No, not a friendly match with Roger Federer (hahahahahahahaha, I’m very funny), but the ATP draw challenge.
You basically have to predict the outcome of every single match correctly in a main draw or be the person who guesses the outcome correctly most often over the period of a year to win an all expenses paid trip to the tour finals in London at the end of the year.
It’s a bit of fun and who knows, ya might be lucky 
Give it a go here!!!
Found this on the ATP website. Very interesting! Have a look (All courtesy of atpworldtour.com)
The man behind the stats
Most Aces In A Match
78*, Ivo Karlovic (L), 2009 Davis Cup SF vs. Radek Stepanek
55, Ivo Karlovic (L), 2009 Roland Garros 1st Rd. vs. Lleyton Hewitt
51, Joachim Johansson (L), 2005 Australian Open 4th Rd. vs. A. Agassi
51, Ivo Karlovic (L), 2005 Wimbledon 1st Rd. vs. Daniele Bracciali
50, Roger Federer (W), 2009 Wimbledon Final vs. Andy Roddick
Most Match Wins In A Season
92, Roger Federer, 2006
82, Rafael Nadal, 2008
81, Roger Federer, 2005
80, Lleyton Hewitt, 2001
79, Rafael Nadal, 2005
Most Titles In A Season
12, Roger Federer, 2006
11, Roger Federer, 2005
11, Rafael Nadal, 2005
11, Roger Federer, 2004
8, Rafael Nadal, 2008
Most Match Points Saved In A Match
10, Rainer Schuettler d. A. Seppi, 36 76(13) 60, 2004 Kitzbuehel 2nd Rd.
9, Igor Andreev d. R. Soderling 36 76(14) 64, 2006 Indian Wells 3rd Rd.
9, Vincent Spadea d. F. Serra 75 16 46 76(7) 97, 2004 R. Garros 1st Rd.
9, Jiri Vanek d. Bohdan Ulihrach 26 62 76(5), 2004 Sopot 1st Rd.
9, Hicham Arazi d. Tommy Haas 26 76(8) 75, 2001 Hamburg 2nd Rd.
9, Felix Mantilla d. Albert Portas 26 76(4) 63, 2001 Palermo SF
Fewest Matches Lost In A Season (Top 10 player)
4, Roger Federer, 2005
5, Roger Federer, 2006
6, Roger Federer, 2004
9, Roger Federer, 2007
9, Lleyton Hewitt, 2005
Most Times Qualified Into Main Draw In Decade
23, Cyril Saulnier
22, Christophe Rochus
21, Jan Hernych
20, Andreas Seppi
19, Albert Portas
19, Julien Benneteau
19, Teimuraz Gabashvili
Other Notable Stats Of The Decade
Longest Match Time (Best-of-five sets)
6:33* (over two days), Fabrice Santoro d. Arnaud Clement 64 63 67(5) 36 16-14, 2004 Roland Garros 1st Rd.
Longest Match Time (Best-of-three sets)
4:03*, Rafael Nadal d. Novak Djokovic 36 76(5) 76(9), 2009 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid SF
Longest Clay Court Match Winning Streak
81*, Rafael Nadal, April 2005-May 2007
Longest Grass Court Match Winning Streak
65*, Roger Federer, June 2002-July 2008
Longest Hard Court Match Winning Streak
56*, Roger Federer, February 2005-March 2006
Most Aces In A Season
1,318, Ivo Karlovic, 2007
Most Weeks at No. 1
263 (as of Dec. 28, ‘09), Roger Federer, 2004-09
Most Consecutive Weeks at No. 1
237*, Roger Federer, Feb. 2, 2004-Aug. 17, 2008
Most Clay Court Match Wins In A Season
50, Rafael Nadal, 2005
Most Hard Court Match Wins In A Season
59*, Roger Federer, 2006
Most Grass Court Match Wins In A Season
16, Lleyton Hewitt, 2001
Most Clay Court Titles (Decade)
25, Rafael Nadal (2004-09)
Most Hard Court Titles (Decade)
39, Roger Federer (2002-09)
Most Grass Court Titles (Decade)
11*, Roger Federer (2003-07, ‘09)
* Open Era record (since 1968)
Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, what an amazing stadium
Ok, so maybe I wasn’t actually at the Paris masters, but last year I was pretty close! I was in Paris for badminton and was literally one foot away from Gael Monfils who was getting something to eat after one of his matches! Anywayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…
The Paris Masters is one of the top level tournaments after the grand slams. I always think of it of the one the big players miss because the first couple of years I watched it, Federer and Nadal were missing because of their long seasons and match wins. I guess I still kind of have that impression of it, almost like it isnt that important, but it is equally as important as any of the other masters 1000’s!
