2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters; Juan Monaco versus Andy Murray - Match Preview
Three of the top four contenders on the ATP World Tour will be in action on Saturday to play the semi final round of the 2010 Shanghai Rolex Masters in China.
In the first final four battle, the top ranked Brit, Andy Murray will play against the former world number fourteen Juan Monaco from Argentina on the Stadium Court. Monaco has made his way into the semi finals here in China after
getting the better of Jurgen Melzer in the quarters on Friday. Murray, on the other hand required fifty five minutes to outlast the twelfth seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga.
Monaco is competing in the semi final for the first time after getting the better of Florent Serra, Thiemo de Bakker as well as Mischa Zverev earlier in the tournament. He has so far broken his foes on eighteen occasions in forty
seven games this week and prevented twenty three of thirty two break point opportunities. In his last year’s appearance in Shanghai, the Argentinean was dismissed in the opening round at the hands of Viktor Troicki in two sets.The final match score was 6-1,
6-2.
The Tandil native is appearing in his fourth ATP World Tour final of of the year and the first one since February when he made his way into the semi final in Acapulco where he was eventually defeated by Ferrero. This is his second
lifetime hard court final four battle. Monaco currently enjoys a match record of 27-17 on the year. He started the first three months with a mark of 17-7 and reached the quarters or better in four of the opening seven competitions.
Monaco is attempting to breeze into his eleventh lifetime final and the second in 2010. Earlier in the season, he also helped his team win the Championship crown in Duesseldorf, after getting the better of Sam Querrey from the
United States of America in the finals. After his opening round defeat at the French Open, Monaco was sidelined for almost three months before making a comeback in August as a result of his wrist injury. He was taken down in five straight tour level clashes
before his stunning performance this week.
The Argentinean is currently ranked number forty one in the world by the Association of tennis professionals and will jump to number twenty two if he reaches the title battle in Shanghai. He holds a career record of 8-26 against
the top ten foes and his previous victory over a top ten player came against Verdasco in the final eight of Acapulco earlier this year in February.
The twenty three year old Murray on the other hand is coming into the semi final in Shanghai without even losing a single set. He started his tournament’s campaign with a two setter victory over Yan Bai, a wild card entrant from
China on Wednesday. The final match score was 6-2, 6-2. In his next round, the Scott got the better of Jeremy Chardy, followed by his quarter final win over Jo Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. He has so far held serve on twenty five occasions of twenty six
games in his opening three clashes. The world number four is playing in the semi finals or better for the fifth time in 2010 and he enjoys a match record of 39-14 on the year. He stands at 301 in the semi finals and this is his second final four or better
this season.
Murray captured his first title of the season back in August at the 2010 Rogers Cup Men’s singles competition after getting the better of world number three Roger Federer in the final. It was his fifth career trophy on the tour
and the first one since November last year. Murray has already qualified for the season ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London along with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal as well as Novak Djokovic. This will be his third appearance in a row in London.
The Scott currently enjoys a match record of 89-37 on the season.
Both of them have faced each other on two occasions so far in their career. Last year in March, Murray triumphed in the second round of Miami whereas just two months later Monaco won in Rome after beating the Scott in straight
sets.
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