HEAD Players Lead Play in Monte Carlo

HEAD players Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Stanislas Wawrinka took to the clay in at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, securing spots in the final rounds of tournament play.

No. 3 seeded Djokovic lost a tough battle against World No. 1 Rafael Nadal for the Monte Carlo Master’s title on Sunday, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. Djokovic gained momentum in the second set, pressuring Nadal’s serve and forcing him to drop a set for the first time in this event since 2006. Leading up to his match against Nadal, Djokovic defeated fellow HEAD player Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the semifinals and no. 7 Fernando Verdasco 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. Djokovic plays with HEAD’s brand new YOUTEK Speed Pro.

Wawrinka, who plays with a MicroGel Prestige MP, pulled off a huge upset beating fellow countryman and no. 2 Roger Federer 6-4, 7-5 in the third round of the Masters. He defeated Germany’s Andreas Beck 6-2, 6-4 before meeting Djokovic in the semis.

HEAD player Andy Murray faced Nadal in the semifinals, playing his best tennis ever on clay. Nadal defeated Murray in two sets 6-2, 7-6(1). In the previous round, Murray won against Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 7-6(1), 6-4. Murray plays with a MicroGel Radical MP.

In the doubles competition, HEAD pro Nenad Zimonjic won the finals with partner Daniel Nestor against No. 1 duo Bob and Mike Bryan 6-4, 6-1.

Italian HEAD player Roberta Vinci, who plays with the new MicroGel Extreme with Teflon® polymer conquered the title of Barcelona winning against No. 6 seeded Maria Kirilenko 6-0, 6-4. On her way to the finals, she could beat No. 2 seeded Flavia Pennetta 6-1, 6-2. The victory in Barcelona marked her second career title – the first one in 2009.