Basher Verkerk meets dasher Coria
By Guillaume Baraise
Thursday, June 5, 2003
Who, before the tournament, would have bet on a semi final match-up between
bashing Dutchman Martin Verkerk and dashing Argentinean Guillermo Coria?
Seventh-seeded Coria has to start out as favorite, but with neither man able
to call on experience of a Grand Slam semi, anything could happen.
CURRENT FORM
Martin Verkerk fully deserves his place in the 2003 French Open semi final.
Never mind that he had never even won a Grand Slam match before coming here
(he lost in the first round at the US and Australian Opens). No matter that he
was unheralded, unnoticed even, in the early rounds. Forget the criticism of
his game (one-dimensional, over dependent on a booming serve). The flying
Dutchman is there, in the final four, and deserves respect 퀠something his
recent opponents may have only afforded him as defeat closed in. The fact is,
the 24-year-old has been playing well all season long. After beating Yevgeny
Kafelnikov in Milan, he got to the quarters in Rome and the semis in Sankt
Polten. He did go through a poor patch after losing a five-setter in the
decisive rubber for Holland against Switzerland. Understandably shaken, he
only won two of his next ten matches. The launchpad for his unlikely run here
was unquestionably the win over Peruvian Luis Horna in the second round. He
saved three match points in that one, and celebrated by disposing of
Australian Open finalist Rainer Sch鹻ttler (No11). He then exceeded all
expectations by beating Carlos Moya, Roland-Garros champion in 1998, in an
epic five-set quarter final.
Guillermo Coria has been in scintillating form all year long. After making the
final back home in Buenos Aires in February, and again in the Monte-Carlo
Masters Series in April, the nippy 21-year-old finally won his first major
tournament - the Hamburg Masters - just one week before Roland-Garros began.
Unsurprisingly, he has raced up the rankings this year and now stands at a
career high 7th in the world. Currently on an eleven match unbeaten run that
has included the scalps of Mariano Zabaleta and Andre Agassi (No2) here, the
little man should have too much clay court savvy for the valiant Verkerk.
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES
Just like the great Richard Krajicek 퀠a semi finalist here ten years ago -
Martin Verkerk relies on a thundering first serve and crashing groundstrokes
to batter opponents into submission. With 93 aces to his name, he has served
brilliantly. He has line judges and cameramen running for cover (one of his
serves was registered at 217km/h earlier this week). Such qualities would
usually mark him out as a grass-court specialist, but Verkerk actually
professes to prefer clay 퀠and that tells you there is much more to his game
than a hit-and-hope strategy. Ungainly, he gets around the court remarkably
quickly, and has a drop shot that is all the more disguised when slipped in
after a series of crashing groundstrokes. Whether the Leiderdorp Leveller can
trouble the nimble Coria will depend on his staying power and ability to
handle Grand Slam semi final pressure.
The same goes for Guillermo Coria though, and that's what makes this semi
final so intriguing. Coria has handled the stress well so far, notably against
Zabaleta in five endless sets (6-4 7-6 5-7 6-7 6-3) and against his idol,
crowd favourite Andre Agassi. The dreamlike run he has been on all season on
clay can only fill him with confidence. Without doubt the fastest player on
the circuit, his defence is a one of his greatest assets. He invariably gets
that darned ball back 퀠which grinds his opponents down after a while. Not
that he only defends 퀠he hit backhand winner after backhand winner against
Agassi, with great speed born of perfect timing. His touch shots are a delight
to behold too. All those pure clay court attributes make him favorite then,
but this Dutchman just refuses to sit down. Just ask Moya.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS
The two have never met.
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※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.106.248 (06/06 11:52)