ATP - Monte Carlo Masters Thursday Preview

Ljubicic Ivan (CRO) vs. Berdych Tomas (CZE)
Number five seed, Tomas Berdych, started in great form the clay season with a solid tennis in first round against Rochus. Was precise on court and even that Rochus improved his game in the second set putting more pressure, the Czech never looked in danger on court. "Last year I had quite a successful clay court season and I hope I can emulate. This surface fits my game, I can play on it." I want to keep the clay this year's high standard of results, advancing to the quarterfinals, and when it occasionally add a little extra, it will be good." – said Berdych. He will meet now Ljubicic who passed by Tsonga. The Frenchman had period in the match when was better then Ljubicic, he lead in both sets but he couldn’t keep his serve and allowed to the Croat to bounce back on the background of many errors made by Tsonga. H2h is 2-2 with all meetings on fast ground but the last two were won by the Czech with the most recent back in 2008. Berdych looked good on court with precise shots from the back of the court while Ljubicic benefited by a lot of errors made by the Frenchman.

Raonic Milos (CAN) vs. Ferrer David (ESP)
Canadian Milos Raonic started well the clay season wining both two matches so far, the later against Gulbis. Both players committed quite a few unforced errors in the first set and didn’t engage in many long rallies but overall Raonic was more stable behind the serve, both players hit some impressive winners but the Canadian proved more compact and kept his errors low. He will meet David Ferrer who was impressive against Lopez letting only two games.

The Canadian is impressive behind the serve but will meet one of the best retrievers on tour and a player who is very fast on clay, Ferrer creates good angles and will exploit the poor sideways movement of the Raonic, Ferrer beat him this year in AO on a much faster courts, the Spaniard looked good against Lopez.

Robredo Tommy (ESP) vs. Troicki Viktor (SRB)
Tommy Robredo beat his compatriot Fernando Verdasco in a match where the odds fluctuate a lot all day. Robredo started well the match putting easily a break up front and overall lead the entire match but also Verdasco wasn’t at his best, he called for the trainer to give his left shoulder some treatment but Robredo has done well to merit his place. He will meet now Troicki who had a tough match against Fognini, in a match with 16 breaks where more important was to hold the serve then to make a break. H2h is 2-1 for Robredo with 1-1 on clay, the Spaniard made a much solid match while still the Serbian had a lot of ups and downs during the match especially on serve. Robredo is a tough baseliner and is able to run him around the court with his big ground strokes, Troicki will not advance too much to the net as the Spaniard has good passing shots and the surface tends to favor more the Spaniard.

Nadal Rafael (ESP) vs. Gasquet Richard (FRA)
World number one Rafael Nadal began the defence of his Monte Carlo Masters crown with an emphatic second-round victory over Finland's Jarkko Nieminen. It was a powerful display of hitting from the Spaniard. "Today was a positive start. I think I played better than what I practiced the last days, so that's always positive. It is positive the way I played with the forehand and positive the way that my serve worked. It wasn't bad. I have to play a little bit more aggressive with the backhand." – said Nadal about his first match. He will meet Gasquet now who came after a solid match against Garcia-Lopez, the Frenchman pushed him all the way on serve but a lot of games were tight with the Frenchman controlling the match on serve and from the back of the court. Nadal is favorite to take this one but the Frenchman improved a lot recently in his game and mental aspect, his attitude on court improved too and this will be a good test for the Frenchman to see where his level is.

Gil Frederico (POR) vs. Monfils Gael (FRA)
Frenchman Gael Monfils converted 5 out of 14 break points to earn a comprehensive win over the Spaniard Daniel Gimeno-Traver in straight sets, wasn’t an easy match as was more the Spaniard who made the errors and were five breaks in the first set, twice when Monfils served for the set. The Frenchman led too much the points with the forehand avoiding playing too much on backhand wing. Gil is coming after a good match against Mayer bouncing back in the first set and carried the moment in the second set controlling the set and the match after that. They met this year on AO and Gil managed to take a set from the Frenchman but was on different surface and the Portuguese wasn’t in good form while now Monfils is coming from injury time and still is in searching of his form. The Portuguese knows how to force long rallies and should direct a lot of balls on backhand wing of the Frenchman and that will let a lot of space for winners, something that Gimeno-Traver did but only partial. Gil is a qualifier here and has a good touch on the surface and will enter with a lot of morale, if he will manage to return the Frenchman’s serve will have the upper hand.

Cilic Marin (CRO) vs. Federer Roger (SUI)
Marin Cilic advanced when Pere Riba withdrew. The Spaniard won a mere two points in three return games and called it quits 29 minutes into the match due to a right knee injury. He will meet now Roger Federer who started off his clay court campaign in style wrapping up the German player, Philipp Kohlschreiber. After the match has said that, it was clearly a good start in the clay-court season and said that, he varied it well that Kohlschreiber couldn’t play his game. Federer was consistent and consistently dangerous too. They have only one meeting and that back in 2008, the Croat isn’t at his best and still is searching his top form but if Federer will play at the same level he looks as the likely winner.

Melzer Jurgen (AUT) vs. Almagro Nicolas (ESP)
Haase has made a blistering start against Melzer wining easily the opening games, he went down a little bit but still managed to take the first set. The Dutchman looked imperious on serve for much of the opening set but Melzer start to hit the ball far more confidently in the second set and kept that game till the end looking solid on court. He will meet for a place in quarter-finals the Spaniard Nicolas Almagro for the third time, they are tied at 1-1 with Almagro wining on clay. The Spaniard is coming after a tough match against Gonzalez who pushed him all the way, the Spaniard had catch a poor serving day and struggled behind the serve in a match that lasted three hours. Melzer is under injury clouds while Almagro comes after a tough match, the Austrian needs to play aggressive, to advance a lot to the net and not give rhythm to the Spaniard from the back of the court, the match is played in the night session and conditions are slower which gives slight advantage to the Spaniard. Also, Melzer has a poor record here being only his second win in Monte Carlo.

Murray Andy (GBR) vs. Simon Gilles (FRA)
Andy Murray beat Radek Stepanek in his opening round of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters being first win since reaching the Australian Open final in January. "I played great, I played really well. I dominated the match from the second or third game." – said Murray. He will meet now Simon who past by Montanes, but still wasn’t impressive on court, when his serve didn’t enter then Montanes was all over him but he didn’t keep his own serve as the Spaniard was off on serve and Simon cruised further. Murray made a much solid match, he made only one unforced errors in the first seven games of the match, he put a lot of desire on court and a lot of determination and is Simon will have same letdown on serve.