Gaudio determined to keep French title
Thu May 19, 2005 2:01 AM BST
By Pritha Sarkar
DUESSELDORF, Germany, May 19 (Reuters) - Guillermo Vilas put Argentina on the
tennis map when he held aloft the French Open trophy in 1977.
The South American nation had to wait another 27 years before another
Argentine, Gaston Gaudio, won the most coveted prize in claycourt tennis.
Having got a taste of the heady heights of victory, Gaudio is in no mood to
relinquish the title he won so unexpectedly last June in the French capital.
"This year I have to defend the title so it's going to be a little bit
tough," Gaudio told Reuters at the World Team Cup on Tuesday ahead of the
season's second grand slam, which begins next Monday.
"But I also feel more confident than before and I trust my abilities more
than I did before.
"I feel better than last year as I have more confidence and believe that
because I won it last year, I can do it this year too."
Gaudio's success at long last allowed Argentina to grab the 'kings of
claycourt' crown away from their Spanish rivals.
While Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero walked away with the Roland Garros
titles in 2002 and 2003, a flock of young Argentines had been threatening to
snap the Spanish stranglehold in Paris.
An all-Argentine final between Gaudio and title favourite Guillermo Coria
provided the breakthrough last year and the country's army of baseliners are
determined to preserve their territory.
Along with Guillermo Canas, the country now has three top-10 players.
TENSE FINAL
Twelve months ago, Gaudio was ranked 44th in the world and caught his
challengers unaware, especially since he had failed to get his hand on any
silverware for two years.
He wielded his racket to devastating effect on the slow red clay to claim the
scalps of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt and compatriot David
Nalbandian before bringing a cramping Coria to his knees in a tense, five-set
final.
A year later, the unassuming Buenos Aires resident will arrive in the French
capital as the number one player in South America and with a reputation to
protect.
"I'm a little more nervous than last year because I didn't go there as one of
the favourites," said world number six Gaudio, who has already won three
claycourt tournaments this season.
"But there are 128 players who want to win it so it's going to be tough."
None will be a bigger threat than Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal.
Already a winner of five titles on the slow surface this year, the
18-year-old has been on a one-man mission to restore Spain's claycourt
supremacy.
By winning an epic five-and-a-quarter-hour Rome Masters final against Coria
earlier this month, Nadal not only proved his ability to last the distance in
a five-set tussle but also placed himself as the front runner for the French
slam.
"Everybody is worried about Nadal as he's definitely one of the favourites
and he's playing great tennis," said Gaudio.
Having lost two Masters series finals to Nadal over the past month, Coria
might have been bemoaning his luck.
SPECTACULAR MELTDOWN
Instead, he drew inspiration from his experience in Italy and is determined
to make amends for his spectacular meltdown against Gaudio in last year's
Paris showdown.
"The final in Rome gave me a lot of confidence. Even though I lost, I played
some great tennis. It was a key match," said Coria, who underwent shoulder
surgery last August.
"I was out of the game for three months. I did a lot of physical work and the
tournament was very important for me to see how I was physically.
"Playing long matches really helps with your frame of mind. Now my aim in
Paris is simple -- to win."
Nadal's success has taken its toll on his playing left hand. A painful
blister on his forefinger prevented him from competing in last week's Hamburg
Masters, giving his rivals a glimmer of hope for the French.
Ferrero is well versed in how injury can take its toll, especially since his
2004 season was ruined by illness and wrist problems. The gifted baseliner is
determined that he will not turn out to be a one-slam wonder.
The former world number one is now ranked 34th and even if most pundits are
not prepared to give him a chance of winning the title on June 5, Gaudio
warned: "There are a lot of guys who can win the title but I think Ferrero is
coming back again."
Ferrero agreed: "I'm playing good, I'm really good physically and I'm going
to the balls really well. I am fast on the court right now and I feel I can
win against anybody."
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其實這是一篇訪問Gaudio的文章
但因為有提到納豆和蚊子
所以我就把它貼過來了...
Gaudio說納豆毫無疑問是這次法網的最大熱門
不過報導中也提到
納豆的傷勢為他的對手留下一線生機
此外
Gaudio也認為蚊子已經回恢復
蚊子自己也承認他現在身體和擊球的感覺都很好
移動很迅速而且他覺得他可以打敗任何人...
--
------------The Return Of The King------------
★ Juan Calos Ferrero ★
----------------------------------------------
Roland Garros first round:
32-Juan Carlos Ferrero (Esp)-Karol Beck (Slq)
----------------------------------------------
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