Christian Bîmes félicite

Amélie Mauresmo et Mary Pierce

Au nom de la Fédération Française de Tennis, le Président Christian Bîmes a adressé ses félicitations à Amélie Mauresmo et à Mary Pierce « pour la magnifique image qu'elles ont donnée du tennis français et du sport en général en accédant, à Los Angeles, à la finale du Masters féminin qui, pour la première fois dans l'histoire de cette compétition, a opposé deux championnes françaises. »

Grâce à cette performance inédite, Amélie Mauresmo et Mary Pierce terminent l'année aux troisième et quatrième rangs du classement mondial. Le Président de la FFT a donc salué « le retour au plus haut niveau de Mary Pierce en 2005 ainsi que la remarquable saison d'Amélie Mauresmo, qui remporte le Masters après avoir disputé des matches d'une qualité exceptionnelle contre les meilleures joueuses mondiales.

Ces résultats de tout premier plan nous permettent d'espérer prochainement de nouvelles victoires dans les tournois du Grand Chelem. » Enfin, à l'heure du bilan de la saison pour le tennis français, Christian Bîmes a conclu que « ce nouvel exploit de nos joueuses conjugué à la participation de la France à la finale de la Fed Cup pour la troisième année consécutive et à la magnifique saison de Richard Gasquet, de Gaël Monfils ainsi que de la paire Michaël Llodra - Fabrice Santoro, qui dispute actuellement le Masters masculin à Shanghai, témoigne du rang du tennis français au plan mondial.

Ces succès et ces joies confortent notre fédération dans la voie qu'elle s'est fixée depuis plusieurs années. »

14/11/2005

Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors
November 8-13, 2005


Singles – Final
(4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (5) Mary Pierce (FRA) 57 76(3) 64 (3:06)

Doubles – Final
(2) Raymond/Stosur (USA/AUS) d. (1) Black/Stubbs (ZIM/AUS) 67(5) 75 64 (2:07)

Finals Facts

• In the first all-French Tour Championships final, Mauresmo becomes the first French winner of the Tour Championships title, collecting her 19th singles title in her 36th career final; it is the Frenchwoman’s fourth title of 2005 (also Antwerp, Rome, Philadelphia); Mauresmo was also runner-up in this event in 2003 (l. to Kim Clijsters)
• Like Mauresmo, Pierce was also a former runner-up, losing to Jana Novotna in 1997; the 30-year-old Pierce was appearing in her fifth singles final of 2005, having won San Diego and Moscow and finishing runner-up at Roland Garros and the US Open
• Mauresmo improves to 5-4 lifetime vs. Pierce, having lost to her compatriot only two days earlier in the round robin phase of this event
• Mauresmo was making her fifth appearance in the Tour Championships while Pierce was making her seventh, but first since 1999
• Mauresmo will finish 2005 ranked No.3 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings, behind No.1 Lindsay Davenport and No.2 Maria Sharapova; it is Mauresmo’s second consecutive Top 3 year-end ranking (No.2 last year); last year’s Tour Championships winner Maria Sharapova will finish No.4, while Pierce will finish at No.5, her fourth No.5 year-end ranking (seventh Top 10 finish) and first Top 5 finish since 1999
• Serving for the match at 5-4 third set, Mauresmo fell to 0-40, but won five straight points to secure victory
• Total points won: Mauresmo – 124; Pierce – 122
• Pierce hit 55 winners (49 errors) to Mauresmo’s 44 (25 errors)
• By winning the title and earning $1 million, Mauresmo becomes the 15th woman to pass the $9-million mark in career prize money; Pierce earns $500,000 for finishing runner-up
• US Open champions Raymond/Stosur win the doubles title in their debut as a team in the Tour Championships; it is Raymond’s second Tour Championships doubles title (2001 w/Stubbs) and 50th career doubles title (sixth of 2005); Stosur, who was making her Championships debut, now owns seven doubles titles (all won in 2005)
• By winning the title, Stosur will finish 2005 ranked No.2 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Doubles Rankings, while Raymond will finish No.3; by reaching the final, Black secured the year-end No.1 ranking; Stubbs will finish at No.5, one spot below Spain’s Virginia Ruano Pascual
• Black/Stubbs served for the match at 5-3 second set before Raymond/Stosur won four consecutive games to force a deciding set; Black is now a four-time runner-up in this event (2001 and 2002 w/Elena Likhovtseva, 2004 w/Stubbs)
• Total points won: Raymond/Stosur – 113; Black/Stubbs – 111
• The 2006 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships will be held in Madrid, Spain

Quotes
Amelie Mauresmo, 2005 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships singles winner:
“I had to wait so long for this. It felt great on the court. And it still feels great now. And you know, also the way we both played today makes it even better and the way I have been playing the whole week. So it is just a great reward for me to be able to hold the trophy at the end of this week and really couldn't be any better end that I could expect.”

