• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Federer injury opens door for rivals in Madrid

Posted on: Friday, 14 October 2005, 05:06 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

More News in this Category