2010 BNP Paribas Masters: Preview of Wednesday’s afternoon session
The third seed Andy Murray will square off former world number three David Nalbandian for the third match of the day at 2010 BNP Paribas Masters Men’s singles tournament on Wednesday. Nalbandian overpowered the Scott in their opening two clashes on the tour
however in their final meeting in Toronto back in August; Murray triumphed in two sets on his way to successfully defend his title in the end. The final match score was 6-2, 6-2.
The 23-year-old Murray is playing in Paris on the fifth occasion in a row. His best results here are back to back final eight showings in 2007 and 2008. The Scott also advanced into the third round in his debut appearance back in 2006 as well as last year.
Murray has so far won a total of two titles this season in Toronto and Shanghai after getting the better of world number two Roger Federer on both occasions. World number four also made his way into the finals in Australian Open and Los Angeles in 2010.
He is coming off his first career ATP World Tour doubles crown in Valencia where he won the trophy along with his brother Andy Jamie last week. In singles, the right hander however couldn’t go beyond the round two as he fell to Juan Monaco in a three setter
clash there.
Murray, who owns a win loss mark of 42-15 on the season, is one of the five contenders to qualify for the year ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London.
The second highest ranked player from Argentina Nalbandian, on the other hand, enters with a career record of 12-3 in Paris, capturing the crown here back in 2007. He also made his way into the final a year later however was toppled by Tsonga in straight
sets.
The former world number three started off his tournament’s campaign with a two setter win over Marcel Grabollers on Tuesday. The final match score was 6-3, 6-1. He posted his best result of the season by winning the title in Washington, beating Marcos Baghdatis
in the final.
His other notable performances in 2010 include four quarter final showings in Buenos Aires, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Toronto and Basel. Nalbandian enjoys a match record of 28-9 on the year.
Fourth up is the sixteenth seed John Isner from United States of America versus Michael Llorda. Their only previous clash came last week in the opening round at Basel, where the American triumphed in three sets. The final match score was 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Isner, 25, made his debut here back in 2009 and couldn’t go beyond the second round as he was bundled out of the event by world number eleven Fernando Gonzalez in two sets. The final score line was 7-5, 7-6(3).
The Tampa resident has so far won just a single crown this season in Auckland where he got the better of Clement in the title battle. Isner also reached the finals in Memphis, Belgrade, Atlanta and semi finals in Beijing and Montpellier. He enjoys a lifetime
mark of 4-13 against the top ten players on the tour.
The left handed Llorda, on the other hand, enters with a win loss record of 26-20 on the season. His best results have been his fourth and fifth career singles titles at Marseille and Eastbourne earlier in 2010. The fourth highest ranked player from France,
who achieved his career high ranking of world number 28 last month, is currently ranked number 34 on the South African Airways ATP list.
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