“I am just so proud of what I did today and especially the way the match was and the way I hung in there and the way I just kept fighting. Even though (I had) some breaks up and she came back and (I) didn't say a word and hung there. So it makes me very proud.”

“I really think it is a huge step for me definitely. I mean, I don't know where it is going to take me. But it is a step. And usually when you pass something like that, you really realize that.”

Mary Pierce, singles runner-up:
“Any loss is tough especially in the finals, especially in a close match, especially when you feel like you had opportunities. What can I say? I just did everything I feel in my power the best that I could today. I don't think it is my best tennis. Definitely, I could play better. But it was the best I could do today, and it wasn't meant to be. There is a reason for that. I believe it will motivate me a little more in the off-reason, make me a little hungrier. And maybe if I won, who knows?

“And I think this week is going to show me as well. That is the only match I lost, and it was a tough-fought one. And it kind of happened I have either won the tournament or lost to the winner. These are great signs for me. If I can consistently do it over a year, I would like to see where I can be at the end of the year. The goal of mine is to be No.1; I think it’s possible. Whether it happens, I don't know. But definitely this week has given me a lot of confidence to be in the top. I have beaten Kim, Elena, and Amelie, so it’s definitely going to motivate me for next year.”

13/11/2005
Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors


Singles - Semifinals
(5) Mary Pierce (FRA) d. (1) Lindsay Davenport (USA) 76(5) 76(6)
(4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 76(1) 63

Doubles - Semifinals
(1) Black/Stubbs (ZIM/AUS) d. Likhovtseva/Zvonareva (RUS/RUS) 64 76(4)
(2) Raymond/Stosur (USA/AUS) d. Martinez/Ruano Pascual (ESP/ESP) 75 57 63

Order of Play -

Sunday, November 13, 2005
STAPLES Center (from 15.00hrs)
1. Singles Final: Pierce vs. Mauresmo
2. Doubles Final: Black/Stubbs vs. Raymond/Stosur (NB 17.00hrs)

12/11/2005 TENNIS MASTERS CUP SHANGHAI 

Qi Zhong Tennis Stadium November 13-20, 2005
8 Singles - 8 Doubles Teams
US$ 4,450,000 (S & D)

ROUND ROBIN GROUPS - SINGLES

Red Group
(Seed)
1 Roger Federer
4 Guillermo Coria
6 Ivan Ljubicic
8 David Nalbandian

Gold Group
(Seed)
2 Rafael Nadal
3 Andre Agassi
5 Nikolay Davydenko
7 Gaston Gaudio

Alternates: Mariano Puerta, Fernando Gonzalez

ROUND ROBIN GROUPS - DOUBLES

Red Group
(Seed)
1 Bob Bryan-Mike Bryan
4 Mark Knowles-Daniel Nestor
5 Leander Paes-Nenad Zimonjic
7 Wayne Arthurs-Paul HanleyGold Group
(Seed)
2 Jonas Bjorkman-Max Mirnyi
3 Wayne Black-Kevin Ullyett
6 Michael Llodra-Fabrice Santoro
8 Stephen Huss-Wesley Moodie

Alternates: Jonathan Erlich-Andy Ram
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2005 1:00 PM
|Roger Federer vs David Nalbandian
followed by
Guillermo Coria vs Ivan Ljubicic
followed by
Bryan-Bryan vs Arthurs-Hanley
followed by
Knowles-Nestor vs Paes-Zimonjic

ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2005 2:00 PM
Black-Ullyett vs Llodra-Santoro
followed by
Bjorkman-Mirnyi vs Huss-Moodie
7 p.m.
Andre Agassi vs Nikolay Davydenko
followed by
Rafael Nadal vs Gaston Gaudio

 
Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors


Black Group - Round Robin
(5) Mary Pierce (FRA) d. (4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) 26 64 62
(2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (8) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 62 63

Green Group - Round Robin
(7) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) 61 62


Order of Play - Saturday, November 12, 2005
STAPLES Center (from 12.30hrs)
1. Davenport vs. Pierce
2. Sharapova vs. Mauresmo
3. Black/Stubbs vs. Likhovtseva/Zvonareva (NB 16.00hrs)
4. Martinez/Ruano Pascual vs. Raymond/Stosur

11/11/2005

Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors
Green Group - Round Robin
(6) Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. (7) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 60 57 64
(3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (1) Lindsay Davenport (USA) 63 57 64

Black Group - Round Robin
(4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (8) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 62 63

Order of Play - Friday, November 11, 2005
STAPLES Center (from 18.30hrs)
1. Mauresmo vs. Pierce
2. Sharapova vs. Petrova (NB 20.00hrs)
3. Clijsters vs. Dementieva

