MASON - August 13, 2006 - Defending champion Roger Federer heads up the charge for the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters title, and comes to Cincinnati on the heels of the Rogers Masters victory Sunday in Toronto.
The ATP World No. 1 withstood a blistering opening from youngster Richard Gasquet to claim his third ATP Masters Series shield of the season and 11th of his career. In doing so, he tied Pete Sampras in second place on the list of all-time ATP Masters Series titles winners - behind only Andre Agassi, who owns 17 shields.
Federer, who celebrated his 25th birthday last Tuesday, has now reached the final in his last 17 tournaments dating back to June 2005 at Halle. That streak is the second-best of the Open Era behind Ivan Lendl's 18 straight finals in 1981-82.
He also extended his winning streak on North American hard courts to 54 matches - a streak that includes nine titles: the US Open and Tennis Masters Cup in Houston in 2004; Indian Wells, Miami, Cincinnati, and the US Open in 2005 and Indian Wells, Miami and Toronto this year.
His last loss on North American hard courts came at this event two years ago, when he fell to Dominik Hrbaty 6-1 6-7(7) 4-6 in the first round.
"I was really struggling over here in the beginning of my career," said Federer about playing in North America. "I thought it was always too windy, too humid, too hot, too not my style. Now all of a sudden I've turned this all around. I really enjoy playing here."
TENNIS' 1-2 PUNCH
Tennis fans worldwide were denied the sixth meeting this season between Federer and ATP World No. 2 Rafael Nadal when the Spaniard suffered an early exit at the Rogers Masters, where he was the defending champion.
The amazing duo have combined to win the first three Grand Slams and five of the first six ATP Masters Series tournaments in 2006. Going back to last year they have combined to win 13 of the last 15 ATP Masters Series titles they have appeared in together over 2005-06; neither player competed in the two events won by other players since the start of 2005.
In the eight tournaments they both have entered this season, Nadal and Federer have each won four titles. Federer leads the circuit with a total of seven titles thus far in 2006, while Nadal trails the Swiss with five.
REVERSING THE TIDE
The fiery Spaniard could earn the chance to avenge last week's loss against Tomas Berdych. The Czech has also been drawn into the bottom quarter of the draw, setting up the possiblity of another clash between the 20-year-olds in the Cincinnati quarterfinals this Friday. Berdych, coincidentally, was the same player who ousted Nadal in Cincinnati last year.
Nadal has made two appearances at the Western & Cincinnati Financial Group Masters, but is still looking for his first win at the event. He lost both his openers in the third-set tie-break, but comes in this year with a 14-4 hard court season record, including the Dubai title and semifinal showing at the Pacific Life Open, the first ATP Masters Series event.
He faces a first-round date with 18-year-old American wild card Sam Querrey, who is ranked No. 178 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, and could come up against Arnaud Clement and Tommy Haas - winners of the US Open Series events in Washington and Los Angeles, respectively - in the second and third rounds.
PAST CHAMPIONS RETURN
Federer will attempt to become the first repeat winner in Cincinnati since Agassi claimed back-to-back crowns in 1995 and 1996. Former champions Andy Roddick and Carlos Moya also return for a second shot at glory in Cincinnati.
Roddick, a finalist here last year and champion in 2003, brings a 18-5 record into the event. The former World No.1 has yet to win a title this season, but reached his first final three weeks ago in Indianapolis. The first seed Roddick could face is fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the 3rd round, with a potential meeting with Federer awaiting him in the quarterfinals.
2002 champion Moya brings in a 13-7 event record and faces 10th-seeded compatriot David Ferrer in his opener, with the winner to meet another Spaniard - Alberto Martin or Nicolas Almagro - in the 2nd round. Moya began the year by reaching the Chennai title on hard courts, and captured the Buenos Aires title on clay the following month.
AMERICAN TITLE HOPES
For the second ATP Masters Series event in a row, the U.S. contingent will be led by James Blake, who comes in ranked No. 5 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings.
Blake has never advanced further than the 3rd round in Cincinnati, and in his last two event appearances, fell to the eventual winner - last year when he earned the unenviable task of opening against Federer, and in 2003 when he faced compatriot Roddick in the 3rd round. This year, Blake has been drawn into the same quarter of the draw as Nadal and encounters Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in the 1st round.
Along with Blake and Roddick, Americans in the draw include No. 15 seed Robby Ginepri; wild cards Paul Goldstein, Mardy Fish and Querrey; and qualifiers Justin Gimelstob and Vince Spadea.
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The 2006 Western & Southern Financial MASTERS will be held August 11-20 in Mason, Ohio. The Western & Southern Financial Group WOMEN'S OPEN will be held July 15-23. For tickets or information click here, or call 513-651-0303. Tickets also are available via TicketMaster at 513-562-4949 or www.ticketmaster.com.
