Cincy Draw is Out!

[VamosRafa]

Some interesting first-round pairings again. Gotta feel sorry for James Blake.


(1) FEDERER, Roger SUI v (WC) BLAKE, James USA
KIEFER, Nicolas GER v Qualifier
VOLANDRI, Filippo ITA v ROCHUS, Olivier BEL
SANTORO, Fabrice FRA v (14) LJUBICIC, Ivan CRO

(9) CORIA, Guillermo ARG v SRICHAPHAN, Paradorn THA
Qualifier v ROCHUS, Christophe BEL
EL AYNAOUI, Younes MAR v ACASUSO, Jose ARG
ROBREDO, Tommy ESP v ( GAUDIO, Gaston ARG

(4) SAFIN, Marat RUS v Qualifier
(WC) MURRAY, Andy GBR v DENT, Taylor USA
MIRNYI, Max BLR v SODERLING, Robin SWE
HRBATY, Dominik SVK v (13) JOHANSSON, Thomas SWE

(10) PUERTA, Mariano ARG v (WC) GINEPRI, Robby USA
Qualifier v FERRER, David ESP
Qualifier v SPADEA, Vincent USA
MOYA, Carlos ESP v (7) AGASSI, Andre USA

(6) DAVYDENKO, Nikolay RUS v GROSJEAN, Sebastien FRA
(SE) MATHIEU, Paul-Henri FRA v HAAS, Tommy GER
GONZALEZ, Fernando CHI v Qualifier
PAVEL, Andrei ROM v (11) NALBANDIAN, David ARG

(16) GASQUET, Richard FRA v LOPEZ, Feliciano ESP
ANCIC, Mario CRO v MELLO, Ricardo BRA
Qualifier v RUSEDSKI, Greg GBR
ANDREEV, Igor RUS v (3) HEWITT, Lleyton AUS

(5) RODDICK, Andy USA v MELZER, Jurgen AUT
Qualifier v FERRERO, Juan Carlos ESP
MARTIN, Alberto ESP v CHELA, Juan Ignacio ARG
MASSU, Nicolas CHI v (12) HENMAN, Tim GBR

(15) STEPANEK, Radek CZE v (WC) MONFILS, Gael FRA
NOVAK, Jiri CZE v BECK, Karol SVK
YOUZHNY, Mikhail RUS v SAULNIER, Cyril FRA
BERDYCH, Tomas CZE v (2) NADAL, Rafael ESP

 

[FedererUberAlles]

Poor James Blake. =/

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

Thanks for the update, VamosRafa. It's great to see Safin and Federer back in action, and hopefully they are both in healthy form. I have a feeling things might be just as wacky as what happened in Montreal with the first-round matches we have here. Imagine if Blake did some how pull that off..

 

[VamosRafa]

They were saying on ESPN today they didn't expect Safin to play -- so he may pull out before the start.

Moya vs. Agassi. Another tough one. I'll definitely go to that one!

 

[AngeloDS]

Poor James Blake. =/

That's what I said lol. But, it'll be an interesting match to watch.

 

[156MPHserve]

(9) CORIA, Guillermo ARG v SRICHAPHAN, Paradorn THA
(WC) MURRAY, Andy GBR v DENT, Taylor USA
MOYA, Carlos ESP v (7) AGASSI, Andre USA
(6) DAVYDENKO, Nikolay RUS v GROSJEAN, Sebastien FRA
(16) GASQUET, Richard FRA v LOPEZ, Feliciano ESP
MASSU, Nicolas CHI v (12) HENMAN, Tim GBR

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

They were saying on ESPN today they didn't expect Safin to play -- so he may pull out before the start.

That sucks. In my understanding he was expecting to play from the statement released on his website: 11.08.05 Marat & Peter are in Moscow while Marat sorts out what he needs for the US having been in Italy for over a month. The treatment went well and he is feeling fit & ready although a bit short of match practice. He & Peter travel to the US Friday 12th and they will arrive in Cincinnati Friday night. Also travelling with Marat for this part of the tour will be his childhood fitness coach from Valencia Miguel M. There is a good chance that Marat will apply for a Wild Card for New Haven to get extra match practice before the US Open.

I don't think missing this event will really bother a guy like Safin, but hopefully he does get New Haven to have some sort of match practice before Flushing. Maybe the decision to withdraw will be made soon...

 

[VamosRafa]

It was Patrick McEnroe who said that, but I'm not sure if he had any news or not, or was just guessing. In fact, he said he didn't expect Safin to play the USO??? The news on the website must be more current.

Also, Rafa has said he will not take the New Haven wildcard they are holding for him.

 

[BigboyDan]

Nice draw for Roddick:

5) RODDICK, Andy USA v MELZER, Jurgen AUT
Qualifier v FERRERO, Juan Carlos ESP
MARTIN, Alberto ESP v CHELA, Juan Ignacio ARG
MASSU, Nicolas CHI v (12) HENMAN, Tim GBR

 

[arosen]

I hope that Patric Mac was talking out of his arse as usual when he predicted Safin's absence. Playing a qualifier is a perfect set-up for a first round back-to-the tour thing.

 

[westside]

Hewitt has got a preety tough draw. Might have to play Gasquet in the 3rd round and if he wins that he will have to play David Nalbandian in the QF

 

[verdasco67]

Moya vs Agassi should be good!!! and i think coria might be heading out the first round again.

 

[verdasco67]

the qualifying draw looks tufff....

http://www.atptennis.com/en/common/...mon/TrackIt.asp?file=/posting/2005/422/QS.pdf

 

[Noelle]

Well, gifted_shotmaker, Safin's official website hasn't shown itself to be too close to the Safin action lately; there was this whole stretch of time where the webmaster had no idea what was going on with Safin's knee.

I'm not sure that we can predict Safin's performance at the US Open based on his performance in preliminary events, anyway. The AO would have been a surprise win if people had only taken into account his (dismal) performance at the Hopman Cup. With Safin, if he wants to play at a Slam, he will.

 

[Diablo]

That's what I said lol. But, it'll be an interesting match to watch.

That's exactly what I tot too!

hopefully the match will be helpful for James in anyway

 

[gugafanatic]

Blake has nothing to lose. He has not played top 3 players in recent time and this will test whether he can hang with the elite.

 

[westside]

Blake has nothing to lose. He has not played top 3 players in recent time and this will test whether he can hang with the elite.

Blake has played against Hewitt and Roddick this year, does that count as recent times?

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

Approaching US Open the weather is becoming warmer and warmer.

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

I'm not sure that we can predict Safin's performance at the US Open based on his performance in preliminary events, anyway. The AO would have been a surprise win if people had only taken into account his (dismal) performance at the Hopman Cup. With Safin, if he wants to play at a Slam, he will.

That is too true about Safin. If Safin puts his mind to anything, he can have it, and I think winning this Masters event will be confidence building. I think Safin will put effort into winning the Open because he's realized he can contend with guys like Federer and it showed through winning in Australia(finally, LOL) and putting together a note-worthy grass court season, at least for Safin. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Safin can keep his head together and that he stays healthy. It's silly to predict his chances because at any time he could be blown off the court by even a club player or you see him beating Federer.

 

[Galactus]

War, Blake!! :mrgreen:

 

[Matthew]

So I'm going to Cincinatti for the entire week, and guess what the weather prediction is? Raaaaaain.