Saturday, May 31, 2003
Saturday, May 31, 2003 |
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Tennis
HORS DE COMBAT: South Africa's Wayne Ferreira is stretchered off after pulling a muscle in his third round encounter against Germany's Rainer Schuettler at the French Open in Paris on Friday.
The defending champion routed Barbara Schett 6-0, 6-0 on Friday, needing just 40 minutes to win her third-round match at the French Open. The victory was the 31st in a row at Grand Slam events for Williams, who is seeking her fifth consecutive major title. ``Today was just my day,'' Williams said. ``Hopefully I can keep it up.'' Fourth seed Justine Henin-Hardenne also cruised, needing just 50 minutes to beat Madagascar's Dally Randriantefy, 6-1, 6-1. The top-seeded Williams lost only 14 points in the first set and six in the second. She won 12 points in a row at one stretch and hit 23 winners to two for Schett. Given the way Williams played, maybe fellow American Meghann Shaughnessy caught a break by losing to No. 16-seeded Ai Sugiyama, 6-1, 6-4. Sugiyama faces Williams next. Also advancing was No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo, a potentially formidable hurdle for Williams in the quarterfinals. The Frenchwoman beat Fabiola Zuluaga 6-3, 6-4. On the warmest day yet at Roland Garros — 29 degrees Celsius (84 degrees Fahrenheit) and muggy — No. 19 Patty Schnyder also advanced, defeating No. 14 Eleni Daniilidou 6-3, 6-4.
Spadea loses
In men's play, No. 29 Vince Spadea lost to Martin Verkerk 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. That left just one American in the draw — eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi. Wayne Ferreira, playing in his 50th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, left the court on a stretcher. Trailing Rainer Schuettler in the fourth set, Ferreira hurt his groin chasing a forehand and was forced to quit. Ferreira slipped, did the splits and fell on his back in pain. Schuettler grabbed ice from a container behind the changeover chairs and rushed it to Ferreira. After being treated by a trainer, the South African was carried off the court, waving to applauding fans. Schuettler, runner-up at the Australian Open in January, led 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3), 2-3 when the injury occurred.
El Aynaoui crashes out
No. 23-seeded Younes El Aynaoui lost to Mariano Zabaleta 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2). No. 7 Guillermo Coria, at 21 the youngest player remaining in the men's draw, beat qualifier Attila Savolt 6-4, 6-1, 6-1. Schett upset Venus Williams in the first round two years ago, but she was no match for the younger Williams. The Austrian had four break points early but soon found herself overwhelmed. ``When I stepped out there and I lost the first couple of games, I thought, `This is a difficult day,''' Schett said. Williams closed the first set with a remarkable exchange that left multiple track marks on her side of the clay. She raced toward a drop shot and scooped it back as she went sliding off the court. Then she reversed direction to hit a running, lunging backhand for a winner as she skidded across the other sideline. ``I'm running really fast here, and that's great,'' Williams said. ``I guess it's the fittest I've been all year.'' Schett managed to hit her only backhand winner in the final game, then raised both arms in mock jubilation as the centre-court crowd cheered. But she dumped a backhand into the net on match point, then walked off the court shaking her head and smiling in chagrin. Williams also smiled. But with four rounds to go for another title, she claimed there's room for improvement. ``I can serve better, for sure,'' she said.
Coutelot's fine run
The most captivating story of the first week has been Nicolas Coutelot, who plays fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in the third round. Coutelot beat Davide Sanguinetti in the opening round, then outlasted 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 2-6, 6-1 on Thursday. Not bad for a player ranked 208th who arrived at Roland Garros without a victory at the tour level this year. ``I'm not afraid of anyone,'' Coutelot said. ``It would be incredible if I got all the way to the end. If I said I can win the French Open, well, people think I'm mad. If you like, I'm mad.'' If Coutelot is wrong and loses his next match, he'll still receive $40,800 — more than his annual average in prize money since turning pro in 1995. ``It's hard because there are bills to pay, taxes to pay,'' he said after his first-round win. ``People think we all drive around in Porsches. If you like, I'll take you to the parking lot and show you what I drive around in.'' While Coutelot enjoys his ride at Roland Garros, several top players find themselves struggling to stay in the chase. Defending champion Albert Costa has played two five-set matches, each lasting precisely three hours, 38 minutes. On Thursday he edged Radek Stepanek 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten had an easier time, routing Hicham Arazi 6-1, 6-0, 6-1. In women's play, No. 3 Venus Williams was extended to three sets before she secured a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Evie Dominikovic, who took satisfaction in coming close. ``I was happy I was playing Venus and not Serena,'' the Australian said. The results: Men's singles (third round): Mariano Zabaleta (Arg) bt 23-Younes El Aynaoui (Mor) 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2); 11-Rainer Schuettler (Ger) bt 22-Wayne Ferreira (S.A.) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(3), 2-3 (retd.); 7-Guillermo Coria (Arg) bt Attila Savolt (Hun) 6-4, 6-1, 6-1; Martin Verkerk (Neth) bt 29-Vince Spadea (U.S.) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5. Women's singles (third round): 16-Ai Sugiyama (Jap) bt 18-Meghann Shaughnessy (U.S.) 6-1, 6-4; 1-Serena Williams (U.S.) bt Barbara Schett (Aut) 6-0, 6-0; 4-Justine Henin-Hardenne (Bel) bt Dally Randriantefy (Mada) 6-1, 6-1; 19-Patty Schnyder (Swi) bt 14-Eleni Daniilidou (Gre) 6-3, 6-4; 5-Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt Fabiola Zuluaga (Col) 6-3, 6-4. Thursday's results: Men's singles (second round): 15-Gustavo Kuerten (Bra) bt Hicham Arazi (Mar) 6-1, 6-0, 6-1; 28-Tommy Robredo (Esp) bt Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4; 20-Felix Mantilla (Esp) bt Federico Browne (Arg) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; 21-Gaston Gaudio (Arg) bt Olivier Mutis (Fra) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2; 9-Albert Costa (Esp) bt Radek Stepanek (Cze) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; 25-Tim Henman (GBR) bt Todd Martin (U.S.) 7-6 (7-5), 5-7, 6-1, 7-5; Fernando Vicente (Esp) bt 14-Sebastien Grosjean (Fra) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3; Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) bt Franco Squillari (Arg) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. Women's singles (second round): Maria Sanchez Lorenzo (Esp) bt Maja Matevzic (Slo) 6-2, 5-7, 6-3; 7-Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) bt Marion Bartoli (Fra) 6-3, 6-0; 3-Venus Williams (U.S.) bt Evie Dominikovic (Aus) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Julia Vakulenko (Ukr) bt 32-Francesca Schiavone (Ita) 6-3, 6-4; 22-Vera Zvonareva (Rus) bt Denisa Chladkova (Cze) 6-2, 6-3; Fabiola Zuluaga (Col) bt Emilie Loit (Fra) 7-6 (8-6), 1-6, 7-6 (9-7); 26-Silvia Farina Elia (Ita) bt Zuzana Ondraskova (Cze) 6-1, 6-2.
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