Federer confirms participation in Paris Masters after three years
PARIS:ROGER Federer on Tuesday confirmed his participation at this year’s Paris Masters after a three-year absence. The Swiss world No 3 will play the winner of the tie between France’s Jo-wilfried Tsonga and Croatia’s Milos Raonic on Wednesday after receiving first round bye.
“I prefer playing to training as long as I don’t take any risks ahead of the London Masters, (Nov 11-18),” Federer said. “I feel like I’ve recovered well after last week. I feel good today (Tuesday),” he added.
Federer’s only victory in Bercy came in 2011. On his last appearance in 2015 he was knocked out by American Jon Isner in the round of 16.
Meanwhile French hopes of success were dented when Pierre-hugues Herbert, Jeremy Chardy and Benoit Paire were knocked out in the first round. Herbert was beaten by Kazakhstan’s Mikail Kukushkin 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 while Chardy lost 4-6, 4-6 to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco. Paire made the opening round through the qualifiers but lost 6-4, 6-4 to Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.
KASATKINA HOLDS HER OWN AGAINST WANG
ZHUHAI:TOP seed Daria Kasatkina survived a scare on Tuesday to win over crowd favourite Wang Qiang in a thrilling contest at the WTA Elite Trophy in China, taking the match 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.
Earlier, big-hitting Aryna Sabalenka was too strong for Australia’s Ashleigh Barty in the opening clash, winning 6-4, 6-4.
In Tuesday’s second singles match, fourth seed Elise Mertens from Belgium comfortably beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-1.