ATP PARIS MASTERS LATEST

BRITISH No.1 Andy Murray felt the full force of a Gael yesterday in Paris – Gael Monfils.

The Frenchman dumped Murray 6-2 2-6 6-3 to set up a showdown with Roger Federer in the Paris Masters.

Swiss world No.2 Fed has still to lose a set at the Palias Omnisports, and beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria in the quarter-finals 6-1 7-6(4) to reach his first semi-final at the event.

Given his relatively trouble-free run to the business end of the event Federer is the bookies favourite (1-5, Paddy Power). Also worryingly for Monfils he has lost all five of his previous meetings with the top seed.

But the passionate home support would love a see a Frenchman win the title and Monfils (7-2, William Hill, totesport, 888sport, Blue Square) will at least have the crowd on his side.

I reckon anything could happen in this one so take three sets in the match (11-5, William Hill). Federer to win 2-1 is 7-2 with Stan James but if you fancy Monfils will grab his first win over the Swiss he won't do so comfortably and the same bookmaker offers 8-1 on a 2-1 win for the Frenchman.

The other semi-final sees will see another Frenchman with the crowd right behind him.

Michael Llodra, like Monfils a Parisian, is contesting his first ATP 1000 semi-final, and comes up against world No.5 Robin Soderling.

World No.35 Llodra, who sent shockwaves around the men's game this week with a last-16 win over champion Novak Djokovic, saw his farirytale continue with a stunning 7-5 6-1 victory over Nikolay Davydenko.

Russian Davydenko was the bookies favourite but I hope regular readers took my advice ahead of the clash and backed a shock win for Llodra, which was available at 6-5.

Anyway on to today and this semi-final is another of the unpredictable variety. Form says Soderling (8-15, Betfred), who beat Andy Roddick yesterday, should cruise it but note that the pair have met twice previously in 2008 and 10 – with Llodra (13-8, Stan James) winning both.

I reckon the best bet is another three-setter (11-8, Boylesports). The same bookmaker offers 3-1 for Soderling to win in three and 19-5 for Llodra.

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