Kuerten, Philippoussis Power in Japan Open
October 12, 2000 - 0:0
TOKYO Top seed Gustavo Kuerten swept aside Chile's Nicolas Massu but fifth seed Michael Chang fell in the second round of the Japan Open tennis tournament on Wednesday.
Number three seed Mark Philippoussis of Australia blasted compatriot Wayne Arthurs 6-2 7-5 with his booming serve as the error-prone Arthurs never presented a serious challenge.
World number three Kuerten, returning after defeat in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open last week by Patrick Rafter, took a while to find his stride before overwhelming Massu 7-6 (7-5) 6-0.
Chang was defeated 7-5 6-4 by Cecil Mamit, a fellow American he had beaten earlier this year in a hard-court tournament in San Jose, California.
Reigning champion Nicolas Kiefer, the second seed, withdrew from the $970,000 tournament because of an injury to his right wrist.
Kiefer sustained the injury before the U.S. Open and it flared up again in Hong Kong, where he won the title last Sunday.
Fellow German David Prinosil, the 14th seed, also departed, running out of energy against South Korean qualifier Yoon Yong-Il, who won 6-4 5-7 6-1.
Kuerten overpowered Massu with blazing forehand winners and blistering aces, conceding only four points on his service in the one-sided second set.
"The first match it is always kind of difficult to start playing at your real best. Once I got the lead, things were much better and I felt much more comfortable," the Brazilian said.
Kuerten, playing in Japan for the first time, needs a good run in Tokyo to keep his lead in this year's ATP Tour champions race.
He said he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland after the tournament.
Chang had trouble landing his first serve and contesting the baseline battle against Mamit.
Mamit dissected the former French Open champion's second serve offerings and showed impressive skill in landing winners with his running forehand to take the first set.
"I just wasn't able to close that first set out," Chang said.
"I wasn't able to put away as many shots as I would have liked to." On the women's side, top seed Julie Halard-Decugis was stretched to three sets by home-town favorite Shinobu Asagoe but managed to squeeze by the Japanese player 6-2 3-6 7-5.
Second seed Amy Frazier advanced to the third round with a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) win over fellow American Corina Morariu.
But third seed Kristina Brandi retired due to dehydration when down 2-6 5-6 in another all-American match against Tara Snyder.
(Reuter)
Number three seed Mark Philippoussis of Australia blasted compatriot Wayne Arthurs 6-2 7-5 with his booming serve as the error-prone Arthurs never presented a serious challenge.
World number three Kuerten, returning after defeat in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong Open last week by Patrick Rafter, took a while to find his stride before overwhelming Massu 7-6 (7-5) 6-0.
Chang was defeated 7-5 6-4 by Cecil Mamit, a fellow American he had beaten earlier this year in a hard-court tournament in San Jose, California.
Reigning champion Nicolas Kiefer, the second seed, withdrew from the $970,000 tournament because of an injury to his right wrist.
Kiefer sustained the injury before the U.S. Open and it flared up again in Hong Kong, where he won the title last Sunday.
Fellow German David Prinosil, the 14th seed, also departed, running out of energy against South Korean qualifier Yoon Yong-Il, who won 6-4 5-7 6-1.
Kuerten overpowered Massu with blazing forehand winners and blistering aces, conceding only four points on his service in the one-sided second set.
"The first match it is always kind of difficult to start playing at your real best. Once I got the lead, things were much better and I felt much more comfortable," the Brazilian said.
Kuerten, playing in Japan for the first time, needs a good run in Tokyo to keep his lead in this year's ATP Tour champions race.
He said he wanted to visit Tokyo Disneyland after the tournament.
Chang had trouble landing his first serve and contesting the baseline battle against Mamit.
Mamit dissected the former French Open champion's second serve offerings and showed impressive skill in landing winners with his running forehand to take the first set.
"I just wasn't able to close that first set out," Chang said.
"I wasn't able to put away as many shots as I would have liked to." On the women's side, top seed Julie Halard-Decugis was stretched to three sets by home-town favorite Shinobu Asagoe but managed to squeeze by the Japanese player 6-2 3-6 7-5.
Second seed Amy Frazier advanced to the third round with a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) win over fellow American Corina Morariu.
But third seed Kristina Brandi retired due to dehydration when down 2-6 5-6 in another all-American match against Tara Snyder.
(Reuter)