Monte-Carlo 2016 Rolex Masters

The top 9 in the Emirates ATP Rankings will slug it out in the Monte-Carlo 2016 Rolex Masters. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal look to continue the Big Four's dominance of Masters 1000 events in Monte-Carlo. Djokovic will be in the same half of the draw as Roger Federer, Djokovic want to retain his title and clinch a third crown at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. While Roger Federer return with a healthy body. Federer warns his fellow players that he will not be a pushover despite three months out due to injury. Federer returns to the court next week following knee surgery that keeps him from his dominant form.

The 34-year-old Swiss did not push through his planned comeback in the Miami Open last month because of a stomach virus.

Federer will start vs Thomaz Bellucci or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, with the possibility of Roberto Bautista Agut in the 3rd round. Both 8th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and 9th seed Richard Gasquet could pose a threat to Federer in the quarter-finals.

2nd seed Andy Murray, 8th time champion Rafael Nadal, 2014 winner Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych headline the bottom half of the draw.

The top eight seeds receive a bye into the second round.

    1.   Serbia Novak Djokovic
    2.   United Kingdom Andy Murray
    3.   Switzerland Roger Federer
    4.   Switzerland Stan Wawrinka
    5.   Spain Rafael Nadal
    6.   Czech Republic Tomáš Berdych
    7.   Spain David Ferrer
    8.   France Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
    9.   France Richard Gasquet
    10.   Canada Milos Raonic
    11.   Belgium David Goffin
    12.   Austria Dominic Thiem
    13.   France Gaël Monfils
    14.   Spain Roberto Bautista Agut
    15.   France Gilles Simon
    16.   France Benoît Paire

Federer, Sharapova lose at Wimbledon

LONDON (AP) - Roger Federer of Switzerland was beaten by Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine in their Men's second round singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Roger Federer is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and 17-time Grand Slam champion, while the man that beat him Sergiy Stakhovsky, is ranked 116th.

His 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5) defeat against Sergiy Stakhovsky marked Federer's earliest Grand Slam exit in a decade.

He lost in the first round of the French Open on May 26, 2003, back before he owned a single trophy from any of the sport's most important sites..

The third-seeded Federer simply was unable to derail Stakhovsky's serve-and-volley style, breaking the 27-year-old Ukrainian only once.

Still, there actually was a real chance for Federer to get back in the thick of things. Ahead 6-5 in the fourth, he held a set point as Stakhovsky served at 30-40. But Stakhovsky came up with this sequence: volley winner, 111 mph ace, serve-and-volley winner.


Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, who lost 6-3, 6-4 to 131st-ranked Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal will join Federer on their way home; The other losers are, Caroline Wozniacki; Ana Ivanovic; Jelena Jankovic; Azarenka; and Lleyton Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002.

All told, five players who have combined to win 26 Grand Slam titles headed home, along with another three who have been the runner-up at a major tournament.

Nadal vs Federer in Rome final

Roger Federer will be up against his rival Rafa Nadal in the Italian Open final after the Swiss held off a spirited challenge by unseeded Frenchman Benoit Paire on Saturday.

Roger Federer the world number three scored 7-6 6-4 to beat Paire. 

Nadal beat Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 with a dominant performance that he described as emotional after a long injury absence which saw him return to court in February after seven months off with a knee problem.

The Spaniard has won six titles since returning, while Federer is yet to register a title in 2013.

"For me it's already a good tournament. He (Nadal) is the favorite but he's near the end of a long claycourt season, it may be my chance," Federer told reporters.

"I am feeling better physically," the 11-times grand slam winner said in an interview with Spanish television broadcaster Teledeporte.

"These are emotional moments for me as I think I have managed to turn around a situation in which after many months of doubts I am able to play at a level that I would not have dreamed of four months ago."