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ATP Previews: Fish Swims Over to Marseille
By Erik Gudris Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
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(February 20th, 2012) The ATP Tour is spread out on three continents this week with events in Buenos Aires, Marseille and Memphis. Here's a quick look at each and who's playing there.
Copa Claro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
ATP 250 Event
If you like clay court tennis, then you would do no wrong than to tune into this week's Copa Claro event held at the "Cathedral of Argentinean Tennis" in Buenos Aires. Spain's David Ferrer is the top seed while fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro seeks to defend his title from last year. A strong field is here including Gilles Simon, Stanislas Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Juan Monaco and David Nalbandian. Fernando Gonzalez is also here as part of his farewell tour leading up to his final event in Miami.
Expect some tight three setters here, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Ferrer and Almagro square off in the finals.
Match to watch: Early round meeting between Juan Carlos Ferrero and Kei Nishikori.
Open 13
Marseille, France
ATP 250 Event
The final stop of the European indoor season, Marseille has seen a Frenchman lift the trophy for the last four out of five years. With defending champion Robin Soderling unable to compete this year, it will be up to top seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to keep France's hopes alive for a local champion. Rotterdam runner-up Juan Martin Del Potro will poise the biggest threat to Tsonga along with Janko Tipsarevic, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Richard Gasquet. Mardy Fish is also here surprising some that he wouldn't join his fellow Americans in Memphis, though a rumored huge appearance fee is likely the reason Fish decided to stay on the other side of the Atlantic.
Match to watch: A possible early round between Juan Martin Del Potro and the in-form Nikolay Davydenko.
Regions Morgan Keegan Championships
Memphis, Tennessee
ATP 500 Event
This year's Memphis event has a lot of intriguing storylines going into it even before the first ball is struck on the fast indoor courts of The Racquet Club of Memphis. Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic both withdrew early due to knee injuries making Davis Cup hero John Isner the top seed. Milos Raonic, fresh off of his repeat title run in San Jose is hoping to go one better in Memphis after making the finals last year, while defending champion Andy Roddick is hoping his injury plagued 2012 season doesn't continue with another early round loss.
Probably the biggest factor that could decide this year's winner is the inclusion of Hawk-Eye at the event for the first time, a necessity considering the number of big serving players in the draw this week. Expect Isner and Raonic to possibly meet in the finals.
Match to watch: Early round battle between young Americans Ryan Harrison and Jack Sock.
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