Mantilla Ends Moya's Winning Streak
Spain’s Felix Mantilla ended countryman Carlos Moya’s nine-match unbeaten
streak with a 6-4, 7-6(4) victory to reach the semifinals of the Abierto
Mexicano de Tenis Telefonica Movistar in Acapulco. Mantilla, who had not
progressed beyond the second round in four previous visits to Mexico, defeated
Moya for the fifth time in 12 meetings.
After reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires in
recent weeks, he now meets Argentina’s Agustin Calleri in the semifinals.
Moya, the defending champion in Acapulco, was hoping to add back-to-back
titles after winning his first title of the year in Buenos Aires last week.
Calleri, playing in Acapulco for the first time, avenged his loss to
Marcelo Rios in Buenos Aires last week with a 6-3, 7-5 victory to reach his
first semifinal on the ATP circuit since Bastad. Meanwhile, former champion
Gustavo Kuerten moved through to the semifinals after Fernando Gonzalez
retired after losing the first set 6-4 with a shoulder and elbow injury on
his right side.
Kuerten, a winner in Auckland earlier this year, now meets Mariano Zabaleta
for the second time in a semifinal this year after the Argentine finally ended
qualifier Ivan Miranda’s impressive run in Acapulco. Zabaleta came through
7-5, 6-3 to reach his second semifinal of the year (Auckland, l. to Kuerten).
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Felix Mantilla:“I’m very pleased with what I’m doing. I’m
hungry now and I’m really finding my game. I’m putting a lot of heart into
my game and that’s paying off right now. To beat Carlos has a double feeling:
I’ve beaten a guy who’s in the Top 5 in the world, who is playing great
tennis and in top form; and I’ve also beaten a friend. But we are
professionals and you have to do it for yourself.
“I played well in Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires but so far this is my best
result and it had to come. I’m very pleased with the way my head is working.”
Carlos Moya:“I didn’t really find my game today. I never
really had control of the match. It’s too bad because I was hoping to do well,
but it’s difficult to keep playing a high level for two weeks in a row and win
back-to-back. Felix played a very good match. I tried to shorten the points at
times because if you play long rallies against him, you are not going to win.
I made a lot of unforced errors, but I’m confident for the year. I would like
to be in the Top 5 and continue to play well.”
Gustavo Kuerten: “I’m still taking it step by step here. I was struggling to
find my game over the last two matches and in Buenos Aires, but I found it a
bit more today. It was a very weird match because I felt from the beginning
that he was not feeling well and that can be a very difficult situation to play
because you don’t really know what to do. I felt sorry for him because I know
what it’s like to play under those conditions and it’s tough.”
Fernando Gonzalez: “I don’t like to retire during matches but the pain was
terrible. I was sick on Monday with my throat and then played singles and
doubles and hurt my arm. I’ve been having some bad luck lately. I couldn’t
play in Vina and then got hit by a ball in Buenos Aires and now this. I’m
hoping to be back in Indian Wells and Miami and hopefully find my game again.”
Agustin Calleri: “Everyone knows the kind of player Marcelo is. He’s a very
good player. I had lost against him three times before so beating him is a good
achievement for me because he has been playing good tennis lately. To reach
the semifinals is a fantastic thing for me.”
Marcelo Rios: “Calleri played a very good match. My schedule is Delray Beach,
Indian Wells and Miami.”
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 218.162.55.167