News bites: ATP Finals race heats up

Two spots remain up for grabs at the ATP Finals in London, and four men are in contention to qualify.

Marin Cilic, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori and John Isner are all in the hunt and will play this week’s Paris Masters hoping to gain the necessary points to qualify.

Cilic is the best positioned, with the world No.7 confirming his place with a semifinal run in Paris. Thiem can make the eight-player ATP Finals field if he wins the Paris title.

Further back in the race, Nishikori must reach at least the semis to have a chance to qualify, while Isner must reach the final to stay in contention.

According to reports in the Argentine media, Juan Martin del Potro has pulled out of the ATP Finals, opening up an extra place to be filled at the season-ending event at London’s O2 Arena.

Del Potro has not "officially" withdrawn from London yet. But La Nacion in Argentina is reporting that he will

— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) October 30, 2018

That would mean Borna Coric has the slimmest of outside chances to reach London, but he would need to win in Paris and hope Nishikori and Isner both fall before the quarterfinals.

Paris: Gasquet, Tiafoe, Khachanov advance

Nobody playing on Day 1 of the Paris Masters was in ATP Finals contention. Nor were they seeded.

But it was nonetheless an intriguing day of action in Bercy.

NEWS: Nadal looking to keep Djokovic at bay at Paris Masters

Former top-10 star Richard Gasquet subdued Canadian young gun Denis Shapovalov – who finished with 10 double faults among 34 unforced errors – in straight sets. The Frenchman misfired just eight times for the match, and will next face Jack Sock. More on Sock later …

Which backhand would you rather have? ????

Watch Gasquet v Shapovalov TODAY ???? https://t.co/hOHmv2faXn#RolexParisMasters

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 29, 2018

Tiafoe, meanwhile, saw off French veteran Nicolas Mahut in straight sets while Khachanov recorded a 7-5 6-2 win over Filip Krajinovic to set up a meeting with 15th seed Diego Schwartzman. Feliciano Lopez saved two match points to beat Australian Alex De Minaur, a player almost half his age.

Tiafoe next takes on No.4 seed Alexander Zverev.

Sock on the brink

Defending champion Jack Sock’s ranking is set to plummet if the American doesn’t protect the bulk of the 1000 points he earned this time last year.

While Sock won both Wimbledon and the US Open in doubles he has endured a horror year in singles, going 7-21.

He maintains a ranking of No.23, mostly due to his victory in 2017 at Paris and for reaching the last four at the ATP Finals to conclude that season.

Good Tennis Channel graphic….loving this @Steve_Weissman @Chanda_Rubin @JRBlake postgame show, as per always. pic.twitter.com/zea8aODOjp

— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) October 29, 2018

Sock, who received a first-round bye at this year’s event, takes a 3-0 head-to-head lead into his second match with Gasquet.

Should he lose, he is projected to fall to world No.150.

Zhuhai draw set

The 12-player field at the WTA Elite Trophy has been organised into four round-robin groups following Monday’s draw ceremony in Zhuhai.

Tuesday’s play will open with a mouth-watering clash between Aryna Sabalenka and Ash Barty, with former world No.4 Caroline Garcia rounding out their group.

Daria Kasatkina is the top seed and contends with Madison Keys and Wang Qiang in her group, while Julia Goerges will look to defend her title when she takes on Elise Mertens and Anett Kontaveit in round-robin play.

Two-time major champion Garbine Muguruza has landed in the Camellia Group with Anastasija Sevastova and Zhang Shuai.

“I’m just trying to keep the enthusiasm,” Muguruza told wtatennis.com.

“I feel I’m a very competitive person, so even though there is tough moments or you feel injured sometimes, I know that the hard work will pay eventually. So I’m just going through and trying to improve so I can be better in the next season.”

Krejcikova, Siniakova crowned doubles No.1s

Czech pairing Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova will finish the year as co-No.1s – just the sixth pair in WTA history to achieve the feat.

The duo won Roland Garros and Wimbledon in a stellar year and advanced to the title match at the WTA Finals to close their season.

It was this last result that confirmed they would finish 2018 atop the ladder.

“We’ve worked hard all season and to finish the year as the top doubles team is an amazing feeling,” Krejcikova said.

Added Siniakova: “Becoming No.1 and winning a Grand Slam this year was our goal and ending the year as the No.1 team is a great accomplishment. I’m proud of all that Barbora and I have achieved this season.”

Other season-ending co-No.1 pairings were Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur (2006), Cara Black/Liezel Huber (2007-09), Sara Errani/Roberta Vinci (2013-14), Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza (2015) and Latisha Chan/Martina Hingis (2017).

Paire’s hair

It’s pink in Paris this week.

Pink is the new black avec @benoitpaire ??????????? !#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/oMX1ohqDXo

— ROLEX PARIS MASTERS (@RolexPMasters) October 29, 2018