Federer Puts Hammer Down on Hewitt, Aussies Ousted in Oz
Posted on January 27, 2004
Australia was left without a player in the men's draw Monday when (10) Mark Philippoussis was beaten in a straight-set shocker by Moroccan Magician Hicham Arazi 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, and (15) Lleyton Hewitt was summarily dismissed after winning the first set over (2) Roger Federer 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4."He looked very comfortable out there," Philippoussis said of the athletic Arazi, who only made 10 unforced errors compared to the Aussie's 38. "I'm sure he felt very comfortable. Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything to try to put him off or do something to get myself going, you know. And early in the third set there with 2-Love and Love-40, you know, didn't take that opportunity."
Arazi will now face (3) Juan Carlos Ferrero, who on Monday ground past the unseeded Andrei Pavel in four sets. It will be Arazi's second quarterfinal appearance at Melbourne, in 2000 beaten in straight sets by Andre Agassi.
The most anticipated match-up between Hewitt and Federer on "Australia Day" lived up to the billing for the first 15 games until the Swiss decided enough was enough. Down a set and playing poor tennis, Federer flipped the switch once he broke Hewitt to go up 4-2 in the second. Federer earned the break after a controversial foot fault call, then never let up.
"I'm very, very happy to take my revenge on him," Club Fed said. "It hurt me big time that Davis Cup match(loss)."
Federer will face nemesis (8) David Nalbandian in his QF, with Nalbandian winning the battle of the dope-free Argentines with a convincing straight-set win over Guillermo Canas.
"I feeling good," said Nalbandian in his excruciating caveman-era English. "I didn't play Adelaide because I had to check the wrist for be sure that I can play, I don't know, maybe 10 more years. But actually, then I play three matches in Kooyong (exhibition), and that's make me a very good feeling in the court. I really enjoy the match." Me watch enjoy too, ugh.
In quarterfinal action today, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick look to set up a semifinal dream match-up, with (4)Agassi vs. (9)Sebastien Grosjean (Agassi leads head-to-head meetings 3-2, including last two), and (1)Roddick vs. the unseeded former No. 1 Marat Safin (Safin leads 1-0, 2001 L.A. on hardcourt in straight sets).
In women's round of 16 action, 16-year-old wildcard Tatiana Golovin's run came to an abrupt end at the hands of veteran (25)Lisa Raymond, who worked the French girl with a deft combination of slice, power and placement in a 6-2, 6-0 thrashing.
"You know, I'm a little disappointed about my match," Golovin said. "I wasn't feeling so well. I wasn't really moving, and she was bothering me with her slices. But otherwise, the atmosphere was unbelievable. Playing on the Vodafone (stadium) was amazing, the crowd was great. Overall I'm pleased."
Things went according to the seedings in the three other matches on the day with (6)Anastasia Myskina coming back from a one-set deficit to beat (9)Chanda Rubin in three, (2)Kim Clijsters with a workmanlike effort over (20)Silvia Farina Elia, and (22)Patty Schnyder continuing her quiet ascension with an easy win over (29)Nathalie Dechy.
"Yeah, but, you know, even she can have moments where she's maybe not as focused," said Clijsters, praising her opponent in typical "you know" fashion. "But still, you know, she can still hit some unbelievable shots. It's not, you know, like it's always pulling her down. There's probably moments where she is a little bit up and down, of course. Everyone -- I still have those moments where I'm still a little bit up and down...It only maybe needs a couple of points for her to get back up and, you know, be at the top of her game again." Get that speech impediment fixed, you know?
Today's quarterfinal action features (4)Amelie "Unlike Others, I'm Out" Mauresmo vs. (32)Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga, and (1)Justine Henin-Hardenne vs. (5)Lindsay Davenport in a slugfest.
NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Australian's are now 2-18 in the men's round of 16 play since 1989. Ouch...Kim Clijsters has reached the QFs or better in her last five slams...David Nalbandian joins Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick as the only 16s without a loss of a set (on the men's side) or even having to face a set point...How insane was Roger Federer's effort when Lleyton Hewitt was serving in the fourth 2-2, 0-30. Cant you think of a better point?. Ever?...Anastasia Myskina has never reached a Slam SF...As a coach, Brad Gilbert has won 22 straight matches at the Australian Open...How many times has Lleyton Hewitt suffered a bagel set during his career? Four times now...Just as he did in his 1998 win over Flip, Hicham Arazi served more aces than Mark Philippoussis in his victory today...The last No. 1 seed to win a Grand Slam was Lleyton Hewitt at 2002 Wimbledon...Andre Agassi has won 25 straight matches in Melbourne, and 32 of 33 sets. He's also won 17 straight on Rod Laver Arena...Tournament ace leader Marat Safin turns 24 Tuesday...Andy Roddick is 4-3 vs. Russian players...Justine Henin-Hardenne beat Lindsay Davenport last year 9-7 in the third set. Could it happen again? No....Will Mandy Moore post in Australia? Tennis-X says "No."...Tatiana Golovin withdrew from the junior doubles...Seems like everybody loves Lisa Raymond's long-time friend Jennifer...When will Anastasia Myskina stop talking to her couch/boyfriend during matches?...Lindsay Davenport thinks that Venus losing means women's tennis suddenly has depth: "We always get such a bad rap, 'Oh, the same players always get through,' and the men's tennis, 'Oh, anyone can get through.' Now some players get through and it's a problem in our tennis when everyone's been waiting for that to happen for a long time."...Andre Agassi on his chat with Paradorn Srichaphan after the handshake: "I was just inquiring if he was all right, because one rally we had, he sort of -- I heard him moan. I was worried he pulled something. It looked like he almost went down. So I was just asking him if he was all right, if he pulled anything. That's all." Damn, we thought fists might fly...While everyone has been slamming the Rebound Ace surface, Andre Agassi says it's right up his alley: "You know, it's a great surface for my style of play. You can play with a lot of spin here, you can hit the ball through the court the times that there's a chance to do that. You know, that brings out options in my game. That's sort of what my game is built around, hitting different shots to accomplish different goals."...Venus Williams says she'll take advantage of her down time in Melbourne: "Yeah, I'll be a tennis tourist (laughter). I'll go see the Twelve Apostles now, who knows, Ayers Rock, all those good things. No, this is definitely not the position I was anticipating, but it's okay. I have to look at the bright side and know that I have plenty of time to practice and get ready for my next event. Of course, I just feel that my form will get better and better...I'm playing in Tokyo and Antwerp and Dubai. So I have two weeks off now. Woe is me."...Apparently Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal and Tommy Robredo will play doubles in the first-round Davis Cup tie against the Czech Republic...Anastasia Myskina showed her nightmare-girlfriend persona Monday in her win over Chanda Rubin, constantly grumbling in the direction of former boyfriend and current coach Jens Gerlach: "He's kind of like a wall there...he has to show me something...show some emotions to me," grinned Myskina. "He has to give me something back. You know, yeah, I can get really angry sometimes because at my level you cannot miss easy shots. If I lose to girls who are not my level, I get really angry (note: nice Rubin shot there). He knows me. He knows that I don't really mean it...the whole thing that happens on the court...he knows that I'm really emotional, but it is only on the court. You know, I am the way I am. If nobody likes me the way I am, I'm sorry. But I think, you know, I'm really nice -- too nice. I was really quiet as a little girl, maybe that's why now everything comes from me...Sometimes I lose the concentration a bit. I can get angry sometimes. I know it's not the best part of me. I'm really a tough girl on the court, really nice off the court. You know, on the court I'm not nice." Yikes...Swedish Davis Cup captain Mats Wilander announced his team that will take on Australia in the first round next month, featuring a young look in Joachim Johansson (nice mental ploy since he's dating Lleyton's sister), Robin Soderling, Thomas Enquist, Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin.