Yesterday Sony Open tournament director Adam Barrett stated the obvious when he said that losing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal from this year’s event had been a blow. You can already see the slip in ticket sales, Barrett claimed. Which makes me ask in response: How does he know for sure that Roger and Rafa are the reason? Maybe it was the famed Gulbis Army that decided to stay home after Ernests said he wasn't playing.
There’s no question that Federer's and Nadal's absence has an immediate effect on the draw. For one thing, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych are seeded No. 3 and No 4, respectively. That said, the strength at the top of the men’s game right now is such that even without the tour’s two biggest gate attractions, Key Biscayne still has the finalists from the last two Grand Slams, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. These two also played each other in the final here last year. Can they shake off disappointing performances in Indian Wells and do it again? Can the man who beat them in California, Juan Martin del Potro, keep his roll going on the other side of the country?
It’s always a little tricky making Key Biscayne picks. You never know how a player—such as, say, del Potro–will react to making a good run in Indian Wells. Sometimes the confidence carries over, but just as often there’s a letdown.
Let’s see how things are shaping up for Round Two of the U.S. hard-court season—you can see the draw here. As I write this, a few first-round men's matches are being played. Hopefully whoever I pick to win it all won’t be out of the tournament before this preview goes up.