The Master and His Minions Take Their Act to China
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

Forgive the Chinese if they are so far unimpressed with the best tennis players in the world.
The round-robin segment of the year-end Masters Cup has begun in Shanghai, its home through the year 2007, and as yet there has been more whining than winners. After six weeks off to nurse an ankle injury, Roger Federer – with only three defeats this season – looked not quite his mighty self on Saturday evening in the tournament’s opening match against David Nalbandian. Still, the world no. 1 and two-time defending champion was good enough to win, or, as the audience in Shanghai might have concluded, Nalbandian was bad enough to lose despite holding a 3-1 lead in the third set (he fell 6-3, 2-6, 6-4).
The Argentine, who qualified at the last minute when Andy Roddick withdrew with injuries (only the world’s top eight players are invited), said he was unprepared for the tournament, feeling rather like a man summoned to work from a vacation at the beach. He forgot to mention that his opponent was walking on crutches six weeks ago.
Fellow Argentine Guillermo Coria was quick to make excuses, too, saying that his 6-2, 6-3 loss to Ivan Ljubicic foreshadowed a disappointing week on the fast hard court inside Qi Zhong Stadium. That’s two Argentines talking as if they’re ready for a round of golf after a single match, and one cannot expect much more from their countryman Gaston Gaudio, who was given a spot at the event after Lleyton Hewitt decided to stay home for the birth of his first child. At last year’s Masters Cup, Gaudio lost all three of his matches in straight sets.
Alas, the rest of the field – more notable for its absences than its stars – is likely to offer Federer little more resistance than the lot of Argentines. Marat Safin, a force on fast hardcourts and a victor over Federer in Australia, is out with a knee injury, joining Roddick (back and shoulder) and Hewitt (baby) on the sidelines. Andre Agassi, a formidable opponent for Federer at the U.S. Open, announced he will extend his marvelous career into next season, but at present he is worried that a sprained ankle (injured during, of all things, a game of racquetball) will hamper him during his record 13th appearance in the event.
The surface, which Coria likened to ice, will not do any favors for world no. 2 Rafael Nadal and his heavy topspin game, but one hopes the Spaniard will be decent enough to keep his complaints to himself, as he figures to be in attendance here for the next two seasons. The remaining contender is Nikolay Davydenko, a Russian who has had a fine season and might emerge from the Gold Group that includes Nadal, Agassi, and Gaudio for a spot in the finals, where he would undoubtedly lose in convincing fashion.
But would it be to Federer? Despite his weakened state, the master should have little trouble against Coria, which would all but guarantee him a spot in the semifinals (after three round-robin matches, the top two players in each group advance to a single-elimination tournament). Ljubicic and his powerful serve could prove more difficult, considering how well the Croatian has played of late. If Federer can win all five of his matches, he will tie John McEnroe for the best single-season record in history at 82-3. One thing is for certain: no matter the outcome, do not expect Federer to cry about it.
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It was fitting that one of the most bizarre seasons in recent memory on the women’s tennis tour ended with an all-French final at the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles in the form of a slow, agonizing, yet entertaining match that lasted more than three hours. It had an uplifting ending, too, as Amelie Mauresmo – after years and years of futility – rose to the occasion in an important match with a 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory over Mary Pierce.
Mauresmo, 26, became the first French woman to win the year-end event, and she did it with persistence more than pizzazz, finesse more than power. The 30-year-old Pierce, booming serves and forehands better than she has in years, was made to play well for too long and eventually broke down.
A gifted volleyer and stylish player who had yet to achieve success on a major stage, Mauresmo sparkled on defense. At 4-4 in the third set, she followed a desperation backhand save with a running forehand crosscourt passing shot, simply flicking her wrist, for a 0-30 lead. A game later, she recovered from a 0-40 deficit by keeping the ball in play as Pierce made five consecutive unforced errors.
What does it mean for women’s tennis when Mauresmo wins the year-end championships and Mary Pierce reaches the finals of two Grand Slam events along with this tournament? As far as rankings go, it means that Lindsay Davenport will finish the year at no. 1 for the fourth time in her career, despite losing in the semifinals in straight sets to Pierce. Kim Clijsters, the U.S. Open champion, ends up second, followed by Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova, and Pierce.
As for the state of the sport, it means every title is still up for grabs, and probably will be through 2006, unless Serena Williams decides to mimic the Pierce training routine that helped her slim down, add muscle and improve her stamina. By the end of next year, however, a new order may emerge, with 16-year-old Nicole Vaidisova perhaps the leading candidate (yes, someone other than Sharapova).The 16-year-old Czech won three tournaments following the U.S. Open and played Mauresmo tough in last week’s final in Philadelphia.