What if Federer couldn't play in the Championship?

[f1 tech]

Now we all know that Federer was hurt a month ago. WHAT IF he had not recovered and had to withdraw from the Masters Championship, who would take his place and who will win? Now we have Hewitt, Roddick, Safin, and Federer out, what if.....


Red Group: ???, Gulliermo Coria, Ivan Ljubicic, David Nalbandian.

Gold Group: Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Nikolay Davydenko, Gaston Gaudio.

I thought this would be a great what if discussion.

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

If Federer cant play due to injury, Nadal will win another event by default with all the top players gone, and be named the completely undeserved player of the year by both the ATP and ITF, and their extremely corrupt, biased, and cheating members who would ignore all the facts in making that decision. That is about it.

 

[@wright]

They still aren't sure he'll be able to play. Check his website. I think it would be disastrous for the tournament. I wouldn't be nearly as excited about it if he couldn't play.

 

[8PAQ]

If Fed couldn't play then Puerta would play as he is the next one in the rankings.

This would make it officially the lamest Master Cup ever. It would be as interesting as watching Wimbledon with its draw being replaced by a draw from some Brazilian clay court tournament.

Ljubicic would probably win it unless he would choke again.

 

[DanEd]

If roger can´t play then puerta will substitute him

 

[Virtuous]

ugghgh...heaven forbid

 

[f1 tech]

If Federer is not playing, it'll be Ljubicic vs Nadal in the finals. I hope Andre gives a good run either way.

 

[moore than just a gun]

berdych is fine competitor

ivan pushed him

rafa is awesome competitor

ivan pushed him

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

As I said if Federer does not play, Nadal will win the event by default, and win the bogus ATP and ITF player of the year awards by default as well proving the corruptness of the ATP and ITF. In addition though Agassi will make the finals if he plays, if Federer pulls out. Ljubicic will probably lead Nadal when they play and choke again.

 

[AAAA]

Who cares? I rate the TMC way below the majors and a few TMS events.

 

[ssuHeartsRivald]

oh...don't
without safin, hewitt, federer, and roddick it will be a scrawny tournament.
but if it happen i think the final would be nadal-ljubicic and for this i predict a 50-50 chance.

 

[rommil]

Now we all know that Federer was hurt a month ago. WHAT IF he had not recovered and had to withdraw from the Masters Championship, who would take his place and who will win? Now we have Hewitt, Roddick, Safin, and Federer out, what if.....


Red Group: ???, Gulliermo Coria, Ivan Ljubicic, David Nalbandian.

Gold Group: Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Nikolay Davydenko, Gaston Gaudio.

I thought this would be a great what if discussion.

It will be like a house full of 16 year olds with no guardian....

 

[croatian sensation]

OMG that would make the whole Argentinian DC team play in the Masters...and they got their asses kicked by a bunch of "not even near to the Masters" Slovaks.
The only thing that would make that version of Masters bearable would be changing the surface to clay
With them and Nadal, it would make it a private Mundo Hispano championship
Luckily it's only a "what if"

 

[Fee]

Puerta and David Ferrer are both in Shanghai, apparently, because the ATP wanted to be prepared for the possibility that both Andre and Roger would withdraw, possibly after they had each played a match. This is beginning to look less like a Masters Cup and more like the Harrod's Day after Christmas sale.

 

[moore than just a gun]

vamos puerta

just don't use the lifts in the hotels...lol

bad connections

 

[matchpoint54]

I hope Agassi makes the final.

 

[toughcookie]

Who cares? I rate the TMC way below the majors and a few TMS events.

Why is that? Only the best of the best qualify, and the players are motivated playing for a big purse at such a large stage. Some years, it is also the event that decides the year-end no. 1.

 

[AAAA]

Why is that? Only the best of the best qualify, and the players are motivated playing for a big purse at such a large stage. Some years, it is also the event that decides the year-end no. 1.

The season for the top players is effectively over after the USO unless the race for the year end #1 is still up for grabs. The players who didn't enter the tournament and those who have withdrawn since entering is perhaps an indication the best players do not aim to peak at the TMC like they do at the slams and the top TMS events.

If we look at the evidence then I can say at none of the slams this year have so many of the top marque players cancelled their entry, entered carrying an injury or withdrew with injury after just one or two matches.

 

[akj27]

If Fed couldn't play then Puerta would play as he is the next one in the rankings.

This would make it officially the lamest Master Cup ever. It would be as interesting as watching Wimbledon with its draw being replaced by a draw from some Brazilian clay court tournament.

Ljubicic would probably win it unless he would choke again.

Why a brazilian clay court tournament? unless youre brazilian, you dont have the right to say that

 

[8PAQ]

Why a brazilian clay court tournament? unless youre brazilian, you dont have the right to say that

I meant like the one where Gaudio beat Nadal beginning of this year. Nothing against Brazil. Just that you don't see many Americans or even Europeans playing there. I couldn't simply say a clay court tournament because you have 3 master series clay court tournaments plus the FO, all in Europe, where the draw is very strong. However Latin American tournaments have pretty pathetic draws. That's all. Nothing against Brazil

 

[GripnRip]

ivan l. has been looking like the best competitor comming in

 

[Kevin Patrick]

AAAA,
which masters series do you rank above the TMC?
I agree it's way below the majors, but certainly rank it above masters series events. The Masters Cup has been played since the early 70s & most of the winners have been all-time greats.

Except for this year, they have had great fields & often great tennis(the '96 Becker-Sampras final for example, the atmosphere was like a slam final)

 

[AAAA]

Kevin,
I'd certainly rate Key Biscayne, Indian Wells and Rome more highly. The fields are much bigger, proper tournament feel, more chances for upsets and the players are relatively fresh.

The problem I have with the TMC is the small entry list, its timing (end of year) and supposedly , I guess, it's marketed as some sort of showcase event for the 8 'best' players of the year. On paper it sounds good

'8 best players in the world duking it out for the end of year championship'

However surfaces make such a big difference, players may not play like their 'ranking' if the surface does not suit them. The casual fan will expect top #8 level performances from all players but will not get it.

Also add what I wrote in my second post.