Argentine David Nalbandian thrashed compatriot Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4, 6-0 in the third round of the Paris Masters Thursday to boost his chances of grabbing one of the three remaining tickets for the Masters Cup.
Nalbandian, 14th in the ATP Race, will qualify for the season-ending tournament in Shanghai if he wins the Paris indoor tournament, while his Davis Cup team mate's participation depends on his rivals' results.
"I don't watch the others' results. I'm going home today," said Del Potro, who is seventh in the ATP Race but can still be overtaken by several Masters Cup contenders in Paris.
Eighth-seeded Nalbandian looked awesome in his 66-minute drubbing of Del Potro on the Paris sports hall centre court.
"I like to play indoors, maybe this season because I did not play much after Wimbledon since I was injured," said Nalbandian, the 2005 winner of the Masters Cup, which features the world's top eight players.
Following an early exchange of breaks, Nalbandian took control when he stole his opponent's serve in the seventh game en route to taking the opening set.
Del Potro, who was beaten by Nalbandian in the Swiss Indoors semi-final last weekend, sank without trace in the second set.
A couple of stunning returns by Nalbandian earned him the first break as Del Potro began to feel it was his compatriot's day.
Nalbandian, who will next meet either world number four Andy Murray or Spain's Fernando Verdasco, ended Del Potro's ordeal on his first match point with a backhand winner.
"It's difficult to play the last tournament of the year. I was tired, my mind was in Argentina," said Del Potro, who will play the Davis Cup final with Nalbandian against Spain in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, from November 21.
© 2024 Rediff.com -