Nadal Out Of Paris, New Masters Champ Confirmed Sunday; Americans Isner, Sock Bid For Last London Spot
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Pablo Carreno Busta is hanging on to the 8th and final spot at the London finals, but the Spaniard will be glued to the results from Paris this week.
If either John Isner or Jack Sock win Paris, Carreno Busta is out. And it’s not that farfetched after both Americans won today to reach the finals of the final Masters event.
Isner outlasted Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 denying the Argentine his spot in the London event.
“It was very satisfying and I was confident going into this match,” Isner said. “I took the court knowing that I’ve been playing pretty well. And also playing with a bit of house money after yesterday, being down 5-2 in the third set [v Dimitrov]. I sort of escaped yesterday and was given some new life today and I think I took advantage of it.”
Isner is trying to reach his 25h career ATP final (12-12), the third this year (2-0). He has never won an indoor title (0-2).
Jack Sock closed the day coming from a set down to beat Fernando Verdasco 6-7(3,) 6-2, 6-3.
Top seed Rafael Nadal was the story of the day withdrawing from his quarterfinal match against Filip Krajinovic with a right knee injury.
“I am sad enough to pull out from here. It’s a tournament that I have a lot of people that I know very well around the organisation, all the same people that organise Roland Garros. I feel like home here and for the relationship that I have with the French Federation, with everybody, it’s a very tough day for me. So it’s not the right day to talk about London,” Nadal said. “Only thing I’m going to say, I’m going to do my treatment, do my best to be playing in London, but I cannot talk about that now because it’s a day that is tough enough for me to pull out from here.”
The Serb Krajinovic is into his first ATP Masters semifinal, and will next face Isner.
Sock moves on to meet French wildcard Julien Benneteau who shocked Marin Cilic 7-6(5), 7-5.
“I believe that win ranks quite high in everything I achieved in my career,” Benneteau said. “When it’s over, we’ll see what will be the final ranking. It’s a bit early to say. But, of course, individually, I believe it’s my most beautiful emotion ever.”
Benneteau is among the very best players to have never won an ATP title. He’s 0-10 in ATP finals.
If Sock or Isner win the title, they would move past Carreno Busta. So an All-American Sock-Isner final would be for the title and for a spot in Paris.
None of the four semifinalists have ever won a Masters title before. So on Sunday we’ll see a third different non-Big 4 Masters champion this year.
SATURDAY PARIS SCHEDULE
COURT CENTRAL start 11:45 am
[5] J. Murray (GBR) / B. Soares (BRA) vs [2] L. Kubot (POL) / M. Melo (BRA)
Not Before 2:00 pm
[Q] F. Krajinovic (SRB) vs [9] J. Isner (USA)
Not Before 4:00 pm
[WC] J. Benneteau (FRA) vs [16] J. Sock (USA)
[7] I. Dodig (CRO) / M. Granollers (ESP) vs [6] J. Rojer (NED) / H. Tecau (ROU)
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