Hewitt Keeps US Open Mojo, Rolls Into Long Island Quarters

Posted on August 27, 2004

Over all the hubbub over the 'Roger & Andy Show,' former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is not-so-quietly making his case for being considered a US Open favorite, despite consistently coming up short in the big events.

The Aussie has won 12 of his last 13 matches, including a runner-up (to Andre Agassi) at the Masters Series-Cincinnati and a title at Washington in his last two events. On Thursday the audacious Aussie pummeled Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-1, 6-4 to advance into the quarterfinals at the ATP stop in Long Island.

"The tournament in Washington didn't take that much out of me, so I was happy to get this week's wildcard," Hewitt said. "This is the first time I've played in a tournament the week before the US Open."

Also into the quarters was unseeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko with the upset (d. (8)Verdasco), (5)Juan Ignacio Chela (d. Enqvist in three), and (9)Luis "Me So" Horna (d. Nieminen).

Friday's quarterfinals line up as (9)Horna vs. Davydenko, (4)Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan vs. (7)Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson, (2)Hewitt vs. (5)Chela, and Tursunov vs. (10)Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer.

Raymond Puts WTA New Haven Wildcard to Good Use, Capriati Ousted
American wildcard Lisa Raymond became the only unseeded player to gain the WTA New Haven semifinals Thursday, defeating former Top 10-ranked Daniela Hantuchova, while fellow American Jennifer Capriati suffered a shocker leading into the US Open.

"I didn't expect to be here," said the 31-year-old Raymond. "I just wanted to play some good matches. I got the wildcard and put it to good use."

The No. 3-seeded Capriati, in her first tournament back after skipping the Athens Olympics with injury, was beaten in straight sets by No. 8 Nathalie Dechy.

"When you never win against somebody, you think it's going to be one time," said Dechy, who was 0-5 career against Capriati entering the match. "This morning I felt really well and I thought, 'Today will be the day.'"

Capriati was pseudo-complimentary of her opponent.

"I think she definitely played the match of her life tonight," Capriati said. "All credit to her really. There wasn't much I could do." Except slug away. Try hitting a slice.

Also into the semis were (2)Elena "The Diagnosis is" Dementieva (d. Jankovic), and (7)Elena "Lina" Bovina (d. Washington).

Friday's semis match up as an all-Russian in Bovina vs. Dementieva (Dementia leads meetings 3-1), and Raymond vs. Dechy (the Frenchwoman won their lone meeting on clay in 2002).

Likhovtseva Into Semis Without Hitting a Ball at WTA Forest Hills
Top-seeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva advanced to the semis without hitting a ball Thursday when France's Marion Bartoli repeated her feat from last week, pulling out of the semifinals with blisters on her hand.

In other quarterfinal action, Belgian (WC)Kirsten Flipkens ousted (2)Emilie Loit, Spaniard Anabel "Funky Cold" Median Garrigues edged Kristina "You're a Fine Girl" Brandi 7-6 in the third, and (4)Iveta "Not Lose" Benesova outlasted Katarina Srebotnik 6-1 in the third.

Likhovtseva bullied her way to the final in Montreal a few weeks back as an unseeded player before losing to Amelie Mauresmo.

Friday's semifinal line-up will be (1)Likhovtseva vs. Funky Cold, and (WC)Flipkens vs. (4)Benesova.

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