7 - 13 June 2001
Issue No.537
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 7 - 13 June 2001 Issue No.537 |
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BRIEF ENCOUNTER:SIXTH seed Serena Williams overwhelmed Russian Nadia Petrova 6-3, 6- 1 to complete the French Open quarter- final line-up. The American, (r), was far too strong, sealing victory in only 69 minutes.
Second seed Marat Safin of Russia was bustled out of the Open, falling 6-4, 6- 4, 4-6, 0-6, 6-1 to his nemesis Fabrice Santoro in the third round at Roland Garros.
The US Open champion and world number two became the highest seed to fall in the men's singles over the weekend, going down in three hours and 12 minutes to unseeded Frenchman Santoro, who has beaten him in six of their seven meetings. The Russian was also fined $10,000 for failing to attend his mandatory post-match press conference.
American third seed Andre Agassi booked his fourth- round place with an entertaining 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Brazilian Fernando Meligeni in a match which finished in heavy rain on Centre Court. "It was pretty hard seeing the ball out there," said Agassi. "It was nice to finish it off in time to have a good dinner."
French Open fans love two-time champion Gustavo Kuerten, and the feeling is mutual. So when he completed a harrowing escape against American qualifier Michael Russell, Kuerten drew a heart in the court with his racket, then fell to his knees and blew kisses to the cheering crowd. Kuerten, seeded No 1, won 3-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
The crowd was firmly behind Kuerten, but there was less loyalty for No 1 Martina Hingis who beat Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud 6-1, 2-6, 6- 2. Top seed Hingis, whose on- court petulance two years ago in the final alienated many French fans, stayed on track to win the only Grand Slam crown to elude her. The Swiss reached the fourth round with an unconvincing 7-5, 6-1 victory over Australian Rachel McQuillan. "I struggled but I can't play every match perfectly," the 20- year-old said. "They were difficult conditions so I'm happy to have this one behind me." Hingis will face Frenchwoman Sandrine Testud, the 17th seed, in the last 16.
No 4 Jennifer Capriati reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time since 1993 by beating No 16 Meghann Shaughnessy 7-5, 6-1.
Other men's fourth-round winners included No 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero and No 7 Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
Belgian 14th seed Justine Henin strolled past Austria's Barbara Schett 6-3, 6-4. After injuring her ankle at the German Open, Henin had nearly ruled herself out of the trip to Paris, but she has found her form at Roland Garros to march into the last eight without dropping a set. "It is the first time in my career I have reached the quarter-final of a Grand Slam and I hope it is not going to be the last," said Henin, who celebrated her 19th birthday on Friday with a third-round win over Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano
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