SYDNEY, 15 January 2004 — Australian Mark Philippoussis knocked embattled Briton Greg Rusedski out of the Sydney International yesterday.
Rusedski, at the center of a drugs storm after admitting he had tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone, pushed the Australian all the way before falling 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in their second round clash.
“With everything that’s going on at the moment, I’m extremely pleased with the performance,” Rusedski told a news conference.
Philippoussis, runner-up at Wimbledon last year, rode his booming serve to take the first set but lost his rhythm in the swirling centre court wind as Rusedski fought back to level the match.
Philippoussis will play French Open finalist Martin Verkerk in today’s quarterfinals after the Dutchman scraped through against Max Mirnyi of Belarus 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.
Philippoussis’ win capped a good day for Australia after former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt defeated Karol Kucera 6-4, 6-1 having trailed the Slovakian 4-0 in the first set.
Sydney teenager Todd Reid also continued his great form this season to beat Felix Mantilla of Spain 6-4, 6-1.
Moya beat Michael Llodra of France 7-6, 6-3 to follow up his win in last week’s Indian Open while Robredo saved two match points before upsetting Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan, the fifth seed, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6.
Henin-Hardenne Starts
New Season With Easy Win
Justine Henin-Hardenne began the new season where she left off last year, crushing Spain’s Conchita Martinez 6-4, 6-1 at the Sydney international yesterday.
The Belgian world No. 1 dusted off the cobwebs with a comfortable win to begin her final preparations for the Australian Open starting in Melbourne next week.
Amelie Mauresmo, the world number four, also made a flying start to the new season with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Meghann Shaughnessy.
While Henin-Hardenne and Mauresmo coasted through, former world number one Lindsay Davenport had to survive a torrid encounter with Russia’s Vera Zvonareva before booking her place in the last eight.
The American struggled to find her rhythm in the windy conditions at Sydney’s Olympic tennis center before clawing her way to a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 win.
Davenport will play another Russian in the next round, sixth seed Elena Dementieva who defeated her compatriot Elena Bovina 6-2, 6-3.
Seventh-seed Chanda Rubin of the United States eliminated another Russian, Lina Krasnoroutskaya, 7-5, 6-2 to set up a clash with Henin-Hardenne.
The only seed to fall yesterday was Japan’s Ai Sugiyama, the number eight. She lost 6-2, 6-3 to Nathalie Dechy of France in a delayed first round match.
Dechy returned to the court after a few hours rest for her second-round encounter with Italy’s Francesca Schiavone but lost 6-0, 6-4 to end a bittersweet day.
Stylish Federer Contrasts
Explosive Roddick
In Melbourne, Wimbledon champion Roger Federer displayed deft touch at the Kooyong International while US Open champ Andy Roddick exuded brute force yesterday.
Switzerland’s Federer blended finesse with force to beat Thomas Johansson 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in the eight-man invitational warm-up event for next week’s Australian Open.
Following the world number two onto court was top-ranked Roddick and he wasted no time blasting fellow American Robby Ginepri 6-1, 6-3.
Andre Agassi also looked happy and right at home against Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean, buzzing around court to snatch a 6-3, 6-3 win.
Federer can look forward to matches against the likes of Roddick and Agassi later in the week, however Johansson, Ginepri and Grosjean are not out of the action.
Under the format of the event, they will face other players who lose their opening matches. Swatting the ball almost effortlessly around court, the stylish and free-hitting Federer made Johansson’s compact groundstrokes look industrial at the start.
