Paris, Oct 29: 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 8th and final spot are Argentina's David Nalbandian, Australia's Mark Philippoussis and Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. All are scheduled to play second-round matches today.
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.
However, either Wimbledon semifinalist Philippoussis, in 9th place, or Grosjean, in 10th, could overtake him if they win in Paris on Sunday.
French Open champion and no. 1 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain was due to begin his bid for a third Masters title in 2003 when he faced second-round opponent Nicolas Mahut of France yesterday.



Andy Roddick, the US Open champion was scheduled to follow Ferrero on Center Court with a second-round clash against Romania's Victor Hanescu. Ferrero, Roddick and the other 14 seeded players got first-round byes.


Bureau Report