Miami: Singles draw
Photo by Beth Wilson
The draw for men’s singles in Miami is out: pdf. After a bye in the first round, Rafa will face the winner of a match between Pablo Andujar and Santiago Giraldo.
Murray is in Rafa’s half while Federer is in Djokovic’s. Seeds in Rafa’s quarter include: Tsonga, Kohlschreiber, Mayer, Isner, Nishikori, Granollers, and Stepanek.
Seeds in Rafa’s half (aka, people he would only face if he made it to the semis) include: Murray, Berdych, Chela, Dolgopolov, Tipsaravic, Simon, Melzer, and Ranoic.
Seeds in the top half (aka people he would only face in a final) include: Djokovic, Federer, Ferrer, Fish, Roddick, Troicki, Gasquet, Monaco, Monfils, F Lopez, Del Potro, Cilic, Benneteau, Almagro, Verdasco, and Anderson.
Main draw play begins on Wednesday the 21st.
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Nadal 2012 Miami champion defeating federer in the final I reckon.
psst, anti jinx measures pleeeease!
Tough 2nd rd match for Rafa. Both Giraldo & Andujar play aggressively on hardcourts and Andujar almost beat Djokovic in IW. Well at least he’ll b forced to play well.
Yeah, didn’t Andujar give Rafa fits at the French last year?
Yep, he (Andujar) said before the match that he would pretend that he is Djokovic hahahaha.
Isner or Tsonga in quarters possibly? Andujar did play well against Novak and gave Rafa good fight at FO last year so good workout for Rafa
Andujar is a VERY GOOD claycout player. Not that good on hard, but he did challenge Novak in IW. But I think the nerves in the first set was a problem for Pablo and overconfidence for Novak in set 2 ………..
Though quarters for Rafa. Our boy couldn’t handle Isner’s serve yesterday in doubles final. I wish him good luck. I think the final will be between Djokovic – Rafa or Andy.
Vamos Rafa to win Miami !
not looking to good is it? Why did he have to get Isner? that’s the 1st thing i looked for. It takes Rafa a while to get used to his serve ie: Roland Garros which he won but that was over 5 sets.
I hope he does well. Federer only 800 points behind him.
I’m a bit nervous about this small gap because going into Roland Garros as nr 3 could be a problem for Rafa defending his title when drawing in Novak’s half. But then again, Rafa can make up points in Rome and (blue clay) Madrid. He can’t afford to drop points in Miami and Roger to runner-up/win. But I’m at peace about Rafa’s mindset. He said he is happy, happy in life and happy to be part of tour still and ‘with energy’. He also admits that he was tired of the tour last year and therefore I think he will give it his all this year. Rafa won’t let us down.
I don’t really see how it’s be harder for Rafa to defend RG is he’s nº 3. He would still have to play Novak and Fed/Murray. I even think it might be good for him to play Novak not in a final, for a change.
The only thing I kinda wouldn’t like about it would be that it’d be easier for Fed to win it, lol.
Yea the gap is closing between Rafa and Federer. Hope Rafa won’t fall into the 3rd rank coz it will be the first time in five years. I still believe in Rafa. Vamooooooooos!
What about 2009?.
Sharon/London
I know what you mean about Isner, but come quarters he won’t be anywhere near to the level he had been in Indian Wells. He was on fire but Rafa will sort it. He tends to come closer to the baseline on his tactic for people with huge serves and wins – a la Lubicic and Karlovic – as long as it is not cold (footsie will be hurting) or the windy! Isn’t Miami meant to be hot and sunny?
rafafan
hopefully you are right. I think Isner didn’t play as well against Federer but Rafa has to reach all the finals til Wimbledon and win some cos Federer is breathing down his neck. Again, with the rankings system as it is Rafa will pay for having a good 2011. Federer only needs to go deep in Monte Carlo and Rome where he went out early last year and he can easily close the gap,unless he has a dip in form. Not relishing Rafa at no 3 at all,but im gonna remain positive as i always have faith in him but you also have to be realistic.
Federer is not playing Monte Carlo. On Federer’s website, Monte Carlo is not on his 2012 Calendar. So Federer will lose ranking points there. This helps protect Rafa’s No. 2 ranking.
What do you think?
Fed made quarters in MC last year so it won’t harm him if he doesn’t attend the tournament this year. All he has to do is to concentrate on Rome & Madrid.
Fed only has 990 points to defend between now and the French Open (360 Miami; 180 MC; 360 Madrid; 90 Rome). Rafa has 3300 (600 Miami; 1000 MC; 600 Madrid; 600 Rome; 500 Barcelona). So, it could get dicey.
