Federer injury opens door for rivals in Madrid

By Simon Baskett

MADRID (Reuters) – Roger Federer’s withdrawal because of a
foot injury could end up being a blessing in disguise for the
organizers of next week’s Masters Series event in Madrid.

The Swiss world number one’s domination of the sport is so
complete that few would have given any of his rivals a chance
of beating him on his favored hard court surface in the Spanish
capital.

The 24-year-old’s absence, combined with that of Lleyton
Hewitt, Andre Agassi and champion Marat Safin, means the
tournament is now wide open. It has also boosted hopes that
local favorite Rafael Nadal could win on home soil.

The 19-year-old world number two will, however, face stiff
opposition as he attempts to capture his 11th title of the
season.

Andy Roddick, a crop of Argentines including Guillermo
Coria, Gaston Gaudio and David Nalbandian, British duo Tim
Henman and Greg Rusedski and Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero,
Carlos Moya, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez all stand in
Nadal’s way.

Nadal withdrew from Vienna last week after injuring his
knee in practice but is expected to be fit for Madrid.

The young Mallorcan, who has not played since helping Spain
preserve their World Group status in the Davis Cup with a
victory over Italy last month, has already won Masters Series
events in Monte Carlo, Rome and Montreal in 2005.

Spain’s Albert Costa is not considered as one of the main
contenders but the 2002 French Open champion has hinted the
Madrid Masters could be his last tournament.

“It is getting harder and harder to travel all the time and
I want to spend more time with my family,” said the
30-year-old.

“I don’t have the same motivation as before and I haven’t
had much luck with injuries either. This could be my last
tournament.”

DOPING ROW

Attention will also be focused on Mariano Puerta, who lost
to Nadal in the French Open final.

The Argentine has become embroiled in another doping row
after French newspaper L’Equipe reported he had tested positive
for a banned stimulant at Roland Garros.

Puerta, who failed a drugs test two years ago, has denied
the reports saying that the only product he took were
anti-inflammatory tablets for a sore leg and he insists that he
will not to let the matter distract him.

“My aim now is to qualify for the Masters Cup,” he told the
Clarin newspaper this week. “I need to play some good
tournaments and am aiming to stay ahead of Nikolay Davydenko
(in the ATP Race) so I can get to Shanghai.”

Two further controversies that are likely to re-emerge
during the tournament are the row over the status of the
doubles and the decision to continue using models as ball girls
for the leading televised matches.

Organizers were reluctantly forced to back track on their
decision to ditch the doubles, a move they had taken to show
support for the ATP against players who had taken out a law
suit against the body for eroding the discipline’s standing in
the sport.

But they have stuck to their policy of using the female
models despite the criticisms leveled at the measure when it
was introduced last year.