Gonzalez Clinches Tennis Masters Cup Berth
© Getty Images Shanghai, China – Fernando Gonzalez became the first Chilean since Marcelo Rios in 1998 to qualify directly for the prestigious Tennis Masters Cup—to be held at Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium from November 11-18—after the conclusion of quarterfinal action at the BNP Paribas on Friday.
“I am very happy to be returning to Shanghai. I had a great time two years ago and it was one of my goals this year to be among the top eight players at the Tennis Masters Cup,” said Gonzalez, who fell in second round action Tuesday at the final ATP Masters Series event of 2007.
The 27-year-old Gonzalez, who will finish in the year-end Top 10 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the second successive year, has enjoyed a solid season that includes one title in Beijing and two runner-up finishes at the Australian Open and ATP Masters Series Rome.
One place remains in the elite eight-player field with two contenders – Richard Gasquet (8th) and Marcos Baghdatis (14th) – each vying for their first Tennis Masters Cup invitation. A pulsating finale to the ATP 2007 Race to the Tennis Masters Cup is assured as Gasquet can qualify by either booking his place in Sunday’s final or by Baghdatis not winning the title.
David Nalbandian could still finish at No. 9 in the ATP 2007 Race, should the Argentine capture his second successive ATP Masters Series shield with the Paris crown.
Gonzalez joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Andy Roddick and David Ferrer in the Shanghai field.
Qualification also means that Gonzalez will join the other qualifiers by having a larger-than-life Terracotta Warrior sculpture created of himself by award-winning artist Laury Dizengremel to celebrate the Tennis Masters Cup.
Bjorkman/Mirnyi Secure Final Team Berth
Reigning Tennis Masters Cup champions Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden and Belarusian Max Mirnyi secured the final spot in the doubles field Wednesday, following their opening round win over Jurgen Melzer and Todd Perry at the BNP Paribas Masters.
Bjorkman and Mirnyi started the 2007 season on a high as they reached the Australian Open final (l. to Bryan-Bryan), but it wasn’t until the Race to the Tennis Masters Cup intensified that the pair returned to top form with the Stockholm title (d. Clement-Llodra).
Bjorkman will appear at the circuit-finale for the seventh time in his career. The 35-year-old won the 1994 crown with Swedish compatriot Jan Apell, beating Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in the final.
The 30-year-old Mirnyi will make his fifth successive appearance at the Tennis Masters Cup. He made his debut with Mahesh Bhupathi in 2003
The other teams rounding out the eight-team field include Bob and Mike Bryan, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett, Simon Aspelin and Julian Knowle, Martin Damm and Leander Paes, Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner. Wimbledon champion Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup as Grand Slam winners, who finished within the Top 20 of the Stanford ATP Doubles Race.
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