[溫網]Safin Suffers at Hands of Lopez

看板ALL-RUSSIANS作者jcshie (計劃總趕不上變化~)時間20年前 (2005/06/25 00:44)推噓1(1推 0噓 1→)

留言2則, 1人參與討論串1/1

Friday, June 24, 2005 All Marat Safin's brave words about his renewal of affection for grass court tennis came to nothing when he was ushered out of The Championships in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, by Feliciano Lopez of Spain. The left-handed Lopez, a Davis Cup competitor for his country and perhaps better known these days as Rafael Nadal's doubles partner, confirmed his reputation as someone from the land of clay courts who can operate efficiently and successfully on grass. This is the third time in the four years he has competed at Wimbledon, that Lopez has reached the fourth round. The fifth-seeded Safin was well beaten in the end by an opponent who has learned well the skills of grass court tennis and applied them relentlessly. The Russian, who won the Australian Open in January, was always struggling with the quality of Lopez's return of serve, which paid rich dividends in the seventh game with a break of the Safin serve on the only break point he achieved. Safin's chances of redeeming that setback came and went in the very next game. He held two break points but was unable to convert either of them and his loss of temper because of this cost him a warning for abusive language. Having escaped, Lopez started to play even better, while Safin's questionable temperament was under pressure in the crucial second set when it reached the tiebreak stage. When Lopez won that, by seven points to four, it was all downhill for Safin and he was broken again in the sixth game of what turned out to be the final set. Lopez finished off a memorable one hour 48 minute match with his 14th ace (compared to Safin's six). This was his debut on Wimbledon's second show court and the delighted Lopez walked off in the wrong direction, failing to find the exit door at the first attempt. Safin emphasised that the knee problems he has been suffering from had nothing to do with his defeat, and paid full tribute to Lopez - "He took his chances, he played a pretty solid game." Among the spectators was Nadal, who had lost on the same court yesterday, watching his friend and doubles partner. Written by Ronald Atkin http://0rz.net/e90sr -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 220.132.172.212