Ferrero Weathers Injuries to Advance at Australian Open

Posted on January 23, 2004

No. 3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero fought off two injuries in a win over Italy's Filippo Volandri Thursday to advance into the third round at the Australian Open. Ferrero suffered a tweak in his lower back early in the first set, and again need treatment later in the fifth game of the third set after injuring his left elbow lunging for a volley. The Spaniard received treatment after the match, and expected to fully recover in time for his fourth round encounter.

Ferrero was one of eight of the nine seeds advancing Thursday, including (2)Roger Federer (d. (Q)Morrison), (8)David Nalbandian (d. (Q)Mayer), (10)Mark Philippoussis (d. Santoro after losing the first set), (11)Tim Henman (d. Stepanek 6-0 in the fourth), (14)Jiri Novak (d. Vacek), (15)Lleyton Hewitt (d. Kucera 6-1 in the fourth), (26)Al Costa (d. Arthurs 8-6 in the fifth), and (31)Wayne Ferreira (d. D.Sanchez). No. 22 seed Agustin Calleri was the only upset victim on the day, falling to countryman Guillermo Canas in five sets. No word yet if the two Argentines were forced to pee in the cup after the match. Club Fed says his game is warming up, and he expects to be in contention for the title. "I expect more of myself," Fed said. "You know, I know I can win this tournament. But before, you know, I would have been happy maybe with the quarters or the semis. Now it's an okay result, but it's not satisfying."

Unseeded winners on the day featuring a number of rising tour stars in Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic (d. Corretja in five), Aussie Todd Reid (d. Sargsian in five, puking on court en route), Spaniard Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal (d. Ascione), Swede Joachim "I Date Lleyton's Sister" Johansson (d. A.Martin), along with veterans Andrei Pavel (d. (Q)Weiner), and Hicham Arazi (d. Saulnier, who retired in the fourth set with injury). "Just had a couple little problems there in the fourth set," said a smiling Reid after the match. "I think maybe I had too much fluid intake. Sort of just came up."

The seeds finally meet on Friday when the men's American-heavy line-up features Safin vs. T.Martin (Russian leads head-to-head 1-0, at the 2000 US Open), (4)Agassi vs. Enqvist (Swede leads 5-4), (13)Srichaphan vs. (19)Kuerten (Thai leads 1-0), (1)Roddick vs. (27)Dent (tied 1-1), Blake vs. Patience (first meeting), (32)Ginepri vs. Escude (first meeting), (16)Schalken vs. Melzer, and (9)Grosjean vs. the 12-0 Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty (Grosjean leads 5-3).


Four more seeds were whacked Thursday on the women's side, led by No. 8 Ai Sugiyama, who lost in straight sets to practice partner and Japanese countrywoman Saori Obata. Other seeds sent home included (18)Francesca Schiavone (l. to the Russian Likhovtseva), (27)Amanda Coetzer (l. to Dinara "Little Sis" Safina), and (14)Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi (l. to 15-year-old (WC)Tatiana Golovin). "I don't know if it's hit me yet, that I beat a Top 20 player. I'm sure it'll sink in when I get home," said the No. 354-ranked Golovin, also a wildcard in the junior event. "I haven't even looked at the draw, I don't know who I'm playing. I don't get to play many tournaments, so when I'm here, I have to play a lot of matches."

Eleven more seeds moved into the third round on the day in (2)Kim Clijsters (d. Camerin 6-0, 6-0), (3)Venus Williams (d. Douchevina), (6)Anastasia Myskina (d. Gagliardi), (12)Paola Suarez (d. Vakulenko), (20)Silvia Farina Elia (d. Ruano Pascual in three), (22)Patty Schnyder (d. Bartoli in three), (23)Lina Krasnoroutskaya (d. (Q)Strycova in three), (25)Lisa Raymond (d. Barna), (28)Maria "Grunt-o-licious" Sharapova (d. Lee-Waters), and (29)Nathalie Dechy (d. (Q)Obziler). "You know, it doesn't happen every day that you can have matches like this," said Lleyton's girl after recording the double bagel win. "Especially with my foot and everything, you know, I think it's great to have short matches and recover. And I have enough time to recover for my next match." That was so important, you had to say it twice.

One other unseeded player moved into the third round when American Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier continued her early-season high with a three-set win over Puerto Rico's Kristina Brandi. There were also two doubles upsets on the day in Husarova/Safina over (11) Callens/Hantuchova, and China's Yan/Zheng upending (5)Black/Stubbs.

Friday's schedule in Melbourne is (1)Henin-Hardenne vs. (30)Kuznetsova, (11)Zvonareva vs. Pratt, (5)Davenport vs. Granville in an all-American, Kapros vs. Mandula, (19)Daniilidou vs. Santangelo, the Aussie Molik vs. Schaul, (32)Zuluaga vs. Craybas, and (4)Mauresmo vs. Medina Garrigues.

NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
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