HAMBURG, 17 May 2003 — David Nalbandian, Guillermo Coria, Agustin Calleri and Gaston Gaudio of Argentina made tennis history yesterday when they claimed all four semifinal berths at the 2.45-million euro Hamburg Masters Series. It means that an Argentinian player will win the event for the first time in 25 years since Guillermo Vilas’ triumph in 1978.
Argentina are the first country to achieve this feat at the highest tournament level of the ATP (Masters Series, formerly Super 9) since its introduction in 1990. Australia, the US, Spain, France and Sweden had four semifinalists at smaller events in the past.
Last year’s Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian won the last five games from 4-1 down in the final set as he defeated Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Gonzalez was unable to match Thursday’s performance which earned him a victory over world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. He lost to the 8 seed Nalbandian for the fourth time in as many meetings after 2 hours 20 minutes.
The 12 seed Coria had just six unforced errors as he hammered the conqueror of title holder Roger Federer, big Australian Mark Philippoussis, 6-2, 6-0, in their first ever meeting which lasted a mere 57 minutes. Coria seems to have finally returned to top form more than a year after the expiration of a doping ban for nandrolone abuse.
Wayne Ferreira of South Africa was also unable to deliver again the day after beating three-time French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten, as he lost, 7-5, 6-2, to Calleri in 82 minutes. The last man able to stop the Argentinians from making history was Belgian Olivier Rochus, but he crashed in the final match which lasted a mere 53 minutes, 6-1, 6-1, against Gaudio, who fired 17 winners to Rochus’ three.
In the semifinals today, Nalbandian meets Calleri while Coria plays Gaudio. Among the center court crowd was also former Argentina women’s star Gabriela Sabatini, who was at the tournament on her 33rd birthday by invitation of chairman Boris Becker.
Williams Steps on the Gas to
End Minor Martinez Threat
Top seed Serena Williams survived her own limited definition of a tennis crisis, breaking clear from 5-5 in the first set to overhaul four-time champion Conchita Martinez 7-5, 6-2 yesterday to reach the semifinals of the $1.2-million Italian Masters.
Entering the match with 25 wins so far this season and just one defeat, Williams is constantly braced for trouble. And it doesn’t take much to get her guard up on court.
So, after playing level early on with Martinez, who dominated at the Foro Italico with consecutive trophies from 1993 through 1996, the American felt she had endured enough of a close call.
The defending champion suddenly switched into a higher gear and raced away to victory in 80 minutes. “It was tight for while,” said Williams, winner of the last four Grand Slam titles. “You want to win the first set so don’t have to fight in the second.
Williams moved into a Saturday clash against two-time Rome finalist Amelie Mauresmo. The Frenchwoman booked the matchup by dumping out Jennifer Capriati 6-3, 7-6 (12-10). Capriati, a winner of three Grand Slam titles over the 2001 and 2002 seasons, was bemoaning her lost opportunities. “If I could have just gotten it into a third set, I would have gotten stronger, I would have had the momentum. I would have been pumped up from coming back and winning the second. I could have done some things differently, been more aggressive at the net and stepping up to the ball.”
Mauresmo produced 30 winners and just 12 unforced errors, but had to save four set points in the second set which would have allowed Capriati to stretch the contest into a third set. The fourth seed finally advanced into her fifth semifinal this season when Capriati hit a volley long.
Williams owns an impeccable 6-0 record against Mauresmo in a series which goes back to Paris indoors in 1999.
Safin Injury Pullout
Boosts Americans
Meanwhile, the injury withdrawal of Marat Safin has forced organizers to cede Russia’s spot at the $1.85-million World Team Championship to the US.
Safin, injured for much of the season, has not competed since quitting in the final at Barcelona against Spain’s Carlos Moya last month. The eight-nation event which begins play tomorrow and wraps up on the Saturday prior to the May 26 start of the French Open, will be headed by defending champion Argentina.
Spain will meet the US, with veteran Todd Martin and James Blake expected to play singles; the day’s other tie to be decided after the today’s semifinals in Hamburg.
The Americans can use all of the clay experience they can find with Roland Garros looming. Spain is used to dominating on the surface, with Moya, Corretja and Fernando Vicente making up the powerful team.
The Spaniards head the Red group, which also includes the Czech Republic (Jiri Novak, Radek Stepanek) and late wild card entry Australia with Lleyton Hewitt desperate for more time on the clay after only starting his pre-French preparation this week in Hamburg.
The Blue Group will be head by Argentina, which will defend the title with Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian and Gaston Gaudio. Host Germany with Rainer Schuettler the main target-man and Chile make up the remainder of the field.
