Paris Masters Open Thread

Getty

French Sebastien Grosjean jumps to smash a ball against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic during their ATP Paris Indoor Master Tournament tennis match on November 9, 2009 at the Palais Omnisport de Bercy in Paris.

MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER, 2009

Singles - First Round
[Q] L Kubot (POL) d A Beck (GER) 64 36 64
A Seppi (ITA) d P Kohlschreiber (GER) 63 63
V Troicki (SRB) d P Mathieu (FRA) 76(4) 30 ret. (right calf)
J Isner (USA) d [Q] A Falla (COL) 46 76(10) 75 - saved 3 M.P.
[WC] M Safin (RUS) d [Q] T Ascione (FRA) 64 46 76(3) - saved 3 M.P.
I Karlovic (CRO) d P Cuevas (URU) 76(3) 64
A Montanes (ESP) d V Hanescu (ROU) 36 63 76(3)
I Ljubicic (CRO) d [WC] S Grosjean (FRA) 76(2) 64
T Berdych (CZE) d [Q] V Millot (FRA) 63 76(4)

Doubles - First Round
[WC] A Clement (FRA) / M Llodra (FRA) d J Levinsky (CZE) / F Polasek (SVK) 36 61 10-4
S Aspelin (SWE) / P Hanley (AUS) d J Chardy (FRA) / G Simon (FRA) 64 36 10-7
J Benneteau (FRA) / J Tsonga (FRA) d J Coetzee (RSA) / M Melo (BRA) 63 64


Getty

French national football team captain Thierry Henry (L) and a team mate attend the Paris Bercy Indoor Masters ATP tennis tournament, on November 9, 2009 in Paris.

::


Getty

French Gunther Low, 'air guitar' world champion, performs before the start of the ATP Paris Indoor Master Tournament first round tennis match, on November 8, 2009.

::

Even though it's way late on the ATP calendar, this has been one of my favorite tournaments over the years. Fast indoor carpet. (Oops. That was changed to a hard court recently.) Enthusiastic fans. Nightclub/rock concert atmosphere. Some great mini-classics contested over the years.

The Top 4 are entered and, if there are no last-minute withdrawals, all can face some trouble before the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal has drawn defending championg Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarters, but may have to face nemesis Tomas Berdych in the third round. Roger Federer won't be troubled by Fernando Verdasco in the quarters, but he could get all he can handle from Gael Monfils in the third round. Will be interested to see how he recovers from losing his home crown to Novak Djokovic, who could have a challenge from Feliciano Lopez in the third round, before facing Nikolay Davydenko in the quarters. Andy Murray draw the toughest quarter and could cruise or lose at any point before facing Juan Martín del Potro in the quarters.

It should be interesting to see which top players still have the physical and mental drive to stand tall on Sunday, or will a new champion be crowned?