Ferrero Through as Escude Retires
Thursday, June 26, 2003
照片http://www.wimbledon.org/images/pics/large/b_04_Ferrero_03_epa.jpg
Juan Carlos Ferrero, the third seed and world number three, is
keen to emulate Bjorn Borg's achievement by winning the French
Open and Wimbledon in the same year.
Such a feat would no doubt shoot him up the rankings and realise
his other ambition - that of becoming world number one. But he
will have to pick up his game if he is to achieve those goals,
progressing on this occasion by courtesy of a retirement.
Before that, Nicolas Escude exposed a few weaknesses in the
Spaniard's game with his powerfully struck flat shots feeding
off the high bouncing balls Ferrero honed on the European clay
courts. He was aided by some indecision in the seeded player's
mind during the first hour of the match.
Many of those problems were exploited in the opening set which
saw Escude, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, gain control
to force a tiebreak that he went on to claim 7-5, having first
trailed 1-4.
However, the 27-year-old Frenchman who has dropped down the
rankings to 61 as a result of a string of injuries collected
over the year - a strained right hamstring, a hip injury and
a groin strain - felt it necessary to have a quick chat with
the trainer during the second set.
Immediately Ferrero's confidence grew as he executed his strokes
with more conviction. He earned a well deserved break, served
out to level and broke in the opening game of the third.
At deuce with Ferrero serving 2-1 up, Escude did the splits and
decided to call a trainer for treatment to the top of his left
thigh. That proved extremely effective and he recovered his
service break.
Two games later, Ferrero watched in astonishment as his supposedly
injured opponent flung himself around the court to save three break
points but he regained the advantage at the next opportunity.
Two games later, the Frenchman accepted that he would not be able
to survive a five-setter and accepted the inevitable by retiring
with the score in Ferrero's favour, 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-3.
His bravery was duly acknowledged by the packed Centre Court who
were enjoying his battling performance but it was Ferrero who goes
forward to meet Sargis Sargsian. That promises to be another huge
hurdle for the Spaniard with big ambitions to fulfil.
Written by Henry Wancke
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