Most of the top pros like to spend the week before a Slam putting in last minute prep work.  For example, Federer, Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic are not playing this week.  However, there’s almost always a tournament that is played the week before a Slam because some pros want match practice all the way up to the Slam.

This week, there are two events: Open de Nice Cote D’Azur and the other is the ARAG World Team Cup which is held in Dusseldorf and appears to be an exhibition much like Davis Cup or the Hopman Cup.  The format appears to be eight countries that field two singles players and a doubles team.  The eight countries are picked based on the top 2 ranked players in that country from the end of the previous year.  However, the top 2 players from a country are not obligated to play.  Sam Querrey, John Isner, Robby Ginepri, and the Bryan brothers are representing the US.  Countries are divided into a red group and a blue group somewhat like the World Cup in soccer/futbol and after a round-robin section, presumably there’s a playoff.

Let’s go to Nice, France.

If you recall, Rafael Nadal cut back his schedule because his knees were bothering him.  He played the three Masters 1000 event (Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid) but skipped Barcelona which he played last year.  Nadal may be worried about fatigue on the clay and potential injury.  However, his countryman, Fernando Verdasco is apparently the ironman of clay.  Not only did he play Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona, he is also playing in Nice as the second seed with the top seed being Robin Soderling.

Today saw Olivier Rochus upsetting Robin Soderling in three sets perhaps showing that his victory over Novak Djokovic in Miami.  Gasquet beat the dangerous Dolgopolov Jr. in three sets.  Will Gasquet make a strong showing in his national tournament?  Monfils beat Chiudinelli in three sets.  Baghdatis beat Greul while Bellucci lost to Mayer and Verdasco beat Serra easily.