Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Saturday, 2 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
mirrored the same men heading to London next week for the World Tour Finals.
World number one Nadal made the ATP points system look true to form after his 7-5, 6-4 victory over last year’s runner-up Jerzy Janowicz completed the line-up in the last match of the day.
The Spaniard, who is also looking for a record sixth Masters title in the same season, joins Djokovic, David Ferrer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Tomas Berdych, Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet in the Paris quarter-finals and in the London shake-up.
Wawrinka and Gasquet claimed the final two World Tour Finals places after Canadian Milos Raonic saw his chances go up in smoke in a tough defeat at the hands of Berdych.
Nadal endured a ferocious serving onslaught from Wimbledon semi-finalist Janowicz before finally taming the 22-year-old, who was trying to become the first Polish player since Wojtek Fibak in 1980 to break into the year-ending top 20.
Difficult serves
A first set of the highest quality swung at 5-5 with Janowicz serving and a game of numerous deuces that finally went Nadal’s way for the first break of the match.
The Mallorca left-hander then held to close out the set after solving the Pole’s thunderbolt serve and paving the way for a straight sets victory.
“It was very difficult to deal with his serve but I was able to get the win and I’m very, very happy,” said Nadal, the French Open and US Open champion, who will tackle Gasquet for a semi-final spot.
“Tomorrow, I’m playing against my friend (Gasquet) and it’s going to be a great match but I’m really happy for him that he made it to the World Tour Finals,” said Nadal, whose best performance at the Paris Masters was losing the 2007 final against Argentina’s David Nalbandian.
Second seed Djokovic overcame American John Isner 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-2 while Federer, the fifth seed, outclassed Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany, 6-3, 6-4.
Swiss seventh seed Wawrinka beat Spain’s Nicolas Almagro, 6-3, 6-2, and his place in the London field was later secured when Czech sixth seed Berdych defeated Raonic, 7-6 (15/13), 6-4.
Raonic’s defeat also meant Gasquet was assured of the last available London place even before the Frenchman had defeated Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-2.
It will be Gasquet’s second appearance at the World Tour Finals after his maiden appearance in 2007.
Best season in career
Djokovic, who won in Paris in 2009 and is chasing a 40th ATP title and also the world number one spot, next meets Wawrinka, whom he defeated in epic five-set marathons at the Australian Open and US Open this year.
“It is a big challenge for me and Wawrinka,” said Djokovic, who also has the Davis Cup final to consider on 15 November.
“He has been enjoying probably the best season in his career and he has one of the best one-handed backhands in the world.”
Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam title winner, celebrated his place at the Finals in London with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Kohlschreiber.
He now meets Argentine Del Potro who defeated rising Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a high quality match on court one.
On Del Potro, against whom he lost in the Basel final last weekend, the 32-year-old Federer said: “It’s an important match for both of us and also looking ahead to London where we could meet. It could give one of us an advantage for London so it’s a key match.
“I like to play him; he’s one of the best indoor players on the Tour.”
Ferrer, the third-seeded defending champion, showed little mercy against Frenchman Gilles Simon.
His 6-2, 6-3 win allowed him to stay in the hunt for a third ATP title this season following Auckland and Buenos Aires.
His title defence continues on Friday with a last-eight tie against sixth seed Berdych.
