Madrid/Rome Preview

The biggest names in tennis will all be back in action in the next two weeks as the two big clay court Masters/Premier events are on the docket in Madrid and Rome.  Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal seem likely to renew their rivalry but "old man" Federer is well rested and may have a say.  Nadal, as the 5th seed, has been drawn into Ferrer's quarter and Federer's half in Madrid.  Djokovic has Tsonga and Berdych on his side, plus Murray, so it looks like an evenly balanced draw.  Serena Williams returns to action on the women's side, as does as Azarenka, but Maria Sharapova is the hottest woman at the moment, having put down Li in the Stuttgart final.  The Russian also drew the easier path to the Madrid final with Li and Azarenka both on Serena's half.  But Madrid often brings an unexpected winner, and Sharapova hasn't performed as well there as she has in other clay events, so this tournament may just extend Serena's winning streak.

Here are those who reached the quarters at the big clay events last year:

Men

Madrid - Roger Federer (SUI) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 3-6 7-5 7-5
Rome - Rafael Nadal (ESP) def. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7-5 6-3
Semifinalists: Mad - Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG); Rom - Roger Federer (SUI), David Ferrer (ESP)
Quarterfinalists: Mad - Novak Djokovic (SRB), David Ferrer (ESP), Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR), Fernando Verdasco (ESP); Rom - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), Andreas Seppi (ITA), Richard Gasquet (FRA), Tomas Berdych (CZE)

Both these tournaments last year yielding some unexpected quarterfinalists, names like Verdasco, Dolgopolov, and Seppi stick out, alongside the stalwarts of the game.  I'm expecting a little bit more of a straightforward tournament this year, although with Murray and a slumping Del Potro in the draw, there will be opportunity for someone, perhaps one of the names mentioned above, to sneak back into the quarters.  Ferrer also hasn't been himself the last couple weeks, though he's in the semis in Portugal as I type.

Women

Madrid - Serena Williams (USA) def. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6-1 6-3
Rome - Maria Sharapova (RUS) def. Na Li (CHN) 4-6 6-4 7-6(5)
Semifinalists: Mad - Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), Lucie Hradecka (CZE); Rom - Serena Williams (USA), Angelique Kerber (GER)
Quarterfinalists: Mad - Na Li (CHN), Samantha Stosur (AUS), Varvara Lepchenko (USA), Maria Sharapova (RUS); Rom - Dominika Cibulkova (SVK), Flavia Pennetta (ITA), Petra Kvitova (CZE), Venus Williams (USA)

Quite a collection of names there for the women, and I had entirely forgotten about Hradecka's run to the semis, and then there was Lepchenko advancing to the quarters in Madrid.  Don't sleep on Li in either of these tournaments, she has a great record this year with an early title and losses only to the top four players in the world.  I would expect to see a nice run from Errani, Vinci, or even Schiavone at one of these tournaments, most probably Rome.

Here are players who reached the quarters at both tournaments last year:
-Federer (W/SF)
-Serena (W/SF)
-Sharapova (QF/W)
-Berdych (F/QF)
-Djokovic (QF/F)
-Li (F/QF)
-Ferrer (SF/QF)

Enjoy the tennis these next couple weeks!