Moya Eases by Nalbandian for ATP Rome Title
Posted on May 11, 2004
No. 6 seed Carlos Moya gave a flashback to his No. 1 Roland Garros-winning form Sunday at the ATP Masters Series-Rome, easily disposing of Argentine David Nalbandian 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in the best-of-five final.Experience counted during the championship meeting, with Nalbandian attempting to win his first Masters Series crown, but with Moya cooly dictating play to earn his career third Masters Series title after 2002 Cincinnati and Monte Carlo in 1998. Moya has also come up short in three other Masters Series finals in 1999 Indian Wells, 2002 Monte Carlo, and last year at the MS-Miami.
"For today, I got to the court believing in myself, believing that there was a good chance to win here," Moya said. "Given the conditions today, I thought that I was maybe more of a favorite than he was. I think he was a little bit tired today. He is very talented. He's gonna be an even better player in the future."
Moya has previously never surpassed the quarterfinals at Rome in eight attempts. Rome is the third title this year for Moya after wins at Chennai and Acapulco.
Nalbandian refused to abide by the Golden Rule during the final -- stay away from the Moya forehand.
"I think he play an unbelievable match. He served very good, and his forehand was incredible today," Nalbandian said. "I didn't serve good on the court today. Maybe I feel tired from long match from yesterday."
The first four Masters Series events of 2004 have now been evenly distributed between Roger Federer (Indian Wells), Andy Roddick (Miami), Guillermo Coria (Monte Carlo) and Moya (Rome).
In the doubles final the towering Indian/Belarussian pairing of No. 3 seeds Mahesh Bhupathi and Max "The Beast" Mirnyi came from a set down to beat Aussies and No. 6 seeds Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 for their first title of the year, and fourth career Masters Series shield as a team. The pair won Monte Carlo, Cincinnati and Madrid in 2003.
Preview: ATP Masters Series-Hamburg
Getting the Top 5 ATP players to show up for one of the ATP Masters Series claycourt events this year has proven to about as easy as getting a Spaniard to play a full grasscourt season. Hamburg is the third and final claycourt Masters Series event after Monte Carlo and Rome this year, and the ATP, through a combination of injuries, illness and general disinterest, has gone 0-3 in getting its top five horses on the same dirt track.
This time around the pull-outs are Andy Roddick (knee), and Juan Carlos Ferrero, who looked like he would make his return after a rest to fully recover from a bout of the chickenpox earlier in the year, but pulled out over the weekend with a new injury to his wrist, putting his Roland Garros chances in further jeopardy.
Take note ATP Fantasy players: Roddick, Ferrero, Agassi out; Coria back in after the mystery injury (groin?) that forced him to miss the MS-Rome.
So now world No. 1 Roger Federer gets another chance to hone his game on the surface he grew up on, but has surprisingly had sporadic success with, and Coria can test his fitness level.
Here is a breakdown of the four quarters of the 64-player draw, which contains a number of opening-round match-ups you'd expect to see in finals of smaller events:
Top Quarter
Seeds: (1)Roger Federer, (7)Carlos Moya, (10)Mark "Flipper" Philippoussis, (13)Fernando Gonzalez
Floaters: Gaston Gaudio, Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez, Joachim Johansson, Fernando Verdasco, Guillermo Canas, Alberto Martin, David Sanchez
Not an easy draw for the world No. 1, with a combination seven Spaniards and Argentines in the section, the not-so-least of which being Barcelona finalist Gaston Gaudio in his opener. Not exactly a lot of time to find your claycourt legs before being challenged. Maybe you'll want to scratch Fed from the Fantasy Tennis team, save him for the lawn-mower season. The Masters Series-Rome winner Moya, no doubt tired from his six-match run last week, will be lucky to advance to the third round after grinding match-ups against countrymen David Sanchez, and a likely second round meeting with Al Martin. Never an easy task to beat the countrymen you practice with all the time. Other first-rounders to watch are (13)Gonzalez against F-Lo (Gonzo won their only meeting last year in a three-setter), and a serving throw-down in (10)Flipper against Memphis winner Joachim "Not Thomas" Johansson. Watch for Gaudio, Canas, or (13)Gonzalez to surprisingly pave the way in this section.
