Paris Masters 2011: Why the French May Do Better Than Federer or Murray

We have come full circle, and where we had started in Indian Wells eight months ago we finish now in Paris at the Paris Masters, the last regular ATP Masters Series tournament of the season. As usual we have the same sort of suspects, Federer and Murray,along with an ailing Djokovic, highlighting the draw this time around.

However, the Paris Masters has never really been the preserve of the big guns because it has been held at a time of the season when the very best are too exhausted to give it their all, or withdraw altogether to prepare for the season ending eight-man finale. Djokovic won the tournament in 2009, but it is one of the few Masters tournaments that has featured less than predictable champions, with the likes of Soderling (2011), Tsonga (2008), Nalbandian (2007) and Berdych (2006). Neither Federer or Nadal have won this, with only the latter having played a final.

Moreover, a factor often emerges at the BNP Paribas Masters - the French. For one of the few times in the year, the homebred heroes of Paris are able to swing with the freedom that the rest of the season all too often contains, with all its attendant pressures.

Julian Benneteau did the seemingly impossible in beating Roger Federer in the second round in 2009, Gael Monfils did the same to stop an even more impressive performance from the Swiss in the semis last year and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga went all the way in 2008. He had stunning victories over Andy Roddick and David Nalbandian enroute to the title.

Several things have gone the way of the French. For one, this is an indoor hard court, small, contained and pulsating event, unlike the grand, mystical murmurings of the soft clay of Roland Garros. On the red clay, the energy tends to dissipate quickly between points; however, indoors the momentum tends to be sustained and increase as the match progresses. Michale Llodra's amazing run to the semifinals and very nearly final last year, was clear testimony to this. It plays to the flamboyance of the French.

Then, of course, is the fact that the majority of the top French guys nowadays play with games better suited to faster hard courts than the clay of the French Open. Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga are good examples, with perhaps slightly less built exemplars in Simon and Gasquet.

Moreover, they are playing typically in a draw filled with exhausted, or absent, top seeds. The pressure is off, and the French, who are commonly criticized for not having the heart to match their horses, finally get the chance to show the world what they are all about.

This year, the draw is again replete with Frenchmen like: Gasquet, Monfils, and Tsonga all in the lurch. Roger Federer and Andy Murray are the tournament favourites this year, but only one of the them can make the final.

Will the French make their big year-ending statement at the Paris Masters yet again in 2011?