[Milano Indoor]Kafelnikov, Qualifiers Among Last Eight
Kafelnikov, Qualifiers Among Last Eight
The No. 5 seed faces Jonas Bjorkman in the quarterfinals.
Fifth-seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov reached his first quarterfinal of 2003
when he defeated Denmark's Kristian Pless 6-4, 6-3 at the Breil ATP
Milano Indoors Thursday.
In the quarterfinals the Russian veteran meets Swedish qualifier Jonas
Bjorkman, who ousted local favorite Andrea Gaudenzi 6-2, 6-1. Milan is
Bjorkman's first event of the season and he became a father on January
15.
Another qualifier, Julien Varlet, saved two match points to get past
fourth-seed Xavier Malisse 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(6). In his career-first
quarterfinal of an ATP event, the Frenchman takes on Croatian Ivan
Ljubicic, who defeated Dominik Hrbaty 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-4.
Defending champion Davide Sanguinetti saved three match points before
defeating Bearussia's Max Mirnyi 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(8). 23-year-old
Dutchman Martin Verkerk, who scored a second round win over Thomas
Enqvist on Wednesday awaits in the quarterfinals.
What the Players Said
Kafelnikov: "I like to play tennis and that's the reason why I am
playing. The operation went well and I am healthy again, that's also
the reason why I am playing again."
"I have no goals for this year. I just want to be back in good shape
and then we'll see."
Varlet: "I had to get used to the feeling of playing on Centre Court.
I had never played there before. I calmed down a bit after losing the
first set. I fought hard on every point even when he served for the
match at 5-4 in the final set and I went for my shots when I was down
two match points."
"This is the best tournament of my career. First I beat a Top 50 player
(Feliciano Lopez) and then a Top 25 (Xavier Malisse) playing in front
of a big crowd. I am enjoying every moment, but I don't want it to
finish now."
Bjorkman: "I am surprising myself this week, I am playing better and
better each match. I was nervous and shaky in the first round of
qualifying then it got better and better. I had practiced hard in
Sweden but this is my first event in three months and playing matches
is different."
About playing Kafelnikov who has a 9-0 record against him "Even if I
play well and he plays badly, he always finds a way to beat me."
Sanguinetti: "I think Milan brings me good luck. The people here are
really pushing me to play great."
VARLET PERSONAL INFO Started playing at age 8丝ather, Alain, is a
medical director, mother, Martine, works in a clinic给as one sister,
Sophie (30)莱layed soccer as a kid and concentrated on tennis at age
10结oached by Olivier Malcor, who also works with Jean-Rene Lisnard,
since July 2002笋dmired Boris Becker when growing up and likes to
dive for volleys like him肃ikes all surfaces but not too fast丝avorite
shot is the backhand down the line and the drop-shot肃ikes walking
around in Paris, traveling, going to the beach and reading (spy and
politics)络oal is to reach the Top 100 in 2003 and represent France
in Davis Cup in 2004.
FRIDAY PREVIEW
Wild card Richard Krajicek, who is in his second quarterfinal of 2003,
faces Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, seeded No. 8. The two meet for the
second time, and Nieminen, who reached two finals in 2002, scored a
straight set win in their first encounter in Toronto last summer.
Qualifier Jonas Bjorkman faces the difficult task of meeting No. 5
seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov, a player he has yet to defeat in a total of
nine meetings. Kafelnikov won two of his 26 career titles in 2002,
while Bjorkman captured the Nottingham title.
Italy's Davide Sanguinetti, who captured the Milan title one year ago
by defeating Roger Federer in the final takes on Martin Verkerk. The
23-year-old Dutch advanced to his career-first ATP quarterfinal in
Indianapolis last season.
--
小卡在紀錄上取得絕對領先，希望他的好狀態一直保持下去。
--
我是一隻小火雞，
快樂的生活在沙皇的農城裡~~
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