| As we enter the European clay-court portion of the | | | | bumps on the road as he had to withdraw from his |
| ATP Masters season many big names in the sport | | | | usual practice event in Australia due to an illness. He |
| have already began their training to get set for the | | | | then moved in to the first Grand Slam of the year in |
| coming challenges the red courts will bring. Amongst | | | | Australia; but at this point we all saw something was |
| them there is Australian Open champion Novak | | | | just not right. Nevertheless, Federer played all matches |
| Djokovic; who is strongly pursuing the number one | | | | and arrived to the finals where he lost to Novak |
| spot. Djokovic whose last appearances where at | | | | Djokovic. His second stop at the Dubai Open was |
| Indian Wells where he obtained the title and at the | | | | overshadowed by a quick first round exit and finally his |
| Sony Ericsson Open in Miami where he was ousted in | | | | other two appearances at the Masters Series events |
| the first round; has officially announced he will | | | | in California and Miami where he made to the semi |
| participate in the three majors clay events in Monaco, | | | | finals and quarterfinals respectively. |
| Hamburg and Rome. | | | | Federer admitted he has been looking for answers to |
| During the 2007 season and so far into the 2008 ATP | | | | his drought but his trainers and doctors insist he is still |
| season the Serb has become the strongest opponent | | | | recovering from his illness and he is not yet at a 100 |
| to take on both masters; Nadal and Federer and claim | | | | percent. The Swiss master's career has been almost |
| either ranking positions. Nevertheless, Djokovic admits | | | | superhuman as he claimed in only four years most of |
| he learns something new every day and he can only | | | | his 12 Grand Slam titles. |
| hope to keep developing his skills as he has done for | | | | Nevertheless; Federer will participate for the first time |
| the past years. | | | | at the 2008 Estoril Open in Portugal in order to gain |
| Great Britain's number one player Andy Murray who | | | | more practice and better his game on this type of |
| had a relatively good come back after his absence | | | | surface. Furthermore; he will continue his tune up in |
| due to a wrist injury; has recently slipped out from the | | | | Monte Carlo, Rome and Hamburg on his way to Paris |
| top 20; fact which has become a major concern for | | | | to participate at the not yet conquered French Open; |
| the Scott. Murray has contacted Spaniard clay court | | | | where he has reached the final the last two years |
| expert French Open runner-up Alex Corretja to | | | | losing to Rafael Nadal. |
| become part of his team of experts. Corretja whose | | | | World number two Rafa Nadal who is also without a |
| background speak for himself achieved 17 titles before | | | | title has managed to shorten the point distance to just |
| retiring in 2004. The Spaniard stated he has seem | | | | 670 points. But he will soon be facing as well the |
| Murray's potential to play in different surfaces and will | | | | pressure of the red surface that has given him his |
| gladly be part of his group. Murray's campaign will kick | | | | three Grand Slams titles. Besides holding his titles in |
| off in Valencia, Spain next April 14th. | | | | Barcelona, Rome and Paris the raging bull will still need |
| Then there is the Swiss superstar Roger Federer who | | | | to win in Hamburg to surpass the Swiss Fed and this is |
| arrives title less to the end of the first quarter of the | | | | not an easy task. |
| year. Federer's 2008 ATP season began with many | | | | |