Fed may not be playing MC but Djokovic is, i believe. I sense a tense few months ahead!
Isner ……oh dear..:( hopefully by playing doubles in IW with Isner, rafa have sort of get used to his playing style and has able to find answers to beat him. And hopefully his defeat in IW will give him the push factor to do even better .Can somebody fly uncle Toni to Miami??? Im getting really nervous!!
Uncle Toni is coming ;) hey I just realized that I missed him !
Glad uncle Toni will be there….. Rafa needs him….:)
It’s good for Rafa that Novak and Federer are on the same side of the draw in Miami. If Novak beats Federer in semi-finals, then Federer won’t pick up ranking points, and that helps protect Rafa’s Top 2 ranking. If Federer beats Novak in semi-finals, then that would put a dent into Novak’s confidence and aura (it would be the 3rd tournament in a row where Novak has failed to reach a final). Do you agree?
I would rather have Novak’s confidence dented, by Federer beating him at Miami! hehe..Rafa can make up the points himself..VAMOS! :o)
Agree :)
I heard the Miami courts are ultra slow compared to other hardcourts giving Nadal hopefully a good advantage. I hope Nadal wins it this year or sometime soon it be a shame not adding this Masters to his collection after coming so close 2-3 times there.
Vamos Rafa!!!
The humidity usually means lower bouncing balls – which is not good for Rafa.
Yea your right hopefully it’s cold like last year when he played federer haha. If Rafa doesn’t end up winning it here’s hoping for a Murray rebound.
Rafa’s draw is not as bad as many people think. There are tough opponents in Rafa’s quarter, but it could’ve been much worse.
Rafa avoids some dangerous players. Rafa avoids Del Potro in the quarterfinals. Rafa avoids Raonic/Roddick/Kevin Anderson in Round of 32. In Round of 64, Rafa avoids Karlovic, Nalbandian, Davydenko, Baghdatis, Tomic, Ryan Harrison, Istomin (dangerous unseeded players).
Isner can be tough, but Rafa can only meet Isner in quarterfinals, and it’s normal for quarterfinal opponents to be tough. Plus, while Isner can beat anybody when he’s playing well, he may lack consistency to play well in every match. I actually think Del Potro is probably a tougher opponent than Isner.
Look at Murray’s quarter- it looks tougher than Rafa’s quarter. Murray may face Istomin in Round of 64 (Istomin beat World No. 5 Ferrer in Indian Wells). Murray then may face Raonic in Round of 32, and Berdych in quarterfinals (Berdych ended Murray’s win streak last fall).
What do you think?
Could definately have been worse for Rafa. Some of the unseeded players not in his quarter are quite capable of causing an upset or 2! I think Isner may start feeling the strain in Miami physically & mentally given how well he did in Indian Wells. So he may not reach the quarters, we’ll see soon enough.
well sometimes those who have the tough draws dont in the end cos of upsets along the way. The fact is Rafa needs to win pretty much everything til August so he gains points on Novak and pulls away from Federer. Yes he is capable, we have all seen that,he’s a fighter,never gives up but he doubts himself to much these days.
What does anyone else think?
Rafa doesn’t need to win everything. He needs to make some finals to keep his Top 2 ranking.
Rafa has always had doubts- that’s nothing unusual. He had doubts in late-2009 thru early 2010, when he had a losing streak against nearly all Top 10 players (not just Novak). But Rafa still won the next 3 Slams in 2010. So please don’t be too worried.
What do you think?
kevin
but even if Rafa makes some finals and defends his points, Federer doesn’t have alot to defend so he only needs to do really well in Rome and Madrid and it will be pretty tight. Then, Rafa will feel even more pressure dont u think?
Sharon, you said: “well sometimes those who have the tough draws dont in the end cos of upsets along the way.”
Well, that could also benefit Rafa right? If Isner gets upset, Rafa may not face him in quarterfinals.
thanks for all your comments, my head is spinning lol. We will have to wait and see. Maybe the doubles win will give him a boost of confidence and we will all see him do well. Let’s hope for a dip in form from Roger and Novak, lol.
I think that we must be prepared,Rafa lovers! Our boy is boring of tennis !!!
He doesn’t even have an official website anymore!
Timov – what do you mean about our boy is boring of tennis. Has he lost the love again do you think. I that what you mean? Wants to do footie and golf?
His website is being worked on.
I saw Rafa practice and play several times at Indian Wells, believe me, he has not gotten tired of tennis. Let’s remember tennis is a very demanding sport with a very long season.
