http://www.daviscup.org/news/matchreport.asp?id=12400#
06 Apr 2003 - Le Zenith, Toulouse, FRA - Lewis Cumberland
Magnificent Federer Puts Switzerland in the Semis
Roger Federer won his third match in as many days to put Switzerland in
the semifinals for only the second time since the formation of the World
Group in 1981. France's Fabrice Santoro managed to take just three games
from the Swiss superstar who dominated the match from the outset, winning
61 60 62 in one hour and 29 minutes.
For the French the hits just keep on coming. After yesterday's unexpected
doubles team, today Guy Forget chose Fabrice Santoro instead of Sebastien
Grosjean who sustained a left leg injury during his singles match on Friday.
Unfortunately this did not seem to be the recipe that could throw Roger
Federer off course. The first set witnessed once again, Super Roger. The
Swiss took an early lead, wrapping it up 6-1 in 20 minutes.
A break to kick off the second set just proved that Federer was not about
to let up. He followed up his break with a convincing service game to lead
2-0. It seemed as though “Fab” had left his fighting qualities at home.
Serving at 1-6 0-4, Santoro seemed lost on the court. As he was getting
ready to serve, he realized that he was standing on the wrong side.
[其實這種事好像還蠻常發生的?!] The faithful supporters of French tennis
could do nothing else but feel sorry for the one who has done so much
for his team. After losing 11 games in a row, France was now trailing
two sets to love, Santoro losing the second set with an embarrassing 6-0
in 30 minutes. Switzerland was at this point in time only one set away from
clinching a spot in the Davis Cup semifinals for only the second time in
Swiss tennis history.
The third set began on better terms for the French than the previous two.
Santoro tried to vary his game in order to get back into the match but
there was no stopping Federer. Overheads, drop-shots, passing shots,
everything he touched turned to gold. In no time the match was over.
Despite the two games won by Santoro and the match point saved the score
went too far too fast, the final set ending 6-2 in 39 minutes.
Switzerland, or Roger Federer, has qualified for the semifinals and will
play Australia in Australia in September. This is Switzerland's second
semifinals appearance, as it was in 1992 is once again at the expense of
France. There is also no doubt that the 2001 confrontation between these
two nations in Neufchatel was still fresh in the memories of all the Swiss
players and fans. On that occasion Nicolas Escude won the fifth set of the
fifth rubber over George Bastl to dash Swiss hopes.
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