The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Nadal does Gasquet a favour

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Sunday, Nov 04, 2007
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Nadal does Gasquet a favour

Paris: Rafael Nadal played kingmaker for the Masters Cup as he knocked Marcos Baghdatis out of contention for the final spot in the year-end field with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Paris Masters win on Saturday. As a result, Frenchman Richard Gasquet will be going to Shanghai for the eight-man event starting next Sunday.

The Spanish second seed, who booked his place to the eight-man playoffs weeks ago, kept Baghdatis from a late run to glory. Nadal remains untouchable in Paris, improving his record to 25-0 in the city after three Roland Garros trophies and four wins indoors at Bercy as he played here for the first time in the main draw.

Baghadatis missed out on his minor miracle. The Cypriot would have needed a win on Saturday plus a loss by Gasquet later against David Nalbandian in the second semifinal. Baghdatis would have also had to beat the in-form Argentine in Sunday’s final.

Seven of the spots in Shanghai were clinched by Friday, with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez taking number seven and joining Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and David Ferrer.

Nadal had beaten Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-4, 6-2 to reach the semifinals.

Tough match

Nalbandian needed nearly three hours to subdue fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

The Argentine has already been eliminated from Masters Cup contention, but remained on course for a second straight Masters title with his victory over Ferrer.

Nalbandian won the first set tiebreaker after Ferrer had saved two set points but then hit a forehand long.

Ferrer levelled the match with a smash at the net after a weak return from Nalbandian.

The turning point came in the second game of the deciding set. Nalbandian broke Ferrer’s opening service game, then saved two break points to lead 2-0.

That prompted Ferrer to throw his racket to the ground in frustration and Nalbandian speedily closed out the match.

Zvonareva moves up

In the WTA Bell Challenge, three-time Grand Slam winner Lindsay Davenport continued to impress in her comeback by beating France’s Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals at Quebec City on Friday.

The 31-year-old unseeded American advanced to the semifinals where she will face Russian Vera Zvonareva, who rolled over countrywoman Olga Poutchkova 6-2, 6-1.

The results: Paris Masters: Semifinals: Rafael Nadal bt Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Quarterfinals: Richard Gasquet bt Andy Murray 6-3, 0-6, 6-4; Rafael Nadal bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 6-2; David Nalbandian bt David Ferrer 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-2.

WTA Bell Challenge: Quarterfinals: Julia Vakulenko bt Olga Govortsova 6-3, 6-2; Vera Zvonareva bt Olga Poutchkova 6-2, 6-1; Julie Ditty bt Vania King 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Lindsay Davenport bt Stephanie Foretz 6-4, 6-0. — Agencies

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