Davydenko gets Masters Cup berth as race reaches climax

Nikolay Davydenko became the fifth player to secure his place in the season-ending US$3.7 million Masters Cup in Shanghai, the ATP said yesterday.

The 25-year-old Russian, who reached the semis on his Masters Cup debut last season, joins Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick in the confirmed eight-player line-up for the Nov. 12-19 season finale at the Qi Zhong Stadium.

The US Open semi-finalist secured his place despite a second-round exit at his home tournament in St Petersburg last week with four players now unable to surpass his position at 5th in the ATP 2006 Race standings.

Reigning Masters Cup champion David Nalbandian, of Argentina, stands sixth in the rankings, ahead of American James Blake and Spain's Tommy Robredo in the vulnerable eighth spot.

Chilean Fernando Gonzalez is just eight points behind Robredo after his defeat to world number one Federer in the final of the Swiss Indoors in Basel while Croatia's Mario Ancic is 23 points behind the Spaniard after winning the St Petersburg crown.

The pair are scheduled to meet in the third round of this week's Paris Masters, the last qualification event for the Shanghai showdown.

"I have a good chance to qualify for Shanghai, which I don't want to miss," Gonzalez said.

Blake is drawn to meet Tommy Haas in the third round in Paris, with the German standing 12th in the rankings and needing to win the tournament to qualify for Shanghai.

A successful defence of his Paris Masters title is also required by Czech Tomas Berdych, the number 13, if he is to reach his first Masters Cup.

Roger Federer has pulled out of the Paris Masters tournament which started yesterday, saying he was exhausted, organisers said. The top seed is expected to be back in action for the season-ending Masters Cup.