That was the Year that Was
By Nyree Epplett
Sunday, June 8, 2003
2003 Roland-Garros will go down as a tournament of firsts.
The first time there was no Williams in a Grand Slam final since the 2001US
Open. The first time a Dutchman has reached the final here (Verkerk), the
first time that same Dutchman had ever won a Grand Slam singles match. The
first-ever all-Belgian Grand Slam final, first Grand Slam singles title for
Justine Henin-Hardenne, the first time Juan Carlos Ferrero has been ranked
No1, and the first time two brothers have won the men's doubles title here
since 1993. As the curtains come down on another clay bonanza, we wrap up
the results and highlights of the past two weeks.
All Hail Justine!
Diminutive Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne became the Queen of Roland-Garros
on Saturday. Playing the best tennis of her short career, and proving that
her Grand Slam nerves had now subsided, the steely Henin-Hardenne checkmated
the No1 and No2 seeds (Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters) one after the other
and dedicated the crown to her mother Francoise, who passed away when she was
12. Her gutsy three-set victory over the tearful Williams in the semi final
brought to an almighty halt the 33-match reign (four titles) of Serena at
Grand Slams and she became the first player since Jennifer Capriati to score
back-to-back victories over the American. More so, she even snapped the United
State's streak of 11 consecutive Grand Slam women's singles titles! And so the
US domination came to an abrupt end on the red dirt at 2003 Roland-Garros.
Two young Russians made sure of that. 21-year-old Nadia Petrova and 18-year-
old Vera Zvonareva signalled their stern arrival when they outstroked Jennifer
Capriati and Venus Williams in the fourth round. Petrova had also ousted
former champion Monica Seles in the first round, but after beating her
compatriot in three in the quarters, ran out of steam in the semis, beaten
easily by the more experienced Clijsters. Local hope Amelie Mauresmo's
impressive results (including a win over Serena) coming into the event had
many predicting her assent to the throne. But the 23-year-old Frenchwoman
combusted in the quarters under the weight of national expectation, blasted
off the court by Serena in two brisk sets.
King Juan Carlos!
Roland-Garros crowned a new King on Sunday Juan Carlos Ferrero, who played his
best Grand Slam match ever in overwhelming the Netherland's Martin Verkerk
6-1, 6-3, 6-2 to win the title. But it was, as they say, a long way to the
top. During the fortnight of dirtballing, 2002 finalist Ferrero needed to
played overcome an A-list of players, including Tim Henman, Rome champion
Felix Mantilla, Chilean smashballer Fernando Gonzalez (where he needed six
match points to overcome his flashy foe), 2002 champion Albert Costa and
finally the service bombing Verkerk.
Verkerk, on the other hand, survived three match points in his second round
against Peruvian Luis Hornan before stunning the highly favored fourth seed
Carlos Moya in five in the quarters, followed by Spanish clay courter
Guillermo Coria in three in the semis. Ferrero who had reached the final four
at Roland Garros in four straight years was primed for his first title and
suffocated the greenhorn Verkerk with bullet returns, deep groundstrokes and
superior movement. With the title, Ferrero became the third Spaniard in the
past six years to win Roland Garros.
Kim is consoled
Belgian Kim Clijsters made up for her loss in the women's singles final by
taking the doubles crown with Ai Sugiyama the next day (beating defending
champs Paola Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual). It was Clijsters first Grand
Slam title (she has previously reached the Wimbledon doubles final in 2001 and
Wimbledon mixed doubles final in 2000 - with boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt).
Clijsters then had time for a double celebration Sunday night as the popular
player also celebrated her 20th birthday the same day.
Oh Brother!
The American Bryan brothers Mike and Bob became only the third brothers to win
any Grand Slam event in the Open Era when they defeated defending champs
Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Paul Haarhuis on Saturday. It was the first Grand Slam
men's doubles title for the dynamic duo, who were born two minutes apart in
California in 1978. Their stirring victory on Philippe Chatrier Court meant
that the pair surpassed the previous record (10 titles - set by Tim and Tom
Gullikson) for the most titles won by a team of brothers in the Open Era. At
the end of the match, the pair fell to the ground simultaneously and after
wards dedicated the win to the Gulliksons who had played an important part
in the development as youngsters.
Two for Mike!
It was open season in the mixed doubles, following the disappointing
revelation that Steffi and Andre were not appearing because of Steffi's
pregnancy. So Mike Bryan seized the opportunity to snatch his second Grand
Slam mixed title, teaming with fellow American and regular partner Lisa
Raymond to take the crown over Mahesh Bhupathi and Elena Likhovtseva. Bryan
and Raymond are quite a combination; the pair having won the 2002 US Open.
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 61.230.106.226
※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.106.226 (06/09 11:34)