Vamos Rafa!
Andy Murray: At IW he lost in the first round but since he is in Rafa’s half now you’ll see he will be playing his best tennis.
Rafa rafa….just one and only one thing; the serve. If he gets a couple of free points consistently. none will beat him! Does not have to be aces…..and i don’t understand what he said about not being able to serve hard and fast as the balls come back faster…and that that is not his game.
I think he meant he only feels he can handle that (the response eventually coming faster – if he’s playing with enough confidence, which he isn’t now…
??
Well,what do you think Rafafan? I saw fear in his eyes when he’s playing,I saw these little-little steps when he walks on court, I saw to mutch sweat when he’s loosing a point…I saw his eyes and his face when he’s signing autographs! How can you love something when you are so scared of it and every one expecting too many things from you? He said he must play more aggressive…but he’s saying it everytime! He is not stable anymore! Why? I watch him for seven years and I saw all his matches,everyone of them! He is not the same percon and he’s very young to already change character! What do you think? … As for his website,for how long will worked on?
Timov – very interesting. The thing is when he first started playing he was a young 17 year old thing, no pressures, just slamming it everywhere running for every ball – free, carefree and single! As we all know as you get older there is more pressure, more responsibility to maintain all the achievements you have accomplished. You are going to get more lows then ups as the years go on. When your at the top the only way is down! But RAfa knows this and he is happy what he has accomplished but he is still striving for things. I think the Djok situation is a good thing as it will give him the motivation to carry on. Remember after the AO when he won. He felt empty and for me I was worried then whether he still had the passion and desire. Everything happens for a reason and the fact that Federer is on his trail again can only add to the competitiveness that he likes. So I say bring it on. Rafa is sure. But he does need to be careful about the early rounds that’s for sure. I wasn’t worried too much he lost in the windy (and cold – which as it has been documented will hurt his foot, the problem from way back in 2005) so no real concerns there. He is stable, but he is 25 going on 30+. All I can hope for that he wants to carry on playing as long as Fed – win or lose. As for the website yes it is taken a long time to sort itself out! But lets hope it won’t take as long for Rafa to sort himself out with the Djok etc.
Didn’t he say after the Nalbandian match that he didn’t want to retire (as early) as 28 years old?. Seems like he does want to play until he’s 30+.
..and I just saw the picture with F.Gonzalez on FB! What smile is this??? This kind of smile tells everything! No confidende at all! I see this smile everywhere lately!
Rafafan,very interesting too! … So,you’re almost agree with me! Let’s hope that he will be healthy and bit his anxious,so he’ll give to us more joy for the next five,at least, years!!!
I think I’ll head over to a non-Nadal site, one for fans of somebody else. Maybe somebody will be posting how sure they are that their guy is going to have a tough time, and maybe I can read some positive stuff about Rafa. Just sayin.
I hear ya!
timov
Every one is entitled to their opinions. Unless you have anything positive to say then your best off not saying anything especially on this site.
His official website is the least of his worries. Facebook and Twitter are more popular these days! Rafa keeps us up to dateon these sites.
Please don’t try and moderate the comments. Agree or not agree, as long as a person posts respectfully and without being rude, they can post what they want. Do I prefer we all worry about things we can’t change? No. Does it often make me roll my eyes and get frustrated that the negative things are harped on more than the positive? Yes. But if there’s no nasty name-calling, accusations, etc, and the comment is actually on the top of the post, it can be made.
No one loves Rafa more than me! We,the old fans,perhaps used to victories and it hurts more when he is not playing well! Sorry guys, if I hurt your feelings !
yes im an old fan and it does hurt and is frustrating to see Rafa struggling and not being able to win titles but finals of the last four slams,winning 1 and finals of many 1000 masters is hardly a disaster. we dont need to be negative on here, the commentators and sports critics do enough of that to him.
When does Rafa play???
I’ve gone past the point of worrying about a draw. It’s all about how a person feels/plays on a certain day & it’s too difficult to predict for certain who will meet who and when. Andujar is already gone who seemed to be the first concern for many here. Murray had a shocker in IW and might do the same in Miami for all we know. Isner could choke & Tsonga could flourish. Djokovic & Federer might not make it either.
I just try to enjoy the tournaments as they progress & just think about the next opponent rather than the draw in it’s entirety.
It’s true that Rafa is trying to build an aura
up again. You can see all it takes is one key
Victory in an important tournament and it will trigger great things
And his balls(tennis) will be energised!