http://www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/news/news/acapulco3.asp
FEB. 26, 2003
Moya Extends Streak; Guga Through
Top seed Carlos Moya overcame the loss of the first set to Lucky Loser Ricardo
Mello before winning his ninth consecutive match to reach the quarterfinals.
Moya, the defending champion at the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Telfonica
Movistar who now has a 10-1 record in the tournament, came through 4-6, 6-3,
6-2 to set up a 12th career meeting with fellow countryman Felix Mantilla, a
6-3, 6-4 winner over Fernando Vicente.
There was not such good news for the second and third seeds, however, as David
Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio both made second round exits. Nalbandian, a
quarterfinalist at the Australian Open and Buenos Aires this year, won the
first set tie-break against fellow Argentine Mariano Zabaleta but did not win
another game as Zabaleta reached his third quarterfinal of the year (Adelaide
QF, Auckland SF) with a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-0 victory. He now meets Peru's Ivan
Miranda, the qualifier who was 0-3 in ATP tournaments in his career prior to
this week but has now reached the quarterfinals after a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory
over fellow countryman Luis Horna.
Meanwhile, third seed Gaudio lost his 100 percent record against fellow
Argentine Agustin Calleri after going down 7-6(5), 7-6(5). Gaudio had won all
three of their previous meetings going into today's encounter, and despite
fighting back from a 0-3 deficit in the second set, still lost the second tie-
break of the day. Calleri now faces No. 7 seed Marcelo Rios, a 6-3, 6-1 winner
over Lucky Loser Juan Antonio Marin.
Elsewhere on day three, former champion Gustavo Kuerten, the No. 6 seed and
Fernando Gonzalez both fought their way into the last eight after more tough
matches. Kuerten, still recovering from his marathon victory over Nicolas
Coutelot (saved three match points), dropped the first set against rising
Spaniard David Ferrer before progressing 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. It was an emotional
victory for Guga and his coach Larri Passos, as it was exactly one year to the
day since he underwent hip surgery.
Gonzalez, who also saved a match point in his first round match against Ruben
Ramirez Hidalgo, had to demonstrate more of his fighting spirit against Sargis
Sargsian. Gonzalez, who spent most of Monday in bed after suffering with a
viral infection, eventually came through with a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory to set
up a quarterfinal meeting with Kuerten.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Kuerten: "Ferrer played very good tennis in the first set. It took me a little
while to get my rhythm again and maybe he got a little bit tired at the end."
On getting back to No. 1: "Obviously that's not in my mind right now. I'm
taking it step by step. It's only a year since my surgery, but I'm playing well
and I'm feeling comfortable out on the court. Last week I was in the semifinal
[in Buenos Aires], I won the tournament in Auckland and now I'm in the
quarterfinal here, so I'm not far away from my best tennis but I'm not thinking
about No. 1. My goal for the year for now is to enter the Top 10, which should
be realistic with the way I'm winning matches."
Moya: "I had another tough match today. Mello surprised me a little bit but I
as not really finding my rhythm and it took me a while to get into it. My
strategy was to play more to his backhand to open up my forehand, which is my
big weapon.
"Everyone can see how much I enjoy being here. I haven't seen much of Acapulco
yet, but that's good because it means I'm still in the tournament."
On playing Felix Mantilla: "We know each other very well. He's a very difficult
player to play against and he's been in top form lately. It's going to be very
difficult tomorrow."
Zabaleta: "I was very happy with the way I played. It was an important match
for me. I've been playing well but the results haven't been coming, so it was
just a matter of time. The score was a bit surprising, but I'm playing well."
Rios: "I've been happy with the way I'm playing. I announced that I would make
a decision about my schedule after the tournament, but as I掭 still alive, I'll
make a decision afterwards. The match was easier than I expected."
On Agustin Calleri: "I know him very well. We played in Vina del Mar the other
week and I was able to beat him. He's a very dangerous player with a lot of
weapons and he hits the ball very hard. We will be playing in the heat so the
balls are much faster than at night. It's going to be an interesting match."
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◆ From: 61.230.104.96
※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.104.96 (02/27 23:52)