BNP Paribas Masters winner will win double prize
November 2, 2008
The ATP tour is currently in Paris. The BNP Paribas Masters finalists have been decided and for the winner there is an extra prize.
The final is to be played between the defending champion David Nalbandian and Australian Open finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The winner not only claims a prestiguous title they will also earn a spot in the season ending Tennis Masters event in Shanghai.
Nalbandian reached the final by defeating Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko 6-1, 5-7, 6-4. Tsonga got past James Blake 6-4, 6-3 to reach his first ATP Masters Series final. He is also the first Frenchman to make the final in Bercy since Sebastien Grosjean.
For both players it would be a good end to a mixed season if they can win the title and then go on to play at the Tennis Masters Cup. Tsonga had a great start to the season when he reaced the final of the Australian Open. After that injury got in the way. He missed much of the middle part of the season with a knee injury. After surgery he made a return at the US Open where he lost in the third round to Tommy Rebredo. He then won a title in Bangkok and reached the semis in Lyon.
Nalbandian has had mixed results, he won a title recently in Stockholm and earlier in the year in Buenos Aires. He has however not done well at the grand slam tournaments in 2008. He only managed to reach the third round at the Aussie Open and the US Open. At Roland Garros he was ousted in the second round and lost in his opening match at Wimbledon.
The Paris Masters final will be the first meeting between Nalbandian and Tsonga so it is anyones guess how the match will end up. If Tsonga plays to the best of his ability he is my pick for the title.
Earlier in the tournament Andy Roddick earned his spot in Shanghai. Roddick was defeated by Tsonga in the quarterfinals. He joins the already qualified Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Nikolay Davydenko.
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