Stories about the men's draw
5 stories about the men's draw, from the Pacific Life Open (the stories are from recent interviews from different players).
Check www.thedesertsun.com for more stories, little interviews, comments and funny things said about Marat, other players and the tournament it self.
1.Can anyone beat Federer?
No one has dominated the men's tour like Roger Federer has, and it doesn't look like there's anyone who can challenge him. Andy Murray is the last guy to beat Federer, who enters with a 41-match winning streak. Other possible suspects are Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez. If no one can beat Federer, he will break the 30-year-old record of 46 consecutive victories by Guillermo Vilas.
2.Has Roddick improved enough?
Andy Roddick has regained his spot among the top five players in the world after some down times last year. But being an American, Roddick will be judged by major titles, and for him to win, he has to find a way to beat Federer. Roddick has improved greatly since hiring Jimmy Connors as his coach. But the standard for Roddick will always be 2003, when he won the U.S. Open and rose to No. 1. Roddick isn't there yet.
3.Is Marat motivated?
The one player with the tools to beat Roger Federer is Marat Safin. The big Russian is as complete a player as there is out there, whose weapons can give Federer problems. However, Safin is not always there mentally, which might explain why his promising career has turned spotty. And he hasn't done well here. But if Safin is motivated here, look out.
4.What's up with Nadal?
A year ago, Nadal had defeated Federer on the hard courts of Dubai and reached the semifinals here. However, the world's No. 2 appears mortal this year with a 9-4 record and no titles since the French Open. Nadal needs to start turning it on with the French Open on the horizon.
5.Can Blake validate his ranking?
James Blake comes into the tournament ranked No. 6 in the world, but he still has no titles in a Masters Series or Grand Slam. His best showing in a big tournament was here last year, beating Nadal in the semifinal before falling to Federer. A title would help give Blake's ranking some validation, and he has a good history in the desert.
1.Can anyone beat Federer?
No one has dominated the men's tour like Roger Federer has, and it doesn't look like there's anyone who can challenge him. Andy Murray is the last guy to beat Federer, who enters with a 41-match winning streak. Other possible suspects are Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Marat Safin, James Blake and Fernando Gonzalez. If no one can beat Federer, he will break the 30-year-old record of 46 consecutive victories by Guillermo Vilas.
2.Has Roddick improved enough?
Andy Roddick has regained his spot among the top five players in the world after some down times last year. But being an American, Roddick will be judged by major titles, and for him to win, he has to find a way to beat Federer. Roddick has improved greatly since hiring Jimmy Connors as his coach. But the standard for Roddick will always be 2003, when he won the U.S. Open and rose to No. 1. Roddick isn't there yet.
3.Is Marat motivated?
The one player with the tools to beat Roger Federer is Marat Safin. The big Russian is as complete a player as there is out there, whose weapons can give Federer problems. However, Safin is not always there mentally, which might explain why his promising career has turned spotty. And he hasn't done well here. But if Safin is motivated here, look out.
4.What's up with Nadal?
A year ago, Nadal had defeated Federer on the hard courts of Dubai and reached the semifinals here. However, the world's No. 2 appears mortal this year with a 9-4 record and no titles since the French Open. Nadal needs to start turning it on with the French Open on the horizon.
5.Can Blake validate his ranking?
James Blake comes into the tournament ranked No. 6 in the world, but he still has no titles in a Masters Series or Grand Slam. His best showing in a big tournament was here last year, beating Nadal in the semifinal before falling to Federer. A title would help give Blake's ranking some validation, and he has a good history in the desert.
