Eurosport - Mon, 24 Mar 22:28:00 2008
USA, USA, USA! Team America dominate this week's Fantasy Tennis selections, and for good reasons as the hardcourts of North America have proven prosperous for US stars this year.
As always, we humbly offer our tips on players set to compete in this week's event who could be worth picking with your two weekly transfers, hopefully giving you an edge over your rivals.
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Group A
In: Andy Roddick
In a pick between Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic (the top-three players in the world), we've reached the point where it's nearly impossible to choose between them. So we're going to go with the home favourite, who crashed out of the California event in round two but has played well this year with titles in Dubai and San Jose despite his break-up with coach Jimmy Connors.
Out: Nikolay Davydenko
Koyla, winner of 11 ATP singles titles in his career, has only been to one final since the end of 2006 - a title-winning performance at a home-event in Moscow last year. He has also reached three Grand Slam semis and four quarters in the last three years without making a major final and runs the risk of becoming the Russian Tim Henman, without the Henmania.
Group B
In: James Blake
Our American theme continues with the US number two, who impressed with a quarter-final showing in Indian Wells before falling to Rafa Nadal. Should at the very least reach a similar stage in Miami, and with the right draw the top-ranked player in Group B (164 points) could go further.
Out: Tomas Berdych
A second round flame-out in Cali is indicative of how the Czech has been playing since the end of the Australian summer (second-round losses in Rotterdam and Dubai). A mediocre Miami record will not be changed this time around.
Group C
In: Mardy Fish
Who could have seen this guy coming? The hard-hitting American 26-year-old had done well enough this year for the 98th ranked player in the world compiling a solid 7-5 record prior to the Indian Wells Masters. But the manner in which he stormed through the Pac Sun draw and absolutely obliterated world number one Roger Federer to reach the final shows the kind of confidence worth having in any fantasy team.
Out: Marat Safin
We don't usually give the same advice two weeks in a row, but when we're proven right and people still don't listen, then it's time to speak up. Safin is the third-most selected player in this group (probably something to do with talent, fondness for the former world number one, or previous Grand Slam brilliance), but one of the least effective players with only 40 points. To boot, Safin has won one match in his previous three appearances in Miami.
Group D
In: Donald Young
The US has been waiting years for this Great American Hope to live up to his full potential and take over the world in a similar fashion to John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. While we don't expect that period to arrive any time soon, the 18-year-old prodigy has played well of late reaching at least the third round of his past two tournaments and is good for a couple of wins depending on the Miami draw.
Out: Michaël Llodra
Both the third-most popular and third-most effective player in this group, there's no doubting that the Frenchman has done well in 2008 winning his second and third career titles in Adelaide and Rotterdam. But the Paris-born 27-year-old has lost both of his opening-round matches on US soil in his past two tournaments at Vegas and Indian Wells.
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