BNP Paribas Masters; Top six most entertaining clashes on Wednesday – Part one
Will France continue to rock? Unveiled in Paris this week is the final Masters tournament of 2010 before the season-ending finale, which is set to start later this month in London.
Some of the contenders are still hoping to make their way into the elite eight-man field. One of them is Fernando Verdasco who must reach the final-four round in Paris in order to grab a spot in London.
Jurgen Melzer has the toughest task to do off all, as the right-hander must win this Masters tournament if he wants to play along with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling in London.
On the third day at the BNP Paribas Masters, the biggest names in the main draw were in action on the very first occasion. Several of the clashes on Wednesday offered interesting and even inspiring performances by the highest seeds.
Therefore, Bettor.com takes a look at the top six most entertaining clashes at the BNP Paribas Masters on Wednesday.
1. Roger Federer versus Richard Gasquet
The Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer faced local favourite Richard Gasquet in the opening match of the evening session on Wednesday.
The top seed, who is currently ranked number two in the South African Airways ATP list, broke his French opponent early during Richard’s first service game. Then the Swiss held on to take the first set as he never allowed the Frenchman
to bounce back in the game.
In the decisive set, the 29-year-old continued to play well as he broke Richard during the first game. That single break of serve was again all the Fed Express required. Richard never secured a break point on Roger’s serve during
the entire battle and as a result, the Swiss sealed win in the end. The final score line was 6-4, 6-4.
As far as Richard is concerned, he did not play a bad match; however, he was simply helpless versus the Swiss.
It was indeed a quality display of tennis by Roger Federer in his first clash of the championship.
The PNB Paribas Masters in Paris is one of the few events where the Swiss has not gone beyond the quarterfinal round. So will he be able to surpass that level this time?
2. Novak Djokovic versus Juan Monaco
Last year’s winner, Novak Djokovic took the court on Wednesday versus a player he has toppled often during this competition in Paris, Juan Monaco of Argentina. World number three Djokovic did not start the match ideally, as he
looked slow while returning the ball on several occasions.
Juan, relishing the pace of the surface, took the ball early, rushing the Serbian into countless errors.
In fact, the professional tennis ace from Argentina, who regained his career high ranking of world number one after ending as runner up at the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York, held eight break points
versus his second seed opponent on Wednesday. However, Juan was just able to break Novak’s serve on a single occasion.
Djokovic, on the other hand, broke his opponent’s serve during three of four break point opportunities he faced. The right-hander Serbian also blasted eight aces to Juan’s one.
It was not a sterling clash for the defending champion; however, the Serb won 6-4, 6-3, mainly because his foe could not take the next step.
Djokovic, as a result of this victory, will next take on Michael Llodra who played magnificently on Wednesday in getting the better of John Isner.
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