Confident Gasquet v The Beast in ATP Nottingham FinalRiding high after his best claycourt season to-date, emerging French superstar and No. 4 seed Richard Gasquet advanced to the final at the ATP grasscourt stop in Nottingham Friday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over doughy American No. 5 seed Taylor Dent.
"I returned very well today. I think that was the key of the match, I barely missed a return," Gasquet said. "It's hard to explain when it's like that. Everything worked great today. It was the perfect match...I knew I could play well on grass but I'm just happy to get getting so many good results on it."
It was another frustrating opportunity missed for Dent, who has had difficulty getting in top condition since a bad ankle sprain in March.
"He's serving very well too and if you can do that then you win a lot of matches on grass," Dent said. "I have to swallow my pride a bit. It's disappointing but I'll have to try my hardest to get back to the where I was at the start of the year."
In the final Gasquet will attempt to slay "The Beast," Belarus' Max Mirnyi, who out-dueled giant-killer and No. 7 seed Olivier Rochus 6-4, 7-5.
"It was good to win the match but I thought I played better yesterday against Carlsen," said Mirnyi, who threw down 17 aces against the diminutive Belgian who earlier toppled Croat serving machine Ivo Karlovic. "It was very different game today and Rochus moves so well but I managed to serve very well."
Gasquet is attempting to collect his career-first ATP title, while Mirnyi is shooting for a long-overdue first grasscourt title in his first grasscourt final.
"Anything can happen in the final," Mirnyi said of his career-first meeting against Gasquet. "He's a young and aggressive player. I look forward to it."
The doubles final will be two-time 2005 title winners and top seeds Aspelin/Perry (d. (3) Oliver/Palmer in three in the semis) vs. (2) Erlich/Ram (d. Beck/Levinsky).
Philippoussis, Ancic Into Semis at ATP 's-Hertogenbosch
Unseeded wildcard Mark Phillippoussis got a much-needed confidence boost Friday at the ATP stop in 's-Hertogenbosch, serving his way into the semifinals with a 7-6(2), 7-6(0) win over Italy's David Sanguinetti.
It is the first event since Wimbledon of last year where Philippoussis has been past the second round.
"In the first set I didn't really have too many opportunities but I played the tiebreaker well," Philippoussis said. "In the second set I was up a break early but unfortunately I lost some concentration. But I'm happy the way I came back."
No. 3 seed Mario Ancic also fought his way to the semis when an easy victory turned difficult in the face of doubles specialist Jonas Bjorkman, who the Croat eventually downed 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
"He is one of the best return players in the game," Ancic said of Bjorkman. "The momentum changed in the second set, he started to play really good. I had some chances and he had some as well. Finally I broke him in the third set and carried it to the end."
Rounding out the semis were two un-seeds in Czech Jan Hernych (d. Kohlschreiber) and defending champ Michael Llodra (d. Burgsmuller in three).
Saturday's semifinal line-up will be Llodra vs. (WC) Philippoussis, and (3) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. Hernych.
"It's the first time here I actually play someone who will serve and volley on pretty much first and second serve," said Philippoussis of Llodra. "He obviously likes to come to the net, that his game. It will be completely different to the other matches but I'm looking forward to it."
The doubles final will be an all-Czech affair in the unseeded Cibulec/Friedl vs. (2) Suk/Vizner.
Clijsters Favorite in WTA Eastbourne Final Against Qualifier
Kim Clijsters upped her value as a solid Wimbledon wager Friday with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over current US Open holder Svetlana Kuznetsova to advance to the final at the WTA stop in Eastbourne.
"It is good to play these kind of matches, especially before a grand slam," Clijsters said after the win over her frequent practice partner. "I feel like my game is improving with every match."
Clijsters broke Kuznetsova in the first game of the final set, then in the latter stages Kuznetsova was up 40-0 on Clijsters' serve, with the Belgian serving at 5-4, but failed to convert.
"It was a strange match lots of ups and downs," Clijsters said. "I started off really well, then my forehand went off a bit in the second set but I got it back well in the third. When I broke her in the first game, I served really well after that."
In the final Clijsters will face Russian qualifier Vera Douchevina, who defeated fellow qualifier Roberta Vinci 2-6, 7-6, 6-3. Earlier in the day Vinci finished a rain-delayed win from Thursday over Anastasia Myskina, and appeared out of gas in the third set against Douchevina.
"I'm really happy to be in my first final and to come back from a set and 5-3 down to beat a player who was playing very good grasscourt tennis," Douchevina said. "This has been a terrific week for me. I have nothing to lose tomorrow and am just going to go out there to do my best."
Clijsters is seeking her first grasscourt title since 2003.
The doubles final will be (2) Raymond/Stubbs (d. (Q) An.Serra Zanetti/Spears in the semis) vs. Russians (3) Likhovtseva/Zvonareva (d. (1) Black/Huber in three).
Koukalova, Safarova in All-Czech Final at WTA 's-Hertogenbosch
The WTA grasscourt final at 's-Hertogenbosch will be an all-Czech affair on Saturday after No. 8 seed Klara Koukalova rolled American Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 7-5, and unseeded Lucie Safarova ousted No. 6 seed Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-3.
For Koukalova it is the second consecutive 's-Hertogenbosch final, last year losing to Mary Pierce.
"Today I was a little nervous before my match because I knew that Meghann has a very good serve and I had to focus on returning it," said Koukalova, who overcame four break points in her first service game. "The first set went very quickly. I played well but I was also lucky that she didn't hit many big serves."
Koukalova is 0-5 in WTA finals for her career, with Saturday her best opportunity to break the jinx.
"I like this tournament very much," Koukalova said. "I wanted to win this match and be able to play in another final. Right now, grass is definitely my best surface."
