Verkerk Hitting Clay Stride, Meets Davydenko in ATP Munich Final

Posted on May 3, 2004

Defending French Open finalist Martin "Berzerk" Verkerk is turning up his game just in time on the red dirt, gaining the final in Munich Saturday with a 7-6, 6-3 win over unseeded Olivier "The Roach" Rochus.

In the final the big Dutchman will face the red-hot Russian Nikolay Davydenko, who followed up his quarterfinal win over top-seeded Rainer Schuettler with a 6-4, 6-1 pounding of Peru's Luis "Me So" Horna. It is the first final of the year for both Verkerk and Davydenko.

"I'd never have believed that I would get this far," Davydenko said. "The claycourt season has never been so good to me." The doubles final will be Americans Blake/Merklein vs. (2)Knowle/Zimonjic. The Russian won their lone meeting last year at St. Poelten on clay.

In an appropriate Spain vs. Argentina final in Barcelona, No. 8 seed Tommy Robredo will square off against former Barcelona winner and No. 13 seed Gaston Gaudio on Sunday. Robredo stopped the run of Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen 6-4, 6-3 in the Saturday semifinals, while Gaudio was equally effective in dispatching of Spanish wildcard Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4.

"I woke up late this morning, since I needed as much rest as possible. After lunch my friends took me to the hospitality area to celebrate my birthday with a cake," Robredo said. "Tonight we're having an early dinner. I'll have many other opportunities to celebrate. It's too important for me to be able to play well in the final."

It is Gaudio's first appearance in a final since 2002 Gstaad. Robredo's lone title came at Sopot, Poland in 2001. Gaudio and Robredo are 1-1 in career meetings, but have never played on clay. The doubles final will be (7)Hood/Prieto vs. (2)Knowles/Nestor.

WTA REVIEWS/PREVIEWS
The all-muscle Sunday final at Warsaw will feature former No. 1 Venus Williams against the power of rising Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova. Venus had no trouble Saturday with No. 3-seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3, and will look to apply the same treatment to her countrywoman Kuznetsova, who eased past No. 9-seeded Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-2 in her semifinal.

"I think this has been my best match (this week), where I've been able to move my best," Williams said after easing past Zvonareva. "I've had so many frustrations, injuries and breaks, and it proved that hard work and a little hope are worth it...In the rallies I always felt I was in control, even when I was on the defence. I was definitely able to attack her serve."

Venus and Kuznetsova are tied 1-1 in their career meetings, with the Russian winning their last encounter at 2004 Doha. The doubles final will be Italians (2)Farina Elia/Schiavone vs. unseeded Argentines Dulko/Tarabini.

In the Budapest semifinals Saturday, unseeded Martina "Nurse Hand Me a" Sucha oustlasted (6)Iveta Benesova 4-6, 7-5, 6-0, and in the final will face (8)Jelena Jankovic, who eased by Flavia "Of Yesterday" Pennetta 6-3, 6-4. Sucha won their lone meeting this year at Memphis. The doubles final will be Mandula/Schett vs. Nemeth/Szavay.

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NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
After struggling on the challenger circuit upon making a return from back surgery, former No. 1 Marcelo Rios says he is close to hanging it up: "I'm close to retirement and I've been thinking about that for a long time. I know I'm looking for excuses to avoid it -- I am cheating myself," he said on Chilean television. "I know I can't be among the best in the world anymore, it's impossible dreaming about being the No. 1 again. Physically I haven't been fine...Once I retire I would like to stay close to tennis. This sport has been my life and gave me all I have." How good would it be to see the temperamental Chilean play one more match against Andre Agassi?...Players of note forced to play the qualifying this weekend at the Masters Series-Rome are "Everybody Loves" Raemon Sluiter, "Dr." Ivo Karlovic, Albert "The Dropshot Dragon!" Portas, Spanish comer Marc Lopez, Aussie serving machine Wayne Arthurs, Alex Corretja, Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, and Swiss Davis Cup captain Marc Rosset...Andy Roddick helped evacuate guests onto the roof of a blazing hotel Saturday at the Parco dei Principi, where three people died in the blaze. Around 30 players were staying at the hotel, and no players were injured. "Roddick helped people onto the roof," said Nicola Arzani, European communications director for the ATP. "Several of the players had a real fright. I talked to a few of them this morning, and I know that (Marat) Safin, his trainer and his girlfriend were quite shaken up." Two players, Filippo Volandri and Sjeng Schalken, were both evacuated from the hotel using firefighters' cranes. An American guest died after trying to lower himself to the street using a sheet, and an elderly Canadian couple also died...Gustavo Kuerten has withdrawn from Rome with a hip injury, joining 2002 champion Andre Agassi, 2001 winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, Monte Carlo champion Guillermo Coria, Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui and Mardy Fish. Does anyone play the Masters Series events anymore? Can we commission a study on how the technology in tennis is ruining the men's and women's tours with injuries?