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| August 10, 2002 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30,1423 |
Agassi, Hewitt clash in quarterfinals
CINCINNATI (Ohio), Aug 9: Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt will renew their rivalry in the quarterfinals of the Cincinnati Masters after both scored wins on Thursday.
Hewitt fought back from a set down before beating Finland’s Jarrko Nieminen 2-6 6-2 6-3 while Agassi eased past Thomas Enqvist 6-4 7-5 in his third round match.
Andy Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero were the day’s other big name winners.
Agassi started brightly, breaking mid-way through the first set but Enqvist fought back from an early break down in the second to make the American work hard.
He broke again at 5-5 to finally put the stubborn Swede away.
Hewitt has a winning record over Agassi and the seven-time grand slam champion said he will have to be on form to have any chance against the young Australian.
Having cruised through the first two rounds without the loss of a game, Hewitt found himself pinned back in the first set as he entered unknown territory in his match against Nieminen.
Hewitt, who had spent just 59 minutes on court in his first two matches, looked out of sorts from the start against Nieminen.
Despite Hewitt’s reputation for consistency, it was the Finn who looked more solid in the early stages and he made the most of the uncharacteristic errors from Hewitt.
The top seed knuckled down in the second set, breaking serve twice and holding his own with ease.
A break in the in his opening service game of the third set effectively ended any challenge from the Finn.
The bad news for Hewitt is half of the $57,000 dollars he has earned at the event so far will go to the ATP in fines.
The governing body of men’s tennis is punishing Hewitt for not completing his media commitments at the event and can dock him either $20,000 or half his total prize money for the week, whichever is greater.
RESULTS (PREFIX NUMBER DENOTES SEEDING:
Third round: Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) beat Richard Krajicek 6-2 3-6 6-3; 12-Andy Roddick (U.S.) beat Wayne Ferreira (South Africa) 6-3 6-2; Wayne Arthurs (Australia) beat Tommy Robredo (Spain) 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4; 8-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) beat Taylor Dent (U.S.) 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 7-6 (7-4); 6-Andre Agassi (Australia) beat Thomas Enqvist (Sweden) 6-4 7-5; 1-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat Jarkko Nieminen (Finland) 2-6 6-2 6-3 ; 16-Carlos Moya (Spain) beat Michael Chang (U.S.) 6-4 6-3; Rainer Schuettler (Germany) beat Xavier Malisse (Belgium) 6-4 6-3
EASY FOR SERENA
MANHATTAN BEACH (California): Home favourites Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport eased into the quarterfinals of the Los Angeles Open Thursday with routine straight-set victories.
Top seed Williams strolled to an easy 6-2 6-1 win over Nathalie Dechy of France, while Davenport had a minor scare in the second set against Russia’s Tatiana Panova before securing a 6-2 6-4 win.
After winning this title in 1999 and 2000, Williams fell to Monica Seles in the quarter-finals last year and Davenport went on to lift the title.
However, the pair are scheduled to meet in the final of this year’s event if they win their next two matches.
Williams is playing her first tournament as the world number one, having taken over the top spot from sister Venus after beating her in the Wimbledon final.
But being the best in the world doesn’t feel the way she expected it to.
Davenport seemed destined for an easy victory, but stumbled after building a 3-1 lead in the second set.
She had to fight off five break points at 3-2 before holding serve with her seventh ace, and although she broke Panova to love to lead 5-2 she failed to serve out the match.
The third seed was also threatened at 5-4, holding off a break point before securing victory.
In the quarter-finals, Williams will play Chanda Rubin, who overwhelmed Daja Bedanova 6-2 6-1.
Davenport faces Eleni Daniilidou, after the Greek player continued her good run with a 6-0 7-5 upset win over 10th seed Anne Kremer.
Fourth seed Jelena Dokic had an easy afternoon when Janette Husarova retired with a lower back injury after losing the first four games.
Dokic will next play Rita Grande, a 6-2 6-1 winner over Katarina Srebotnik.
The fourth quarterfinal will be between Japan’s Ai Sugiyama and either second seed Jennifer Capriati or Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Sugiyama beat South Africa’s Amanda Coetzer 6-1 7-6 and Capriati plays the 16th seeded Thai player in a night match.
RESULTS:
THIRD ROUND: 2-Jennifer Capriati (U.S.) beat 16-Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-2; Ai Sugiyama (Japan) beat Amanda Coetzer (South Africa) 6-1 7-6 (7-4); 4-Jelena Dokic (Yugoslavia) beat Janette Husarova (Slovakia) 4-0 retired; 1-Serena Williams (U.S) beat 15-Nathalie Dechy (France) 6-2 6-1; 12-Chanda Rubin (U.S.) beat 8-Daja Bedanova (Czech Republic) 6-2 6-1; Rita Grande (Italy) beat Katarina Srebotnik (Slovenia) 6-2 6-1; 3-Lindsay Davenport (U.S.) beat Tatiana Panova (Russia) 6-2 6-4; Eleni Daniilidou (Greece) beat Anne Kremer (Luxembourg) 6-0 7-5—Reuters
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