The 18-year-old Safarova is experiencing her best career effort on grass after winning her first career title earlier in the year on clay at Estoril.
"I think the final tomorrow will be good," said Safarova on facing Koukalova for the first time in WTA play. "We have been practicing together all week and I know that she hits the ball very hard so I will have to play a good match to win."
The doubles final will be (3) Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues/Safina (d. (2) Groenefeld/M.Navratilova in the semis) vs. the unseeded Czech/Spanish pair of Benesova/Nuria Llagostera "Pancho" Vives (d. (1) Petrova/Shaughnessy by walkover with Petrova pulling with a groin strain).
X-CORRECT
Rafael Nadal beat Mario Ancic at Wimbledon in 2003.
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Roger Federer gave a shout-out to the opposition that defending his Wimbledon title won't be such a big deal in 2005: "I was more concerned last year, defending my first Wimbledon title. Now it's easier for me to deal with the situation. As champion, I am always looking to improve. I know I can attack more, I just go out on the court now and make it very apparent that the opponent has to beat me."...Patrick McEnroe says get ready for the return of the cock-sure, strutting, glaring Andy Roddick at Wimbledon: "What I have seen missing a little bit from Andy is that attitude. That in-your-face, sticking-it-to-you attitude, and I think it'll be back at Wimbledon."...Rob Minto of the Financial Times: "But invincibility is also related to surface. While (Rafael) Nadal currently rules on clay, (Roger) Federer has been untouchable on the grass of Wimbledon and the warm up event in Halle, Germany, since 2002. The only weakness in his overall game -- the high-kicking ball to the backhand -- is not a factor on the surface. Federer could dominate the event much like (Pete) Sampras did in the 1990s...The only other contender is Marat Safin. But the mercurial Russian has never adapted his power game to grass, and is easily frustrated." Rob apparently missed Federer barely beating Marat in three sets in the Halle final? Stick to writing the financial pages. We don't try to tell you how to invest your 401K...From Matt Cronin at TR.net: "ESPN's Cliff Drysdale says that the Aussies don't like (Lleyton) Hewitt's chances because he's been spending too much time with his fiancee, Bec Cartwright, and not enough time training."...Andre Agassi's buddy Perry Rogers talking to the Las Vegas Review Journal on the former No. 1 not competing at Wimbledon despite a recent shot for his back: "The (cortisone) shot takes a little time to take effect. Wimbledon forces you to put a lot of pressure on your back because the ball doesn't come up as high off the grass as it would from a hardcourt. Andre realized that, and he decided that if he can't play at the high level he's accustomed to, he's better off sitting out. He's clearly disappointed. It's the most prestigious event in tennis, and he has developed a real affinity for the British...He's not retiring anytime soon. He still has a great passion to play, and he believes he can still compete at a high level and win majors. That's what is driving him. It's about being able to play and win. He still wants to win majors."...Lleyton Hewitt has decided not to speak to the media before the start of Wimbledon...Boris Becker (who has to be horsewhipped to stay away from the media) speaking with the English Standard: "Rafael Nadal is by far the best player of this generation. Looking back there have been other young players such as Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe, (Roger) Federer, and I was not bad. Nadal is among that league and will eventually learn to play on grass. He is not there yet but he is not a pushover either."...Serena says don't count her (or Venus) out of the mix at Wimbledon after her up-and-down year: "The Australian Open win was that much sweeter because people are always wondering what's happening to us. It's nothing. We're just working really hard. The matches we lose, it's just maybe a few points here, a few points there of not playing well. I've always considered myself the best and the top. I never considered that I was out of it -- ever."...Guillermo Canas (wrist) and Sjeng Schalken (?) have added themselves to the pull list for Wimbledon, with Paul Goldstein and Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali into the draw as lucky losers...TR.net's Matt Cronin on Serena: "I spent a fair amount of time writing up the Williams sisters on Thursday and don't want to overload our committed readers, but let it be known that Serena was nearly 40 minutes late for her conference call, an all too familiar occurrence for the two-time Wimby champ. Then she had the nerve to check out twice during the call because she was having her make-up and was distracted. Can someone teach her some manners? Oracene? Venus? Brett Ratner? Even Richard?......Resident ESPN fat-guy quiz master Howie Schwab can answer just about any question concerning sports, but why do they have him writing Wimbledon previews? A sample: "There are a number of intriguing potential matchups in the later rounds at Wimbledon this year...Roger Federer (1) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu -- Mathieu did not play Wimbledon last year due to a wrist injury. Now the Frenchman has a difficult draw, facing the favorite in this event. Federer wishes he had an easier opponent, as Mathieu has made the third round in two of his last three Grand Slams." Hew Howie, Mathieu did not play a grasscourt tournament at the tour level last year, and the year before was 0-3 on grass through Wimbledon. Next time be man enough to tell your bosses 'I don't follow tennis close enough to write a slam preview' and stick to beating all comers on ESPN in the time-filler quiz shows. Another Schwab gem: "Tim Henman (6) vs. Jarkko Nieminen -- Isn't it funny the (sic) Nieminen, after facing and beating Andre Agassi in round one of the French Open, draws another popular star in this event? Will Henman ever win Wimbledon?" Ouch, nice insight...Greg Rusedski has reached the final of the 4th annual Boodles Challenge exhibition event at Stoke Park Club in Buckinghamshire after wins over Radek Stepanek and Thomas Enqvist, and faces Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez in the final: "It's been the year of the underdog -- Liverpool coming back in the Champions League Final, Mary Pierce reaching the French Open final -- If you're in the right position, with a British crowd, anything can happen." Check Grinning Greg for "Exo Fever."