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Post by Andrada on Apr 13, 2005 19:14:27 GMT 3
Favorites hit top form on clay Roger Federer, Marat Safin  , and Rafael Nadal join defending champion Guillermo Coria into last 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Nadal dazzled with a 6-0 6-3 demolition of Belgium's Xavier Malisse before the Australian Open champion overpowered Cyril Saulnier of France 6-3 6-1. World number one Roger Federer spent 59 minutes on the court to edge Spain's Albert Montanes 6-3 6-4. Defending champion Guillermo Coria was also impressive as he beat French qualifier Thierry Ascione 6-2 6-1. The 18-year-old Nadal dropped just nine points in a one-sided first set leaving Malisse, no mean performer on clay, apparently powerless to stop the onslaught. Malisse eventually registered on the scoreboard in the eighth game of the match but his fragile resistance crumbled again when Nadal broke serve to lead 4-2 after an amazing close-quarters exchange of volleying. The Spaniard, who is emerging as a serious contender for this year's French Open after back-to-back titles on clay in Brazil and Mexico, closed out the match in exactly an hour to match his progress to the third round here two years ago. On that occasion he came through qualifying before announcing himself on the world stage by defeating then French Open champion Albert Costa. "This place definitely has good memories for me," said the 11th seed, who could face world number one Roger Federer in the semi-finals. "That win proved to myself that I could beat the top players. I hope I can now go further than the third round." Second seed Safin, playing at his local club, outclassed Saulnier without ever needing top gear, clinching victory in just over an hour to set up a possible third-round meeting with former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain. Sixth seed Coria is playing his first claycourt tournament of the year, but is clearly happy to be back on his favourite surface and fully fit after last year's shoulder surgery. "Today I felt a bit like last year," said the Argentine. "I was very happy with my physical condition today and I'm very happy with my game. This gives me a great deal of confidence for the next round." Coria will play Alberto Martin in the third round after the Spaniard ended the run of French wildcard Jean-Rene Lisnard 6-1 6-2. Richard Gasquet kept the French flag flying with an impressive 7-5 6-1 victory over the experienced Felix Mantilla. Federer played his first match of the season to a clay court specialist and got out of it like if he were playing on a hardcourt. The Swiss imposed his attacking game and outplayed the Spaniard from the baseline. The top seed had one break and the first set and two breaks in the second to win and set a thrid round meeting with the winner of the match between Fernando Gonzalez of Chile and Croatia's Mario Ancic. |
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Post by Andrada on Apr 13, 2005 19:29:22 GMT 3
Marat will play J.C. in the third round...it's going to be an interesting match...IMO. J.C. beat Novak 3-6; 6-3;6-2. Fingers crossed for Marat! |
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Post by Teresa on Apr 13, 2005 22:37:00 GMT 3
OOP for Thursday Marat if 4th up on central court After Federer This time should be good for him. GOOD LUCK Marat  I wonder what takes that site so long to update its info. Also I wonder if there is always some juggling going behind the scenes as to who should play when and where? You know......is Peter out there saying "My boy' cannot play before 3pm..... he needs his rest, and oh yes by the way don't even think of anything other than Court Central" Gaudio and Coria are playing on the Court des Princes Coria is the defending champion, and Gaudio won RG 2004.....maybe there is nothing in it, and there are a lot of top seeds left in the tournament.......it was just a though  |
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Post by lau on Apr 13, 2005 23:24:47 GMT 3
    Confident Ferrero ready for Safin testBy Martyn Herman (Reuters) MONTE CARLO, April 13 (Reuters) - Former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero took another step back up the tennis ladder on Wednesday, beating Czech Jiri Novak to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters. The Spaniard fell off the radar last year when a bout of chicken pox and niggling rib and wrist injuries wrecked his year. The world number 69 needed a wildcard to play at Monte Carlo but his 3-6 6-3 6-2 defeat of 16th seed Novak fully justified his place in the draw and earnt him a third round match against Marat Safin on Thursday. "I'm playing good tennis," said Ferrero, who won the French Open in 2003 and also lost in the final of the U.S. Open. "All that has happened has made me stronger mentally, and I feel like I can beat anybody." The 25-year-old was humbled last week by teenager Rafael Nadal at his home town tournament in Valencia and acknowledges that the road back to the top will be a rocky one. "Because my ranking has slipped I'm coming up against a lot of good players in first and second rounds, like top 10 players," he said. "Before, I would always play against them in quarter-finals or semi-finals. But I'm feeling better and my ranking is getting better day by day. "I'm not in a hurry. But I'm aiming to get back into the top 15 by the end of the year and I will fight and fight for that. "Sometimes it's frustrating but I am a strong tennis player and I knew that sooner or later I would be a good tennis player again." Ferrero, twice a champion here, trails Safin 4-3 in previous meetings, with the Russian winning their last clash two years ago in Barcelona. "It's going to be a good test," Ferrero said. "I've watched some of his matches and he's hitting the ball very strong." From: gotennis.com |
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Anuska
Junior Member
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Post by Anuska on Apr 14, 2005 0:16:49 GMT 3
Yeah, this win is great. Marat hasn't play very good. It was bad match, he made lots of errors and his serve was poor... I don't think, he felt comfortable on the court. But real master can win even if he doesn't play good.  ;D ;D ;D Hope tomorrow will be better with all elements of his game |
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Post by annie on Apr 14, 2005 3:12:49 GMT 3
from what i've read here, sounds like it was a pretty good match for Marat...especially when you guys gets excited over the scoreboard ;D ;D and with a score like that,it must have really been...i hope it contitnues like this for him and hopefully i'll get to see his matches too... hmmmmm I'm actually starting to like the hat ROTFL!!!!!!!!!! i've always liked the hat...especially when it's on backwards...makes him look younger...anyway, with or without it, he looks just mighty fine... ;D GOOD LUCK Marat Also I wonder if there is always some juggling going behind the scenes as to who should play when and where? You know......is Peter out there saying "My boy' cannot play before 3pm..... he needs his rest, and oh yes by the way don't even think of anything other than Court Central" that's interesting... ;D ...i could imagine ;D ;D but yeah, i'm already feeling nervous for his next match against Ferrero...but i have a feeling Marat's gonna be the better of them...so hopefully, that comes out and he'll win... |
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Post by Rucinski on Apr 14, 2005 3:42:02 GMT 3
So good he won, didn't see the match either but if he keeps winning I'll see him |
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Post by Teresa on Apr 14, 2005 4:05:40 GMT 3
I was wondering how come there is no post match interview with Marat??? Unless there was but the site did not post it along with the other interviews, seems strange?? maybe its just me |
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Jamie
Junior Member
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Post by Jamie on Apr 14, 2005 5:15:54 GMT 3
i'm sure the next match will be interesting
i hope i can watch it though it means that i have to stay up late.
