Guga devastates Arazi
By Nyree Epplett
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Parisian fans welcomed one of their favorite sons back to Roland-Garros today.
Three time champ Gustavo Kuerten put an uninspiring first round win behind him
by annihilating the Moroccan Hicham Arazi in straight sets to advance to the
third round.
Kuerten's valiant reversal of form at this, the scene of his emphatic Grand
Slam triumphs, was truly inspiring. Playing devastating tennis, the popular
Brazilian made short work of his North African opponent, inflicting the worst
defeat of their six encounters to date (6-1 6-0 6-1) in a mere 82 minutes.
Put simply, Kuerten could do no wrong.
"I think I played tactically perfect in the court," admitted the No15 seed, who
took four long sets to displace the veteran Swiss player Marc Rosset in the
first round. "I think, you know, one of these days, in your mind you know how
to play. As far as you get to the court, things start to go the way you want.
It's like everything come much easier."
Kuerten moved the dazed Moroccan around the dirt like a puppet on strings. He
forced him meters outside the court with his heavy topspin groundstrokes and
dictated the match with his aggressive, consistent play.
The former world No1 rifled 22 winners, converted seven of 14 break point
opportunities and broke Arazi's serve eight times, while enjoying a winning
percentage on his first serve of 79 per cent.
"I think I had the game in my head before going to the court very clear,
knowing how to play…I just was inspired enough and very focusing to maintain
the same level from the beginning to end, and really playing a solid game,"
said Kuerten, who last year dropped out of the top ten for the first time since
1998.
So what was previously touted the 'match of the day' became a disappointing
fizzer as the Moroccan combusted, making 57 unforced errors to his opponent's
30.
In fact, so dismal was the display by the normally flamboyant Arazi, that it
earned 'boos' and whistles from the disgruntled Parisians who had arrived
expecting a blockbuster. When the flashy left-hander won his serve at 1-4 in
the second set the crowd cheered wildly, hoping for a revival of sorts. But it
was not to be.
By the end of the match, the charismatic South American - who comes into the
tournament as somewhat of an underdog given his recent performances on clay -
had once again endeared himself to the French fans. He gathered his belongings,
gazed into the packed stands of center court and, cheekily grinning from ear to
ear, graciously waved and bowed himself out of the stadium.
But the lopsided contest hardly provided the thorough workout the former champ
needed to play himself into contention for this year's title. Once the world's
premier clay court player, Kuerten has been average, by comparison, since
having arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in February 2002.
The winner here in 1997, 2000 and 2001, he has not advanced past the semi
finals on clay since winning Stuttgart in July 2001. His lead-in to the French
Open has also been less than impressive.
But despite carrying less public expectation into the tournament, Kuerten
nevertheless admitted to still feeling the pressure. "I think as far as you
play this tournament, it's always some extra pressure. It's a big tournament.
"But in the same way, you more motivated that you are happy to be here. So you
have to put yourself in a middle term, between the good and the bad things that
involve a tournament like this. And for me it's always much more good things
than bad. I feel very happy to play."
The South American refused to be drawn into speculating about a possible semi
final clash against the in-form Juan Carlos Ferrero (who he has beaten in two
semi finals here), preferring instead to focus on his next match, which will be
against the dangerous Argentinean and No21 seed Gaston Gaudio.
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