Hot and Happenings of the Paris Masters tennis tournament 2010
The twenty-eight years old, Spaniard David Ferrer exited the tournament in the third round after losing to Austrian Jurgen Melzer. Despite his loss, he secured a qualification for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals after top most contender and compatriot Fernando Verdasco was put out of the running following his defeat to Gael Monfils.
Seeded sixth in the tournament, Ferrer came into the event fresh from a title win at Valencia. Although the professional has played less matches this season, he has maintained a position for himself in the year-to-date ATP ranking’s top ten. Content with his performance the Spaniard hopes for a better finish at the London finals. This was the Spaniard’s second qualification having made it to the finals in 2007 also. Ferrer enjoyed a final run that year passing over names like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick. He eventually lost the final to the Swiss maestro Roger Federer.
Although Ferrer comes into Paris fresh from a title win, it seems his Valencia “form” was left behind. He was forced to exit the tournament after he drew against eleventh seed Melzer. World number twelve Melzer also came into the event with a recent title win, having won the home title at Vienna. In a three setter that ensued, both professionals entertained the crowd thoroughly with a classic display of tennis though the Austrian eventually emerged as the victor. Ferrer showed some resistance taking the first set into tiebreaker (though he lost the tiebreaker) and winning the second set. However, the Austrian showed he was just plain better or luckier winning the tiebreaker and the third set.
The Spaniard brushed aside the event exit having received the London qualification earlier in the day. While talking to the press he said, "It is great to qualify again. Last year I was watching the final on TV. I am so happy to be playing in London this year."
Joining Ferrer for the London finals as result of the Monfils-Verdasco match are American Andy Roddick and Czech Tomas Berdych. Roddick exited the tournament after losing his quarterfinal match to eventual champion Swede Robin Soderling. Berdych had an even shorter run in the event, leaving in the third round after losing to Russian Nikolay Davydenko.
“Underdog” Michael Llodra caused much excitement amongst French tennis fans after upsetting defending champion Serb Novak Djokovic. The rising local enjoyed a straight, though not so simple, set win over the Serb marvel. In an eventful match between the two, Llodra outplayed the Serb winning the match 7-6(6), 6-2.
After the match, Novak Djokovic expressed his thoughts in a very relaxed mood and told the media that he is satisfied with his performance. The Serb paid tribute to Llodra saying that he played a wonderful game and that it was a well-deserved victory for Llodra. Djokovic continued and said that it was very good game and he did not play bad at all, but the French exhibited a better game than he did. He went on to add that Llodra served brilliantly in the match and did not give up any chances to win the match.
Another surprising upset in the tournament came with the exit of Federer. Gaining top seed in the event after the retirement of Nadal, Federer was very well on his way to winning his first ever title at Bercy. He entered the semis with a no set loss record. However, as the Fates would have it his luck from the previous Masters 1000 events caught up with him. With the exception of a title win at Cincinnati, Federer has failed to win a title at all the other Masters.
The event drew to a close after Soderling lifted his maiden Masters title on Sunday. This was the Swede’s third final run in Paris and the first at Bercy. He made it to the final at Roland Garros twice before, once in 2009 and then in 2010.
If not anything else, the BNP Paribas Masters was surely an eventful and happening event.
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