Federer Hopeful

World No.1 Injured
© SN

Roger Federer may be able to play the Masters Cup. From today's BBC Sports:


The world number one was on crutches for two weeks after sustaining the injury in training earlier this month.
"I'm walking now," he said. "I'm taping the ankle a lot, but that helps me to put weight on it.
"I'm optimistic, but it's hard to tell. Shanghai means everything. That's what I'm working on right now, I'm hopeful."
Federer is among several qualifiers struggling to be fit for the event starting on 13 November.
Marat Safin has already been ruled out with knee problems, Andre Agassi has been inactive since losing the US Open final to Federer while Lleyton Hewitt could miss it to attend the birth of his first child.

This doesn't sound good for all you Federer fans, and tennis fans in general. If he can't even put weight on it, how's he going to compete? Unfortunately, he's not the only one. Organizers in Shanghai, along with fans, will be quite disappointed.

Masters Cup TV Schedule

ESPN2 people. Set your TiVo!

Date Time Round
Sunday, Nov. 13 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM Round Robin
Sunday, Nov. 13 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Round Robin
Monday, Nov. 14 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Round Robin
Monday, Nov. 14 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM Round Robin
Tuesday, Nov. 15 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM Round Robin
Tuesday, Nov. 15 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Round Robin
Wednesday, Nov. 16 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Round Robin
Wednesday, Nov. 16 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Round Robin
Thursday, Nov. 17 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Round Robin
Thursday, Nov. 17 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Round Robin
Friday, Nov. 18 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Round Robin
Friday, Nov. 18 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Round Robin
Saturday, Nov. 19 12:00 AM - 2:00 AM Semifinal
Saturday, Nov. 19 10:00 PM - 12:00 AM Semifinal
Sunday, Nov. 20 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM Final

All times EST

Season Winding Down to Masters Cup

Top ranked Roger Federer has pulled out of the BNP Paribas Masters tournament citing injury. While Federer’s website rogerfederer.com reports a foot injury, the BNP Paribas Masters officials list it as a torn right ankle ligament. If indeed it is a torn ligament, this leaves many wondering whether he will be healthy to compete in the year end Masters Cup in Shanghai. Rafael Nadal, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, and Lleyton Hewitt have qualified to play, while three players have yet to be selected. Possible participants to fill the remaining spots:

Name Country Points
Coria, Guillermo (ARG) 437
Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 393
Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) 346
Gaudio, Gaston (ARG) 345
Puerta, Mariano (ARG) 339
Nalbandian, David (ARG) 322
Ferrer, David (ESP) 299
Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) 295
Ginepri, Robby (USA) 289
Ferrero, Juan Carlos (ESP) 285
Johansson, Thomas (SWE) 275

Post your picks here.

If Federer does not compete, the door would be open for a new champion. Nadal and Federer have been the only winners of Masters series events this year.

Update On Teen Sensations: Monfils & Murray

Frenchman Gael Monfils will meet American Andy Roddick in the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon in tomorrow’s finale. The 19 year old Monfils, who ranks an impressive 36th in the ATP champion race, will play in his third final of the season. He captured the title in Sopot, but was runner-up in Metz. Monfils defeated countryman Sebastian Grosejan to reach the Lyon final.

The top-seeded Roddick had this to say about his opponent: “It will be tough. Monfils plays just like me. The first time I saw his serve, I thought I was looking in the mirror with the motion he has.” Roddick attempts to recover, most notably, from a first round loss at the U.S. Open in September, and collect his 5th title of the season. To reach the final, Roddick defeated the French “magician” Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 7-6(5).

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Eighteen year old British sensation Andy Murray lost yesterday in the quarter finals of the Swiss Indoors tournament in Basel. Murray said this about his loss in Basel: “I'm happy with the two wins I had here but not with the way I played. . . but I suppose it's a good sign when you're beating top 50 players without playing your best tennis.” Murray took out number one ranked Brit Tim Henman in the first round 6-2, 5-7, 7-6. He went farther at Wimbledon as well, winning the support of the British fans.

Turning pro this year, Murray broke into the top one hundred in ATP rank. He reached a career high of 70th when he played the Thailand Open final, losing to Roger Federer in straight sets. Murray currently ranks 89th.