10/11/2005 Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors

Green Group - Round Robin
(1) Lindsay Davenport (USA) d. (6) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 63 75

Black Group - Round Robin
(5) Mary Pierce d. (8) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 62 63
(4) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (2) Kim Clijsters (BEL) 63 76(4)


Order of Play - November 10, 2005
STAPLES Center (from 18.00hrs)
1. Schnyder vs. Petrova
2. Davenport vs. Sharapova
3. Mauresmo vs. Dementieva

8/11/2005

Los Angeles, CA-USA
$3,000,000
Hardcourt / Indoors

Green Group - Round Robin
(3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (8) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 61 36 63
(1) Lindsay Davenport (USA) d. (7) Nadia Petrova Petrova (RUS) 62 76(1)

Black Group - Round Robin
(2) Mary Pierce (FRA) d. (5) Kim Clijsters (BEL) 61 46 76(2)

Lleyton Hewitt Withdraws from Tennis Masters Cup

     Gaston Gaudio replaces

Aussie father-to-be in elite eight-man field

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S.A. – Impending fatherhood has forced two-time Tennis Masters Cup champion Lleyton Hewitt to withdraw from the circuit finale in Shanghai, which begins this Sunday. Hewitt and wife Bec Cartwright are expecting their first child within the next two weeks. Hewitt won Tennis Masters Cup Sydney in 2001 and won a second consecutive title in Shanghai in 2002. He finished year-end No. 1 in both years. Hewitt said: "I am extremely disappointed as I have always enjoyed playing Tennis Masters Cup and had a great time in Shanghai in 2002, winning the event and maintaining my year-end World No.1 status. With my baby due in the next two weeks, it is not possible for me to come. I wish the event well and am sure it will be a great success and I hope to qualify for next year’s Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai." Tennis Masters Cup Tournament Director Brad Drewett said: "We're obviously all very disappointed that Lleyton can't be with us this year. He has had an amazing record at the Tennis Masters Cup over the years, but we understand his situation and wish he and Bec all the best for the birth of their first child." Gaston Gaudio narrowly missed out on clinching a Shanghai berth last week at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris when he reached the quarterfinals. The Argentine, who qualified for Tennis Masters Cup Houston last year after winning Roland Garros, has won five titles in 2005: Vina del Mar, Buenos Aires, Estoril, Gstaad and Kitzbuhel. Gaudio joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, Guillermo Coria, Nikolay Davydenko, and Ivan Ljubicic in the eight-man field at the $4.45 million finale. Tennis Masters Cup Doubles will be played concurrent with the singles final at the new Qi Zhong stadium. Teams competing are Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan and Jonas Bjorkman/Max Mirnyi – who are locked in a battle for year-end No. 1 honors - Wayne Black/Kevin Ullyett, Mark Knowles/Daniel Nestor, Leander Paes/Nenad Zimonjic, Michael Llodra/Fabrice Santoro, Wayne Arthurs/Paul Hanley and Wimbledon champions Wesley Moodie/ Stephen Huss. 

About Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai

The Tennis Masters Cup, co-owned by the ATP, ITF and Grand Slams, is the culminating event of the men's professional tennis circuit. The top seven players in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race plus eligible Grand Slam champions qualify for the eight-man round-robin event that will be played in Shanghai, China from 2005-2007. The top seven teams in the ATP Doubles Race plus eligible Grand Slam champions also qualify. The Promoter of the Tennis Masters Cup 2005-2007 is Ba-shi (Shanghai) Industrial.

6/11/2005

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

€ 2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
October 31-November 6, 2005
Taraflex 

