The second day of the 2012 Paris Masters 1000 event has provided some entertaining tennis and as per usual plenty of upsets in the final event of the regular season. Fatigue is clearly playing a big part of some players performances and for many their minds look already on the two months break after this week. So let's have a quick look at some of today's action.
Starting with a shock win for Sam Querrey on centre court against Novak Djokovic. The Serbian entertained the crowd when he appeared on court in a darth vader mask and he continued to provide entertainment for the first set as he swept Querrey aside 6-0. From then on though, it was all about the American. Querrey began serving a much higher percentage and took the second set on a tie break and held his nerve to win the decider 6-4. It's a huge result for Querrey and will give him confidence heading into the rest of the week and next season. For Djokovic, he wasn't his best for the majority of the game and clearly had one eye on next week.
John Isner's hopes of making the World Finals in London came to a disappointing end as he went down 6-4 7-6 to Michael Llodra today. Isner never looked comfortable on court as Llodra produced some of his best tennis in front of his home fans to book his place in round three. Isner couldn't get to grips with Llodra's game and unusually he never looked assured on his own serve. He will regret his poor serving in the second set tie break when he led 5-2 with two serves to come but couldn't close it out. Llodra will be looking forward to another big meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro in the next round. Del Potro came through a potentially tricky match with Alejandro Falla with ease to extend his winning run to twelve matches.
The home crowd were left disappointed when Frenchman Richard Gasquet tamely exited the competition as he went down 6-1 in the third set to Kevin Anderson. Gasquet had struggled to make a break through on Anderson's serve and lost the first set in a tie break but produced some flashy shots to take control of the second and level the match up at a set all. Anderson then took over in the deciding set and was always in control. The loss ends Gasquet's chances of making the event on London next week. The disappointment didn't last long for French fans though as Gilles Simon produced another assured performance to beat Victor Hanescu in straight sets.
David Ferrer is already qualified for London but that didn't distract him today as he beat compatriot Marcel Granollers in two quick sets. Ferrer was always in control and looks to be hitting top form heading into the year end championships. The battle to join Ferrer in London heated up today as both Nicolas Almagro and Juan Monaco kept the pressure on 8th place Janko Tipsarevic with wins. Almagro was forced to work hard to beat fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos in three sets. Almagro was steady throughout and was able to step it up in the third set to progress to the next round. Monaco had a great win over up and coming Grigor Dimitrov to keep his hopes alive. Monaco won a tight tie break in the first set and he gained in confidence from there on in, taking the second 6-2. Tipsarevic continues to add on points to his total as he beat Igor Sijsling in two tie sets to advance to round three.
Tomorrow sees an exciting line up of matches and the drama of the race to London is sure to take more twists and turns as players get desperate for more points. Check back with me later this evening for preview of tomorrow's action.
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