| OLYMPICS:
DAY 4
Young Czech shocks Federer
Mardy upends Ferrero; Roddick fights
off 3 match points
By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net
© Mark Lyons |
| Juan Carlos Ferrero couldn't serve out the
match against Mardy Fish. |
Give it up to Andre Agassi,
who pinpointed just how good 18-year-old Tomas Berdych would be
back in January. Now Roger Federer knows after losing 4-6, 7-5,
7-5 to the Czech in the second round of the Olympics Tuesday.
Sometimes, experience and
Grand Slam credentials mean nil. "Obviously I am disappointed
because the Olympics means so much to me," said Federer,
who had proudly carried the Swiss flag during the opening ceremony.
The only good news for Federer is that he will have ample time
to rest up for the US Open. Confidence wise, though, he has to
be a little down, having lost two out of his last three matches,
including a three-set defeat to Dominik Hrbaty at Cincy.
Federer's loss really opens the door for No. 2 Andy Roddick, who
had to save three match points before finally hopping on Tommy
Haas 4-6, 6-3, 9-7.
"I'm happy to still
be alive," Roddick said. "I was pretty nervous. It's
a lot easier to handle defeat when you don't have the weight of
a nation on you."
LESSER AMERICANS HAVE BIGGER
WINS
Mardy Fish pulled off his the biggest win off the year when he
upset the injury-plagued Juan Carlos Ferrero 4-6, 7-6, 6-4. The
Spaniard let go of a 6-4, 5-3 lead and is experiencing the worst
year of his young career.
"The Olympic factor
had a lot to do with it," said Fish. "There was definitely
something extra there. I kept saying to myself: 'This is the Olympics;
This is the Olympics.' I can't go out in two straight sets. I've
had other big wins, but this is the Olympics, so it's the biggest
one."
Taylor Dent continued the US surge with a 7-6, 6-4 win over Hrbaty
7-6, 6-4, but the US men lost its first team member when Vince
Spadea went out in straight sets to Nico Massu of Chile. As expected,
Russia's Marat Safin, who complained of having to play the Olympic
in the first place, went down to Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-3.
JH-H IS BACK ON TRACK
It appears that Justine Henin-Hardenne
is really back. By stomping the tough Maria Vento-Kabchi 6-2,
6-1, Henin-Hardenne showed that she could hit through a quick
counterpuncher again. "I'm feeling good, much better now,"
the 22-year-old Belgian said.
Henin-Hardenne is just one victory away from a dream match-up
against Venus Williams, who blew out Maja Matevzic 6-0, 6-0.
Anastasia Myskina, who will likely face Henin-Hardenne or Williams
in the semis, had an unexpected 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 struggle with Puerto
Rican Kristina Brandi. Myskina's sore ribs could be acting up
again.
Second-seed Amelie Mauresmo is the flatout favorite in the bottom
half of the draw and showed it in torching Italy's Maria Elena
Camerin 6-0, 6-1.
Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA |
| Greek Eleni
Daniilidou eliminates No. 15 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria. |
Home country girl Eleni
Daniilidou pulled off her biggest win of the year, and overcame
cramps and No. 15 Magdalena Maleeva 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Mary Pierce
put her Fed Cup cap on and continued her fine play when representing
her nation, smoking the seriously slumping Nadia Petrova 6-2,
6-1.
Other notable results:
Ivo Karlovic d. Arnaud Clement 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-4; Nicolas Kiefer
d. Marcos Baghdatis 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; Mikhail Youzhny d. Jiri Novak
6-4, 6-3; Sebastien Grosjean d. Wayne Arthurs 7-6(2), 6-3; Fernando
Gonzalez d. Hyung-Taik Lee 7-5, 6-2; Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Akiko
Morigami 7-6(5), 6-2, Patty Schnyder d. Daniela Hantuchova 3-6,
6-1, 6-4; Fabiola Zuluaga d. Paola Suarez 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1; Karolina
Sprem d. Angelique Widjaja 6-3, 6-1; Lisa Raymond d. Silvia Farina
Elia 6-1, 6-2; Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Akiko Morigami 7-6(5), 6-2.
WEDNESDAY'S ROUND OF 32
MATCHES TO WATCH
Roddick v. Fernando Gonzalez (the two have similar weapons); Fish
v Max Mirnyi (a Davis Cup semi scrimmage); Dent v. Ivan Ljubicic
(who will bomb more aces?); Venus v. Pierce (can old Mary grab
a set?); Mauresmo v. Chanda Rubin (a dicey match for the Frenchwoman);
Myskina v. Daniilidou (can Greece's favorite daughter recover
in time?)
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