Agassi, Roddick On Collision Course at Oz Open

Posted on January 26, 2004

Andre Agassi's eyes remain on the prize, a modern-day record fifth Australian Open title, as the former No. 1 American made a strong statement Sunday with a straight-set win over Paradorn Srichaphan, who had beaten him in their last outing.

"I had to be executing everything pretty well. Against Paradorn I am much better if I am doing everything well and nothing spectacular. You can't give him a lot of looks," said Agassi, who remains on course for a semifinal match-up with No. 1 Andy Roddick. "I feel like I've experienced every part of my game throughout this first week and I've liked the levels I've hit. I'm in position to go further, to take it higher, but again you've got to come out and execute every day. So I think when it's asked of me, I'm going to give it a good go." Nice politi-speak from the next mayor of Las Vegas.

Roddick did his part Sunday, steamrolling (16)Sjeng Schalken, allowing the Dutchman only six games and remaining perfect through the tournament without dropping set.

"As a fan of tennis, it's pretty exciting -- I'm looking forward to getting out there," Roddick said. "I think it's Andre's title until someone takes it away from him."

While two Americans advanced, two more Americans faltered when unseeded James Blake fell before the Russian onslaught of former No. 1 Marat Safin in four sets, and (32)Robby Ginepri was dismantled in four sets by the precision ground game of (9)Sebastien Grosjean. Safin will face Roddick in the quarters.

On tap in Monday's fourth round Oz action are (8)Nalbandian vs. Canas in an all-Argentine thriller (Nalbandian won their only previous meeting, on hardcourt, at the 2002 TMS-Madrid), (10)Philippoussis vs. the athletic rockin' Moroccan Arazi (Flipper leads meetings 3-2), (3)Ferrero vs. Pavel (Pavel won their lone meeting at the 2000 TMS-Hamburg), and (2)Federer vs. (15)Hewitt in the match of the day (Hewitt leads 7-2, including the last three meetings). Philippoussis and Hewitt are bidding to become the first Australian men to reach the quarterfinals of their home Slam since Patrick Rafter in 2001. If both Hewitt and Philippoussis win, there will be two Aussie men in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1987, when Pat Cash and Wally Masur reached the last eight.

It was business as usual on the women's side Sunday, with all four of the top seeds moving on in (1)Justine Henin-Hardenne (d. (Q)Santangelo, not without some effort in the second set tiebreak), (4)Amelie Mauresmo (d. Aussie Molik), (5)Lindsay Davenport (d. (11)Vera "Warren" Zvonareva), and (32)Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga (d. Kapros), all in straight sets.

"I'm happy to be in the quarters -- it wasn't an easy match," said Henin-Hardenne. "I won the first set pretty easily, with a lot of intensity, then, at one-all in the second, the intensity came down a little and she just took her chances -- it was a big fight in the second set." A.k.a. 'It's not easy to stay interested during these pre-QF blowouts.'


Four seeds fell by the wayside in doubles in (7)Maleeva/C.Martinez (l. to Husarova/Safina), (8)Petrova/Shaughnessy (l. to Gagliardi/Vinci), (13)Bartoli/Casanova (l. to (3)Huber/Sugiyama in three), and (16)Li/Sun (l. to (1)Ruano Pascual/Suarez).

On tap today in the Oz women's singles are (6)Myskina vs. (9)Rubin (head-to-head tied 2-2, with Myskina winning in the same round last year in Oz), (25)Raymond vs. 16-year-old (WC)Golovin (first meeting), (2)Clijsters vs. (20)Farina Elia (Lleyton's fiance leads 3-0, with all three going three sets), and (22)Schnyder vs. (29)Dechy (tied 1-1, but haven't faced each other in over four years).

TENNIS-X TOP 10 AUSSIE OPEN BUSTS
Through four almost-complete rounds at the 2004 Australian Open, here are the Top 10 biggest busts during week one:

