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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 19 - 25 October 2000 Issue No. 504 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 19 - 25 October 2000 Issue No. 504
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Elections Palestine International Economy Opinion Culture Focus Features Travel Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Feet of clay
By Inas MazharSpaniard Albert Portas, the 1998 singles and doubles winner, did the trick again, winning the two titles at the 2000 Cairo Tennis Challenger. Portas, the tournament's first seed and world no. 64, beat Jiri Vanek of the Czech Republic 7-5, 6-3 in a thrilling final to win the singles title. A day earlier he partnered compatriot Alex Lopez Moron to beat Czechs Petr Kovacka and Pavel Kudrnac 6-4, 6-3 in doubles. All the action was on clay, on which Spaniards usually excel.
More than 60 players ranked between 50 to 100 in the world took part in the tournament in Gezira club from 9 to 15 October. According to ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) regulations, player rankings in a Challenger Championship should be below the top 50. Qualifications were held two days before the main draw which included 22 direct acceptances, four wild cards, four qualifiers and two special exempts.
En route to the final, Portas beat fellow Spaniard Navarro Selvador 6-0, 6-3 and Norway's Jan Frode Andersen 7-5, 6-4 . In the quarter-finals, he downed Holland's Edwin Kempes 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 and in the semi-finals knocked off Georgia's Ian Labadze 6-4, 7-6.
"It was a good and strong tournament," said Portas. "I'm glad I participated and, of course, to win here again. The crowd here was so nice to me and supported me this year as they did in 1998. I think I played a good match and hope that they enjoyed it."
Portas reaches for a backhand and later stands next to Vanek, above, during the awards ceremony
photos: Aref Saadeddin
Portas received $14,400 in prize money for the singles title and $6,200 for the doubles, in addition to 160 points which will be added to his world ranking.
"I did my best, but he was stronger," said Vanek, the third seed and ranked 79 in the world. "But I hope to clinch the title the next time I participate."
En route to the final, Vanek defeated Italian Steffano Tarallo 6-4, 6-4, Egyptian champion Karim Maamoun 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, Hungary's Savolt Atila 7-5, 7-6 and eighth seed Jacob Diaz of Spain 7-6, 7-6.
Runner-up prize money for Vanek was worth $8,480 plus 56 world ranking points.
For the first time since 1985, an Egyptian reached the second round of the championship. Maamoun, 21, was the only Egyptian standing by the second round. Amr Ghoneim lost to fifth seeded Spaniard German Puentes 6-3, 2-6, 6-4; Hisham Hemeida went down to another Spaniard, Jacob Diaz, seeded eight, 6-3, 6-4; and Marwan Zeiwar was defeated easily by Germany's Oliver Gross 6-0, 6-2. Maamoun made it to the second round after beating Ota Fukarek of the Czech Republic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
All Egyptian players entered the main draw through the wild card. "Maamoun was luckier than the rest," said tournament director Hisham Naser. "The draw put all Egyptian players with higher ranked and seeded players." Naser was referring to Puentes and Diaz, who were seeded, while Gross was a semi-finalist here two years ago. "They played well, but the difference in experience between us and them is great," Naser said. Fukarek, at 358, is 150 places higher than Maamoun.
"Overall, the level of our players is improving because of foreign coaches who have seen Egyptians play before and can now judge their progress," Naser added.
Turnout at the championship was disappointing. "I wonder why," asked Naser. "It's an international championship with famous players. In past years, Egyptians and foreigners were keen to come and watch. But now, it's very strange. It seems the public is not as interested in tennis as before except for some loyal fans and well-known faces who we always see here."
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