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Robredo races into third round of Paris Masters
Paris, Oct 30: No. 16 seed Tommy Robredo beat Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 7-5 6-3 while 10th-seeded Nicolas Massu of Chile downed former French Open champion Albert Costa 3-6 6-1 7-5.
Paris, Oct 30: No. 16 seed Tommy Robredo beat Gaston Gaudio of Argentina 7-5 6-3 while 10th-seeded Nicolas Massu of Chile downed former French Open champion Albert Costa 3-6 6-1 7-5.
In another second round match, eighth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand topped Karol Beck of Slovakia 7-6 (4) 6-3.
Paradorn, a semifinalist last year, now faces Hicham Arazi of Morocco. Arazi beat 12th-seeded countryman Younes el Aynaoui, who abandoned the match with a heel injury when leading 4-6 6-3 2-1.
Also, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden advanced in remaining first-round matches played Tuesday. Three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil ousted big-serving American Mardy Fish 6-4 7-6 (2). Kuerten faces another renowned server in the second round - ninth-seeded Mark Philippoussis of Australia.
The crowd-pleasing Kuerten had the weaker serve but took the edge in aces: 16 to Fish's 13. The American double-faulted 9 times, including on match point.
The Paris Masters is crucial for the ATP champions race, where players collect points to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup - a season-end tournament featuring the best eight players of the year.
Also battling for the eighth and final spot are David Nalbandian of Argentina, Philippoussis and Sebastien Grosjean of France. All were scheduled to play second-round matches Wednesday.
Nalbandian, who is fighting to be fit after sustaining a wrist injury last Sunday, holds the no. 8 spot. He would be guaranteed qualification for the Masters Cup with a semifinal spot at Bercy.
Bureau Report
Paradorn, a semifinalist last year, now faces Hicham Arazi of Morocco. Arazi beat 12th-seeded countryman Younes el Aynaoui, who abandoned the match with a heel injury when leading 4-6 6-3 2-1.
Also, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia and Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden advanced in remaining first-round matches played Tuesday. Three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil ousted big-serving American Mardy Fish 6-4 7-6 (2). Kuerten faces another renowned server in the second round - ninth-seeded Mark Philippoussis of Australia.
The crowd-pleasing Kuerten had the weaker serve but took the edge in aces: 16 to Fish's 13. The American double-faulted 9 times, including on match point.
The Paris Masters is crucial for the ATP champions race, where players collect points to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup - a season-end tournament featuring the best eight players of the year.
Also battling for the eighth and final spot are David Nalbandian of Argentina, Philippoussis and Sebastien Grosjean of France. All were scheduled to play second-round matches Wednesday.
Nalbandian, who is fighting to be fit after sustaining a wrist injury last Sunday, holds the no. 8 spot. He would be guaranteed qualification for the Masters Cup with a semifinal spot at Bercy.
Bureau Report