No.3 Ferrero Ousts Qualifier Vacek
by Joe Checkler
Monday, August 25, 2003
Despite his own inconsistency and a valiant match from his
qualifier opponent, No. 3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero overcame
Jan Vacek in four sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to advance to the
second round of the 2003 US Open.
A three-quarters-filled Louis Armstrong Stadium saw a surprisingly
entertaining duel between Ferrero and Vacek, complete with
improbable winners, and even some humor. After regaining control
of the match midway through the third set, Ferrero eyed a Vacek
lob, faked a smash, and tried to loft a drop shot. Instead he
barely hit the net, sending the crowd into a laughing frenzy
that ended with the Spaniard half-bowing to his opponent and
the stadium.
The first set was all Ferrero, as he broke Vacek twice, including
the set-clinching game, without losing his own serve. The
still-arriving crowd was most impressed with a development
during the set's sixth game, when the umpire's microphone
finally turned on - getting more applause than anything else
in the first set.
Vacek turned a possible laugher into a match by breaking to
go up 2-1 in the second set. He received his break point
opportunity when a possible Ferrero winner on 30-30 hit the
tape and bounced high, setting up an easy forehand winner. At
30-40, Vacek closed out to earn the break.
Although Ferrero broke Vacek back to get to 3-3 in the second,
Vacek broke to get to 5-4, thanks to several Ferrero errors.
He closed out the set by winning the match's most contested
game, one which saw Ferrero fight off two set points before
eventually succumbing to the 27-year-old Czech Republic native.
The third set saw Ferrero break to go up 3-1, and he never
allowed Vacek to come close to breaking his serve. The fourth
set, the shortest set of the match at 25 minutes, was more of
the same as Ferrero used deep forehands and backhands to gain
control of and eventually win points.
Next for Ferrero will be the winner of the Jurgen Melzer vs.
Brian Baker matchup.
Match Facts
◎Ferrero's best US Open showing was in 1999 when eventual champ
Marat Savin beat him in the round of 16.
◎Ferrero has won three tournaments this year - all on clay.
◎Ferrero has posted career best results in the first three 2003
majors. He needs to gain the quarterfinals to do the same in the US Open.
◎Vacek has now never won a US Open match in three tries.
◎Vacek qualified for the 2003 Open by defeating Petr Luxa, Rajeev
Ram and Vincenzo Santopadre.
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◆ From: 61.230.109.123
※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.109.123 (08/27 04:33)