Robin Soderling, Andy Roddick withdraw from 2011 Montreal Masters – Tennis News
Former world number one Andy Roddick announced late Friday night that he was pulling out of the 2011 Rogers Cup, held next week in Montreal, citing an oblique injury. This is the second straight tournament this year that the American
has pulled out from. The former American number one is also missing the Legg Mason Tennis Classic at Washington D.C. this week for the same reason.
His total count of events missed for the year tallies three since he had earlier pulled out of the clay Grand Slam, the Roland Garros in May due to a shoulder injury.
Had Roddick taken to the courts next week, it would have been the American’s first event since Wimbledon where he crashed out in the third round against Feliciano Lopez. Plummeting in the ranking after Roland Garros, Roddick was
knocked out of the top 10 for the first time in eight years as Mardy Fish rose to grab the spot for the highest ranked American. However, a breather for Roddick since missing Montreal will not hit him hard since he has no points to defend at the event having
missed it last year as well.
Although Roddick pulls out of Montreal, he is hopeful about competing at the Cincinnati Masters the week after. Tweeting about it, Roddick said, “Hopefully I’ll be ready for cincy in 10 days or so…. Fingers crossed.”
Though Roddick missed the event last year, the 28-year-old American is a three time finalist here having made it to the title match from 2002 to 2004. Losing to Guillermo Canas and Roger Federer in 2002 and 2004 respectively, A-Rod
was able to lift the title here in 2003 after defeating Argentine David Nalbandian.
Joining Roddick on the sidelines is the top ranked Swede, Robin Soderling. The current world number five pulls out of the event with a wrist injury. Having made it to third round last year, Soderling may lose his world number five
position should the current world number six, David Ferrer make it to the quarterfinals. Given the Spaniard’s recent performance, it is probably safe to say that we may see a new world number five come Monday, 14th August.
Also missing from the event will be Austrian Jurgen Melzer and Belgian Xavier Malisse. Fresh from a second round exit at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic against Donald Young, Melzer withdraws from Montreal Masters due to a quad injury.
Malisse, on the other hand, pulls out from the event due to personal reasons.
One of nine Masters events played in the ATP calendar, Rogers Cup is playing in its 130th edition this year. Played on the hard courts of Stade Uniprix, the event rotates between Montreal (odd years) and Toronto (even
years). Though Roddick and Soderling will be missing the event this year, the event will witness the return of the top four. This will be the debut event for current world number one Novak Djokovic after snatching the top spot from Spaniard Rafael Nadal following
the latter’s loss at Wimbledon this year.
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