Around The Corner: Paris Masters

By Mike McIntyre

The final ATP World Tour event that those outside of the top eight players in the world can enter is about to begin in Paris, France. It just so happens it is a Masters 1000 tournament so you'll have one last chance to cheer for your favorite player in all likelihood.

World number one and the most dominant force on tour this year, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn due to undisclosed injury issues. I would expect him to be ready for the tour finale in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, Roger Federer assumes the number one seed in Paris and has a relatively good draw, although he will be challenged from the get-go with a likely second round encounter with Richard Gasquet.

Roger has Andy Murray in his half of the draw and given their head-to-head results of late you would have to give the edge to Murray should they meet here in Paris. While Roger has owned all of the major battles between these two during Grand Slam competition, Murray has a stark advantage in all other events where he leads 8-3.

On the other side of the draw, defending champion Novak Djokovic is the second seed and will open against either Sam Querrey or Juan Monaco after his first round bye. He could potentially face big serving John Isner next and then perhaps Tomas Berdych. No walk in the park for Novak.

Robin Soderling the fourth seed could see Andy Roddick in the quarter finals of that side of the draw in what would be an entertaining match. Look out for Mikhail Youzhny in that section as well who has played well since late-summer.

Other names who could make a splash this week include Gael Monfils or veteran Ivan Ljubicic who has had quite the year in 2010.

While in many ways it will be sad to close the book on another year of fantastic tennis achievements I'm sure many of you, like the players, are ready for a short and deserved break.

The ATP World Tour Finals from London take place starting November 21st and then there is the Davis Cup wrapping-up in early December.

With Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, Murray and Soderling already qualified for the Finals, there are still three spots to be claimed for the year-end event.

I'm going with Youzhny, Roddick and Berdych to round out the final eight. How about you?

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