Arnaud Clement/Getty Images

Qualifying: Clement Eliminates the First Seed

August 7, 2005 - France's Arnaud Clément caused a big surprise, upsetting top seeded Czech Thomas Zib to secure a berth in the main draw of the Rogers Cup, which gets underway at 11:00am Monday.

Clément came back from a 3-6, 4-5 deficit to take the match 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3. He is one of three Frenchmen to make it through the qualifying rounds. Compatriots Nicolas Mahut and Florent Serra knocked off American Glenn Weiner and Takao Suzuki of Japan respectively to join the 56 players already in the main draw.

Five other players also qualified for the tournament including the second and third seeds: Italy's Davide Sanguinetti, who ousted South African Wesley Moodie, and Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland, who defeated Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Montenegro.

The draw for the $2.45 million Rogers Cup is looking particularly difficult for Rafael Nadal, the tournament’s top seed and reigning French Open champion.

The 19-year-old Spaniard will have it tough right from the start, facing compatriot Carlos Moya, 29 th in the world, in what will surely be a first round baseline battle. And if that’s not enough, he could be facing 15 th seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the round of 16. Gasquet takes on Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in the first round.

Nadal finds himself in the same half of the draw as World No.5 and third seed Andy Roddick of the United States. Second seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt and fourth seeded American Andre Agassi, No.6 in the world, are in the other half of the draw. Hewitt opens the tournament with a match against a qualifier while Agassi battles Spaniard Alberto Martin.

In other exciting first round match-ups, Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero confronts Guillermo Coria of Argentina, while Frenchman Sébastien Grosjean faces off against Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand.

The draw will also be tough for the Canadians. Frederic Niemeyer of Sherbrooke, Que., battles fifth seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko in his opener. Sixteen-year-old Philip Bester of Vancouver, an IMG recruit, takes on Brazil’s Ricardo Mello; Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., plays the dangerous and flamboyant Xavier Malisse of Belgium; and Toronto’s Rob Steckley faces Danish veteran Kenneth Carlsen.

One of the most accessible tournaments

The Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is more accessible than ever thanks to the Uniprix Zone, Neighbourhood Day, and Tide & Downy Family Day.

Excellent tickets are still available for all sessions on Centre Court and for the National Bank Court. Tickets start at just $10, with the final weekend starting at just $40. For more information on this tournament or to buy tickets, call (514) 273-1515 (toll free 1-866-338-2685).

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