djokovic Champion]

draw:
 
4/14/12

Thanks.

[conchita]

Isner to pull out of Monte Carlo

John Isner, who won his two Davis Cup matches against France last weekend in Monte Carlo and is playing the U.S. Men’s Clay Courts this week in Houston, will pull out of next week’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo.
 
"I will go back home [to Florida after Houston] and work with my coach, Craig Boynton," Isner told reporters. "I need to get in better shape if I want to do good in these next two majors coming up and Masters events [in Madrid and Rome]. I need to be in better shape, put my head down, go back to work and get my body right."
 
Isner, who has beaten three players in the Top 6 in the last two months—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—believes his game has advanced leaps and bounds.
 
"I feel like I'm a much better player. I'm a more improved player, I'm a more confident player; to compete at this level and do well you have to be confident that's what I have on my side. I know confidence can come and go and I think I proved that throughout the course of 2012 so far. I think that match against Roger in Switzerland certainly I played close to my highest level on clay, away with 7,500 people cheering against us; I played the right way and I kind of realized at that point that's how I need to play. I've tried to stay engaged I'd like to think I'm sort of a nightmare to play."
 

[swish]

Isner to pull out of Monte Carlo

John Isner, who won his two Davis Cup matches against France last weekend in Monte Carlo and is playing the U.S. Men’s Clay Courts this week in Houston, will pull out of next week’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo.
 
"I will go back home [to Florida after Houston] and work with my coach, Craig Boynton," Isner told reporters. "I need to get in better shape if I want to do good in these next two majors coming up and Masters events [in Madrid and Rome]. I need to be in better shape, put my head down, go back to work and get my body right."
 
Isner, who has beaten three players in the Top 6 in the last two months—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—believes his game has advanced leaps and bounds.
 
"I feel like I'm a much better player. I'm a more improved player, I'm a more confident player; to compete at this level and do well you have to be confident that's what I have on my side. I know confidence can come and go and I think I proved that throughout the course of 2012 so far. I think that match against Roger in Switzerland certainly I played close to my highest level on clay, away with 7,500 people cheering against us; I played the right way and I kind of realized at that point that's how I need to play. I've tried to stay engaged I'd like to think I'm sort of a nightmare to play."

John is probably doing the right thing.
He's taking a lot out of that Fed victory and then Djokovic.
 
 

[Babblelot]

Isner to pull out of Monte Carlo

John Isner, who won his two Davis Cup matches against France last weekend in Monte Carlo and is playing the U.S. Men’s Clay Courts this week in Houston, will pull out of next week’s ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo.
 

Yeah, that never made sense.

Thanks for finding this, conchi

[Babblelot]

Gasquet is out (ankle injury)

[hercules]

big john can use the rest and relaxation. he is also supposed to do some work on his game with his coach.

[conchita]

Gasquet is out (ankle injury)

Monfils also is out.

so in the main draw:
Ramos, Albert ESP 56
Volandri, Filippo ITA 58
Dodig, Ivan CRO 60

[Babblelot]

Gasquet is out (ankle injury)

Monfils also is out.

so in the main draw:
Ramos, Albert ESP 56
Volandri, Filippo ITA 58
Dodig, Ivan CRO 60

Cool, I just mentioned Ramos in another thread. I like the way the lefty plays.

[Alex]

MC organizers should just let Djokovic and Nadal play the final, all other players there are just kinda decorating the tournament 

[hercules]

u getting anxious general alex?

[Alex]

u getting anxious general alex?

yeah, a little bit  . Seriously, I don't see anybody taking down 2 Spartans  . So, other players playing there are just wasting our time  (OK, j/k of course)

[swish]

Djokovic won't have to worry about Isner or Fed.
 
I don't see anyone stopping Nadal or Djokovic.

[hercules]

u getting anxious general alex?

yeah, a little bit  . Seriously, I don't see anybody taking down 2 Spartans  . So, other players playing there are just wasting our time  (OK, j/k of course)

affirmative general alex.

[masterclass]

Why Federer will not play the tournament?

He's enjoying himself on vacation with his wife (celebrating wedding anniversary) and kids.



Maybe he'll be sitting in his living room watching Djokovic and Nadal have another marathon battle?

Federer's wisely resting up for the big battles ahead.
Federer's priority is the grass season...on the clay, he'll be happy if he can defend the points he has and perhaps gain some on Nadal and Djokovic at Madrid (last year - 360) and Rome (90).  Federer's performance at Madrid and Rome relative to Nadal's will be the key for him potentially getting to #2 prior to Roland Garros.

Current ranking points:

12670 Djokovic
9935 - Nadal
9035 - Federer

After Monte-Carlo if Nadal defeats Djokovic in the final (giving  best possible result to Nadal):
13270 Djokovic
9935 - Nadal
8855 - Federer

Then, if Federer were to win at Madrid vs. Djokovic ( let's say Nadal either withdraws or doesn't play too hard on the blue clay, so SF),

12870 Djokovic
9695 - Nadal
9495 - Federer

Then in Rome it becomes very interesting.
A Federer semifinal or better combined with a Nadal result less than a win also gives Federer #2.

I'm not sure if Mr. Nadal is worried about it or not, but he should be...

Respectfully,
masterclass

[Babblelot]

After Monte-Carlo if Nadal defeats Djokovic in the final (giving  best possible result to Nadal):
13270 Djokovic
9935 - Nadal
8855 - Federer

Then, if Federer were to win at Madrid vs. Djokovic ( let's say Nadal either withdraws or doesn't play too hard on the blue clay, so SF),

12870 Djokovic
9695 - Nadal
9495 - Federer

Then in Rome it becomes very interesting

Yeah, if Nole loses to Rafa (MC), and if Rafa DNP's Madrid, and if Fed wins Madrid, then Rome becomes very interesting to Fedfans.

Q: How many "ifs" will it take for Rome to be interesting to a Fedfan?
A: 3

Priceless!
 

Alex and others, self included, think Rome is already interesting. 

[Alex]

After Monte-Carlo if Nadal defeats Djokovic in the final (giving  best possible result to Nadal):
13270 Djokovic
9935 - Nadal
8855 - Federer

Then, if Federer were to win at Madrid vs. Djokovic ( let's say Nadal either withdraws or doesn't play too hard on the blue clay, so SF),

12870 Djokovic
9695 - Nadal
9495 - Federer

Then in Rome it becomes very interesting

Yeah, if Nole loses to Rafa (MC), and if Rafa DNP's Madrid, and if Fed wins Madrid, then Rome becomes very interesting to Fedfans.

Q: How many "ifs" will it take for Rome to be interesting to a Fedfan?
A: 3

Priceless!
 

Alex and others, self included, think Rome is already interesting. 

well Babs, to be honest with you RG is all that  really matters. Djokovic wants it really badly.

 I mean, sure, we are all guessing right now, who's gonna win what etc. I personally love Rome. It's a great tournament plus Italians absolutely adore Nole (not sure why he is so popular in Italy).  I was actually shocked last year when Djokovic was playing there, the whole stadium was yelling Nole, Nole, Nole .... well, as a Nole fan I loved it 

now, I think that Fed (who says he wants to get back to #1) is making a big mistake by not playing MC.