Monte Carlo keen to have Federer in 2020: 'We are on good terms with Roger'
The 2019 Monte Carlo Masters edition, that will take place from 13 to 21 April, was announced on Thursday. In an interview to We Love Tennis France, the Tournament Director commented on the player's field. "Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, Kevin Anderson, almost all the top 10 players are there. Juan Martin del Potro is injured, he has not been playing for a long time and I fear he needs to undergo surgery. For Federer, his doubts about whether if playing on clay or not have been known for a long time. We have got in touch with each other multiple times, especially after the last year's US Open. He decided to play the French Open and he does not need to play eight tournaments prior to that to take confidence. He picked Madrid because the date fits him best before the French Open. We have a good relationship with Roger, we hope to have him next year", said Franulovic. Federer last played in 2016 losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals. That tournament was the first one for the Basel native since the knee surgery he underwent after the Australian Open.
Who will get the wild card invitations? "We have many requests (laughter)! We will decide at the last moment, there are very good French and International players and many Italians too. You can choose a younger player or a veteran who was injured and needs to a wild card to get in the main draw."
If he not injured, can Nadal be beaten at the Monte Carlo Masters, which opens the clay-court season? "Everyone can be beaten, also Rafael Nadal with his 11 wins. The new generation grows and roars. Rafa won 11 times, but it does not mean it will be the same history this year. You have to be confident about the younger players. A young player can win a tournament like Monte Carlo. Nadal did it in 2005. It's the start of the season, not everyone is at 100 percent or ready", said Franulovic.
Which younger players can triumph? "Zverev and Thiem are not considered as young players anymore, they already experienced having won some of the most important tournaments. I think mostly about Karen Khachanov and Stefanos Tsitsipas. There is also Felix Auger-Aliassime who is just 18 years old. This year he got close to win an ATP 500 in Rio. He has a complete game and the skills to win a Masters 1000."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2YkkCq7
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