Top Teams Upset as Play Starts in Shanghai
Arthurs/Hanley scored a victory. Two veteran Masters Cup teams suffered tough three-set losses in their opening round-robin matches as the doubles circuit finale began Sunday in Shanghai.
Top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan were the first to be upset, losing to Australians Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-6(4).
It marked the second loss in Masters Cup play for the Bryan brothers, who are attempting to become the first team in 20 years to win three straight doubles titles at the year-end championships. In their previous two circuit finale appearances, they went a combined 9-1 en route to the title.
The loss at Qi Zhong Stadium also opened the door for Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi in the race for year-end No. 1 honors. Currently, they stand 86 points behind the Bryans, and stand the chance to net 150 points if they go undefeated this week.
Arthurs and Hanley went 1-2 in their last Masters Cup appearance in 2003, and are looking to advance to the circuit finale semifinals for the first time.
Following on the heels of the Aussies’ victory, Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic pulled out a 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 win over last year’s No. 1 team, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor to dampen the No. 4 seeds' hopes of winning their first year-end championship.
Knowles and Nestor, who are making their seventh appearance at the year-end championship, have only reached the final once – in 1998. In 2003 and 2004, they were defeated in the semifinals of Tennis Masters Cup Houston.
Paes, who is making his first Masters Cup appearance partnered with Zimonjic, is also a veteran circuit finale competitor looking for his first title at the event. He played in the year-end championships with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi and reached the final of three occasions.
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