Moya Gets Past South African Qualifier
by Neil E. Schlecht
Friday, August 29, 2003
In a night match on the Grandstand that on paper looked to be a total m
ismatch, the Spaniard Carlos Moya dismissed Wesley Moodie of South Africa in
three sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.
Moya, the no. 7 seed and winner of three titles this year, looked to have
the advantage against Moodie, who was making his US Open debut after
surviving the qualifying rounds. Moya, a Grand Slam winner at the 1998 French
Open, is a former world no. 1; Moodie was playing in only his second
Grand Slam event and is ranked No. 95 in the world.
Moya cruised to a first-set lead over his tall opponent, but the second
set was considerably more complicated. The unheralded Moodie hung tough
against Moya's blistering serve and topspin lobs. Moodie either stayed back
and waited for Moya to spray errors, or he chipped and charged to force play.
Moodie played two exquisite points to go up 5-3, but, serving to equal
the match at one set all, he handed the advantage right back to Moya. He blew
two drop volley attempts and Moya slammed a nasty passing shot to get back on
serve. Moya then survived being down 0-40 on his own serve, but got out of
the hole with big serves and a gorgeous looping pass.
The tiebreak was knotted at 6-6, but Moya again reached back and blasted
a couple of service winners. The third set was a straightforward win for Moya.
Moya has been in a slump of late, coming into the US Open off a disappointing
summer hardcourt season. He lost in the first round of the two Master's evens
in Montreal and Cincinnati, the principal warm-ups.
When Moya is on, though, he's one of the most talented players on tour,
counting speed, power and touch in his arsenal. If he's to advance in accord
with his seeding, however, he will have to pick up his level of play as his
opponents get progressively tougher.
--
神奇的馬洛卡小子
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 218.162.57.106