Federer gets tough Masters draw
Print Edition
Roger Federer has been handed a tough draw at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, which kicked off yesterday at Qizhong Tennis Center in Minhang District.
The 14-time grand slam winner is in the same half of the draw as top seed Novak Djokovic, whom he will have to overcome to reach the semifinal.
Second seed Rafael Nadal has a comparatively easier draw, while Chinese players face tough opening challenges.
Seeded fifth in one of his favorite tournament, Federer, like other top seeds, has a first-round bye, and is expected to meet wildcard Lleyton Hewitt in the second round if the Australian manages to overcome Italian Andreas Seppi.
“It’s a very tough draw,” Federer said at yesterday’s draw ceremony, apparently sure that he would face Hewitt.
“We played in the 2002 Shanghai Masters Cup semifinal, and he (Hewitt) won the tournament that year.”
The survivor of the likely Federer-Djokovic clash will compete for a final spot against third seed David Ferrer of Spain or seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Other seeds in this half include Richard Gasquet, Kei Nishikori, Gilles Simon and Tommy Robredo.
Nadal, who returned to world No. 1 by reaching the final of China Open in Beijing yesterday, will probably have to see off John Isner or Stanislas Wawrinka before reaching the semifinal. Other seeds in his half include Juan Martin Del Potro, Tommy Haas, Nicolas Almagro and Tomas Berdych who withdrew from the China Open semifinal against Nadal due to a back injury.
However, there are no easy matches for the three Chinese wildcard holders. Local player Wu Di faces German Florian Mayer in the first round, and will challenge the winner of Gilles Simon and Benoit Paire if he gets through. Gong Maoxin plays another German Philipp Kohlschreiber, with the winner meeting sixth seed Del Potro.
China’s top-ranked male player Zhang Ze will face Spain’s Fernando Verdasco in the first round. Zhang, though, seems to be more focused on the doubles where he will partner Federer, with their first match set for tomorrow.
“I might get nervous at first, but things will get better after practice. He is the king on court and I have everything to learn from him during the match, his manners and playing style.”
Federer has never played doubles in any ATP 1000 event, let alone with a Chinese player. He got a better knowledge of his new partner as the two held a “mini tie-breaker” friendly match for fans. Zhang lost by one point. “He was being nice to me and held back, as it’s after all my home court,” Zhang said.
Six Chinese players competed in yesterday’s qualifying round, with only Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei winning. The first round of matches start today.
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