Tomas Berdych Vainqueur

du BNP Paribas MASTERS

Doubles - Final
(1)Bryan/Bryan d (4)Knowles/Nestor 64 67(3) 64

FINAL FACTS – BERDYCH PREVAILS OVER LJUBICIC TO WIN FIRST MASTERS SERIES TITLE

• In a battle between two players bidding for a first Masters Series shield, Tomas Berdych held off sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4 to complete his stellar run in Paris. Berdych withstood 28 aces from Ljubicic to claim the title in three hours and two minutes. The unseeded Czech, who fired 18 aces of his own, came out strong in the BNP Paribas Masters final, confidently taking the first two sets by converting on timely break chances. His more experienced opponent regained composure to break Berdych at 3-1 in the third and 2-2 in the fourth, but Ljubicic fell short in the end. In the fifth and deciding set, Berdych never faced a break point as the two players held serve until the final game. Ljubicic saved three match points serving at 4-5 (0-40) to take the game to deuce, but Berdych won the next two points to claim the match. With the win, the 20-year-old maintained his perfect record in five-set matches (6-0) and capped off a career week in which he took down five seeded players en route to the title. In addition to prevailing over Ljubicic in the final, Berdych defeated No. 2 seed Guillermo Coria, No. 13 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero, No. 7 seed Gaston Gaudio and No. 8 seed Radek Stepanek. Berdych earned just his second career title in his third final of an ATP event. The Czech titled in Palermo last year, and fell against Rafael Nadal in the Bastad final back in July. With his performance in Paris, Berdych lifted his season record to 34-29 and 12-8 in ATP Masters Series events. Ljubicic, who clinched the eighth and final spot at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai with his quarterfinal win Friday, was playing in his eighth final of the season. He had reached the finals in four of his last five ATP events, winning the titles in Metz and Vienna. He defeated top seed Andy Roddick on Saturday to earn his second consecutive appearance in an ATP Masters Series final. Two weeks ago, the Croat fell just shy of the title as he lost the fifth-set tie-break to Nadal in Madrid.
• The 26-year-old has won 20 of his last 23 matches, and carries a 55-21 record going into the circuit finale in Shanghai next week. He stands in eighth position in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race. 

DOUBLES REVIEW – BRYAN BROTHERS WIN FIFTH TITLE, STRENGTHEN RACE POSITION

• ATP Doubles Race leaders Mike and Bob Bryan notched their fifth title of the season by defeating the red-hot duo of Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4 in the final of BNP Paribas Masters on Sunday. The American twins are now clear favorites to end the year as the No. 1 doubles team. With the title in Paris, they widened their lead over Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi, second in the ATP Doubles Race, to 86 points. Bjorkman and Mirnyi suffered an unexpected defeat earlier this week in first-round play. This was the Bryan brothers’ 11th final appearance in 2005 and the fourth consecutive year that they’ve succeeded in winning five titles in a season.
• Knowles and Nestor were riding an 11-match winning streak into Sunday’s final and were looking for their third consecutive title. They followed their title-winning run in Vienna three weeks ago by capturing their 13th ATP Masters Series crown together in Madrid.

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID Berdych: “For me it's a great feeling after the last match of this tournament and also of this season.  I think this is the best way how to finish this season, and I made it.” On Ljubicic’s comeback attempts: “I was really, really up.  I thought it was a very easy two sets.  Then I was expecting Ivan has to play better, and then he won the next two sets. About the match points, that game was so quick.  I had three match points and Ivan was serving.  He was serving very good, so I was expecting that he has to make some good serves to help him, and he made it.  I hoped to make it on one advantage, and it was finally on my side."  On whether he thought he’d win:  “I think it's gone up after each match.  When I started, I wanted to win the first one.  When I won the second one, I was thinking about the next match.  Then I saw a little bit the draw, and I thought that maybe the biggest match will be in the semis when I play with Radek.  And then in the final, anything could happen.”  Ljubicic: “I reached an unbelievable goal, which is the Masters Cup. I finished Top 10.  I have the Davis Cup final coming up.  I mean, it would have been much better if I had won but, believe me, maybe it's only Tomas who is a happier man on the earth in this moment than me.  So I'm not disappointed at all.” On Berdych: “I think the perfect word is ‘dangerous.’ Really, off both sides, you don't know what to expect: winners, bombs from both sides, unbelievable return. Very good.”  Mike Bryan: “It feels good to get some momentum going into Shanghai. I thought we played a great tournament from the first round on and it was a tough match today and we were lucky to win. Knowles/Nestor are the hottest team on the tour right now and we had to play our best tennis to beat them.”On the battle for No.1: "There's still a lot of tennis to be played. We haven't clinched it yet so we have to play good in Shanghai."

Singles - Semifinal

(6)I Ljubicic (CRO) d (1)A Roddick (USA) 63 75 T Berdych (CZE) d (8)R Stepanek (CZE) 61 36 63 

Doubles - Semifinal

(2)Bryan/Bryan d (3)Black/Ullyett 62 63

(4)Knowles/Nestor d Hrbaty/Johansson 64 36 63

 ORDER OF PLAY – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2005 

Center Court start 3:00 PM

(6)I Ljubicic (CRO) vs T Berdych (CZE)(4)Knowles/Nestor vs (2)Bryan/Bryan

4/11/2005

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
Taraflex Indoors  

Singles - Third Round

(3)N Davydenko (RUS) d (Q)D Tursunov (RUS) 36 62 63(8)R Stepanek (CZE) d P Mathieu (FRA) 75 64 (6)I Ljubicic (CRO) d (9)T Johansson (SWE) 63 76(4) (10)D Ferrer (ESP) d T Haas (GER) 62 67(3) 63(7)G Gaudio (ARG) d (12)R Ginepri (USA) 64 61 T Berdych (CZE) d (13)J Ferrero (ESP) 75 67(7) 64 (14)T Robredo (ESP) d (Q)N Djokovic (SCG) 64 63 (1)A Roddick (USA) d (16)D Hrbaty (SVK) 61 62 