The order of play for Tuesday is promising. My pick of the day is definitely Juan Martin Del Potro v Mario Ancic. I haven’t seen much of Ancic lately and Del Potro hasn’t regained the form that won him the US Open title yet. Other good matches include
Live scores are here
Enjoy
Not many, I bet.
Conor Niland, our highest ranked mens player
It’s a pity, because there is several players, men and women, in the top 1500 rankings in the world and they certainly aren’t short of trying.
In recent years, Kelly Liggan has been the highest ranking and most successful Irish tennis player with a career high rank of 181 and a WTA tour doubles title to her name. I know in England there is alot of debate about the “state” of British tennis and anybody not ranked well into the top 100 is branded as a failure, but how many of us can claim to be one of the top 181 people in the world at what we do? Very very few of us, I bet. It’s unfortunate, because it’s very difficult to make a living and pay for travel between countries each week when players ‘only’ ranked in the top 200 are stuck playing lower tier tournaments and earning barely enough money to get by.
Tennis facilities in Ireland aren’t exactly incredible. The majority of courts are owned by private clubs with ridiculous membership costs and entry criteria. I’ve been wanting to play tennis for years and ended up getting into a club in Waterford which is great until you want to bring one of your friends to play with you every week who aren’t members. It’s an awful situation to be in, so many people wanting to play tennis but public tennis courts just aren’t there apart from the odd few that are built in housing estates.
The BNP Paribas National Academy
Yes, you read it correctly. It was only when I started researching his post that I saw the Irish tennis academy in Dublin is sponsored by BNP (who sponsor many high profile tennis events in France and in several other countries). From what I am reading here on the official Tennis Ireland website, there is only 23 players being allowed use this academy and all the supposedly top-class facilities it offers. It’s scandalous. They also claim to offer their squad opportunities to compete at ATP and WTA events. When is the last time you saw an Irish player in the main draw of a main tour event? I’ll give you a while to think about it……
I think it’s time that Tennis Ireland got their act together and give more people opportunities to get into the game. After all, it’s not everybody that has parents who can buy their children into tennis clubs. If the trend continues all we will ever have is league players.
The Russians
Federers ability to start winning tournaments and keep it going is fairly astonishing. Since winning his first title of the year in Madrid hes won 26 of his last 27 matches, including two grand slams and two masters series titles. Federer is definitely back on top of his game.
His victories against Murray and Djokovic last week should aslo boost his confidence and make him the clear favourite to defend his US Open title at the end of the month. Its so weird to think that he could meet the ‘now number 3′ Nadal in the semi’s there.
Elena Dementieva is also playing some of the best tennis of her career. Beating Serena and Sharapova to take home the third title of the year. I really like her style of play and has to be considered one of the top 3 favourites for the US Open, having been a finalist there before.
Amazing roof going to waste
A well established claycourt event and traditional warm up event to the French open begins this week without the title of “Masters Series” before its name. The ATP decided that this year they would move the tournament completely and strip it of the coveted Masters Series prestige. The move is one that not many people at all are happy with, and none more than tournament director and tennis great Michael Stich. In fairness like, who wants to be running a clay court event that is stuck in between the grass court season and American hardcourt season?
The tournament has had loads of huge names in the past, with Federer and Nadal meeting in the final there the last two years, so things weren’t exactly going poorly for the tournament to warrant it being demoted.
I think it’s really sad to see 40 year old Stich coming out of retirement to play in the doubles tournament in an almost pathetic cry for help and desperate attemp to bring in the crowds.