10. Alexandra "Dr. A" Stevenson (USA)
How many first-round losses does it take for a sea change to occur? Fire the coach, fire the mom, switch to two hands off both sides -- something needs to happen.
9. Martina Navratilova/Lisa Raymond (USA)
The No. 2 seeds bow out in the second round to Davenport/Morariu, nice start to the new partnership. Hey Lisa, just because you beat Venus you still need to produce on the dubs court, keep the focus on the Olympics or you're going to lose the spot.
8. (14)Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi and (23)Lina Krasnoroutskaya
You lost to a 15-year-old. Time to reassess.
7. Greg "The Dope" Rusedski (GBR)
Take a look at Hicham Arazi in the fourth round, because that's where you should be with the cake draw you had. Good luck in court.
6. Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova
Drop the modeling contract, get counseling for the eating disorder, hit the BK drive-thru, dump your entourage and we'll set you up with a new coach. No reason for such a talent to be 1-2 on the year and not even close to the Top 10. Intervention time.
5. Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
The "next Spaniard," the powerful lefty, beaten in the first round by countryman Al Martin. Always tough to play the countryman/practice partner in the first round.
4. Guillermo Coria (ARG)
Ab injury leads to first round loss to talented Frenchman Cyril Saulnier -- tough beginning for the man who, unbeknownst to many, was in the hunt for the year-end No. 1 ranking with two weeks left in the 2003 season. The Wizard will return, and the dirt season is only a few months away.
3. Taylor Dent (USA)
Bum hip or not, that's a tough loss on a major stage to A-Rod, a guy you beat easily in your last meeting. Time to fire another coach.
2. Venus Williams (USA)
One of the Superwoman Williams sisters can't step into a slam after an extended injury time-off and win the title? Welcome to reality.
1. Rainer Schuettler (GER)
Defending runner-up loses first round to Swedish neophyte Robin Soderling, who loses in straight sets in the next round. Tie a rock to the ankle of your ranking.

NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
With the loss of James Blake and Robby Ginepri, sleeveless players went 0-2 Sunday in Oz. Did they notice it was like 55 F degrees during their matches?...Andre Agassi has dispatched of two players with a winning record against him -- Thomas Enqvist and Paradorn Srichaphan -- and must now beat Sebastien Grosjean, a player who has beaten him twice...When was the last time a Brad Gilbert-coached player lost at the Australian Open? Scary. Andy Roddick is 16-1 at Grand Slam events under Gilbert. Gilbert and Roddick said they will attend Monday's "Big Day Out" concert in Melbourne, which features numerous bands including Metallica, The Strokes and the Flaming Lips (no Mandy Moore). The concert is part of Australia Day, a national holiday during which everyone is probably getting hammered...Amelie Mauresmo has reached the QFs or better in seven of her last eight slams...Roger Federer has only faced five break points, and lost just one. That can't be right. As such, look for Fed to have the advantage in pounding Hewitt into the ground in the quarters...Marat Safin leads all players with 71 aces...In Australia, instead of writing "calories" on food products, they write "energy." Seems to work as unlike the U.S., most people here are thin...Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga is the first Colombian female to ever reach the QFs of a Grand Slam...With Lisa Raymond playing on the big stage Monday, attention will again be turned to her blond "friend" Jennifer (last name unknown). Hmmm...open that closet door, we'll still love you Lisa...Where's Mandy Moore? Are the break-up rumors true?...Tatiana Golovin is now 16 after a Sunday birthday celebration...The forecast here in Melbourne is for contined coolness right through to the final with temps in the 70s...Swede Joachim Johansson hit a serve at 140mph (in loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero)...Justine Henin-Hardene since losing to Venus at the Australian Open last year has won 23 of her last 24 Grand Slam matches...Why are all the Russian women like fem-bots on the court? Don't they have more than one mold at the factory?...Mark Philippoussis and 19-year-old Aussie pop star Delta Goodrum have turned into quite an item. Too bad Delta, who is recovering from Hodgkin's Disease, is too good for Flip and will be moving on...Speaking of hot items, look for Marat Safin to turn up the heat in his player box come Tuesday against Andy Roddick. The young Russian babe he's been hanging with may get the toss for a blondie three-pack...Inside rumor is, this could be Andre Agassi's last Australian Open...Under WTA regulations set up to prevent burn-out amongst teenage players, 16-year-old Tatiana Golovin, currently in the 4th round at Melbourne, can only play a maximum of eight pro events this year, and does not expect to play again until Indian Wells in March. Golovin is a product of the Nick Bollettieri academy in Florida, where she spent 1996-2003 before moving back to France. "I spent seven years in Florida from 1996 and I'd had enough of it," Golovin said. "I just wanted to be back home in France."...Anna Kournikova is busy being the face of promotions around the world, yesterday in Switzerland helping launch the Bobsleigh World Cup, parading in a tight-fitting bobsled outfit. She says she may attempt a return to the WTA Tour by March (in a trophy-presenting capacity or as a player?)...Greg Rusedski's drug case would get thrown out in a court of law, according leading drug expert Dr. Werner Franke...ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe says Andy Roddick will own "between six and 10" slams before his career is through.