one of my friends is so crazy over JCF. if only i could watch the match together with her! as far as i remember, two girls shouting in front of one TV for two guys is always ridiculous and it's one of the best ways to really enjoy a tennis match because when i am with friends, i won't be that nervous and won't bite myself while seeing marat lose another point. ;D
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alysha
Junior Member
maybe we'll wake up and itll all just be a dream
Posts: 198
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Post by alysha on Apr 14, 2005 6:11:31 GMT 3
ooooo im exciiiteedd for this matchhh!!!! vamos marat!
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Cassie
Junior Member
Posts: 158
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Post by Cassie on Apr 14, 2005 7:54:21 GMT 3
ooooo im exciiiteedd for this matchhh!!!! vamos marat! yes, let's go Marat. Please... |
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Post by annie on Apr 14, 2005 9:19:04 GMT 3
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Post by annie on Apr 14, 2005 9:19:51 GMT 3
Good luck Marat!!!!!!!
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Post by annie on Apr 14, 2005 9:43:28 GMT 3
Safin vs. Ferrero Highlights Third Round Action
Marat Safin takes a 4-3 lead in career meetings against Juan Carlos Ferrero into today's third-round blockbuster between the two former World No. 1s. Safin is looking for his first title since winning his second Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in January.
Ferrero, who has not reached a quarterfinal in 2005, is looking to become the first player since Thomas Muster (1992, '95, '96) to win three Monte-Carlo titles. The Spaniard won back-to-back titles in 2002-03.
Defending champion Guillermo Coria is looking to reach just his second quarterfinal of the year (Auckland) when he meets Spaniard Alberto Martin. Coria is 13-6 on the year and is playing his first clay court tournament of 2005. Coria is chasing his ninth consecutive victory at Monte-Carlo
Top seed and INDESIT ATP 2005 Race leader Roger Federer will defend his unbeaten head-to-head record against Chilean Fernando Gonzalez. Federer is an ATP-best 34-1 on the season and has won eight of the past nine tournaments he has entered. Federer, who won the Hamburg title in 2002 and 2004 and reached the Rome final in 2003, is looking to become the fifth active player to reach all three clay court ATP Masters Series finals. Federer is riding a 24-match winning streak dating back to his semifinal loss to Marat Safin in the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Gonzalez has made an impressive 18-7 start to the season and is hoping to advance to his fourth quarterfinal of the season.
Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal continues his chase for a third clay court title of the season – and a second consecutive ATP Masters Series final – when he meets Belgian Olivier Rochus. Nadal is 26-6 on the season and stands fourth in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race.
French qualifier Richard Gasquet, playing his first ATP-level tournament of the season, will attempt to reach his first ATP Masters Series quarterfinal when he meets 10 th -seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Gasquet has dropped just 14 games in two qualifying and two main draw matches.
Roland Garros champion Gaston Gaudio takes a 12-1 clay court record in 2005 into his third-round match with Romanian qualifier Victor Hanescu. Gaudio has already won titles in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires this season.
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Post by Teresa on Apr 14, 2005 13:55:05 GMT 3
i'm sure the next match will be interesting i hope i can watch it though it means that i have to stay up late. one of my friends is so crazy over JCF. if only i could watch the match together with her! as far as i remember, two girls shouting in front of one TV for two guys is always ridiculous and it's one of the best ways to really enjoy a tennis match because when i am with friends, i won't be that nervous and won't bite myself while seeing marat lose another point. ;D LOL Jamie, i would find it hard to watch with a JCF fan I must admit, I can only watch with ppl supporting Marat |
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, and Rafael Nadal join defending champion Guillermo Coria into last 16 of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Nadal dazzled with a 6-0 6-3 demolition of Belgium's Xavier Malisse before the Australian Open champion overpowered Cyril Saulnier of France 6-3 6-1. 
