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The draw has been made for the Sony Ericsson Open ($3,645,000), the second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in 2010.
The best Serbian tennis player is second seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open his campaign against world no.59 Olivier Rochus. The Belgian defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-4.
In their three head-to-head meetings Rochus leads 2-1. The Belgian won both matches in 2005, Nole triumphed in Halle in 2009.
Novak’s potential opponents in the later stages of the tournament are:
3rd round: James Blake (USA), Thomaz Bellucci (BRA,27), Filip Krajinovic (SRB,WC)
4th round: Gael Monfils (FRA,14), Sam Querrey (USA,21), Mario Ancic (CRO,WC)
Quarterfinals: Andy Roddick (USA,6), Ivan Ljubicic (CRO,11), Tommy Robredo (ESP,18), Julien Benneteau (FRA,32)
Semifinals: Rafael Nadal (ESP,4), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA,8), Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP,12), David Ferrer (ESP,15), John Isner (USA,17), Ivo Karlovic (CRO,24), Viktor Troicki (SRB,30)
Roger Federer (SUI,1), Andy Murray (GBR,3), Robin Soderling (SWE,5), Marin Cilic (CRO,7)… are in the upper part of the draw.
Last year Nole lost in the finals to Andy Murray 2-6, 5-7.
Novak was Miami champion three years ago.
The winner of the tournament will get $605,500 and 1000 ATP points.
