ARAG ATP WORLD TEAM CUP, MAY 21, 2003
Chile and Argentina Set Up Blue Group Blockbuster
Czechs, Americans and Aussie in hunt for Red Group final
Chile and Argentina both improved to 2-0 at the ARAG ATP World Team
Championship Wednesday and will play each other Friday for a place in
the final. Fernando Gonzalez defeated Magnus Norman 6-2, 6-3 to seal
Chile's win over Sweden after Nicolas Massu, who replaced Marcelo Rios,
defeated Thomas Enqvist 6-2, 6-3 in the first rubber.
Gaston Gaudio's 6-2, 6-4 win over Tomas Behrend gave defending champion
Argentina an unbeatable 2-0 lead over Germany after David Nalbandian
saved a series of break points early in the second set to hold out Rainer
Schuettler 6-4, 7-5. When Lucas Arnold and Nalbandian won the doubles
rubber, Argentina extended its unbeaten record at the tournament to 6-0.
Early in the day Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek defeated Alex Corretja
and Carlos Moya to seal the Czech Republic's 2-1 win over Spain. The
Czechs have won both ties this week and can book their place in Saturday's
final if they win Thursday's round-robin clash with the USA.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Gaudio: "Fortunately for me, I don't think Behrend could match the level
of play he demonstrated against Marcelo Rios. I don't know if I would have
won otherwise. I was certainly feeling good out there. In our next tie
against Chile, really either team could win. It is going to be close.
Interestingly, I have never beaten Marcelo (Rios) (0-4 record), and
Nalbandian has always beaten Gonzalez (4-0 record). Argentina won this
event last year and we are very determined to repeat our victory. We are
very focused to win the title again."
Behrend: "I played against Rios, but that was in the ice stadium. The
feeling here and the atmosphere really was different here in the Rochusclub
on the huge court. I guess that I held back at the beginning when I was
a little nervous. It was beautiful and I wish the tournament would go on
for weeks, because once you get used to playing on that court, it's
absolutely great.
Schuettler: "I think I had seven or eight break points (early in the
second set) that I didn't make. That's always dangerous. It could have
been 5-0 in the second set and I didn't make one break. That's a little
bit disappointing. Against a player like this, you have to take your
chances, otherwise you lose. That's exactly what happened today."
Nalbandian: "It was a tough match. He was playing very well, but I was
also playing some great tennis to take the victory. As a team, we are
playing very well. We still have to take it a match at a time and take
each day as it comes."
Gonzalez: "I am very happy with the way I played today. It was a great
match. I've come playing with a lot of confidence this week and I hope
I can maintain this form in Paris next week. I have never beaten Nalbandian
before. It's going to be a very important match. I am very eager to beat him.
In the past, I don't think I've played my best tennis against him. I can't
take it away from him, either. He is a great player who fights hard until
the very last point. It's important to be relaxed on the court and not
speculate too much as to who is going to win or lose."
Massu: "I wasn't pushed very hard today. The court was slow and heavy.
Those sort of conditions favor my game and I am certain they work against
his. I wasn't surprised to be playing today instead of Marcelo (Rios).
I came here wanting to take every opportunity to play as many matches as
possible."
Corretja: "It is very disappointing to have come here with such a strong
team and now not to be able to compete in the final. Carlos (Moya) had
three match points against Novak yesterday and that would have changed
everything. Instead, we were facing a very strong doubles team in a deciding
match. Novak and Stepanek are a long established pair in doubles, reaching
the final of the US Open last year. We are going to fight hard tomorrow
against Australia so we can hopefully finish the team championships in a
better position."
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 61.230.116.119
※ 編輯: esnique 來自: 61.230.116.119 (05/22 08:31)