Monday Wrap – Last call for Shanghai!

Roger Federer accomplished one of the goals he still had left on Sunday when he clinched the Basel title in front of a home crowd. Like the week before in Madrid, Fernando Gonzalez took the beating in the final.

The former ball boy of the event will take a rest before heading out to Shanghai for the Tennis Masters Cup starting November 13. Nice to have a Masters Series event to close out the season when everyone who clinched their TMC spots takes a week off. Kudos to Nikolay Davydenko for showing up.

Despite going 0-6 in sets versus the Fed man in the last 2 weeks and dropping to 0-9 in their head-to-head, Gonzalez will be more than pleased with his recent performance. Gonzo has now reached three consecutive finals which sees him sitting ninth in the ATP Race, a mere eight points behind slumping Tommy Robredo. A run deep into the Paris-Bercy draw this week will secure a TMC ticket for the Chilean.

In St. Petersburg, Mario Ancic earned his third career title, moving up to 10th position in the Race. Super Mario will likely face Gonzalez in the third round in Paris, in what could be seen as a Shanghai play-off match. The winner would probably still need to get past Davydenko though, who became the fifth lock for Shanghai last week.

A lot will depend on how Robredo performs. The Spaniard has a tough opener against Sebastien Grosjean or Xavier Malisse, followed by a third round clash against Novak Djokovic. In case of an early loss, Tommy’s season is over.

James Blake currently sits in seventh position but there’s still work to be done for the American. With 411 points, Robredo is only one point behind. What’s more troubling though, is the tonsillitis that kept him sidelined last week. Blake’s route to the semi’s will possibly have to take him through Arnaud Clement, Tommy Haas and Richard Gasquet. Not an easy road to travel, especially if your fitness level is doubtful. Haas still has an outside chance of reaching the Masters Cup by winning the title, and Gasquet is coming of a championship run in Lyon.

SHARAPOVA EXTENDS UNBEATEN RUN

In Linz, the cards were dealt for the women’s Year-End-Championship in Madrid. Patty Schnyder lost to Maria Sharapova in the semi-finals and thus failed to make the year’s best eight players. Martina Hingis and Kim Clijsters round up the field for the WTA’s big sha-bang.

One has to like Sharapova’s chances heading into the event. Mauresmo and Henin are both dealing with injury problems while the young Russian is on an unbeaten run dating back to the US Open. Masha’s last loss came in Los Angeles, where she lost to compatriot Elena Dementieva in the semi’s.