Tennis Masters Cup: Tuesday preview

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 15:02

After the incredible events of Monday, when top seed Roger Federer was shocked by Tennis Masters Cup debutant Gilles Simon in the Red Group, the focus in Shanghai shifts to the second round of matches in the Gold Group on Tuesday.

Day threes big match sees the two men with 100% round robin contests go head-to-head Serbias Novak Djokovic and Russian Nikolay Davydenko.

The winner of that contest will move to a played two, won two record for the week and will be in a very strong position to qualify for this weekends semi-finals.

Having never finished a competitive match against one another, theres little to go on in terms of history between these two but it was Djokovic who was the more impressive during Sundays first round of matches.

The world No.3 and second seed in Shanghai snuffed out the threat of Argentine danger man Juan Martin Del Potro, while Davydenko took three long sets to shake off Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Before those two take to centre court at the Qi Zhong Stadium, Tsonga and Del Potro will face off in the days opening singles with the loser almost certainly facing elimination after the round robin stages.

Day three opens with another two doubles matches and its South Africans Jeff Coetzee and Wes Moodie who begin proceedings against Argentine Pablo Cuevas and Perus Luis Horna with both pairs looking for their first win of the week after a disappointing start to their Red Group campaigns.

American top seeds the Bryan brothers then take to the arena against Mahesh Bhupathi and Mark Knowles. Both pairs have a lot to play for having won their opening matches in the Red Group on Sunday. One more victory and a semi-final spot will be within touching distance.

Tuesday order of play (2pm start local time)

Coetzee & Moodie V Cuevas & Horna
Bryan & Bryan V Bhupathi & Knowles

Not Before 6:00 PM
Tsonga V Del Potro

Not Before 8:00 PM
Djokovic V Davydenko

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