Kuerten, Norman Advance in Cincinnati
August 9, 2000 - 0:0
MASON, Ohio Gustavo Kuerten and Magnus Norman, two of the ATP Tour's rising stars, scored contrasting first-round victories at the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati Tournament.
Kuerten, the leader of this season's ATP Tour points race, barely broke a sweat securing a 6-0 6-4 win over Jerome Golmard of France, who scored the big upset at Toronto last week, toppling top-seeded Andre Agassi in the first round.
"I think for sure it was the main thing with the match today that I didn't give him any hopes at the beginning, in the first set," said French Open champion Kuerten. "That changed a lot of things.
I could play more relaxed." Norman, who had been leading the points race until Kuerten jumped ahead, struggled to stop Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina from advancing to the second round, but walked away with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) victory.
"I didn't play my best tennis, but I hung in there," said the third-seeded Norman, who reached his first career Grand Slam final at the French Open in June.
"I really wanted to win today to get another match because I need match practice that is why I'm also playing doubles here.
I want to get as much time on the court as possible this week." After winning his first tournament in nearly two years at Los Angeles two weeks ago, Michael Chang has not fared so well against the Dutch demolition squad.
The American lost in the first round to Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4 4-6 6-4 here. Last week in Toronto, Chang lost to another Dutchman, former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, in the second round.
Two Seeds Fall Two seeded players were also upset victims.
Hicham Arazi of Morocco defeated 10th-seeded Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-4 6-4, while Arnaud Clement of France was a 6-4 6-2 winner against 12th-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.
Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, the second seed, starts his campaign for a fourth title here on Tuesday by taking on Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina.
Top-seeded Andre Agassi, who won back-to-back titles here in 1995 and 1996, will try to rebound from his first-round loss in Toronto last week, but faces an extremely tough opening opponent in South African Wayne Ferreira.
(Reuter)
Kuerten, the leader of this season's ATP Tour points race, barely broke a sweat securing a 6-0 6-4 win over Jerome Golmard of France, who scored the big upset at Toronto last week, toppling top-seeded Andre Agassi in the first round.
"I think for sure it was the main thing with the match today that I didn't give him any hopes at the beginning, in the first set," said French Open champion Kuerten. "That changed a lot of things.
I could play more relaxed." Norman, who had been leading the points race until Kuerten jumped ahead, struggled to stop Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina from advancing to the second round, but walked away with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) victory.
"I didn't play my best tennis, but I hung in there," said the third-seeded Norman, who reached his first career Grand Slam final at the French Open in June.
"I really wanted to win today to get another match because I need match practice that is why I'm also playing doubles here.
I want to get as much time on the court as possible this week." After winning his first tournament in nearly two years at Los Angeles two weeks ago, Michael Chang has not fared so well against the Dutch demolition squad.
The American lost in the first round to Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-4 4-6 6-4 here. Last week in Toronto, Chang lost to another Dutchman, former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, in the second round.
Two Seeds Fall Two seeded players were also upset victims.
Hicham Arazi of Morocco defeated 10th-seeded Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-4 6-4, while Arnaud Clement of France was a 6-4 6-2 winner against 12th-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain.
Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras, the second seed, starts his campaign for a fourth title here on Tuesday by taking on Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina.
Top-seeded Andre Agassi, who won back-to-back titles here in 1995 and 1996, will try to rebound from his first-round loss in Toronto last week, but faces an extremely tough opening opponent in South African Wayne Ferreira.
(Reuter)