Race to London: Verdasco back on track, Tsonga may be in danger
Spaniard Fernando Verdasco is back on track to qualify for the finals in London this month, while French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga might be out of the running for the London qualification.
The World number seven fell to ninth position in the year-to-date ATP rankings after his disappointing run in Asia. Losing his opening round matches, Verdasco exited the tournament in Bangkok, Beijing, and Shanghai. However, seeded
third in Valencia, Verdasco looks to win the title and manage a London qualification.
The 2004 champion, Verdasco lost a chance to regain the title after he lost his semi final match to Andy Murray in 2009; however, he returns in 2010 with strong resolve and high hopes to not only regain the title but to make the
final qualification cut. His 2010 debut in Valencia was against American Michael Russell, a qualifying round finalist. Although Verdasco took early blows in the first set, he bounced back to manage a 6-4 win in the first set. His form continued into the second
set as he enjoyed a comfortable win of 6-1. Verdasco will now enter the round of sixteen where he will face French Gilles Simon.
The London qualification for the Spaniard rests much on his fate in Valencia. Understanding this, the player had this to say after the match, “I have been training in Madrid for two weeks and a half, and have been recharging my
batteries in all senses. I know I have to do a very good job to go to London”.
Other than the bad run in Asia, 2010 has been a good year for the Spaniard over all. Even though he fell to number twelve earlier in the year, Verdasco managed to re-enter the top ten after he finished up as the runner up in Monte
Carlo and then won the title the following week in Barcelona. He won another title at San Jose whereas he made another final run in Nice. Recovering from the Asian run, Verdasco hopes for another final run and a title win here at Valencia.
As Verdasco is back on track for the London qualification, it seems that French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga may be out of running for the finals this year. World number thirteen, Tsonga needed a win at Valencia and Paris to make it comfortably
to the finals; however, due to pain in his left knee Tsonga had to pull out of the event. Replacing him is lucky loser, Marcel Granollers.
Having made it as far as quarterfinals and semi finals this year, Tsonga has no title wins to his name this season. However, he has maintained his year-to-date ranking at 12 and was still in the running for the London qualification.
Now that he has pulled out of Valencia, a Paris win is a must for Tsonga if he is to make it to the finals.
Tsonga’s withdrawal from Valenica may prove to be advantageous to Nicolas Almagro who lags behind Tsonga in the YTD ATP rankings. Having won the title in 2006 and then in 2007, Almagro looks to win his third title at Valencia which
might bump him up in the London race.
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