CHINA TOPIX

11/22/2024 02:42:09 am

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Paribas Masters: Tommy Robredo Continues Successful Stint in Valencia, Meets Kei Nishikori in Second Round

Kei Nishikori hopes to clinch a spot at the ATP World Tour Finals as he competes at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris

(Photo : livetennis.com)

After a successful stint in Spain, Valencia Open 500 finalist Tommy Robredo won his opening match against Vasek Pospisil and will meet sixth seeded Kei Nishikori in the second round of the BNP Paribas Master in Paris on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old Spaniard recently made headlines after giving Erste Bank Open champion Andy Murray a double "middle finger" after their three hour finals battle in Valencia. The two also met at the finals of the Shenzhen Open in China where Murray also won in a three-setter.

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Robredo got a head start against Pospisil as he broke the Canadian twice to take the first set but Pospisil made adjustments to his serves in the second set, delivering 90 percent, and took charge to level the match at 1-all.

In the third and deciding set, both players exchanged breaks mid-way and found themselves in going into overtime as Robredo edged out Pospisil to win the match 6-3 4-6 7(7)-6(5) that lasted two hours and 10 minutes.

Next up for the tireless Robredo is Nishikori who is no stranger when it comes to long matches and will see action for the first time since the Japanese bowed out early this month at the Shanghai Rolex Masters.

Nishikori stands to be the first Asian to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals to be held in London. He currently stands in 6th place in the eight-man short list and has a good chance of qualifying even though he didn't participate in two ATP tournaments after Shanghai.

With nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal out because of appendectomy and recent U.S. Open winner Marin Cilic unsure of participating in the prestigious event due to an arm injury, his spot at the season-ending tournament is almost assured so as long as Milos Raonic or Grigor Dimitrov doesn't reach the finals.

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