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Old 09-20-2015, 03:35 AM   #139
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
Paris Masters -- Second Round

All 16 seeds get a first-round bye so there was little of interest there. In the second round everyone pretty much just wanted to get their teeth into the tournament and avoid an upset. All succeeded, but Goncharenko was in danger against meteoric Argentinian Anton Grimaldo, until the Russian pulled through 7-5, 6-4. This was good news for those in a promising position, and not so good for those chasing. In particular, David Prieto now must make the final to have any chance.

Third-Round Matchups

The men would be separated from the boys in the round of 16;

** Goncharenko faces Hammerstein in an eliminator; the loser is out of the hunt.
** Prieto(vs. Almagro) and Marcek(vs. Iglar) must pull off upsets to keep their hopes alive. This draw particularly sucks for Marcek, the worst opponent he could have drawn -- yes, Benda is still the top seed but not nearly as tough indoors.
** Mehul is smiling broadly as a consequence, and also because he gets a rematch of last week's disappointment against Alvarez, this time without the support of his home crowd. It's important that he turns the tables here; he's probably in anyway but it's far from guaranteed if he loses.
** Topolski meets Groeneveldt, and if he avoids the upset he's all but confirmed as the 7th player.
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