Tim Henman will almost certainly be absent from the year-ending Masters Cup after crashing out of the Paris Masters in straight sets to Frenchman Nicolas Escude today.
The British number one started well, breaking Escude in the second game to take an early 2-0 lead, but the players then swapped four straight breaks of serve before the set was tied up at 4-4.
Escude delighted his home crowd by claiming yet another break in the ninth game before holding his serve to love and taking the first set 6-4.
He then lifted his game another notch in the second set, breaking twice for a 5-2 lead before serving out the match.
Henman was in seventh position in the Champions Race entering the match and had made no secret of his desire all season to be among the eight players to contest the lucrative Masters Cup in Shanghai.
He needed a strong performance in Paris to secure his place but today's loss means he will probably be on the sidelines during the year's final tournament for the third straight year.
Escude received a wild card into the event in Paris and has taken full advantage, defeating French Open champion Albert Costa and Spaniard Felix Mantilla and will now meet the winner of the match between Dutchman Sjeng Schalken and Russian Marat Safin in the quarter-finals.
PA