Paris, Oct 29: Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand advanced yesterday to the third round of the Paris Masters at the Bercy Indoor Arena with a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 victory over Slovakian Karol Beck.
Paradorn, the tournament no. 8 seed and a semifinalist last year, now faces Morocco's Hicham Arazi. Arazi beat countryman and no. 12 seed Younes el Aynaoui, who abandoned the match due to a heel injury when leading 4-6 6-3 2-1.
In a first-round match yesterday, Russian Mikhail Youzhny beat Feliciano Lopez of Spain by 7-6 (7/4) 6-3.
Paradorn, who last year beat both Ferrero and Roddick on his way to the Paris Masters semis, must now win it outright to secure the last remaining spot for the Masters Cup in Houston, Texas, between Nov. 8-16. He currently stands 11th in the champions race.
"It would be really nice to have an Asian player in Houston for the Masters Cup," Paradorn said. "If it happens it's great for Asian tennis."



"It's great because not too many Asians break through to this level," he added. "When I was young I looked up to Michael Chang. It's nice that people in my country are looking up to me now."


Bureau Report