German Tennis Championships: Players to watch out for
After the action on the hallowed turfs at Wimbledon, the ATP tour moves on to the red clay at the German Tennis Championships in Hamburg. Being the last of the ATP 500 events on clay, this tournament would be an ideal event for clay court specialists to garner some points ahead of the hard court season. Here are a few players to watch out for at the Rothenbaum Tennis Center this week:
1) Roger Federer
After a shock exit at Wimbledon in the 2nd round, Roger Federer’s ranking has plunged to world number 5 for the first time in a decade. The Swiss Maestro would have to bring back his A-game this season if he wants to break back into the top 4 again.
However, the going won’t be easy for the 17-time Grand Slam champion in Hamburg as he would be up against some tricky opponents. If the draw pans out according to the script, Federer would be up against Latvian Ernests Gulbis in the 3rd round. Gulbis had defeated the Swiss ace in Rome in 2010.
If he passes that hurdle, Federer could have a possible quarterfinal against 7th seed Alexandr Dolgopolov or Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. The unorthodox playing style of Dolgopolov and his unique slices would be a potent weapon in the tournament, something the Swiss would have to be wary of if he comes face-to-face with the Ukrainian.
Federer could be up against Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz in the last 4 with a possible final showdown against German Tommy Haas.
All in all, the Swiss maestro would surely have his work cut out if he wants to win the title in Hamburg.