Doubles - First Round

(3)Black/Ullyett d Llodra/Santoro 62 64 

3 /11/2005

Coria Qualifies for Tennis Masters Cup

    Safin withdraws with knee injury

   Ferrer, Ginepri, Ferrero, Robredo & Hrbaty Now Back in Hunt for Shanghai Berths

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA – Guillermo Coria, currently in the sixth position in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race, has secured a berth at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. This will mark Coria’s third consecutive appearance at the elite eight-man, eight-team circuit finale to be held at the Qi Zhong Stadium from November 13-20.

Coria has a 55-24 record going into the $4.45 million Tennis Masters Cup. The 23-year-old titled in Umag this season, and reached the final in Masters Series Rome, Beijing and Masters Series Monte Carlo – losing to Spanish tennis sensation Rafael Nadal each time. 

"I am really happy to be playing in my third consecutive Tennis Masters Cup.  I heard a lot of good things about Shanghai and the stadium which I have seen pictures of.  It is really impressive.  Although I will not be playing on my favorite surface, I expect to have a good tournament and share this great moment with the medical staff that supported me during my injury, my technical staff and especially my wife Carla," said Coria.

The Argentine, who owns a 1-5 record in the event, played in last year’s circuit finale after spending three-months nursing a shoulder injury.

Coria’s qualification was confirmed after Australian Open champion Marat Safin announced his withdrawal from Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai with a season-ending knee injury.

Safin’s season has been hampered by a ligament tear in his left knee, forcing him to miss nearly four months of the ATP season. Since Wimbledon, he has played in only one tournament – a quarterfinal finish at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in Cincinnati.

"Unfortunately I will not be able to play in the Tennis Masters Cup because of my knee injury,” said Safin. “I am very disappointed because the Tennis Masters Cup is the culmination of the tennis season.  I was looking forward to playing in Shanghai, I have had good results in China and I like playing there.  One of my goals next year will be to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup again in Shanghai."

The 25-year-old Russian, who had earned his fourth berth in five years, secured his spot in Shanghai by virtue of winning the Australian Open and finishing in the Top 20. He reached the Tennis Masters Cup semifinals last year, when he and Roger Federer played a riveting match that ended when Federer won a record-tying second-set tie-break 20-18.

Coria’s qualification and Safin’s withdrawal leaves two spots open in Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi have also confirmed their spots in Shanghai. The remaining berths as well as the alternate will be decided at BNP Paribas Masters in Paris this week.

Nikolay Davydenko, who is seeking to qualify for the first time, leads the field. The Russian would clinch his berth by reaching the final in Paris. Ljubicic, Gaston Gaudio (No. 10) and David Nalbandian (No. 11) round out the other lead contenders in the close Race, while Thomas Johansson (No. 14) still maintains an outside chance to qualify. Safin’s withdrawal additionally opened the qualification hopes of David Ferrer, Robby Ginepri, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Tommy Robredo and Dominik Hrbaty.

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
October 31-November 6, 2005
Taraflex Indoors 

Singles - Second Round

(1)A Roddick (USA) d T Dent (USA) 64 67(2) 75T Haas (GER) d (5)D Nalbandian (ARG) 64 63(7)G Gaudio (ARG) d (WC)F Santoro (FRA) 64 75 (9)T Johansson (SWE) d (Q)K Vliegen (BEL) 63 62 (10)D Ferrer (ESP) d M Mirnyi (BLR) 64 64 P Mathieu (FRA) d (11)F Gonzalez (CHI) 63 36 76(4) (12)R Ginepri (USA) d F Verdasco (ESP) 63 67(7) 63 (13)J Ferrero (ESP) d (LL)S Wawrinka (SUI) 76(4) 76(4) (14)T Robredo (ESP) d (WC)A Clement (FRA) 75 62 (16)D Hrbaty (SVK) d (LL)J Lisnard (FRA) 63 63 

Doubles - First Round

Carraz/Dupuis d (1)Bjorkman/Mirnyi 76(4) 67(6) 64 Arthurs/Hanley d Aspelin/Perry 61 76(12) 

Doubles - Quarterfinal

(2)Bryan/Bryan d Erlich/Ram 64 61

(4)Knowles/Nestor d (WC)Benneteau/Mahut 63 67(2) 64

2/11/2005

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

€ 2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
October 31-November 6, 2005
Taraflex 