The draw is not exactly awful with Giles Simon heading a field that includes the likes Davydenko, Wawrinka, Ferrer and Robredo, but its more like a tournament for those who play better on clay and want one more chance to snap up the generous ranking points (500 series tournament, twice the ranking points of Queens clu…..) on offer before they head to the hardcourts.
Yet ANOTHER great decision by the ATP. They have got to get things together (Madrid, anyone…..)
Stretching for a forehand
A kind of strange story the way it happened. Gasquet withdrew from the Miami masters back in March with a shoulder problem but had to go through the regular drug testing after he pulled out of the tournament. A month or so later it was found he tested positivefor cocaine and could face a two year ban which would more than likely end his career given how erratic he has been playing lately. Gasquet claimed he had not taken cociane and underwent hair tests that proved negative.
Anyway it turns out that the ITF cleared him of all charges after he claimed the cocaine entered his system through kissing a girl (who had been doing cocaine) in a club in Miami that is notorious for drug use.
The ITF just seemed to leave him off so easily in comparison to Martina Hingis who was handed a two year ban straight away and immediately retired from tennis.
Can he hold onto it?
“The No. 2 position in the South African Airways ATP Rankings has been occupied by Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal for every week since 25 July, 2005.
But that may soon be changing with No. 3 Novak Djokovic and No. 4 Andy Murray in pursuit. In fact, Djokovic has been one match win away three times since May 2008 of becoming No. 2, only to lose the opportunity.
After ATP World Tour No. 1 Rafael Nadal began his clay court campaign with a record fifth consecutive title at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters and Barcelona, he strengthened his lead at the top, the battle for No. 2 going into Roland Garros is underway.
Murray, who has held No. 4 for 32 consecutive weeks since 8 Sep., 2008, is off to a career-best 29-4 start, and he’s closing quickly on Djokovic. The 21-year-old Serb has ranked No. 3 every week since 9 July, 2007 except one (6 Aug., ’07).
The 2008 Monte-Carlo points dropped off Monday, 27 April, and Federer lost 700 points, Djokovic 450 points and Murray 150 points. Murray narrowed the gap to 110 points going into the fourth ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Rome. But after an opening round loss in Rome, Murray will have to wait until May 11 as the earliest he could pass Djokovic for No. 3. ”
Source: ATP World Tour website
Guillermo Coria
The once French Open finalist and former world number 3 nicknamed “El Mago” or “The Magician”, yesterday (28th April 2009) announced his retirement from professional tennis.
His very promising career started to fall apart in 2005 in Umag when he started losing rhythm on his serve, and started serving very high numbers of double faults. 2005 was to be his last consistent year on the tour as he started regularly serving over 20 double faults per match from 2006 onwards. Combined with an elbow injury, Coria was never able to recapture his form and slipped down the rankings.
Corias last grand slam match was at last years French Open, losing in 4 sets to the number 12 seed Tommy Robredo. Even though he showed some promising signs, it just wasnt to be. His last match ever was last month in Bangkok, losing easily to Israeli Harel Levy 3-6 2-6.
I’m sure he will be missed by many fans. 
Foro Italico
Finally a clay court tournament that Nadal isn’t defending!!
From the lovely Foro Italico in the historic Rome, we should see alot of italian girls with no interest in tennis, but only watching on so they can be seen in their large sunglasses, tight tops and of course to watch the men. (CS’s)
The Roman crowd love to support their players so expect to see alot of cheering when Seppi, Fognini or Volandri take to the court.
I’m lookin’ forward to this week and the draw looks promising.
First of all the most important part and what everyone usually looks for first. Who got Murray and who got Djokovic?! With the draw released I can tell you that Murrar is in Nadals half of the draw and Djokociv in Federers….Hopefully good news for Fed as he looks again to regain form and win his first title this year.
Apart from Wawrinka, Djokovic (who is defending the title) and possibly Ferrer with his recent form, I can’t really see anyone in Federers half bothering him too much so hopefully he will get to the final.
It should be routine for Nadal most of the way…
My prediction: If Federer gets to the final he will win it no matter who his opponent is. If Federer doesn’t make the final then it is definitely Nadal.
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