No. 4 Ferrer sits 585 points and one ranking spot ahead of Rafael Nadal as the clay season begins. His decision to skip Monte Carlo won’t threaten his position as he looks to hold off Nadal to keep the No. 4 ranking heading into the French Open. Having lost in his opening round last year to Thomaz Bellucci, Ferrer was defending a mere 10 points in Monte Carlo.
Nadal, the eight-time defending champion, is defending 1,000 points and can only lose ground to Ferrer regardless of the result. To catch Ferrer, Nadal will need to win every clay lead-up he plays — Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome — and hope Ferrer suffers a few early losses. Otherwise, Nadal will go into the French Open, a tournament he’s won seven of the last eight years, ranked outside of the top four for the first time since he first played the event in 2005.
cortesia bleacherreport.com
Twitter: "Lamentablemente no podré estar en Montecarlo por problemas físicos. Espero estar recuperado para poder jugar el Conde Godo'.
Novak Djokovic’s injured ankle has turned into the hottest tennis story of the Monte-Carlo Masters draw this weekend. Even the subject of Rafael Nadal’s knees has been put on ice.
ResponderBorrarDjokovic hurt his ankle last Sunday in a Davis Cup match for Serbia against the United States. An MRI showed no structural damage, but recommended rest for optimum healing, according to Djokovic's website. There was also a statement that he promises to make a late decision on his ankle on whether he will play at Monte-Carlo, or if he will rest. Regardless, his possible absence has already altered the landscape for the nuclear war on clay. The weakening of one superpower allows the other to increase his strength. Nadal is now a huge favorite to rule for a ninth consecutive year at Monte-Carlo, and this defense promises to be hot and fierce—but it loses its biggest confrontation.
There are ATP contenders looking to capitalize on this new opportunity to rise out of the rubble and seize their own rewards. They are the talented survivalists seeking more than the scraps of post-apocalyptic rations.
Which dark-horse players will arm themselves with the confidence and resourcefulness to surprise Nadal and muster the strength needed to claim the French Open title?
Who will shrink away and seek cover beneath two months of clay-court attrition?
Europe is now center stage. Get ready for fruit-filled crepes, chocolate croissants, Perrier sparkling water and logos of Lacoste, BNP Paribas and Peugeot. They’re as omnipresent as cool umbrellas during changeovers.