Singles - First Round

T Dent (USA) d S Grosjean (FRA) 64 76(4) (LL)J Lisnard (FRA) d (Q)N Mahut (FRA) 63 16 76(5) M Mirnyi (BLR) d N Massu (CHI) 62 63 (WC)A Clement (FRA) d N Kiefer (GER) 64 16 76(6) (WC)F Santoro (FRA) d J Nieminen (FIN) 67(8) 76(4) 63 F Verdasco (ESP) d (Q)N Lapentti (ECU) 67(5) 75 75 

Singles - Second Round

T Berdych (CZE) d (2)G Coria (ARG) 64 62 (3)N Davydenko (RUS) d G Rusedski (GBR) 62 62 (Q)N Djokovic (SCG) d (4)M Puerta (ARG) 63 76(9) (6)I Ljubicic (CRO) d J Blake (USA) 63 64 (8)R Stepanek (CZE) d F Lopez (ESP) 75 62 (Q)D Tursunov (RUS) d (15)M Ancic (CRO) 57 64 76(3) 

Doubles - First Round

(4)Knowles/Nestor d Ferrer/Robredo 76(2) 36 61 Hrbaty/Johansson d Cermak/Damm 46 63 75

Erlich/Ram d Paes/Zimonjic 76(5) 26 62

1/11/2005

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS

2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
Taraflex Indoors 

Singles - First Round

T Haas (GER) d A Pavel (ROM) 76(6) 64

(Q)N Djokovic (SCG) d V Hanescu (ROM) 41 ret (stomach)

(Q)K Vliegen (BEL) d C Rochus (BEL) 36 76(3) 62

J Blake (USA) d O Rochus (BEL) 64 63

F Lopez (ESP) d X Malisse (BEL) 46 76(2) 64

P Mathieu (FRA) d D Sanguinetti (ITA) 57 76(4) 64

(Q)D Tursunov (RUS) d V Spadea (USA) 61 62

G Rusedski (GBR) d (Q)A Seppi (ITA) 63 64

(LL)S Wawrinka (SUI) d (WC)F Serra (FRA) 63 64

T Berdych (CZE) d J Novak (CZE) 75 63 

Doubles - First Round

(2)Bryan/Bryan d (WC)Clement/Grosjean 64 61

(WC)Benneteau/Mahut d Nalbandian/Prieto 76(5) 64

31/10/2005

BNP PARIBAS MASTERS
€2,082,500 ATP Masters Series Tournament
Paris, France
October 31-November 6, 2005
Taraflex

ORDER OF PLAY – MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2005

Center Court start 11:30 AM
G Rusedski (GBR) vs (Q)A Seppi (ITA)
Not before 1:00 PM
F Lopez (ESP) vs X Malisse (BEL)
(LL)S Wawrinka (SUI) vs (WC)F Serra (FRA)
A Pavel (ROM) vs T Haas (GER)
Not before 7:00 PM
D Sanguinetti (ITA) vs P Mathieu (FRA)
O Rochus (BEL) vs J Blake (USA)

Court 1 start 12:00 NOON
(Q)K Vliegen (BEL) vs C Rochus (BEL)
T Berdych (CZE) vs J Novak (CZE)
(Q)N Djokovic (SCG) vs V Hanescu (ROM)
(WC)Clement/Grosjean vs (2)Bryan/Bryan
(Q)D Tursunov (RUS) vs V Spadea (USA)

Court 2 start 5:00 PM
Nalbandian/Prieto vs (WC)Benneteau/Mahut

INDESIT ATP 2005 RACE
1       *R. Federer     1245   
2       *R. Nadal       953            
3       *A. Roddick     549    
4       *L. Hewitt      498    
5       *A. Agassi      455    
6       G. Coria        437    
7       N. Davydenko    393    
8       *M. Safin       346    
9        I. Ljubicic    346    
10      G. Gaudio       345    
11      D. Nalbandian   343    
12      M. Puerta       339    
13      F. Gonzalez      337   
14      T. Johansson    314    
15      D. Ferrer       299    
*Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai
 
ATP DOUBLES RACE
1       *Bryan,Bob/Bryan,Mike   1052   
2       *Bjorkman,Jonas/Mirnyi,Max      1044   
3       *Black,Wayne/Ullyett,Kevin      751    
4       *Knowles,Mark/Nestor,Daniel     630    
5       Paes,Leander/Zimonjic,Nenad     499    
6       Llodra,Michael/Santoro,Fabrice  488    
7       Arthurs,Wayne/Hanley,Paul       455    
8       Erlich,Jonathan/Ram,Andy        428    
9       Aspelin,Simon/Perry,Todd        415    
……………………………………………
12      *Huss, Stephen/Moodie, Wesley 269       ( 284 if win Basel)
*Qualified for Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai

GRAND PRIX DE TENNIS DE LYON

€ 680,250 ATP Event Lyon,

France October 24-30, 2005 Taraflex Indoor   

 Singles - Final

(1)A Roddick (USA) d G Monfils (FRA) 63 62 

Doubles - Final

(1)Llodra/Santoro d Coetzee/Wassen 63 61 

FINAL FACTS: RODDICK OVERPOWERS MONFILS FOR FIFTH TITLE OF YEAR

• American top seed Andy Roddick overpowered 19-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2 in exactly 1 hour to capture his fifth ATP title of 2005 at the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon on Sunday. Roddick’s greater experience told as he outwitted the French teenager from start to finish. A break of serve at 2-1 in the first set the tone for the rest of the match. A further two breaks in the second set sealed a comprehensive win for the American, who fired 9 aces en route to victory. Roddick’s win caps a dominant performance all week, in which he never lost serve (51 consecutive service games held) and fired a total of 70 aces. Roddick is now 5-2 in ATP finals in 2005 and adds the Lyon trophy to titles collected earlier this year in Houston, Queen’s, San Jose and Washington. The American now counts 20 career titles to his name (20-10 in career ATP finals). This is just the third different country Roddick has won a title in outside of North America. He has also three grass court titles to his name at Queen’s in England, as well as winning the title in St. Poelten, Austria, in 2003. All his other titles have come in North America. Roddick’s win maintains the unbeaten record of No.1 seeds in ATP finals this year (26-0). He now holds a 56-13 W/L match record in 2005. Roddick, who has already secured his place at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai, captured his 300^th career win earlier this week following his first round win over Thierry Ascione. Roddick defeated four Frenchman en route to claiming the title this week, defeating Ascione, Nicolas Mahut, Mario Ancic (CRO), Fabrice Santoro and Monfils. He collects 45 INDESIT ATP 2005 Race points as well as € 96,000.
• Monfils is now 1-2 in ATP finals, with his only title to date coming in Sopot. He also reached the final in Metz, France, where he lost to Ivan Ljubicic in the final. 

DOUBLES REVIEW: SANTORO/LLODRA MAINTAIN PUSH FOR TENNIS MASTERS CUP

• Sunday’s doubles final saw French favorites and Tennis Masters Cup hopefuls Santoro/Llodra defeat the pairing of Coetzee/Wassen, 6-3, 6-1.
• Llodra/Santoro capture their third ATP title of 2005 (Rome, Metz, Lyon) and will look to continue their impressive run on home soil at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris next week as they continue to push for one of the remaining Tennis Masters Cup berths. They currently lie in sixth place of the ATP Doubles Race.

DAVIDOFF SWISS INDOORS
€850,250 ATP event
Basel, Switzerland
October 25-30, 2005
Carpet (Taraflex by Forbo) / Indoor

Singles - Final
(4)F Gonzalez (CHI) d (Q)M Baghdatis (CYP) 67(8) 63 75 64

Doubles - Final
Calleri/Gonzalez d (4)Huss/Moodie 75 75

Gaz de France Stars
Hasselt-BEL
$170,000 (Tier III)
Hardcourt / Indoors


Singles – Final
(1) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (3) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 62 63

Doubles – Final
(2) Loit/Srebotnik (FRA/SLO) d. Krajicek/Szavay (NED/HUN) 63 64

30/10/2005

Generali Ladies Linz

presented by Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich
Linz-AUT
$585,000 (Tier II)
Greenset / Indoors

Singles – Final
(3) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (4) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 46 63 61 (one hour, 41 minutes)

Doubles – Final
Dulko/Peschke (ARG/CZE) d. (2) Martinez/Ruano Pascual (ESP/ESP) 62 63

Finals facts

• Petrova wins her first  Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title in her fifth career final following runner-up finishes at 2003 Linz, 2004 Gold Coast and 2005 Berlin and Bangkok
• Petrova becomes the 10th first-time winner on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour this year
• Schnyder falls to 10-7 lifetime in Tour singles finals and 2-2 in 2005, having won Gold Coast and Cincinnati earlier this year and finishing runner-up last week in Zurich (l. to Davenport)
• Petrova is projected to rise to No.9 on next week’s Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings and 8th position in the Porsche Race on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles (November 8-13)
• Schnyder is projected to rise to No.8 on next week’s Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Singles Rankings, equaling her career-high reached in January 1999; she is expected to remain in 7th position in the Porsche Race to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships
• By virtue of competing in Linz this week, Petrova was assured of passing the $1 million in season earnings, the first time in her career she has achieved this feat
• Petrova has now won three of her seven career meetings with Schnyder; their last meeting had taken place in the 2003 Linz semifinals, Petrova winning 62 62
• Dulko/Peschke win the doubles title in their first-ever partnership; it is the fourth career doubles title for both Dulko and Peschke

Quotes
Nadia Petrova, 2005 Linz singles champion:
"This is a great step forward for me. It gives me a lot of confidence for next year and allows me to aim for more finals and more titles. It was very important that this happened finally. I've now achieved everything I wanted to this year – to play very consistently, to have good results in the Grand Slams, and now to win a title. I'm very happy."

