The same with comparative rankings, OoP details and some interesting H2Hs.
QR1: Jamie Baker WR 246 v Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) WR 198 - 2nd on S2 @ c. 19.30 BST
H2H: 1-0, Jamie won 4 & 1 at the Joplin Challenger in 2007.
QR1: (q7) Alex Bogdanovic WR 176 v Nick Lindahl (AUS) WR 244 - 2nd on S5 @ c. 19.30 BST
H2H: 1-0, Boggo won 7-6(4) 3-6 6-2 at the New Delhi Challenger in 2008.
QR1: James Ward WR 287 v (q4) Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) WR 114 - 4th on S2 @ c. 22.30 BST
H2H: 0-0, but Kunitsyn is 11-4 v Brits having lost only to Muzza, Boggo (twice) and to Marray on his way to winning the Andijan Future way back in 2004 (that was the year before a few Brits got caught up in the civil war there)
The winners of the first two matches play each other in QR2, with (q1) Arnaud Clément (FRA) WR 71 the top seed in that section.
Btw Boggo has already had one attempt to get into the main draw here, in the "wild card shoot-out" - an 8-player draw where they play match TBs to decide one main draw WC:
WCSO1: Alex Bogdanovic WR 176 beat Chase Buchanan (USA) WR 990 by 10-3
WCSO2: Alex Bogdanovic WR 176 lost to Somdev Devvarman (IND) WR 103 by 12-10
3-4 PO: Alex Bogdanovic WR 176 lost to Bradley Klahn (USA) WR 715 by 10-7
I assume Boggo didn't really bother with the playoff for 3rd place when there was nothing at stake. Sweeting beat Devvarman 10-8 10-3 in a best of 3 Final to get the WC.
In other breaking news, Nole has pulled out and Muzza has taken his place with a WC!
L32: (1/WC) Andy Murray WR 4 has a bye
L16: (1/WC) Andy Murray WR 4 v Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) WR 93 or Qualifier
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Ah, as I was just saying yesterday : "I would have thought it might have been worth playing one tournament in between Wimbledon and Toronto, say Atlanta or LA."
Lindahal is dangerous, he's beaten a few good players this year, including Devvarman (albeit on clay) Malisse and Kim.
Kunitsyn is clearly past his best, although still wont be easy.
Gonzalez isn't having a bad year, he's won a challenger and a futures, both on hard courts. However he retired in the first set of a first round match 2 weeks ago. Bodes well.
So it looks like 3 British first round winners then......easy peasy!
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'The first three-figure riser' Montréal Masters 'Battle of the Boards' pick 'em 2009
This is one of the toughest qualifying draws of the year on paper, so it would be impressive if any of the Brits were to come through.
Would possibly expect Boggo and Baker to win their opening matches, but not so sure that Ward will as Kunitsyn seems to be getting a little bit of his old form back, combined with Ward's disappointing performance in Atlanta.
Even so, Boggo/Baker will have to beat one of Clement/Nishikori to qualify...
At least the rewards for qualifying are ok... either another qualifier, Ginepri or Gabashvili, but it's a tough road to qualify.
Good to see Murray playing here as well and this would be good to see him pick up a much needed title, and realistically, if he wants to be doing anything on the US Open series, he could do with winning this event.
Good to see Murray playing here as well and this would be good to see him pick up a much needed title, and realistically, if he wants to be doing anything on the US Open series, he could do with winning this event.
More to the point he could probably do with getting a tournament win under his belt to help get his confidence back up.
It's also a nice draw for him. If he plays well he should win the tournament but there are players who can give him a good work out. Gulbis in the QF's could be a good match.
-- Edited by RJA on Saturday 24th of July 2010 06:21:29 PM