Arthurs/Hanley Clinch Final Slot
Paul Hanley and Wayne Arthurs. Australians Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley have become the final team to clinch a spot at the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, the circuit finale to be held at the new Qi Zhong Stadium from November 13-20. The duo secured their spot in the Top 7 of the ATP Doubles Race by advancing to the quarterfinals at BNP Paribas Masters, thus qualifying for the elite eight-team field for the second time.
Arthurs and Hanley sealed their Shanghai berth after the two other teams in contention for the final spot fell in Paris today. The Australians defeated No. 9 team Simon Aspelin and Todd Perry, while Israeli duo Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, currently in eighth position in the Race, suffered a quarterfinal loss to Bob and Mike Bryan.
The duo, looking for their third title of the season this week in Paris, finished 1-2 in their Tennis Masters Cup appearance in 2003 and served as alternates last year. Since beginning their partnership in 2003, Arthurs and Hanley have claimed six titles together.
Earlier this week, Frenchmen Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro and the duo of Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic also qualified for the circuit finale. The Bryan brothers, Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi, Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor, and Wimbledon champions Stephen Huss and Wesley Moodie round out the eight-team field to play in Shanghai.
While the Masters Cup team slots have all been filled, the battle for the World No. 1 team spot continues to heat up with just two tournaments remaining in 2005. Only 31 points separates the two-time defending Masters Cup champions Bryan brothers from first-year partners Bjorkman and Mirnyi. The Bryan brothers widened their lead by advancing to the semifinals with a straight-sets win over Erlich and Ram in Paris, while top seeds Bjorkman and Mirnyi were upset in the opening round.
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