week *32* : ATP Sopot (9-15/8)

[BelgiumDude]

SOPOT

1 Safin, Marat (RUS/1/) 13
2 Ferrer, David (ESP/3/) 53
3 Andreev, Igor (RUS/4/) 55
4 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS/2/) 56
5 Martin, Alberto (ESP/5/) 60
6 Nadal, Rafael (ESP/6/) 71
7 Montanes, Albert (ESP/7/) 84
8 Hanescu, Victor (ROM) 88
9 Hernandez, Oscar (ESP) 89
10 Mathieu, Paul Henri (FRA/8/) 91
11 Koubek, Stefan (AUT) 96
12 Monaco, Juan (ARG) 99
13 Calatrava, Alex (ESP) 100
14 Acasuso, Jose (ARG) 105
15 (Q) Mantilla, Felix (ESP) 110
16 Garcia, Adrian (CHI) 114
17 Mutis, Olivier (FRA) 116
18 (Q) Garcia-Lopez, Guillermo (ESP) 117
19 Ulihrach, Bohdan (CZE) 120
20 Rosset, Marc (SUI) 123
21 Blanco, Galo (ESP) 130
22 Zib, Tomas (CZE) 133
23 Ramirez-Hidalgo, Ruben (ESP) 136
24 Lopez, Marc (ESP) 137
25 Portas, Albert (ESP) 145
26 (Q) Squillari, Franco (ARG) 154
27 Vassalo-Arguello, Martin (ITA) 158
28 (Q) Vanek, Jiri (CZE) 163
29 (PR) Di Pasquale, Arnaud (FRA) 272
30 (WC) Kubot, Lukasz (POL) 327
31 (WC) Przysiezny, Michal (POL) 375
32 (WC) Urban, Filip (POL) 560

[Nathaliia]

SE spots will be probably given to the winner and finalist of Poznan (POL) challenger, in case they were announced to the quallies. But I don't know if it's possible if Poznan is only a challenger and Sopot the International Series?

Anyway, I may be in both places .

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Actually challenger wins do not qualify a player for SE spots at the International series events...

Jay

[Nathaliia]

Volandri out, Monaco in

DAMN! Filippo rulez

[ozfan44]

do you have the qualifying list or can you tell me if Pete Luczak will play here thanks?

[R. Jayakrishnan]

The players who will show up and sign-in for qualifying will be known only the Friday night before the event. No entry list for qualies at this event.

Here are the first 15 ALTERNATES FOR THE MAIN DRAW:

Alternates

1. Monaco, Juan ARG 111
2. Garcia, Adrian CHI 114
3. Ulihrach, Bohdan CZE 116
4. Zib, Tomas CZE 119
5. Lopez, Marc ESP 120
6. Rochus, Christophe BEL 122
7. Rosset, Marc SUI 124
8. Portas, Albert ESP 125
9. Almagro, Nicolas ESP 126
10. Mantilla, Felix ESP 127
11. Peya, Alexander AUT 128
12. Starace, Potito ITA 131
13. Guzman, Juan-Pablo ARG 132
14. Thomann, Nicolas FRA 132
15. Vacek, Jan CZE 133
..

I don't think the cut will drop more than 5-10 spots or so ..

Peter Luczak is listed in the same alternates list as the 27th. Can't say if he would go for the qualies.

Jay

[Fee]

Jay,

Can you get a list for the Binghampton Challenger that week? The website is implying that some big names may show up because there is only one other tournament that week and some players want more matches before the USO. I'd like to see if that's even possible. Thanks.

[Nathaliia]

I think Peter may come here. He was born in this country (Warsaw) however he lives now in Melbourne and plays for Australia
Each year many players from the alternate list don't show up in Sopot. This year seems special as it's the easy target to gain some points at ATP level, when the biggest names are preparing for Athens.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Fiona: I have posted it in a new thread. I think they are hyping things a bit when they say "So, for the pros, it is Poland or Binghamton or a week prep for the Olympics (compared to at least 4 events to choose from in previous years)" ...

First of all, Olympics has thge same effect as a masters event (and only 2-3 Olympics players are playing that week, as Olympics starts on the 15th sunday and they need to get there early) ..

