Bryans Boost No. 1 Chances;
Paes-Zimonjic Clinch Semifinal Spot
Paes-Zimonjic top the Red Group Top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan boosted their hopes
of finishing the year as the No. 1 doubles team after recording
their first win of the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup on Tuesday.
The defending champions, who lost to Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley
in their opening Red Group match on Sunday, recovered to defeat
fourth seeds Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor 6-4, 6-4 in 1 hour,
16 minutes.
Their victory puts more pressure on second seeds Jonas Bjorkman
and Max Mirnyi to overtake the Americans in the ATP Doubles Race.
Bjorkman and Mirnyi lost their opening match in the Gold Group
against Wimbledon champions Stephen Huss and Wesley Moodie on
Monday. They must now win the title to have a chance of finishing
No. 1.
The Bryans now lie second in the Red Group behind fifth seeds
Leander Paes and Nenad Zimonjic, who became the
first team to clinch their place in the semifinals with an impressive
7-6(3), 7-6(4) victory over Arthurs and Hanley.
Even if Paes and Zimonjic lose their final group match against
the Bryans and Arthurs-Hanley win their final match against Knowles
and Nestor in straight sets, Paes and Zimonjic will go through
having won their head-to-head meeting against the Australians.
After losing their second match of the tournament, Knowles and
Nestor are eliminated from 2005 Tennis Masters Cup regardless
of the outcome of their final group match against Arthurs and
Hanley.
The battle for the second semifinal spot from the Red Group is now
between the Bryan brothers and Arthurs and Hanley.
Exclusive Audio | Press Transcripts
Monday Doubles: Huss-Moodie
Dent Bjorkman-Mirnyi's Hopes
Sunday Doubles: Arthurs-Hanley Stun Bryan Brothers
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