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| September 4, 2002 | Wednesday | Jamadi-us-Saani25,1423 |
Wins prove worth the weather wait for American trio
NEW YORK, Sept 3: America’s two veteran tennis icons and its fast-rising young gun all waited out the weather, then released the fire-power to march ahead of a day of rain delays at the US$16.1-million U.S. Open Monday.
The Labour Day holiday signified hard evening work for Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick as they got onto court en masse in the evening after a seven-hour rain delay day of frustration at the season’s last Grand Slam.
Four-time champion Sampras laid his guts and determination on the line in a battle to the finish with Greg Rusedski. Sampras rode a wave of home support into the fourth round 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-4.
The 31-year-old American veteran lived up to his hope of peaking for the major events as he outduelled the big Brit, striking more than 82 winners on the way to victory.
Sampras turned his modest tie-break record around, winning two of the five sets in deciders against Rusedski, who played the final at the New York Grand Slam in 1997 against Australian Patrick Rafter.
The 32-year-old Agassi continued his charmed life, taking another straight-forward victory over compatriot Jan-Michael Gambill 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.
Roddick, who just turned 20 last week, finished up a good night at the office as he overcame Spain’s Alex Corretja 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6), claiming the match in a thrilling tie-breaker.
The top seed found himself relegated to a minor showcourt, but barely blinked as he dispensed a 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 defeat to Czech 14th seed Jiri Novak.
Dangerous Max Mirnyi of Belarus jumped on the unsteady game of Swiss 13th seed Roger Federer 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Sampras, without a title in 33 straight tournaments, will head straight back into action Tuesday, taking on third seed Tommy Haas in the fourth round.
The German outlasted Swede Thomas Enqvist 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Agassi, staying away from the hubbub of Manhattan in a suburban Westchester house with wife Steffi Graf and son Jaden Gil, had the benefit of a private court to hit on.
A pair of South Americans advanced, with Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, perhaps the hardest-hitting young player on the ATP, thumped seventh seed Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
Unseeded three-time French open winner Gustavo Kuerten moved ahead when Chile’s Nicolas Massu retired 6-1, 5-4, with a groin and hamstring injury, a Grand Slam-record tenth man to quit at this edition.
Women’s third seed Jennifer Capriati and number 4 Lindsay Davenport scored near-identical wins in less than an hour to race into the last eight.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Capriati booked her spot by beating fellow American Amy Frazier 6-1, 6-3. It was reverse numbers for Davenport, who ousted Italy’s 13th seed Silvia Farina Elia 6-3, 6-1 in 58 minutes.
Daniela Hantuchova, the 11th seed from Slovakia, completed a miracle recovery after a sprained thumb suffered in an on-court slide in her second set on Saturday against sixth seed Justine Henin.
When the pair got back onto court 24 hours later to conclude, the teenager fought through to hand the Belgian a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4) defeat playing with a bandaged thump and lightly strapped right ankle.
Davenport won 12 of the last 14 games against Italy’s Farina Elia, ending with a break to love.
Monday’sresults
Women (4th round):
Jennifer Capriati (USA x3) bt Amy Frazier (USA) 6-1, 6-3; Lindsay Davenport (USA x4) bt Silvia Farina Elia (Ita x13) 6-3, 6-1; Daniela Hantuchova (Svk x11) bt Justine Henin (Bel x8) 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4); Elena Bovina (Rus) bt Francesca Schiavone (Ita) 7-6 (7/4), 6-4; Amelie Mauresmo (Fra x10) bt Kim Clijsters (Bel x7) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Men (3rd round):
Tommy Haas (Ger x3) bt Thomas Enqvist (Swe x29) 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Juan Ignacio Chela (Arg x26) bt Tim Henman (Gbr x5) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2; Fernando Gonzalez (Chi x28) bt Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa x7) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Andy Roddick (USA x11) bt Alex Corretja (Spa x18) 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6); Pete Sampras (USA x17) bt Greg Rusedski (Gbr x33) 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-4; Sjeng Schalken (Ned x24) bt Sargis Sargsian (Arm) 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Gustavo Kuerten (Bra) bt Nicolas Massu (Chi) 6-1, 5-4, retired; Arnaud Clement (Fra) bt Guillermo Coria (Arg) 2-6, 6-2, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5)
4th Round:
Lleyton Hewitt (Aus x1) bt Jiri Novak (Cze x14) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5; Andre Agassi (USA x6) bt Jan-Michael Gambill (USA) 6-2, 6-3, 6-3; Max Mirnyi (Blr x32) bt Roger Federer (Swi x13) 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.—dpa
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