Gasquet Completes 2007 Tennis Masters Cup Field
© Getty Images Shanghai, China – Frenchman Richard Gasquet claimed the final spot in the elite eight-player Tennis Masters Cup and will be making his first appearance in the prestigious circuit finale, to be held from November 11-18 at Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium.
Gasquet secured his qualification Saturday after the lone remaining contender, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis (15th), was defeated in the BNP Paribas Masters semifinals by Rafael Nadal of Spain. Gasquet, who also fell in semifinal action at the final ATP Masters Series event of 2007, finished the regular ATP season at No. 8 in the ATP 2007 Race with a 13-point lead over No. 9 Tommy Robredo.
“I never thought two weeks ago that I could make it for the Masters back in Madrid. Qualifying for the Masters is incredible for me,” said Gasquet. “It's exceptional for me to go over there. Two, three years ago I was watching that on TV. I was thinking, ‘This is the other end of the world. The Masters is so difficult.’ Now I am there.”
The 21-year-old Gasquet has compiled his best career season, finishing in the Top 10 for the first time and capturing one ATP title from three finals. By capturing his first hard-court crown at Mumbai (d. O. Rochus), Gasquet achieved the rare feat of having won titles on all four surfaces: grass, clay, indoor synthetic and hard. He was placed a career-high No. 7 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings on July 9, 2007.
Sebastien Grosjean, who lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the 2001 Tennis Masters Cup final that was held in Sydney, Australia, was the last Frenchman to qualify for the prestigious circuit-finale.
Gasquet joins an elite field that includes fellow reigning Tennis Masters Cup champion Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick, David Ferrer and Fernando Gonzalez. Each qualifier will have a larger-than-life Terracotta Warrior sculpture created of himself by award-winning artist Laury Dizengremel to celebrate the Tennis Masters Cup.
Argentine David Nalbandian could still rise to No. 9 in the ATP 2007 Race to Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai if he beats Nadal in the BNP Paribas Masters final on Sunday. By capturing his second successive ATP Masters Series shield, the Argentine would finish the regular ATP season on 355 points.
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