Second Quarter
Seeds: (8)Sebastien Grosjean (9)Nicolas Massu, (14)Sjeng Schalken, (17)Lleyton Hewitt
Floaters: Vince Spadea, Tommy Haas, Juan Ignacio Chela, Nikolay Davydenko, Marat Safin, Jonas Bjorkman
(8)Grosjean vs. former No. 1 Safin? Haas vs. Spadea? (17)Hewitt vs. the counterpuncher Jonas Bjorkman? This section causes more mouth watering than a chunky WTA star at a free player's buffet. No easy draw for the former No. 1 Hewitt, who if he gets by his opener would face the Spadea-Haas winner. (14)Schalken is iffy on the dirt, and if (8)Grosjean can get by Marat, he would face another tester in likely opponent Davydenko, who has inexplicably been on fire during the claycourt season. Watch out for (9)Massu who is due for a good week -- with Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer in his opener, then the Chela-Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze winner, the Chilean could be poised for a breakout.
Third Quarter
Seeds: (4)Rainer Schuettler, (5)Tim Henman, (12)Martin "Berzerk" Verkerk, (15)Jiri Novak
Floaters: Andrei Pavel, Max "The Beast" Mirnyi, Ivan Ljubicic, Alex Corretja
"Schuettler here." That's how the German answers the phone, and that's the situation in this section, where the top German could easily find himself out into the quarterfinals with an opener against low-wattage countryman Lars Burgsmuller, then the Kiefer-Youzhny winner, then maybe (15)Novak -- not a half-bad looking lay-out. (5)Henman was granted a nice opener against Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi, but could then face a tester against veteran Andrei Pavel, then (12)Berzerk or The Beast if he survives that -- Timbledon has his work cut out. (12)Berzerk also has an unkind draw, with Ljubicic in his opener (losing to the big-serving Croat easily in their last claycourt meeting), then a likely meeting with The Beast, who can bring it on clay even with his hardcourt mentality. Looking like a possible Schuettler-Henman quarterfinal here, or "Schuettler here."
Bottom Quarter
Seeds: (2)Guillermo "El Mago" Coria, (6)David Nalbandian, (11)Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, (16)Tommy Robredo
Floaters: David Ferrer, Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty, "Brother" Al Costa, Mariano Zabaleta, Arnaud Clement, Luis "Me So" Horna
What is it about the bottom quarters of the Masters Series draws being the place you don't want to land in as a player? The Argentine dynamic duo of El Mago and Nalbandian, with Barcelona winner Robredo and a handful of clay upset specialists make this a nasty, nasty section. Two big questions: Is Coria recovered from the (groin?) injury that kept him out of the MS-Rome? Does Nalbandian, who appeared exhausted against Moya in the MS-Rome final, have anything left for Hamburg? In our Tennis-X upset special, clean out the bank account, hit the tennis betting website and put it all AGAINST Nalbandian, who is not only dragging after his Rome effort, but is 0-2 against his first-round opponent Ferrer. You heard it here first. Then again, if we're wrong, you acted of your own free will, and we don't condone Internet betting (when we lose). No real tough opening match-ups here except for Horna-Clement, but watch former Roland Garros winner Al Costa with the cake draw: the erratic Xavier Malisse in his opener, then the winner of the clay-challenged (11)Srichaphan-(Q)Olivier Rochus match-up, then either Ferrer or The Dominator. Brother Al just gets stronger as the tournament progresses, and after the confidence boost from beating Federer last week, it is shaping up as a nice run for the Spaniard.
Returning champs in this year's Hamburg field are Coria (2003), Federer (2002), and Spaniards Al Portas (2001) and Costa (1998).
On court Monday in Hamburg are (15)Novak vs. (WC)Mayer, Spadea vs. (WC)Haas, Safin vs. (8)Grosjean, (Q)Almagro vs. (2)Coria, (10)Philippoussis vs. J.Johansson, Volandri vs. N.Lapentti, Clement vs. Horna, (Q)O.Rochus vs. (11)Srichaphan, Saretta vs. (WC)Abel, Sargsian vs. Davydenko, Verdasco vs. Canas, (16)Robredo vs. Dupuis, (Q)Portas vs. (Q)Corretja in an all-ESP battle of two former Masters Series title winners who had to qualify, Chela vs. Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze, A.Martin vs. Arazi, (Q)Knowle vs. Ginepri, and Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty vs. (Q)Ascione.
WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
Amelie Mauresmo was handed her second Berlin/German Open title Sunday when Venus Williams defaulted the final because of a left ankle sprain sustained in her semifinal win that left her on crutches.
It was the third consecutive final for Venus after winning in Charleston and Warsaw.
"Obviously it's important for me to keep fit, whether there's the French Open coming up or not, because I've been down and out so long," Venus said. "And now that I'm (hurt) there's no reason for me to go crazy and hurt myself even more. It's a load I'm not willing to take right now."
Williams also received treatment for a left hip injury during the semifinals, playing with her left thigh strapped in a match where she was forced to come back from a set down against Croat Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem. Williams says she was unable to put weight on the foot when she woke on Sunday.
Mauresmo is now 1-2 in finals in 2004.
"It's a strange feeling wining the tournament without playing," Mauresmo said. "I don't know what words to use, as I am disappointed because I wanted to play but I am pleased with the week that I have had because I have played very good tennis, especially against Jennifer (Capriati). I could say that I am one of the favorites for Roland Garros. But I need to play more matches and that is why I am playing Rome next week."
In the doubles final, (4)Petrova/Shaughnessy beat (5)Husarova/Martinez 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 for their third title of the year, extending their match win streak to 13.
WTA Preview: Rome
Serena Williams makes her return to the WTA Tour this week in Rome after over-extending her knee a couple weeks back, but sister Venus takes the week off after twisting her ankle over the weekend in Berlin. World No. 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne is still sidelined by a virus, while Belgian countrywoman Kim Clijsters has already pulled from the French Open with a wrist injury.
Welcome to the wonderful world of the WTA Tour, where out-of-control racquet technology has overstressed the bodies of the top players, and the WTA and the ITF are both too passive to be the first to take action. Of the current Top 20 on the WTA Rankings, all but three have pulled from a tournament thus far in 2004 with an injury of some sort. But we digress.
Joining Serena among the Top 8 seeds in Rome are Amelie Mauresmo, Anastasia Myskina, Nadia Petrova, Jennifer Capriati, Elena Dementieva, Ai Sugiyama, and Vera Zvonareva. That's four Russians out of the Top 8 if you're counting, a Russian revolution.
The Top 8 seeds receive byes in the WTA's entertainment-killing fashion, so there are only a few exciting first round match ups in (12)Paola Suarez vs. Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga, and Croatia's Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem vs. Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova. If you find that match on a betting site, put the house on Sprem, who was edged in three sets by Venus over the weekend. That Croat is the real deal.
Potential semifinals in Rome, which is when you'll want to wake up for this one, are (1)Serena vs. (5)Capriati, and (3)Myskina vs. (2)Mauresmo. Former champs in the field are Serena (2002), Jelena Dokic (2001), Mary Pierce (1997), and four-time champ Conchita Martinez (1996-93).
On court Monday are Santangelo vs. Safina, Testud vs. Sanchez-Lorenzo, Kuznetsova vs. Molik, Bovina vs. Pisnik, Douchevina vs. Black, Randriantefy vs. Maleeva, Craybas vs. Golovin, Reeves vs. Raymond in an all-American, and Marrero vs. Panova.
