ATP Madrid Draw Is Out!

https://twitter.com/MutuaMadridOpen/status/330364261513719808/photo/1

Nadal in Federer's half and Ferrer's quarter. Federer has Gasquet in his quarter.
Murray in Djokovic's half.
Berdych in Murray's quarter, Tsonga in Djokovic's quarter.


Looks like a good and balanced draw at first glance.

At last, here it is in PDF form:

http://www.madrid-open.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/2013-0503_ATP-Singles-Draw.pdf

Some excellent first round matches.

Federer to play winner of Stepanek-Tomic.
Nadal to play winner of Paire-Qualifier
Djokovic to play winner of Dimitrov-Marti
Murray to play winner of Bellucci-F. Mayer.


Davydenko-Raonic


Del Potro and Kohlschreiber have withdrawn from the tournament (Delpo viral infection, Kohli personal reasons)

Sharapova on court speed in Madrid this year:

"I've been practicing here for a few days already. Well, I think we all know that last year was a very hopeful experiment and it didn't turn out so well I think for — not for the tournament — or for the players as well. I think everyone kind of learned their lesson and we're back to normal now. It feels pretty good.

I think it's quite heavy right now. I think also the conditions have been quite cold and muddy, so it's feeling a little bit thick. I think over time it's going to become a little bit faster.”

Court speed aside, did you know that women are paid more than men in Madrid?

Men's Singles W €585,800 F €287,225 SF€144,560 QF€73,510 R16€38,170 R32€20,125 R64€10,865 Q1€2,505 Q2€1,275
Women's Singles W€631,000 F€313,000 SF€149,500 QF€70,000 R16€33,000 R32€17,500 R64€8,750 Q1€2,375 Q2€1,140

Unbelievable!

What a joke!

noleisthebest wrote:Court speed aside, did you know that women are paid more than men in Madrid?

Men's Singles W €585,800 F €287,225 SF€144,560 QF€73,510 R16€38,170 R32€20,125 R64€10,865 Q1€2,505 Q2€1,275
Women's Singles W€631,000 F€313,000 SF€149,500 QF€70,000 R16€33,000 R32€17,500 R64€8,750 Q1€2,375 Q2€1,140

Unbelievable!

Yes right. Gender discriminitation is perfectly acceptable one way.

I must say that, once again, that the draw is very favourable to Nadal. He has only SHBH on his side, even the more dangerous SHBH (Wawrinka and Dimi are with Djoko).

Murray of course v Djoko.

Tenez wrote:I must say that, once again, that the draw is very favourable to Nadal. He has only SHBH on his side, even the more dangerous SHBH (Wawrinka and Dimi are with Djoko).
.

Yes, who needs protected ranking when you can have such lovely draws...time after time...
I am expecting the same kind of "coincidence" in RG.

Imagine Nadal in Novak's quarter/half!

Well a favourable does definitely helps. If Draw opens up wide (e.g. Nadal at USopen 2010 ) its even better.

Nadal's in Fed's qtr. is fine. Fed's clay tournament is Rg for me, the results here or at rome don't matter.

Nadal will not be receiving preferrential seeding treatment in RG

Poor Ferrer....

http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/205567.html#

Yes that is the right decision. I think Wimby shoudl do the same actually..though Wimby is in theory not as physical so being seeded differently is not as important as in the FO where the surface is known to be all about phyisque. .

And while we are waiting for Madrid to start, here's an interesting number-cruncher look at "big"four comparison from Greg Sharko

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/04/18/Shark-Bites-Madrid-Big-4-Djokovic-Federer-Murray-Nadal.aspx

The only table missing is comparison by surface.

Tenez wrote:Yes that is the right decision. I think Wimby shoudl do the same actually..though Wimby is in theory not as physical so being seeded differently is not as important as in the FO where the surface is known to be all about phyisque. .

I think the major difference is that Nadal has been out for almost a year,and therefore its silly for him to be given any preferential treatment,his ranking droped because he wasnt playing,otherwise I usually agree with Wimbledon and how they alter the seedings.Its not like their decisions are outlandish and has a significant impact on the way the draw would unfold,they would never seed a player ranked 5th as the top seed.
RG did the right thing,if Nadal were to be given preferential treatment because of his legacy,then he should be the top seed,so moving him to 4th to manipulate the draw is not only ridiculously bias but very unfair to Ferrer who is a very worthy 4th seed on clay

Just had a quick look to check whether Stan Ferrer match has started and saw that qualifying matches are going on in Madrid Llodra playing Haase, Goffin playing Verdaco, Strakhovski and HP Mathieu already out!, tough competition out there, I say!

noleisthebest wrote:Just had a quick look to check whether Stan Ferrer match has started and saw that qualifying matches are going on in Madrid Llodra playing Haase, Goffin playing Verdaco, Strakhovski and HP Mathieu already out!, tough competition out there, I say!

Goffin - Verdasco is the first round of the tournament proper; Madrid starts on Sunday. Tomic will also be playing later today.