Massu, Local Volandri Lead Seeds Into Quarters at ATP Palermo
Posted on October 1, 2004Top-seeded Nicolas Massu led the winners Thursday on the red dirt at the ATP stop in Palermo, defeating rising Italian star "You Say" Potito Starace who retired in the first set with a stomach illness.
"I did not know he had a problem, but when he served two double faults in the first set I realized there was something wrong," Massu said. "On one hand it is better to have a short match but on the other hand it's important not to lose one's rhythm in the tournament."
Also into the quarterfinals was local hero (5) Filippo Volandri (d. (Q) "Julio &" Galo Blanco), along with (8) Tomas Berdych (d. Acasuso in three), and Italian wildcard Andreas Seppi (d. Vliegen, who retired in the third with an ankle injury).
"It was a good match, I felt good on court, I could force the game especially with my forehand," Seppi said. "It's great to be in my first quarterfinal on the ATP circuit, I hope to reach the semifinals and get a special exempt next week (in Lyon)."
Friday's quarterfinal line-up is (7) Ferrer vs. (4) Davydenko, Juan "The Principality" Monaco vs. Olivier "Mucus" Mutis, (8) Berdych vs. (WC) Seppi, and in the nightcap (1) Massu vs. (5) Volandri.
"I did not know he had a problem, but when he served two double faults in the first set I realized there was something wrong," Massu said. "On one hand it is better to have a short match but on the other hand it's important not to lose one's rhythm in the tournament."
Also into the quarterfinals was local hero (5) Filippo Volandri (d. (Q) "Julio &" Galo Blanco), along with (8) Tomas Berdych (d. Acasuso in three), and Italian wildcard Andreas Seppi (d. Vliegen, who retired in the third with an ankle injury).
"It was a good match, I felt good on court, I could force the game especially with my forehand," Seppi said. "It's great to be in my first quarterfinal on the ATP circuit, I hope to reach the semifinals and get a special exempt next week (in Lyon)."
Friday's quarterfinal line-up is (7) Ferrer vs. (4) Davydenko, Juan "The Principality" Monaco vs. Olivier "Mucus" Mutis, (8) Berdych vs. (WC) Seppi, and in the nightcap (1) Massu vs. (5) Volandri.