There is also one extra challenger this year, as opposed to the four there were last year. Binghamton, Italy, Austria, Ecuador and Russia.

Binghamton got two top-100 players instead of one last year. The initial cut is at #205 unlike #225 last year. Better but not a whole lot.

It is really unfair that they run the Binghamton and Bronx challengers for just $50K each. It normally gets participation like in a $75K+H challenger. A lot of players would like to be in the US and play before the US Open but these two challengers have a captive market of players and they really rip them off, in my view.

Jay

[Nathaliia]

Wild Cards go to: Lukasz Kubot, Michal Przysiezny and Filip Urban.

[BelgiumDude]

Any official withdrawals yet?

[Nathaliia]

Except Volandri, none. But it's not a secret if I tell Safin won't come (especially that he's doing so well in Cincy)

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Main Draw:

2 SE spots to clear
OUT: Horna, Volandri
IN: Monaco, Garcia
NEXT: Uhlirach, Zib, Lopez, C.Rochus

Jay

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Main draw:

One of the two SE spots released
OUT: Patience
IN: Ulihrach, Zib
NEXT: Lopez, C.Rochus, Rosset, Portas ...

Jay

[Nathaliia]

Dear Jay,
I don't want to be impertinent, but I trust for you it's not a problem to get names of people who may take part in doubles event. I am going to Sopot on Friday evening and from then on I won't have any access to internet; me and my friends are very curious what other players can visit us. We usually take loads of photos, but before we must check and compare names with faces on the net. Thank you in advance,
Natalia

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Nathalia: They don't keep a list for doubles. It is normally just a straight sign-in on Sunday (whoever shows up). ATP had said recently that they will start experimnting with a doubles entry list this year, but if I remember correctly it is supposed to start only after the USOpen and end with Paris Masters.

So, we won't know who will play doubles at Sopot. I have a feeling you might find a couple of Olympics teams who lost early in Toronto or Cincinnati who might decide to go in the last minute, to get some match practice. There are also a few Olympics pairs who have not played together at all recently - like Knowles-Merklein, Safin-Youzhny, Berdych-Novak, Andreev-Davydenko, Hanescu-Pavel, Ancic-Ljubicic .. I wonder if any of them would also decide to show up and get some doubles practice before playing at Athens the week after.

Heck, the Bryan twins have gone out in the first match at Toronto and Cincinnati. They could really use a couple of matches next week!

The only problem is that Sopot is on clay and Athens is on hardcourt, so they would be reluctant.

Jay

[R. Jayakrishnan]

MAIN DRAW:

The second SE spots cleared..
OUT: Popp (and C.Rochus from ALT list)
IN: Lopez, Rosset
NEXT: Portas, Almagro, Mantilla, Peya ...

[Nathaliia]

I know Alex Corretja plays quallies. He's already there Jay thanks for an explaination.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

OUT: Boutter
IN: Portas
NEXT: Almagor, Mantilla, Peya, Starace

Jay

[Nathaliia]

OUT: Boutter

It wasn't as nice as my post about Corretja I'll be waiting for another withdrawal news for next 1,30 h.

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Well, it is an hour and half to go for qualifying sign-in deadline at Sopot. That means the main draw list will be closing soon. probably no more withdrawals ..

Jay

[PatatRiek]

OUT C.Rochus from ALT list)

well i hope he's not injured...

[R. Jayakrishnan]

Qualifyin draw has come out .. Seeds -- Corretja, Mantilla, Garcia-Lopez, Squillari, Vanek, Minar, Seppi, Roitman

Huss and Prieto are two doubles guys I see in the draw.

I suppose Almagro made the main draw ..

Pete Luczak is not in the qualies ..

Jay

[BelgiumDude]

I gave everybody their ranking of 9/8.
maybe interesting to see how long the "Olympic-guys" are going to last.
Andreev (against Kubot)and Davydenko already 2 Russians out,
will Safin be the next?

[Nathaliia]

Thank you for last informations. I thought you may want to see my photos http://hellaway4.fm.interia.pl/sopot04f.html

BTW I must say I lost my good feelings for Safin after he lost his second match on purpose.