Awesome 'Guga' battles through to last 16
By Araz Gulekjian
Sunday, June 1, 2003
Three-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten finds himself in the second
week of the tournament after fending off a swift challenge from Argentinean
Gaston Gaudio (No21) on Suzanne Lenglen Court early Sunday.
The 26-year-old Brazilian secured a berth in the round of 16 with a 7-6(1) 7-5
5-7 6-3 win over his 24-year-old opponent. The match spanned two days but
lasted three hours, 36 minutes.
When darkness interrupted play late Saturday evening, Kuerten, the No15 seed,
had opened up a commanding two set lead and stood at 3-3 in the third set.
When play resumed early Sunday, Gaudio came out strongly and started finding
his range with his signature shot – a near-perfect one-handed backhand. He
closed out the third set in 58 minutes.
But the Argentinean would soon be driven to the point of despair, unable to
hold his ship afloat.
Kuerten was in perfect touch, finding the right length on his groundstrokes,
nudging handy drop shots, and executing beautiful half-court volleys at times.
Gaudio's valiant attempts to rally his way past Kuerten failed in the final set
, the former champ frustrating the Argentinean with his knack of escaping
trouble with daring half volleys off his second serves.
Despite a sub-par performance on his first serve (45 per cent), the former
world No1 fired twelve aces (to Gaudio's four). Kuerten made up for his high
number of unforced errors (82), by pounding down 70 winners (to 60 for Gaudio).
Kuerten moves into the round of 16 here for the sixth time of his career after
capturing the crown in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
Last year, the Brazilian lost in the round of 16 to eventual champion Albert
Costa.
He next meets Spain's Tommy Robredo (No28), who shocked world No1 Lleyton
Hewitt in five sets on Saturday.
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恭喜Guga!!繼續加油~
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