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NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Kim Clijsters' coach told a Belgian radio station she needs to take five weeks off to heal the wrist: "The doctor has told her to rest," Marc Dehous said in an interview with VRT radio. "It is yet another setback."...If Clijster's slice backhand is "now like Steffi Graf's" as she says, why not keep playing and just stop hitting the two-handed backhand, take the injured left wrist out of the equation? Just hit slice approaches when they start keying the backhand -- she can volley, she and Ai Sugiyama win every other doubles tournament they play. C'mon, be inventive, what have you got to lose besides ego? Step it up...Venus Williams twisted ankle injury is another setback for the former world No. 1, who in the same month last year suffered a stomach muscle injury during the Warsaw final against her same opponent at Berlin, Amelie Mauresmo...From South Africa's News24 on the top American exodus from Hamburg: "(Andre) Agassi and (Andy) Roddick have decided that the Northern seaport event, which starts on Monday, and which sometimes produces damp conditions, heavy balls and a gruelling week, is not the best preparation for Roland Garros. Agassi is competing only once on clay before the French Open -- surprisingly, at the modest event next week at St Poelten. However, that tournament is taking place in Austria's highest per-capita-income town, which suggests that the ageing legend may be receiving generous appearance money for his efforts." You think?...Winners at the Rome senior event Sunday were Thomas Muster (d. Camporese), Pat Cash (d. Korda in three), Paolo Cane (d. Wilander(?!?)), with John McEnroe pulling from the event with a bad shoulder. Monday's matches are Muster vs. Pioline, Cash vs. Wilander, and Cane vs. Korda in the final round-robin matches...Rainer Schuettler, Nicolas Kiefer and Tommy Haas attended the soccer match between Hamburg SV and Vfb Stuttgart at the sold-out AOL Arena prior to the start of the Masters Series-Hamburg...James Blake flew home to Connecticut Saturday after being released from a Rome hospital following a freak accident during practice. Blake tumbled head first into a net post while chasing a drop shot Thursday. He was taken to Concordia Hospital with neck and back injuries. Blake's agent Carlos Fleming indicated that optimistically Blake hoped to return to the circuit to play Roland Garros but that he would not resume playing until he was ready. "There was no neurological damage and all reports indicate that I will be back on the court soon," Blake said in a statement. "I feel pretty lucky. It's probably a good thing I went to see the Pope on Tuesday."...Three-time Roland Garros champion Gustavo Kuerten has been selected by the Brazilian Olympic Committee to carry the Athens Olympic Torch in Rio de Janeiro on June 13. Guga will join soccer stars Ronaldo, Pele and other sports personalities to carry the flag. "For me, as an athlete, to carry this torch is like a dream come true," Kuerten said. "The Olympic Games have always been a source of inspiration for me. I have watched the Olympics since I was a kid and I have seen so many moments in the Games that made me want to go even higher in my tennis. I was very happy with this invitation and feel really honored to be able to take part in this event." You and Lleyton Hewitt should have a talk...Robby Ginepri, Vince Spadea, Max "The Beast" Mirnyi and Mark Philippoussis taped interviews with the CBS tennis magazine show Topspin during Rome...The last time a men's player won two of the three Masters Series claycourt events in the same year was Gustavo Kuerten winning Monte Carlo and Rome back-to-back in 1999. Thomas Muster achieved the same feat in 1995 AND 1996, while Andrei Medvedev won Monte Carlo and Hamburg in 1994...Qualifiers in Hamburg were Julian Knowle, Andreas Seppi, Cyril Saulnier, Albert Portas, Alex Corretja, Thierry Ascione, Olivier Rochus, and Nicolas Almagro, while wildcards went to Germans Max Abel, Lars Burgsmuller, Tommy Haas, and Florian Mayer...Current world No. 1 Roger Federer won the Hamburg title in 2002, beating Gustavo Kuerten and Marat Safin, who says he can't play on clay?...Lindsay Davenport is still in the U.S., and won't head to Europe and the red dirt until Strasbourg, the week prior to the French Open. "The French is not something I put a lot of emphasis on or think about," Davenport told Charlie "Brick" Bricker of the Florida Sun-Sentinel. "There's just something about Roland Garros. Some places I just walk in and love it. Not Roland Garros." That should get her an infectious round of applause at the French...How happy is Tim Henman since they redid the Hamburg draw after the pull-out of Juan Carlos Ferrero? Henman was scheduled to play Lleyton Hewitt, who then became the No. 17 seed and was moved to another position -- Henman is 0-7 career against Hewitt...Here's how impossibly complicated the men's rankings are: Carlos Moya wins the MS-Rome, and the New York Times runs the headline "Moya Wins Italian Open, No. 2 Ranking". Problem is, Moya is not ranked No. 2, he only moved to No. 2 in the 2004-only ATP Champions Race, not the actual ATP Entry Rankings. He is actually ranked No. 8, bit of a difference. Is the Champions Race really resulting in NASCAR-like excitement as the ATP predicted, with fans rabidly following who is doing best in the current year? No. Time to ditch the confusing Champions Race, even the New York Times can't get it right.