MONACO, 25 April 2004 — Russian Marat Safin had no answer to the claycourt expertise of Guillermo Coria yesterday as the Argentine reached the final of the Monte Carlo Masters for the second year in a row.
Third seed Coria won 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 against the 2000 US Open champion to set up a showdown with German Rainer Schuettler, who overcame Spain’s Carlos Moya 7-6, 6-4 in the other semifinal. Today is fourth seed Schuettler’s 28th birthday.
Coria has now won his last 25 matches on clay and looks the best player on the surface a month before the start of the French Open.
The Argentine, who lost the 2003 final to Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, was only in trouble briefly in the second set against Safin and he is hungry for another title.
“I’ve won 25 matches in succession on clay but I miss winning big tournaments like Ferrero did. My best memories on clay remain my victory in the Hamburg Masters and against (Andre) Agassi at Roland Garros (last year).
“To me, it’s a very important win because I think he (Safin) is one of the very best players on the circuit.”
Unseeded Safin, who missed most of last year through injury but reached this year’s Australian Open final, made a great start and led 1-0 and 40-0 on Coria’s serve. Coria stepped up a gear, though, and broke his Russian opponent’s serve in the third game of the first set which he sealed in 42 minutes.
Safin, who was given treatment for foot blisters, served better and calmed down in the second set while Coria seemed to falter. Two breaks were enough for Safin to take it 6-1.
It was only a short reprieve, however. Coria, after a tight start to the final set, broke Safin to love to lead 5-3 and served out for victory after one hour and 51 minutes.
“I had my chances but I was not very lucky in the first set with the lines and odd bounces,” said Safin.
“I always struggle against this type of player but I cannot complain about my season on clay so far,” added the Russian who reached the final in Estoril a week ago.
Schuettler has been impressive all week with victories over Gustavo Kuerten, Lleyton Hewitt, Tim Henman and now Moya, the 1998 winner in Monte Carlo.
Within a week Schuettler has beaten three former number one players, a superb feat as the German had previously only won two matches on the ATP circuit in 2004.
Against Moya, Schuettler kept his head in the first set tiebreak, taking it 7-5, and the 2003 Australian Open finalist maintained his grip in the second set to seal another impressive victory.
Venus Pulls US Level,
Clijsters Wins on Return
In London, Venus Williams steadied the United States in the Fed Cup yesterday and holders France enjoyed a perfect start to the defense of their title.
Kim Clijsters shrugged off her nagging wrist problem to set Belgium on their way and Russia stormed to a 2-0 lead over Australia after the first day of the best-of-five first round encounters that will be completed today.
Williams thumped Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 6-2 to pull the United States level at 1-1 with unfancied Slovenia after Tina Pisnik beat Lisa Raymond 7-5, 7-5 to give the hosts a surprise 1-0 lead in Portoroz.
Former world No. 1 Williams meets Pisnik in today’s opening match, while Srebotnik plays Raymond. Martina Navratilova, 47, will then partner Raymond in the doubles against Srebotnik and Tina Krizan.
The United States, who have won the Fed Cup a record 17 times, are seeking their first crown since 2000.
World No. 2 Clijsters, wearing a brace on her wrist, labored to victory in Bree by beating Croatia’s Jelena Kostanic 6-1 4-6 6-1 in her first game for nearly six weeks.
“I knew my game would not be perfect and it was not,” she told Belgian TV. Croatia leveled the tie when Karolina Sprem beat Kirsten Flipkens 6-2, 6-0 in the other singles.
Clijsters’ younger sister Elke is due to team up with Els Callens for the doubles on Sunday. World No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne is absent due to illness.
France are firmly in control of their tie with Germany in Amiens after Nathalie Dechy and Amelie Mauresmo won Saturday’s singles.
Dechy rallied from a set down to beat Anna Lena Groenefeld 6-7, 6-1, 6-4 and Mauresmo crushed Barbara Rittner 6-1, 6-2.
Anastasia Myskina and Svetlana Kuznetsova gave Russia a 2-0 lead over Australia with convincing victories on day one in Moscow.
Kuznetsova, making her Fed Cup debut, put Russia in command by beating Alicia Molik 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 after Myskina had given the home team an early 1-0 lead with an easy 6-4, 6-1 win over Samantha Stosur.
Molik was not ready to concede defeat just yet, though. “We’re not going out without a fight,” she said.
Elsewhere, Spain and Switzerland were level at 1-1, Austria led Slovakia 2-0 and Italy were 2-0 up against the Czech Republic. Argentina also took a 2-0 lead over Japan in Buenos Aires.
Japan were really up against it at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis Club.
Ai Sugiyama was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Gisela Dulko and Akiko Morigami went down 6-4, 6-0 to Paolo Suarez leaving them a lot to do in Sunday’s further three rubbers.
At Portoroz, Slovenia were 1-1 with the United States after the first day with Venus Williams beating Katarina Srebotnik 6-1, 6-2 and Slovenia leveling through a 7-5, 7-5 victory by Tina Pisnik over Lisa Raymond.
