Paris, France (Sports Network) - Spanish star David Ferrer pressed on,
while Tomas Berdych became the latest high-profile loser at the $3.15
million BNP Paribas Masters, the final ATP World Tour Masters 1000
tournament of the year.
The fourth-seeded Ferrer disappointed the home crowd by dismissing sixth-
seeded French favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2, 7-5 in 80 minutes on Day 5.
Tsonga was unable to break Ferrer's serve, while having his serve broken three
times in a losing effort.
Ferrer's semifinal opponent on Saturday will be fellow Frenchman Michael
Llodra or American Sam Querrey.
Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded Berdych was ousted by France's Gilles Simon in
straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, in Friday's quarterfinal action at Bercy's Palais
Omnisports. Simon broke Berdych's serve three times, compared to only one
break for the Czech slugger in a 1-hour, 51-minute affair.
The former Wimbledon runner-up Berdych was the Paris Masters champion back
in 2005.
Second-seeded Novak Djokovic lost in the second round here on Wednesday, while
third-seeded Andy Murray and previously red-hot Juan Martin del Potro both
exited the draw in the third round on Thursday, and top-seeded and defending
champ Roger Federer pulled out of Paris on Sunday, one day before the
tournament commenced.
Another upset came when 6-foot-8 emerging Pole Jerzy Janowicz topped eighth-
seeded Serb Janko Tipsarevic 3-6, 6-1, 4-1, as Tipsarevic retired while
trailing in the third set. The qualifier Janowicz, who stunned Murray on
Thursday, fired 11 aces past Tipsarevic.
The newest Paris Masters titlist will pocket $620,000.
The Sports Network