Patty Schnyder, singles runner-up:
"I'm not too disappointed, because I've reached two finals in the past two weeks. I'm playing well and looking forward to competing in Los Angeles, should I qualify."

MASTERS

Agassi Joins Elite Field at Tennis Masters Cup

American Veteran Qualifies for the 14^th time     

  Nine Players Chase Final Two Slots at BNP Paribas Masters Next Week     

  Coria Needs to Win One Match,

Davydenko Must Reach Final to Clinch

 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S.A. – For the 14^th time in his career, Andre Agassi has qualified for the circuit finale, clinching a spot in the $4.45 million Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai. Agassi, who is fifth in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race, qualified when David Nalbandian lost Saturday in the Davidoff Swiss Indoors semifinals in Basel. Agassi can now fall no lower than sixth in the Race. Guillermo Coria and Nikolay Davydenko are in the front running to claim the final two spots this week at the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris – the final tournament of the regular ATP season (where the Argentine and Russian were drawn in the same half). Coria, who qualified in Houston in 2003-04, needs only to win one match – against the winner of Tomas Berdych and Jiri Novak – to clinch his spot. Coria is currently sixth in the INDESIT ATP 2005 Race, 91 points clear of No .9 Ivan Ljubicic. For Davydenko, who is seeking to qualify for the first time and become the second Russian qualifier in 2005 (Marat Safin), the task to clinch without relying on other results is much harder. Davydenko, at No. 7 in the Race, must reach the final to clinch his berth. If the Russian loses early he could be overtaken by one of seven players, including No. 15 David Ferrer, of Spain. At 35, Agassi is the oldest player to qualify for the circuit-ending championships since Jimmy Connors did so at the same age in 1987. Agassi last played Tennis Masters Cup in 2003 at Houston, where he finished runner-up to Roger Federer, one of three finalist finishes he’s had in the circuit-ending championships. He won the title in 1990, defeating Stefan Edberg in the final of the inaugural ATP World Championship in Frankfurt. When Agassi takes the court in Shanghai, it will be his 13^th appearance in the championships (he qualified in 1995, but withdrew due to injury), surpassing Ivan Lendl’s record of 12 appearances. All-time, Agassi is 22-19 in the event. This summer in Los Angeles, Agassi won his 60^th career title, giving him a title in 18 of the past 19 years and placing him seventh among Open Era title leaders. In 2005, he owns a record of 38-11, and has reached at least the quarterfinals in 10 of the 12 events he has played, including runs to the finals of the US Open and the Rogers Masters in Montreal. With a career record of 860-265, Agassi is seven wins behind John McEnroe for fourth place all-time. He is on pace to finish in the Top 10 of the INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking for the 16^th time in his career, tying the record that is held by Jimmy Connors.   Six of the eight spots for singles at Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai now have been confirmed. Agassi joins Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and Safin in the field. The final two spots as well as the alternate will be determined during the BNP Paribas Masters in Paris next week.  

In doubles, five teams will battle for three spots that remain up for grabs next week. And, by chance, the Paris draw will pit four of those teams in head-to-head combat in the first round. Australians Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley (No. 7) will play Simon Aspelin and Todd Perry (No. 9); Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram (No. 8) meet Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic (No. 5). Additionally, Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro (No. 6) will play Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett (who have already qualified).

INFORMATIONS

Les Français encore en lice cette semaine

13. C'est le nombre de Français toujours en lice cette semaine dans les différents tournois.
Sur le circuit ATP, à Lyon (FRA), Gaël Monfils s'est qualifié cet après-midi pour le dernier carré. Deux autres Français, Sébastien Grosjean et Fabrice Santoro, disputent aujourd'hui les quarts de finale du tournoi.
Au Challenger de Séoul (KOR), Nicolas Thomann est d'ores et déjà qualifié pour les demi-finales.
Sur le circuit Future, à Rodez (FRA), deux Français sont également dans le dernier carré. Il s'agit de Mathieu Montcourt et d'Adrian Mannarino. Enfin, à San Cugat (ESP), Xavier Pujo est le seul rescapé français en quarts de finale.
Sur le circuit WTA, Tatiana Golovin joue pour une place dans le dernier carré à Linz (AUT).
Sur le circuit ITF féminin, trois Françaises sont qualifiées pour le deuxième tour à Mexico (MEX): Florence Haring, Sophie Lefèvre et