Rafael Nadal stands one win away from a victory double in the capital after helping Frenchman Richard Gasquet claim the last available place in the season-ending Masters Cup.
Nadal's 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Paris Masters victory on Saturday over stylish Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis boosted Gasquet into the last spot in the eight-man year-end showdown in Shanghai starting next Sunday.
Baghdatis had also been chasing the place at the season-wrapup, but needed a title victory and a Gasquet defeat in the semi-finals.
"I know I did him a big favor, but he deserves it," Baghdatis said. "He played the whole year good, he's playing big tennis. You cannot say it's luck. It's people who deserve it, I think he does."
Nadal was to line up yesterday against on-form Argentine David Nalbandian, who defeated China-bound Gasquet 6-2, 6-4 in their semi-final and proved that his Madrid indoor trophy a fortnight ago over Roger Federer was no fluke.
"I think I played incredible, perfect, almost perfect until the 5-2 in the second set. I would be playing perfect if I finished in that moment," a delighted Nalbandian said. "There is always something to improve."
Looking forward to the final, Nalbandian admitted the slow court may play into Nadal's hands.
"Here the court is a little different than Madrid. It's a little slow, and maybe a little bit better for him," he said. "But I'm playing good, with confidence. We should have a very good match tomorrow [yesterday]."
Nadal has compiled a perfect 25-0 record in the City of Light, winning the last three editions of Roland Garros on clay and showing top form at the Bercy arena in his debut career main draw appearance.
"This city is special for me," the world No. 2 said. "For me to play the final here in indoor is not easy. Paris gives me good luck right now."
The last man to do the Paris double was Andre Agassi in 1999.
The 25th-ranked Nalbandian owns a 1-0 record against Nadal after stopping the Spaniard at home in the Madrid quarter-finals.
"It was my first tournament after a month-and-a-half," Nadal said. "Nalbandian was playing very well -- it was a disaster match for me. You have one per year like that -- and this was mine."
Nadal stands second in the field for the eight-man wrap-up event in Shanghai behind Federer, both clinching places months ago.
Others who will contest for year-end honors are Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer, Fernando Gonzalez and Gasquet.
"My expectation is only to play well," Nadal said of his match with Nalbandian. "I said before this tournament, that my goal is to play well and finish the season with good feelings."
Nadal rallied after going down a set and a break against Baghdatis, leveling at a set each and breaking early in the third to insure his trip to the final.
Unseeded American Lindsay Davenport outlasted Russian second seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3 to reach the final of the WTA Bell Challenge and continue her storybook comeback on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Davenport was to square off against third seed Julia Vakulenko in yesterday's final of the US$175,000 indoor carpet tournament.
Davenport is seeking her second win in three tournaments since returning from a one-year hiatus to give birth.
She captured her 52nd career title at Bali, Indonesia.
For the 24-year-old Vakulenko this marks her first WTA final.
Davenport, who reached the semis in Beijing, is 12-1 since returning to the tour and has won 25 of 29 sets. She marked her return with a win over world No. 3 Jelena Jankovic and has seen her world rank go from No. 234 to No. 126.
A three-time Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, Davenport's win over Zvonareva was her sixth in as many matches.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and