As play at the BNP Paribas Masters officially got underway yesterday with the highlight being James Blake defeating Fabrice Santoro in his final career match, I’ll just do a quick preview of what to expect and not.
The only real drama left is who will qualify for the final two spots for the Barclays ATP Masters Finale in London. At this point, Nikolay Davydenko is a lock while Fernando Verdasco just needs to win a few rounds to squeak in. It’s possible that someone like Jo-Wilifred Tsonga, the defending champion, could get inspired on his home court, but I doubt it.
Although the European indoor swing has provided some great matches, at this point it all feels like overkill and that the boys should be wrapping things up by now. I still think that the tour should put the Asia events after the Australian Open since everyone is on that side of the world already. That way they could take a week or two off after Flushing Meadows and then start the indoor swing in mid-September and finish the year in early November. Of course some of those spring clay court events would have to go…
And don’t forget this is Marat Safin’s last professional event. He survived three match points in his first round match and now faces Juan Martin Del Potro next. As with all things Safin his post-match interview was full of candor i.e. “I didn’t practice at all last week.” and on Del Potro “he will be fighting to be number one next year.”
Ah Marat, what could have been.
Watch his interview here.
Adjusting the Net 