Players to bid at the 2012 US Open Championships: (Part Six) – Tennis Special
Last ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) professional circuit witnessed a number of young and talented players to climb up the world rankings. Some chipped in the winners’ circle with their little cameos while few sustained
their sublime form to consolidate their position among the high class performers in the world. To break into the Top-10 rankings is a dream of all tennis professionals but to stay in that elite group of contenders is not anything easy.
Juan Monaco – Argentina
Turning pro in 2002, it has taken 10 years for Juan Monaco to enter the Top-10 rankings on the ATP World Tour. The 28-year-old Argentine has been struggling with fitness problems and deteriorating form throughout these years but
2012 season has finally brought some sort of luck for him at last. Currently holding the world number 10 spot, Monaco is determined to produce some wonders in this year’s US Open Championships.
The Argentine veteran was clearly lacking his form last year and took off the 2012 ATP season as the 26th ranked player. His inconsistent performances further pushed him down to 29th rank in the month of March.
However, it was the least position he could sink and eventually set his steps on the road to redemption. Winning three ATP championship titles in the next couple of months propelled Monaco into the coveted Top-10 rankings and he remains there to progress even
further up.
Monaco is the second argentine player to be in the Top-10 list, the first being the former US Open champion, Juan Martin Del Potro, at number nine. Monaco has never been in such fine form throughout his professional career and
believes he can register some big upsets in the year’s last Grand Slam event at the glorious Flushing Meadows. The 28-year-old has never gone past the fourth round of any Grand Slam event but his performances in the Major tournaments in the past couple of
years has improved to a whole new level.
The Argentinean tennis ace had his best US Open run last year when he reach the fourth round draw, a feat he had achieved in the year 2007 as well. He suffered first and second round exits in all the initial three Majors in 2011
but forced his way to the round of 16 at the Flushing Meadows. His victims en route to the fourth round include Andreas Seppi, Radek Stepanek and Tommy Haas. Monaco’s dream run came to a brutal end when the then world number three, Roger Federer, completely
blew him away in straight sets, 1-6, 2-6, 0-6.
The scenario has completely changed this season, as Monaco will most probably be the 10th seed contender in the tournament draw and he might sneak into the quarter-final round without any serious challenge posed by any
player ranked above him. He has been much better in the Grand Slam tournaments this year, which include a fourth-round run at the Roland Garros, losing to the eventual champion, Rafael Nadal in straight sets. He ended in the third round at Wimbledon Championships
and I think the Argentinean will continue his current trend and most probably finish in the quarter-final round of the US Open Championships this season.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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