[AncicCilic]

Okay here we go, first i'll put up what points he is defending from these tournaments up to RG.

Atm at the start of the clay season he has 1,495 points and is ranked 22.

Last year's results:

Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, R16 - 90 points (drop 18.04.)

Masters 1000 Rome, R32 - 10 points (drop 02.05.)

Atp 250 Munich, final - 150 points (drop 09.05., he can replace this with 45 points from other 250 tournaments)

Masters 1000 Madrid, R16 - 90 points (drop 16.05.)

Roland Garros, R16 - 180 points (drop 06.06.)


So all in all he is defending 520 points (or 475 if you want, since he can't loose those 45 atp 250 what are waiting in backup just incase) which is not a small amount.

Who follows Marin longer knows he was always good at clay but over the years evolved more into a hard-court player out of need since most tournaments are on those surfaces. Let's hope he can defend those good results and improve those which weren't so good.

Good luck Marin!

[AncicCilic]

Last year's run of results:

Monte Carlo (draw 56):

R64 - BYE
R32 - Andreev (W) 2-1
R32 - Montanes (L) 0-2

Rome (draw 56):

R64 - BYE
R32 - F. Lopez (L) 1-2

Munich (draw 32):

R32 - Berrer (W) 2-0
R16 - Greul (W) 2-1
Q - Almagro (W) 2-1
S - Baghdatis (W) 2-1
F - Youzhny (L) 1-2

Madrid (draw 56):

R64 - BYE
R32 - Schwank (W) 2-0
R16 - Ferrer (L) 0-2

Roland Garros (draw 128):

R128 - Mello (W) 3-1
R64 - Gimeno-Traver (W) 3-0
R32 - L. Mayer (W) 3-2
R16 - Soderling (L) 0-3

Overall W-L 9:5

[AncicCilic]

Also it's worth noting that all these 3 Masters 1000 events with 56 players have BYE for only top 8 seeds.

Marin might be there for Monte Carlo since it's not obligatory and if some of the players from current entry list pull out, but he will have to play R64 in these other two masters, unlike last year where he was bye in all 3. Maybe it's not bad to get as many matches as possible to get into rythm against weaker opponents.

[oranges]

Great work. Fingers crossed fro a good clay season

[AncicCilic]

Thanks, let's hope so.

His planned schedule at the moment:

10.04. Monte Carlo,
- one week rest
24.04. Munich,
01.05. Madrid,
08.05. Rome
- one week rest,
22.05. Roland Garros

[Naina]

Good luck to Marin I just have a question about his schedule. He isn't on the Barcelona entry list posted on MTF and the website of the tournament doesn't have a listing of the players. are you sure he intends to play Barcelona?

[AncicCilic]

Hm i think you're right since i watched the wrong list on the Barcelona page! Thanks, i'll edit that out.

[-junie-]

Good luck to him!

[Naina]

Here is Marin's quarter in the MC draw. Realistically, I don't think he gets past federer. Hopefully he will still be able to defend last year's result:

[7] Jurgen Melzer (AUT) bye
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) - Robin Haase (NED)
Qualifier - Victor Hanescu (ROU)
Marcel Granollers (ESP) - [9] Nicolas Almagro (ESP)

[15] Marin Cilic (CRO) - Qualifier
Qualifier - Potito Starace (ITA)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) - Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
[2] Roger Federer (SUI)


GOOD LUCK to him

[AncicCilic]

Yep considering the draw i think defending those 90 pts from last year would be nice.
Starace is a solid clay player but Marin should still be able to overtake him if he plays a good match.

This is like 4th or 5th tournament in the last year where Marin was set to face Federer in QF or 1/8 finals and it never happened since he dropped out earlier In those. Hope it happens now.

[Naina]

Marin plays Pippo Volandri 4th up on Court Des Princes. Good Luck

[AncicCilic]

Dang, probably hardest qualifier he could get on clay but Marin is a better player overall.

Come on Marin!

[oranges]

He should rip Pippos serve to shreds and be in each and every one of his service games On a less superlative note, I really think he shouldn't pose many problems to him if he's playing relatively well.

[Naina]

Match depends on how Marin plays If he plays atrocious like against tipsy then pippo has more than a shot. Please have your head screwed on right

[oranges]

3 games for Pippo Starace or Riba next. Riba should be easy, Potito is exhausted from last week, it's dubious he'll win his first match