ATP Paris: Tsonga out of O2 race, Federer one win away..

By virtue of his three set loss to Kei Nishikori, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was eliminated from the race to the World Tour Finals at the O2.  I'm sad for the Frenchman, but I think it is for the best because he was obviously struggling with his knee, which has ravaged the second half of his season.  The fact he was still in the running showed what a superb first half of 2013 he enjoyed.  His aggressive play nearly won him the match but double faults both up and down match point cost him a third round tie with Richard Gasquet. I thought Tsonga showed real guts to get the match to a tiebreak and Benoit Paire could certainly learn a few lessons in how to show heart on the tennis court in front of your home crowd. The tiebreak was a story of the serves as Nishikori produced a duo of aces including a sensational second serve down the T to save a match point.  I do like Nishikori and although I felt he became a little passive from the back of the court in the tiebreak, his all-or-nothing serving won him the match.

1. Roger Federer v Kevin Anderson

Roger Federer

A couple of weeks ago, Roger Federer's position at the World Tour Finals was in serious jeopardy, but things have gone really well for him as his challengers have all struggled in the last two weeks and he managed to string some wins together to make the final in Basel.  Some have reported he is already through but a win for Federer against Kevin Anderson will officially confirm his spot in London.  Anderson had an incredibly consistent first half to the year, but he has tailed off in the second half.  His first round opponent, Mikhail Youzhny served for the win, but failed to do so and then retired in the third set down, 4-6 7-6(0) 2-1.  This will be a first ever match between Anderson and Federer and I expect the Fed to win this one, but fall in his next round with London top of his priority list.

Prediction - Federer to beat Anderson  in 2 sets

2. Philipp Kohlschreiber v Tommy Haas

An all-German affair on court 1 will see a rematch from last week as Philipp Kohlschreiber takes on Tommy Haas.  They played just last week in Valencia where Kohlschreiber prevailed in 3 sets, but I think having played the week before and winning the title in Vienna, Haas would have been tired.  Kohlschreiber came through a tight first round match with Andreas Seppi where he recovered from a break down in the third set to come through with a 6-3 3-6 6-4 win.  Kohlschreiber is a beautiful tennis player to watch with his flowing one-handed backhand, but he has always lacked the intensity to fulfill his true potential.  He did well to get past Seppi, but looked less than bothered throughout the whole match.  Kohlschreiber won in Valencia, but I think Haas will be well rested this time round and inflict revenge with a win...

Prediction - Haas to beat Kohlschreiber in 2 tight sets

Best of the rest: ATP 2nd Round Paris Predictions

David Ferrer to beat Lukas Rosol in 2 sets

Gilles Simon to beat Nicolas Mahut in 3 sets

Juan Martin del Potro to beat Marin Cilic in 2 sets

Rafael Nadal to beat Marcel Granollers in 2 sets

Milos Raonic to beat Robin Haase in 2 tight sets

John Isner to beat Michal Przysiezny in 3 sets

Nicolas Almagro to beat Ivan Dodig in 2 tight sets

Stanislas Wawrinka to beat Feliciano Lopez in 3 sets

Grigor Dimitrov to beat Fabio Fognini in 2 sets

Tomas Berdych to beat Pablo Andujar in 2 sets