Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Kuerten escapes 2-0 hole vs. qualifier

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 4, 2001

PARIS -- Defending champion Gustavo Kuerten surged back from the brink of defeat Sunday to beat U.S. qualifier Michael Russell in five sets and reach the French Open quarterfinals.

The top-seeded Brazilian saved match point in the third set before turning the match around and eliminating his 122nd-ranked opponent 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-1.

After the fourth-round victory, the two-time French Open champion carved a heart in the red clay with his racket, kneeled inside it and blew kisses to the crowd.

"Maybe one of the greatest feelings in all my life in the tennis court was today," Kuerten said after winning in 3 hours, 25 minutes.

Russell stunned the 1997 and 2000 Roland Garros champion in the opening two sets, easily retrieving Kuerten's searing groundstrokes. Kuerten was down 5-2 in the third set but held serve with an ace.

"If you want to put on your running shoes and run a lot of stuff down, like I do, you can give yourself a chance against anybody," said Russell, who played briefly at the University of Miami.

Kuerten wasted two break points in the next game, then set up match point for Russell by sending his forehand lob wide.

Kuerten saved the point with a forehand after one of the match's many long rallies, then closed the game with a forehand smash.

He went on to force a tiebreaker, winning the third and fourth sets and delighting fans who punctuated the match with cries of "Gu-ga! Gu-ga!"

"I played a pretty solid point," Russell said. "Obviously, I didn't take it. I wasn't aggressive enough with it. He's not just going to give you the match.

"He stepped up and cracked a forehand. From there, he basically took control."

Russell continued to chase Kuerten's groundstrokes, but the Brazilian closed the match with yet another forehand smash.

The players shook hands, and Russell gave Kuerten a playful jab.

"I told him, "Too good. You should have missed the ball on that match point," Russell said. He then watched in amusement as Kuerten carved a heart in the clay.

"I was going to go out there and do a little tic-tac-toe," Russell cracked. "I'm happy he felt so good about winning the match."

The 23-year-old from Ponte Vedra Beach has won five of his 17 matches on the ATP Tour and has never won a title. He came within a point of losing his first qualifying match at this year's French Open.

"You watch on TV when you're little French Open, center court, five-set match," Russell said.

"There I am, playing the No. 1 player in the world, packed stadium, fans screaming. It's awesome."

Kuerten will meet 1996 champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the quarterfinals. The seventh-seeded Russian beat Spain's Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Kafelnikov has twice reached the quarters since taking the title. Both times he lost to Kuerten.

"It's our destiny," Kafelnikov said.

"He got really lucky to get to the quarterfinal."

No. 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero also advanced, beating No. 14 Thomas Enqvist in straight sets. He next plays sixth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt or Guillermo Canas.

Hewitt of Australia battled back from the brink to claim a 3-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 4-2 lead over Canas on Sunday before the marathon quarterfinal was stopped because of poor light. The match will resume today.

Two matches that were suspended Saturday night were completed. Roger Federer of Switzerland defeated David Sanchez 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. In the fourth round, Federer will play Wayne Arthurs, who defeated Nicolas Coutelot 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4).

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright