Help
10/29/08 12:08 PM | David Cox
Paris is one of the few Masters Series titles that Rafael Nadal is yet to claim so far. Having just come up short in Madrid a fortnight ago, the world No. 1 has a good chance of adding another illustrious crown to his list this week.
Florent Serra is unlikely to prove too much of an obstacle, if past matches are anything to go by. Serra has been top 40 in the world, but on the two occasions he's faced the Mallorcan this year, he's received a bit of a mauling. It was 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 at the start of the year under the baking Melbourne sun and then Serra just avoided the dreaded double-bagel in Cincinnati this summer, ending up with just one game.
Serra gave the home fans something to cheer about yesterday with a first-round win over Guillermo Canas, coming through 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in just over two hours. He did squander nine of 12 break points, though, and if he's to test Nadal he'll need to play the big points better than that.
Last year Nadal made the Paris final, sweeping past Stanislas Wawrinka and Mikhail Youzhny, then grinding down Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semis. However, he came up against an inspired David Nalbandian in the final. The Argentine's backhand was on fire as he blasted to victory 6-4,6-0. It was actually Nadal's debut in the final ATP of the year having missed out the previous three years having been either injured or burnt out.
Prediction: Serra to get a few more games than in Cincinnati, but Nadal in 2.
Tell a friend »
Did you know that... Joachim Johansson and Ivo Karlovic shares the record of most aces (51) in a match.
RafaNadalGirl20, Jan 8, 2009 7:16 PM
ravikiran, Jan 8, 2009 7:14 PM
HansGunnar, Jan 8, 2009 3:22 PM
homos, Jan 8, 2009 12:22 PM
homos, Jan 8, 2009 12:18 PM
torres9, Jan 8, 2009 5:40 PM
homos, Jan 8, 2009 1:25 PM
RocketQueen, Jan 7, 2009 3:06 AM
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.3.0
BNP Paribas Masters