[節錄]http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/01/31/sport/FINAL.HTM
Aussie final will be left-handed battle

MELBOURNE -- Marcelo Rios of Chile ensured a battle of
the left handers in the Australian Open men's final by
killing off French comeback king Nicolas Escude yesterday.

The 22-year-old ninth seed beat Escude 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to
set up a final against sixth seed Petr Korda of the Czech
Republic.

It will be Rios's first Grand Slam final and the first
between two left handers since John McEnroe beat fellow-
American Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon in 1984.

Rios broke Escude's serve eight times in a crushing win
over one hour 23 minutes.

Escude, 21, made his own piece of Grand Slam history by
becoming the first player to fight back from two sets
down three times in a tournament. But this time it was
too much.

"I was not at my best physically and he put me under
constant pressure throughout the match. I just did not
get a chance.''

Escude has given his world number 81 ranking a major boost
by reaching the semi-final however and the Frenchman said
he was leaving with "no regrets."

Korda, who beat Karol Kucera of Slovakia in his semi-final
on Thursday, will start the final as favourite. But Rios
said he wanted the top prize so he could finally earn the
respect of fellow professionals.

He said he went through serious heart-searching two years
ago after he realised that he was "lazy'' and "tanking'' --
 giving up -- too easily when losing. "I realised that you
can win a match even when you are losing.''

He has since surged through the rankings and last year was
the only player to reach the fourth round or better at all
four Grand Slams.

Rios will be the first Chilean to reach a Grand Slam final
since Luis Ayala played and lost in the 1960 French Open
final. Rios and Korda share a 3-3 record heading into Sunday's
final.

Rios admitted yesterday he has taken a hammering at the
Melbourne casino.

He hinted that his losses even outstripped the winner's cheque
of $615 000

The Chilean followed world number one Pete Sampras in confessing
that he enjoyed the blackjack tables.

When asked what he would kill time before tomorrow's final, the
22-year-old Rios said: "I don't want to go to the casino. I have
lost so many bets.''

Asked further whether the winner's cheque would cover his losses,
he replied: "I don't think so.''

Sampras also said he had been enjoying the Melbourne blackjack
tables on nights off at the Open. Though knocked out in the quarter
final, Sampras said he had been winning at cards. -- Sapa-AFP