Montreal Entry List

steven · Tennis legend

Montreal Entry List

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Mikeduke wrote:

Hewitt, Dancevic and Polansky get wildcards.

Ancic out, Zverev in.

Federer is probably out as well, due to the birth of his child. There is a discussion on MTF as to why this means Federer doesn't get banned from another Masters series event (as per the rules). It's to do with some rule that means Federer, Roddick, Safin and Schuettler only have to play 7/8 events, which seems a bit odd and pretty unfair on the other players.

Beside the point, I feel there should be some allowance for Paternity leave anyway.

Having scanned the rule book, I believe the exemption falls under rule 1.08, which says that is you have played 600 matches on the tour, have had 12 years of service on the tour, or are over the age of 31, then the number of 1000 series commitments is reduced by one.

I'd imagine then that Federer, Roddick, Safin and Schuettler all fit one of these catergories and thus do not have to play one of the events without any penalty.

Although the way the rulebook is worded means I'm not 100% sure on this, but that is how I understand it.

The problem for Federer will come depending on when Mirka does give birth and thus which one of the events can he miss. And even if he misses both, I'm sure the ATP will say he has done the requistie promotional work for the tournament (and I guess Federer will anyway) to avoid a suspension, as I'm sure the organisers of Madrid would love Federer to be banned from that event next year...

Mikeduke · County player

Any news on if Roger will play? He doesn't seem to have officially pulled out and I've not seen any news anywhere?

Mikeduke · County player

Final wild card went to Niemayer, Rafa has also confirmed that he will be playing.

-- Edited by Mikeduke on Wednesday 5th of August 2009 02:15:02 AM

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Shaping up to be plenty of withdrawals from this event and the cut is going to be quite low.

Already down to 56 given that Nalbandian, Gasquet, Blake, Montanes, Santoro and Ancic are out, and still doubts about Federer, Fish isn't fully fit, Monfils hasn't played since Queens, while Kiefer's last match ended in retirement as well.

Next man in would be Vassallo, so I imagine plenty of people are hoping he makes the cut and then they can draw him, but with a SE spot to be cleared, he could get in anyway.

Plenty of players could get that SE spot though, with Ferrero in pole position at the moment, but Odesnik, Gicquel, de Chaunac, Isner, and Devvarman also have chances.

Think they'll have to reach the semi finals in Washington to get in, although because of when the draw is made, anyone playing in the night matches on Friday may have a chance as the draw will be done before they've played their quarter final.

steven · Tennis legend

What, Dammit's out? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cry

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

MVA is in, Gicquel next in line.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

steven wrote:

What, Dammit's out? Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I'd imagine it's because he was physically ready to play tournaments again, as I guess he stopped training when the ban was first put down and didn't really expect to be overturned and won't be ready until Cinci or New Haven, where he's looking for a wild card.

Or it's because the ITF have appealed the overturning of the ban and it has something to do with that.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8188590.stm

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Does anyone actually want to play this event, as the cut just keeps on falling!!!

Cut is currently down to 62 (Maxi Gonzalez... who I'd expect to withdraw soon once he realises he's in the main draw), which when it started at 44, doesn't put 1000 series events in the best light. (and the next man in would be Bolelli, who isn't playing qualies, so you'd imagine he isn't planning on playing either...Mayer and Lu are though)

And of course, if Isner loses tonight, then the SE spot is cleared as well, so that would be another spot the cut would drop.

At least Federer is going to play, but what kind of shape he is in is unknown.

johnnylad · Tennis legend

Fed is never in anything but top shape to be fair.

I wonder if it will drop low enough in the doubles?

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Just looking at the doubles list now, and there's possible doubts over Coetzee/Erlich and maybe Llodra/Tsonga, given that Erlich retired this week and Llodra withdrew from qualifying.

That leaves six on-site entries.... Dlouhy/Paes and Kubot/Marach haven't signed up, so you would expect them to do so on-site, while the likes of Federer, Nadal, and Murray amongst others may play doubles as a means of match practice, and thus would get in with their singles rankings (or with a wild card)

Can't see the cut falling low enough for Huss and Hutchins to make it, but it may be just low enough for Murray and Hutchins to get in.

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

Gonzalez being last on the list didn't last too long, as he's withdrawn to let Mayer in, and Fish has also pulled out injured, so Lu has made the cut, and the qualifying cut has fallen to 217 at the moment, but will go lower if Dent wins in Vancouver later tonight.

Llodra actually hasn't withdrawn from the qualifying list so he is probably still in doubles as well.

This is turning out to be a little embarrassing, as it seems no-one wants to play an 1000 series event, which is supposed to be one of the top events in the world.

steven · Tennis legend

Given the new rules, there are either going to be more players doing PR there than the ATP know what to do with or an awful lot of players being forced to miss another Masters event too - brilliant ATP coming up with a rule which cuts off their nose to spite their face!

Count Zero · Tennis legend

why are so many players missing it? what's wrong with the calender now?

ForeverDelayed · Grand Slam Champion

I presume the reason that so many players are missing it is that if they play the event, they will be forced to count it in their ranking points, so for those such as Vassallo etc, they opt out because they know they will lose in round one and so don't want to be penalised.

I think you only have to play a 1000 series event if you originally make the cut... if you subsequently made the cut because of the withdrawals of others, you can withdraw without any penalty.

Only 8 players have withdrawn from the original list. Of those eight, Nalby is out for the season, while Blake, Montanes, Fish and Ancic are definately injured. That leaves Gasquet (not ready to play), Santoro (retiring anyway, so banning him wouldn't be worthwhile) and Acasuso (who knows) as the only ones who we don't know about, but they could be injured or will do the required work.