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KEITH NIEBUHRThe Argentine has shot up the rankings with speed and toughness, and in today's final he wants to avenge a loss last year.
KEY BISCAYNE - After his victory Friday at the Nasdaq-100, Guillermo Coria delivered a message to Andy Roddick, his opponent in today's final.
"Roddick," Coria said, "is going to have to earn it."
Coria, a 22-year-old Argentine, may be unfamiliar to many American fans, but in the world rankings he sits one spot, at No. 4, behind the well-known Roddick.
There are few who battle like Coria, a 5-foot-9, 145-pound street fighter who reminds many of Michael Chang.
Coria is a gutsy, grind-it-out type who utilizes speed and keeps the ball in play as long as he can with the intent of wearing down his opponent.
"I'm going to fight hard every point," Coria said.
Fernando Gonzalez can attest to that. Gonzalez watched Coria save four match points to claim a three-set win Friday. Gonzalez had double match point while serving ahead 5-4 in the second, but he double-faulted then misplayed a forehand, and Coria had the opening he needed.
"It's tough to come back, especially when you are playing against Guillermo," Gonzalez said.
Coria has made a rapid ascent.
He began 2003 ranked No. 45 and surged upward with five titles, and another win came this year in Buenos Aires. Coria is a noted clay specialist, but his play has steadily improved on hardcourt surfaces. He reached the quarterfinals at last year's U.S. Open, which Roddick won.
"He's one of the fastest guys on tour," Roddick said. "He doesn't give an inch. He's got a great feel for the court. He gets out of so many situations with his hands and playing the right shot at the right time.
"You can't say enough about someone who's a fighter."
Roddick has perhaps the best serve ever and a game shaped for hardcourt, and he is playing not far from where he was raised. He attended the tournament regularly as a child and has found a comfort zone.
"I have a lot of memories from this place," Roddick said.
Roddick is 25-5 this year, but today's match is just his third against a top-10 opponent this year. He is 1-1, the win coming Thursday against Carlos Moya, a dramatic three-setter in which Roddick nearly was eliminated. Roddick was unhappy with his play against Moya but seemed energized in Friday's 6-1, 6-3 rout of Vincent Spadea.
"I think this was definitely a step in the right direction," Roddick said. "It was a good performance."
Roddick is 2-0 against Coria, but each went the maximum three sets. Coria said he was eager to play Roddick because he wants revenge for a 2003 defeat. When told of that, Roddick had a message of his own: "Well, he has that chance now."