Schuettler, Clement Chase Consecutive Titles in Lyon Showdown
Two of the hottest ATP players on tour this fall season will meet
in the final of the Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon after top-seeded
Rainer Schuettler and French favorite Arnaud Clement both won
semifinal matches Saturday in the Palais des Sports de Gerland.
In the day's opening singles match, Schuettler and Russia's Mikhail
Youzhny, who had warmed each other up in practice just two hours
before match time, gave the packed crowd a splendid display of
backcourt tennis. Youzhny went up a break early in each of the
three sets, but Schuettler was able to battle back in two of them
to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-5. In the final set, Schuettler was down a game
point at 3-0 before battling back to tie it at 4-all. Youzhny had
a good chance to win when he served for the match at 5-4, but the
confident German won three straight games. Since the beginning of
the hard court season in early August, Schuettler is an incredible
25-5, including a title last week in Tokyo.
He will meet another hot player in Arnaud Clement in the final.
Clement, a semifinalist last year (l. to Kuerten) has also won nine
straight matches including his win at the Open de Moselle last week
in Metz. During that time, Clement has dropped just one set and he
has yet to lose a set this week in Lyon. Saturday, he played what
he called "perfect tennis" to upend Paradorn Srichaphan in just over
an hour.
The last Frenchman to win back-to-back ATP titles is Paul-Henri Mathieu,
who accomplished the feat last year in Moscow and Lyon. The last German
to win back-to-back ATP titles is Tommy Haas, who won Vienna and then the
Masters Series Stuttgart (now Madrid) in 2001. Taylor Dent of the United
States won back-to-back ATP titles in Bangkok and then Moscow last week.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Schuettler: "He started playing really well midway through the second
set and at the beginning of the third. When he went up 3-0 and had a
game point, to be honest, I thought 'it's over,' but then I won that
game and when you are just one break down [instead of two] you still
think you are in it. I just kept fighting and when he got to 4-all, I
couldn't believe I was back in the match, so that's why I had a little
laugh. It actually made me relax a little.
"Tomorrow's a final so even if I'm tired, I'll give it my all. With a
crowd like this it's hard not to. Either opponent will be tough. Paradorn
is playing really well -- he got to the semis last week and plays well on
this surface. Arnaud won the tournament in Metz and will definitely have
the crowd behind him."
about his ankle
"I just jammed it a little when I was hitting a forehand in the middle of
the second set. I had the trainer come out to look at it just to see if
it's something that could get worse. It bothered me a little when I was
pushing off on my serve, but it didn't get any worse and it should be
fine for tomorrow after I get some treatment."
Youzhny: "When it was 3-0 in the third, I needed to be playing like I
was playing before, but I think I was just trying to finish the match
too quickly and I made some mistakes."
about Schuettler calling the trainer
"Maybe I was thinking about it a little at first, when it looked like
he was having some trouble moving, but then he started moving fine and
I wasn't even thinking about it. I was just playing.
"When I served for the match it was just too many second serves. I didn't
serve like I was serving early. I needed to stay aggressive and I didn't
do that."
Srichaphan: "I think he played great. He's moving well. I tried to move
him from side-to-side but he was so quick and mixed it up really well.
"I think I needed to be hitting my first serve better today. I had some
trouble with it this week. I was rushing the first serve I think and my
last two opponents were putting pressure on my second serve.
"Hopefully I'll be back, I love playing in front of this public."
Clement: "I played pretty much a perfect match today. I played good tactics
and good tennis. I've been playing well the past two weeks and this was just
an accumulation of matches and confidence.
"Physically I feel fine. I've only had one three-setter during this streak
[of wins] so that should be no problem.
"I'm really feeling motivated at the moment, not just in matches with this
great French crowd but also in practice and training."
about facing Schuettler
"Rainer is No. 6 in the world and he's had a great season. I don't know
what the outcome will be tomorrow, but I do know that it will be a tough
match either way. He hits hard from the back of the court and moves really
well."
SINGLES FINAL PREVIEW
Schuettler Fast Facts
2003 In Review: Has had a standout year, having already recorded 22 more
match wins (63) than in all of 2002 (41). After reaching first career
Grand Slam final at the 2003 Australian Open (l. to Agassi), reached
semifinal at Pacific Life Open (l. to Kuerten). During the clay court
season, reached quarterfinals in Munich, Rome, Gstaad and Stuttgart,
but was 0-4 and failed to reach a semifinal on clay. Has been on a tear
since the hard court season started with semifinals appearances at
back-to-back Masters Series events in Montreal (l. to Nalbandian)
and Cincinnati (l. to Fish). Lost in final of Brasil Open to Sjeng
Schalken before ending two year title drought with victory in Tokyo
last week. Clinched a spot in the year-end Tennis Masters Cup with
his performance this week in Lyon.
Miscellaneous: After reaching the final of the Australia Open, the red
Fila shirts worn by Schuettler were sold out across his native Germany.
Has improved his ranking every year since turning professional in 1995
with year-end rankings of: 445 (1995), 329 (1996), 123 (1997), 111 (1998),
48 (1999), 45 (2000), 43 (2001), 33 (2002). Became first German since 1999
to qualify for Tennis Masters Cup. Coached by Dirk Hordorff, who is not
here in Lyon this week.
Clement Fast Facts
2003 In Review: Started the season in early March at Delray Beach due to
right wrist injury. Failed to win two matches in a row for more than two
months but turned season around by reaching the fourth round at Roland
Garros (l. to A. Costa), then semifinal on grass in Halle (l. to Kiefer),
including a three-hour win over Karol Kucera in the quarterfinals. Reached
final in s'Hertogenbosch (l. to Schalken) and went 8-3 during the grass
court season. Struggled again on hard courts going just 3-6 before
winning indoors in Metz at the inaugural Open de Moselle, dropping just
one set (in final against Fernando Gonzalez).
Miscellaneous: Trying to become first player since Marc Rosset in 1994
to win this event twice. Became second Frenchman to win an ATP title this
year (after Julien Boutter in Casablanca) when he captured the Open de
Moselle in Metz. Is on the longest match-win streak of his career with
nine consecutive wins. Previous best was six straight wins, which he did
twice -- at 2001 Australian Open and in fall of 2000 (Lyon/Paris). Coached
by Remi Barbarin, who played collegiate tennis in the U.S. for one season.
QUARTET OF YOUNG DOUBLES STARS IN FINAL
Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram from Israel won their first ATP title
together in Bangkok at the inaugural Thailand Open two weeks ago and
will face off against the fast-rising French team of Julien Benneteau
and Nicolas Mahut, who were victorious last week in the Open de Moselle
in Metz.
Ram also won the doubles title at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis,
USA, in July with partner Mario Ancic. Ram and Erlich had a surprising
run to the semifinals of Wimbledon this year, losing to eventual champions
Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge.
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