Match of the Day
By Georges Homsi
Sunday, June 1, 2003
Albert Costa, more than anyone, deserves top billing on Monday. He is,
lest we forget, the man who upset the apple cart to win last year's French
Open; and as reigning champion it is only right that he should be scheduled
for the first time this year on Philippe Chatrier Court. Above all, though,
it is the heroic tenacity with which he has hung on to his crown that merits
recognition. He has come back from the dead in each of his first three
matches, most notably in his epic last encounter with Nicolas Lapentti, and
has more than earned his place in the sun. Whether he will be able to draw
inspiration from a return to the scene of his greatest triumph remains to
be seen. The home fans will be right behind French heartthrob Arnaud
Clement, who, unlike his Spanish opponent is as fresh as a daisy and raring
to go.
CURRENT FORM
Albert Costa probably slept well on Saturday night. In fact, following his
marathon five-set win over Nicolas Lapentti in the third round, he has
probably never slept better in his life. With fifteen sets and twelve
hours of top-class tennis behind him already, the Catalan has been pushed
right to the edge of physical endurance, yet somehow, somewhere has found
the resources to hold on and fight back. Incredibly, prior to this event he
had never recovered from a two-set deficit, and now he has gone and
done it twice in never-say-die wins over the Argentinean lucky loser, Sergio
Roitman and the Ecuadorian Lapentti.
Roland-Garros 2003 has been a stroll in the park for Arnaud Clement in
comparison. The only player to have made the last sixteen without losing
a set, the man from Aix-en-Provence has spent just over half as much time
as Costa on court (six hours, 36 minutes). That is a huge difference and
a massive advantage for the Frenchman. Roland-Garros used to be the only
Grand Slam in which he had failed to make the fourth round. Not any more.
With his win over countryman Nicolas Coutelot on Saturday, he joins
illustrious predecessors Leconte, Forget and Pioline in the elite club
of French players to have reached the second week in all four Grand Slams.
Bravo Arnaud, but that record will only provide him with scant consolation
should he lose on Monday for he has ambitions above that station at this
year's Roland-Garros.
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES
Albert Costa would be the first to admit he was not in the form of his
life coming into Roland-Garros. He would also recognise he has only
sporadically found his game here but to his eternal credit has found it
just when it mattered when the chips have been down. In tennis, as in life,
a man shows his true worth when he is under pressure, cornered and seemingly
defenceless. Costa has donned his gladiator's gear here to fight off the
young lions just as they were coming in for the kill. But at 27, and
with so many courageous battles behind him, one fears for Costa's life when
his fourth lion, Arnaud Clement steps into the arena. A quick kill could
be the Spaniard's only hope. If the match is prolonged in the stifling
Parisian heat, surely he can't survive.
Arnaud Clement is a picture of health in comparison. Three months off with
a wrist injury meant he was already fresher than most coming into
Roland-Garros. Now, with a stress-free, quick-fire run to the fourth
round, he is perfectly poised to attack the second week in a positive
frame of mind. The Frenchman's quick march to the round of 16 is thanks
to three excellent all-round performances.
Tactically brilliant, he has varied his game to perfection attacking here,
counter-attacking there. He has played the waiting game, drop shot at
will and even indulged in a remarkable demonstration of clay court serve
and volleying on occasion. Last year's cruel loss to Alex Corretja when
he missed out on four match points appears to be behind him, and a win
over Corretja's best mate Costa would constitute some sort of revenge.
Clement did lose a marathon match to Costa in three hours four minutes
recently in Rome. But that was before the Spaniard embarked on his
Roland-Garros crusade.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS - COSTA : 2-0
2003 - ROME - (clay) - 2R - COSTA - 6-7 6-2 6-4
1998 - BOURNEMOUTH - (green clay) - QF - COSTA - 4-6 6-3 7-6
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記者偏心的太明顯了:p
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