Date:05/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/05/stories/2007110556451900.htm

Sport

Nalbandian to face Nadal

Davenport continues her comeback run

— Photo: AP

NEVER SAY DIE: Rafael Nadal recovered from a set and a break down to beat Marcos Baghdatis and enter the final of the Paris Masters tournament.

PARIS: Argentine David Nalbandian extended his brilliant run of form by crushing local favourite Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday to set up a Paris Masters final against World No. 2 Rafael Nadal.

The unseeded Nalbandian, who upset World No. 1 Roger Federer in the Madrid Masters final two weeks ago and again in the third round here, needed just over an hour to take his record against the Frenchman to a perfect 5-0.

Gasquet, seeded 10th, will have to be content with completing the season-ending Masters Cup field after his only rival for the last spot, Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, lost the race with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat by Nadal in the other semifinal.

Nalbandian, the 2002 Wimbledon runner-up, was in control from the opening game and showed signs of nerves only towards the end when he served for the match, leading 5-2, and was broken for the first time.

Two games later, however, he earned his first match point and converted it with a service winner.

Nadal, appearing at the $2.45-million indoor event for the first time, is trying to become the second player to win the Paris Masters and the French Open, after Andre Agassi.

Vakulenko in final

Unseeded American Lindsay Davenport outlasted Russian second seed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-3 to reach the final of the WTA Bell Challenge and continue her storybook comeback on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Davenport will square off against third seed Julia Vakulenko in Sunday’s final of the $175,000 indoor carpet tournament.

Davenport is seeking her second win in three tournaments since returning from a one-year hiatus to give birth.

She captured her 52nd career title at Bali, Indonesia in her 2007 debut.

The results: At Paris (Paris Indoor Masters): Semifinals: Rafael Nadal bt Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; David Nalbandian bt Richard Gasquet 6-2, 6-4.

At Quebec City (WTA Bell Challenge): Semifinals: Julia Vakulenko bt Julie Ditty 6-1, 4-6, 7-5; Lindsay Davenport bt Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-3.