Coria Extends Streak in Hamburg, Federer Advances

Posted on May 14, 2004

Second-seeded Guillermo Coria had little troubling in winning his 30th consecutive clay match by pounding Spain's David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Series event in Hamburg, Germany.

The 22-year-old Coria has won his last five ATP events on clay, including the tournament in Monte Carlo last month, and looks to be the favorite for the upcoming French Open. But the Argentine suffered a groin injury in the final which forced him out of events in Barcelona and Rome.

"It felt really nice to win in straight sets after three battles. I tried to change my attitude on court and that was very nice," commented Coria after the win.

With the weather improving in Hamburg, the match was played with the stadium roof open for the first time all week.

"It’s a big difference when the roof is open as opposed to when it’s closed," added Coria. "Obviously the conditions today were quicker and was lucky enough to adapt myself very well to the change."

Coria won the Hamburg title last year defeating countryman Agustin Calleri in the final. In the semifinals on Saturday, Coria will face either Russian Mikhail Youhzny or Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.

In the other semifinal, top seed Roger Federer, a 6-4, 6-3 winner over Carlos Moya, will battle Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, who topped Austria's Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 6-3.

"I’m very happy with the way I played. It was a good match," said Federer. "I was happy the way I hit the ball. I served good which I needed to."

The French Open begins Monday, May 24.