Tennis Update: Six of Top Ten confirmed at Rotterdam
In light of the new ATP 500 series rules, the ATP 500 event at Rotterdam has a confirmed participant list well before the event. The ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament held in the second week of February at Rotterdam is the first
500 series event of the ATP regular season.
Although the top 2, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are not participating at the event, other top 10 players have confirmed their participation at the event.
Highest ranked player in the event will be top Serb, Novak Djokovic. Ranked third in the world, Djokovic will be making his second appearance in the event. His first appearance came in 2010 where he was seeded first in the main
draw. Djokovic’s 2010 title run at the event came to an end in the semi finals, when he lost to finalist Mikhail Youzhny.
Following Djokovic in the main draw will be world number four, the Brit marvel Andy Murray. Murray is also making his second appearance at the event, having won the title in 2009. Murray defeated Spaniard Rafael Nadal in a three
setter to win the title at Rotterdam.
2010 titlist and 2008 finalist, Robin Soderling will also be playing at the event. A title win at Rotterdam was Soderling’s first of two wins in the 2010 season. The top Swede, a wild card entrant into the main draw, won the title
after Youzhny retired from the match due to an injury. Soderling won only one other title at the Paris Masters in 2010. Both wins in 2010 were Soderling’s maiden title wins.
Other top 10 players who confirmed their participation at the event include world number six Tomas Berdych, Spaniard David Ferrer and top Russian, Mikhail Youzhny. Notable names like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and John Isner will also
be playing at the event.
With the 30 players confirmed for the event, it is truly a star-studded line up. The local stars playing at the event will be Thiemo de Bakker and Robin Haase. The wild cards for the event will be announced at a later stage.
Commenting on the spectacular line up at the event, tournament director Richard Krajicek said,
“We are proud to have created a strong basis for a strong and attractive tournament with these six players. In additon to these six, a charismatic player like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and a spectacular player like John Isner, who won Auckland in 2010 and reached
three finals on the ATP World Tour, promise a lot of excitement. It is an added value for the tournament when a player comes to defend his title. Next to that Robin Soderling has proven to be part of the world’s elite by being ranked amongst the top 10 in
the World for over two years and reaching the Roland Garros final twice.
He further added, “We consider it a good sign that players like to return to our tournament. The players we are presenting here are very welcome guest at any tournament in the world. Together with the players we have welcomed
previously, we are very satisfied with spectacular newcomers such as [Marin] Cilic, Isner and [Ernests] Gulbis.”
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