[Milano Indoors]Verkerk, Kafelnikov Advance to Final
Verkerk, Kafelnikov Advance to Final
Martin Verkerk comes back from a set down to defeat Ivan Ljubicic.
Martin Verkerk reached his first career ATP final by defeating Ivan
Ljubicic in a clash between two big servers. Verkerk, who recorded 21
aces in the semifinal and 79 so far this week, dropped the first set
and saved a breakpoint early in the second before winning, 3-6, 7-5,
7-6(1), in two hours.
Verkerk has been playing on the ATP circuit for only eight months.
His best result prior to Milan was reaching the quarterfinals in
Indianapolis in August 2002. He has been inspired by fellow Dutchman
and former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, his doubles partner
in Milan.
Kafelnikov is through to his 46th career final, his first since winning
in Tashkent in September last year. The Russian veteran won the Milan
title in 1995 and seems to have recovered from the varicose vein
surgery on his left leg in December last year. In the Milan semifinal
Kafelnikov overcame the challenge of Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen who had
beaten him at the Australian Open. Kafelnikov saved a set point in the
first set before winning in straight sets, 7-6(8), 6-3.
What the Players Said
Verkerk About reaching his first ATP final “It’s amazing, you dream
about this. I won two challenger events in my career but I’ve played
on the ATP circuit for only eight months and now I have already reached
one final…”
“(Against Ljubicic) I have to be honest, it could have gone either way.
In the first two sets he was better than me, in the final set I was
better.”
“I had a good tactic today, he had problems when I hit hard to his
forehand.”
About playing in Italy “I lost seven challenger finals before winning
my first in Turin so I will never forget Italy. I really like Milan,
the shopping, the good restaurants. The weather has been so good this
week and I’ve enjoyed walking around town with my coach.”
About Kafelnikov “I have never played against him. He’s a great
player and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Kafelnikov: “I am satisfied. It feels good. The week is going to be
successful regardless of what happens in the final. But I will try as
hard as I can to add another title to my collection.”
About winning Milan in 1995 “The difference is that I am eight years
older! In 1995 I was an upcoming young player, I beat the best players
of that time, (Michael) Stich, (Goran) Ivanisevic, (Boris) Becker. I'm
in a completely different position now. I was one of the best players
myself but now I feel like a new player. Whatever happened in the past
is now history.”
About Verkerk “He’s an aggressive player, he’s got a good serve and
is very talented. It’s going to be a difficult match, I have to be
on top of my game. If I am off, he will outplay me.”
Ljubicic: “I played really well in the first set, then I had a break
point in the second and played it safe instead of going for it. In the
third set he was better than me.”
“With my kind of game I often go to the tiebreak, I win some, I lose
some.”
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小卡加油！邁向冠軍之路！
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我是一隻小火雞，
快樂的生活在沙皇的農城裡~~
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