Nalbandian Goes for First Masters Series Title Against Moya at ATP Rome

Posted on May 10, 2004

Another Spain vs. Argentina match? Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian will contest the Masters Series-Rome final Sunday after mastering the swirling winds and rain delays Saturday.

Moya beat Mariano Zabaleta 6-3, 6-4 for his tour-best 20th match victory on clay this season, while Nalbandian rallied from a set down to outlast former French Open champion Al Costa 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-4. Nalbandian is seeking his first Masters Series title.

"I came here very confident, and I won the first two matches and I got more confidence even, and now I'm in the final," Moya said. "So, I mean, it's been a great week so far for me. I'm in a Masters Series final. It doesn't happen every day, so I'll try to enjoy
tomorrow and try to win my third title as a Masters Series."

Moya provided a nice mix of baseline power and occasional net approaches to keep Zabaleta off balance, while Nalbandian had to overcome the backboard-like game of Costa and contend with his own unforced errors before coming back from a break down in the third.

"It wasn't an easy week with the rain and everything," Nalbandian said. "I played two matches one day, which is quite tiring. Tomorrow it is going to be another difficult match, but you have to be 100% because it is a Masters Series final and you
don't play one every day."

Nalbandian leads the series with Moya 2-1, and they haven't faced each other since 2002.

The doubles final will be Aussie (6)Arthurs/Hanley (d. (1)Bryan/Bryan in the semifinals) vs. (3)Bhupathi/Mirnyi (d. (2)Bjorkman/Woodbridge).

WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Venus Williams came from a set down to beat Croatian Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to gain the final at Berlin Saturday, but may have to forfeit the Sunday championship after twisting her left foot in the final game.

"I don't know what I'll decide yet," said Williams, who is competing for a third straight WTA Tour title after victories in Charleston and Warsaw. "I will try to prepare for the match but I don't want to do anything stupid," referring to being ready for the upcoming French Open.

In the final Venus will face Amelie Mauresmo, who manhandled former French Open winner Jennifer Capriati 6-2, 6-0 on the slow dirt.

"I felt really good and noticed that my confidence was coming back," said Mauresmo, who has struggled with a back injury. "In the important moments I always found the right answer."

Venus and Mauresmo havr faced each other six times, with the Frenchwoman winning only once when Venus retired with an abdominal injury last year in the Warsaw final.

The doubles final will be Petrova/Shaughnessy vs. Husarova/Martinez.

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NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
In round robin play at the Rome Seniors Saturday, Thomas Muster beat John McEnroe 2-6, 7-6(4), 10-6, Mats Wilander overcame Petr Korda 7-6(6), 6-4, Omar Camporese defeated Cedric Pioline 6-3, 6-4, and Pat Cash saw off Paolo Cane 6-3, 6-4. McEnroe had a 6-2, 5-3 lead and four match points when he lost his temper and had a meltdown over a bad call, and Muster gained the advantage in the battle of former No. 1s. "I was playing some great tennis, I had him, and I let him off the hook," McEnroe said. "That game (serving for the match), I had new balls, I had deuce, he got lucky. In the next game I came back, had four match points so I was really close, but he hit some good shots." Sunday features McEnroe vs. Pioline, Cash vs. Korda, Muster vs. Camporese, and Wilander vs. Cane...Brad Gilbert, coach of Andy Roddick, was on hand in St. Helena, California Friday to watch his son Zach make his high school tennis debut. Zach, a freshman at Marin Academy, had the tournament's top seed on the ropes in the second round, but eventually dropped a 7-6(3), 6-2 decision. Zach served twice for the first set at 5-4 and 6-5. Ouch...David Nalbandian is looking to become the fourth Argentinean winner in Rome after Guillermo Vilas (1980), Jose Luis Clerc (1981) and Alberto Mancini (1989)...Carlos Moya is attempting to become the sixth Spanish winner in Rome after Manuel Orantes (1972), Emilio Sanchez (1991), Alex Corretja (1997), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2001) and Felix Mantilla (2003)...Carlos Moya is tied with Andy Roddick at 32-7 as the win leaders on tour...Guillermo Coria (groin?) and Juan Carlos Ferrero (chickenpox recovery) return to play next week at the Masters Series Hamburg after skipping the MS-Rome this week. Andy Roddick will miss Hamburg, citing a knee injury, with Roger Federer the top seed. LATE BREAKING NEWS: Venus Williams pulled from the Sunday Berlin final after twisting her ankle Saturday, handing the title to Amelie Mauresmo. Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian are just underway at 8:50 a.m. EST in the MS-Rome final.