Post by Louiselp on Apr 10, 2005 23:03:45 GMT
Zabaleta set to test Henman in Monaco
9/4/05 3:23
www.timhenman.org/NEWS/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=165927&itype=5883 - official link
Third seed Tim Henman faces a tough start to his 2005 clay court campaign when he takes on Argentine Mariano Zabaleta in the first round of the ATP Masters Series event in Monte-Carlo.
The pair have shared the spoils in the past with both players having won four of the eight previous meetings, but three of those matches have been played on clay and the Argentine has been victorious on each occasion.
“Mariano is a very good player, especially on clay,” explained Henman.
“He’s managed to get the better of me on clay in the past – the last time we played was in Rome last year and we had a really good tussle before I went down in three sets.
“He’s solid from the back of the court and he can up the pace on his first serve and his forehand, and that makes him difficult to beat.
“He’s already played a few clay court events earlier in the year and he managed to take Roger [Federer] to three sets in Miami so he must be confident, so it’s going to be a really tough match.
“But I’ve done well here in the past and having played a few matches in Indian Wells and Miami I’m feeling good so it should be interesting.”<br>
Henman is in the bottom half of the 64-man field, and if he overcomes Zabaleta he will face the winner of the match between Sweden’s Robin Soderling and Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the second round.
Top seed Roger Federer (SUI) is going in search of his third Masters Series shield of the year, having already triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami, and he plays British number two Greg Rusedski in his opening match.
Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero’s (ESP) ranking has dropped so low that he needed to ask for a wildcard to gain entry into the main draw, and he faces 6’10” Croat Ivo Karlovic.
First round matches are split over the first two days of the tournament; Monday April 11 and Tuesday April 12.
9/4/05 3:23
www.timhenman.org/NEWS/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=165927&itype=5883 - official link
Third seed Tim Henman faces a tough start to his 2005 clay court campaign when he takes on Argentine Mariano Zabaleta in the first round of the ATP Masters Series event in Monte-Carlo.
The pair have shared the spoils in the past with both players having won four of the eight previous meetings, but three of those matches have been played on clay and the Argentine has been victorious on each occasion.
“Mariano is a very good player, especially on clay,” explained Henman.
“He’s managed to get the better of me on clay in the past – the last time we played was in Rome last year and we had a really good tussle before I went down in three sets.
“He’s solid from the back of the court and he can up the pace on his first serve and his forehand, and that makes him difficult to beat.
“He’s already played a few clay court events earlier in the year and he managed to take Roger [Federer] to three sets in Miami so he must be confident, so it’s going to be a really tough match.
“But I’ve done well here in the past and having played a few matches in Indian Wells and Miami I’m feeling good so it should be interesting.”<br>
Henman is in the bottom half of the 64-man field, and if he overcomes Zabaleta he will face the winner of the match between Sweden’s Robin Soderling and Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the second round.
Top seed Roger Federer (SUI) is going in search of his third Masters Series shield of the year, having already triumphed in Indian Wells and Miami, and he plays British number two Greg Rusedski in his opening match.
Former champion Juan Carlos Ferrero’s (ESP) ranking has dropped so low that he needed to ask for a wildcard to gain entry into the main draw, and he faces 6’10” Croat Ivo Karlovic.
First round matches are split over the first two days of the tournament; Monday April 11 and Tuesday April 12.