Stepanek upset sets up meeting with Henman

Nobody can afford to take anything for granted at the Masters Series tournament here this week, the last lap in the race to the Masters Cup in Shanghai. We saw that last night when Radek Stepanek, a Czech qualifier, eliminated Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten, a three times French Open champion, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, to advance to meet Tim Henman in the second round tomorrow.

While Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi, both guaranteed qualification, continue their duel to finish the year as world No 1, other players are fighting over the six remaining places in the Shanghai showdown.

Henman, given a bye in the first round as one of the seeded players, is currently No 7 in the Champions Race, and must advance to the Paris final to be certain of qualification. So, too, must Carlos Moya, of Spain, who is only seven points behind Henman. Only one of these rivals can reach the final, because they are drawn to meet in the semi-finals. Moya's opening match will be against either James Blake or Fernando Gonzalez, of Chile, the runner-up to Argentina's David Nalbandian in Sunday's final in Basle.

The rest of the Paris equation is as follows: Marat Safin (third in the race) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (fourth) can qualify for the Masters Cup by winning one match. Jiri Novak (fifth) and Roger Federer (sixth) both need to reach the semi-finals.

If Federer and Henman both win one match, Albert Costa (ninth) will gain the wild card spot reserved for Grand Slam champions by reaching the semi-finals, or if he wins one match and Thomas Johansson loses before the final. If Henman and Federer lose their opening match, Costa could gain an automatic place with a semi-final appearance.

Tommy Haas (10th) needs to reach at least the last four to have a chance. Andy Roddick (11th) needs to reach at least to reach the final. David Nalbandian (12th) and Guillermo Canas (14th) both need to win the title.

Roddick and James Blake were being driven to Notre Dame yesterday morning when their courtesy car was blocked by striking workers from local sports centres whose attention was attracted by the Paris Masters logo. The demonstrators' slogans were intended for the city paymasters rather than sight-seeing tennis players.

Roddick and Blake were soon allowed on their way, and later they went to the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy to practise, which would have made them the envy of all those who have been locked out of gymnasiums for the past month.

Some perhaps sought refuge among a sizeable crowd on the opening day. The unsung Stepanek made their day, fighting for every point against Kuerten, even in losing the opening set, and deserved to cause an upset by winning the third set tie-break, 7-3.