Andy Roddick

Main Draw Ready to Roll in Miami

March 26, 2008

The beginning of a tournament is always the most exciting time for fans and players as everyone realizes that no matter where a player ranks, if they are the top seed or a qualifier, it’s anyone’s championship to win. The main draw is set for the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Florida and predictions are running rampant as to who will come out on top at the other end.

As witnessed by Mardy Fish’s improbable run to the Pacific Life Open final last week, any one of the 96 players set to play at this Masters Series event could walk away with the experience of a lifetime. Fish himself is hoping for a repeat performance as he is once again in the same half of the draw as Nikolay Davydenko, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer, all of whom he defeated in Indian Wells. His first round match-up will be tough though as he is set to face Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Federer will have to take care of a lot of business if he intends on making it to his first final of 2008. King Roger has been relegated to Prince Roger so far this year having lost three of his past six matches. If he doesn’t have an impressive showing in Miami people may start referring to him merely as Roger. His first test will come against either Gael Monfils (France) or American wildcard John Isner. He is also in the same quarter as the super-confident Andy Roddick who has been playing at the top of his game since parting ways with coach and mentor Jimmy Connors last month. Roddick exited Indian Wells early but rarely has two poor showings in a row.

Everyone’s favourite Spaniard Rafael Nadal is hoping to make the semifinals where a potential rematch is on tap with defending champ Novak Djokovic. Nadal had a decent run at Indian Wells where he was able to defeat James Blake for the first time in four attempts but Djokovic was too much to handle and flung Nadal aside in the semis en route to the championship. Nadal will eventually have to get through Blake again, as well as the resurgent Argentine David Nalbandian who could await him in the quarters. Nadal will face the winner of a first-round match-up between Germany’s Benjamin Becker and Sergio Roitman of Argentina.

Djokovic, the ATP’s current iron man, should have no problem until a possible fourth round match against Fernando Gonzalez. Gonzalez has proven to be difficult for Djokovic in the past but the two have not met in the last year since Djokovic catapulted to the top of the rankings.

Even though none of the seeded players begin play until the second round, there are several interesting first-round matches to watch. Two former Top 10 players from Germany will square off as Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer are set to play each other. Haas created a buzz in Indian Wells as he knocked off Roddick in the second round and made it all the way to the quarter-finals before having to retire against Federer. Two Russians will also meet as Dmitry Tursonov and Evgeny Korolev will fight for a chance to play No. 8 Richard Gasquet in the second round.

The men’s double draw has yet to be released but fans can expect much of the same heated competition from Indian Wells. All the top teams are playing and the field is just as wide open in doubles these days as it is in singles.