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 Richard Gasquet (pictured) claimed the final spot in the elite-player Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai on Saturday. The 21-year-old will be the first Frenchman to compete at circuit-finale since Sebastien Grosjean reached the 2001 final in Sydney, Australia (l. to Hewitt).
Gasquet qualified after World No. 2 Rafael Nadal blocked the run of Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, No. 14 in the ATP 2007 Race, in the BNP Paribas Masters semifinals. Baghdatis had needed to win the Paris title and hope that Gasquet did not reach the final in order to secure his invitation.
Gasquet had started the week at No. 13 in the ATP 2007 Race to Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. By reaching the BNP Paribas Masters semifinals, where he lost to David Nalbandian, he has risen five places to No. 8.
On Friday, Fernando Gonzalez became the first Chilean since Marcelo Rios in 1998 to directly qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup following Rafael Nadal’s victory over Mikhail Youzhny in quarterfinal action in Paris. Read More
Nalbandian, who captured the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup title, rose to No. 9 in the ATP 2007 Race by winning the Paris title.
Gasquet joins reigning Tennis Masters Cup champion Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer and Fernando Gonzalez in the Shanghai field. Below is a chart of the ATP 2007 Race UPDATED throughout the day on Saturday, November 3, showing how many points the respective Shanghai contenders have added this week.
On the Bubble - Tennis Masters Cup Contenders
(Updated ATP 2007 Race Position. Saturday's winners in BOLD)
| Pos./Player |
Points |
Pts. This
Week |
Paris Status |
| 8th/R. Gasquet |
366 |
45 |
Lost to Nalbandian in SFs |
| 9th/D Nalbandian |
355 |
100 |
Defeated Nadal in final |
| 10th/T. Robredo |
353 |
25 |
Lost to Baghdatis in QFs |
| 11th/A. Murray |
351 |
25 |
Lost to Gasquet in QFs |
| 12th/T. Haas |
344 |
15 |
Lost to Youzhny in 3rd Rd. |
| 13th/J. Blake |
342 |
15 |
Lost to Gasquet in 3rd Rd. |
| 14th/T. Berdych |
337 |
15 |
Lost to Ferrer in 3rd Rd. |
| 15th/M. Baghdatis |
320 |
45 |
Lost to Nadal in SFs |
| 16th/C. Moya |
317 |
1 |
Lost to Nalbandian in 2nd Rd. |
| 17th/I. Ljubicic |
316 |
1 |
Lost to Baghdatis in 2nd Rd. |
| 18th/G. Canas |
314 |
15 |
Lost to Robredo in 3rd Rd. |
| 19th/M. Youzhny |
314 |
25 |
Lost to Nadal in QFs |
| 20th/J.I. Chela |
285 |
1 |
Lost to Wawrinka in 2nd Rd. |
| 21st/L. Hewitt |
273 |
0 |
not playing |
| 22nd/I Karlovic |
272 |
7 |
Lost to Federer in 2nd Rd. |
| 23rd/J. Monaco |
270 |
1 |
Lost to Nieminen in 1st Rd. |
| 24th/J.C. Ferrero |
268 |
1 |
Lost to Baghdatis in 1st Rd. |
| 25th/P-H Mathieu |
264 |
1 |
Lost to Ancic in 1st Rd. |
Note: This week at the BNP Paribas Masters, a player will add all points earned because it is a 'mandatory event' that must count towards his points total.
| ATP Race Points |
W |
F |
SF |
QF |
Rd. 16 |
Rd. 32 |
Rd. 48 |
| Paris |
100 |
70 |
45 |
25 |
15 |
7 |
1 |
How Does the ATP 2007 Race Work?
A player's ATP Race points total comprises points earned at 13 'mandatory' events - the four Grand Slams and nine ATP Masters Series - plus points earned at his best five performances at all other ATP tournaments (International Series events). If a player plays eight International Series events, he counts his best five International Series results only. His other three inferior results do not count towards his ATP Race total.
Last week Andy Murray earned 50 points by winning the St. Petersburg title, but added just 45 points because he can no longer count the five points he earned by reaching the Moscow second round. (That result slips to become his 19th best result of the year, and as such, no longer counts in his 'Best 18' points total.)
However, in Paris this week, because the BNP Paribas Masters is a 'mandatory event,' a player will add all the points he earns.
Full ATP 2007 Race
Official Tennis Masters Cup Web Site
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