Spain's Fernando Verdasco keeps Tour final hopes alive

Spain's Fernando Verdasco came from a set down to beat Frenchman Arnaud Clement at the Paris Masters on Tuesday and keep alive his hopes of qualifying for the ATP finals in London this month.     

The Spanish sixth seed, who had won just one match since the US Open in September coming into Paris, struggled to keep up with 32-year-old Clement in the early stages, before rallying to win the last 10 games to secure a 6-3 3-6 6-0 second round victory.       

Verdasco needs to reach the semi-finals to ensure a place in London and will now either face French 12th seed Gael Monfils or German qualifier Benjamin Becker who play later on Tuesday. 

One player who will not be in London is Russia's Mikhail Youzhny after retiring in his second round match against Latvian Ernests Gulbis.                   

World number 10 Youzhny had pulled out at the start of the second round at the Valencia Open last week with a back problem.                                           

Speaking ahead of a mouthwatering tie with Frenchman Richard Gasquet, world number two Roger Federer said Paris was always a high-pressure tournament for players attempting to reach the season-ending Tour finals.                                           

"In the past when I was stuck in the race trying to make the World Tour Finals, that's what really gets you ... it's a mental drag (and) it becomes so hard for players."                                           

Along with Verdasco and Youzhny, Czech fifth seed Tomas Berdych also begins his campaign on Tuesday to seal a ticket for London where the top eight players compete.

"I remember back in 20022003, I could hardly sleep at night because I was so excited, nervous, eager to either make it or not ... that definitely had an impact on how well I played," Federer said.

David Nalbandian set up a meeting with Britain Andy Murray after comfortably beating Valencia runner-up Marcel Granollers of Spain.  

The tenacious Argentine, who has slipped down to 25th in the rankings after an injury-hit season, won 6-3 6-1.                                           

"I (had) surgery, so always after that you can't be 100%, but I can be quite good," Nalbandian told reporters. "(Murray) is a complete player ... if you do something bad you have less chance (of winning)."