Corona Slice: Roger In Rotterdam, Rafa In Sao Paulo

Tap into the essentials of the week ahead and re-live the highlights of the past week with Corona Slice, as we serve up an executive summary of what every fan should know, along with a look at the best in social media.

LOOKING AHEAD

Who’s Playing This Week?
There is one ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam and two ATP World Tour 250 events in Sao Paulo and San Jose.

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament: Top-seeded defending champion Roger Federer headlines the season’s first ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam. The tournament, celebrating its 40th anniversary, also features returning finalist Juan Martin del Potro, eighth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and World No. 10 Richard Gasquet, who won his second title of the year in Montpellier last week (d. Paire).
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Brasil Open 2013: Rafael Nadal continues his comeback as the top seed in Sao Paulo, looking to build off his runner-up effort in Vina del Mar. Nadal triumphed in 2005 in his first appearance. He is joined by two-time reigning titlist and second seed Nicolas Almagro, third seed Juan Monaco and fifth-seeded home favourite Thomaz Bellucci.
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SAP Open: World No. 14 Milos Raonic bids for a three-peat in San Jose at the final staging of the event, which was first hosted in 1889. Raonic will be challenged by Americans John Isner (No. 2 seed), Sam Querrey (No. 3 seed), Tommy Haas (No. 4 seed) and former champions Fernando Verdasco and Lleyton Hewitt.
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Potential Milestones (Career match wins as of 11 February 2013)
Rotterdam - Singles
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - 249 wins
Marcos Baghdatis - 247 wins
Julien Benneteau - 197 wins

Rotterdam - Doubles
Nenad Zimonjic - 548 wins
Michael Llodra - 349 wins
Mariusz Fyrstenberg - 296 wins
Marc Lopez - 147 wins
Rajeev Ram - 99 wins

Sao Paulo - Doubles
Lucas Arnold Ker - 297 wins
Tommy Robredo - 147 wins

San Jose - Singles
Benjamin Becker - 98 wins

San Jose - Doubles
Lleyton Hewitt - 98 wins

Rankings Movers
Benoit Paire 38 (+5 spots) - Career High
Horacio Zeballos 43 (+30 spots)
Michael Llodra 51 (+11 spots)
Guillaume Rufin 84 (+9 spots) - Career High
Jesse Levine 95 (-15 spots)
Gael Monfils 108 (-21 spots)

Birthdays
12 February – Jeremy Chardy (26)
13 February – Somdev Devvarman (28)
13 February – Jamie Murray (27)

Player To Watch: Roger Federer
World No. 2 Roger Federer returns to action in Rotterdam, where he is the defending champion. He has a 21-5 event record, lifting trophies in 2005 (d. Ljubicic) and 2012 (d. del Potro). Federer’s triumph at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament last year ignited a strong run of results. The Swiss maestro went on to win 17 matches in a row, adding titles in Dubai and Indian Wells. The 31 year old opens his title defence against Grega Zemlja. Federer is playing his first event since beginning his season by reaching the Australian Open semi-finals (l. to Murray).

How To Watch
Follow action in Sao Paulo beginning 11 February, Rotterdam starting 14 February (not available in the Netherlands) and San Jose from 16-17 February (not available in USA).
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WEEK IN REVIEW

Top Tweets

‏@RafaelNadal (Rafael Nadal)
First win with Pico, we felt a great ambiance on court! Thanks to the crowd and you all for the support! #Vamoss pic.twitter.com/NL9jn2Uy

‏SomdevD (Somdev Devvarman)
Snowy in Zagreb. Here are what the outdoor courts look like at the tournament. pic.twitter.com/w9wQavd3

@darren_cahill (Darren Cahill)
A lot of focus on Rafa's return in Chile but spare a thought for his poor opponent as the sleeping giant awakes. Rafa went 23/1 on clay 2012

‏@mattebden (Matthew Ebden)
Nice time in the suite at San Jose Sharks game. Thanks @SAPopentennis @atpworldtour !! http://twitpic.com/c2awvv

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Video Of The Week
Take a look at the impact Rafael Nadal has made in Vina del Mar as he begins his comeback on the ATP World Tour at the VTR Open.

In Case You Missed It…
Vina del Mar: Horacio Zeballos battled past top seed Rafael Nadal 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-4 to win his first ATP World Tour title at the VTR Open. Nadal was making his return to action after missing seven months with a left knee injury.
Zeballos: “It’s A Dream For Me” 

Montpellier: World No. 10 Richard Gasquet captured his second title of the season at the Open Sud De France, defeating countryman Benoit Paire 6-2, 6-3.
Gasquet: “This Is My Best Season Start Ever” 

Zagreb: Top seed Marin Cilic won his third PBZ Zagreb Indoors title, as he dismissed fourth-seeded Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1.
Cilic: “I Played A Great Match” 

Tidbits
• Former World No. 1 Andy Roddick played in his first golf tournament at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He was paired with pros John Mallinger and Jerry Kelly and NFL star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. More...
• This past Wednesday marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of tennis legend Arthur Ashe. More...
• Former World No. 8 Jurgen Melzer claimed his 300th tour-level win at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Lukas Rosol. More...
• World No. 3 Andy Murray will play at the AEGON Championships in June as a Grand Slam champion for the first time. He is targeting a third title on his return to The Queen’s Club. More...
• Kevin Anderson hopes to make a return to the ATP World Tour later this month after undergoing surgery to remove loose bone fragments in his elbow two weeks ago in Melbourne. More...
• Sixteen-year-old Christian Garin scored his first ATP World Tour win when he beat Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 at the VTR Open in Vina del Mar. More...

Photo Galleries
Montpellier | Vina del Mar | Zagreb

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