Agassi, Nalbandian Strengthen Masters Cup Qualifying Chances

Posted on October 31, 2004

Nalbandian Closing on Mattress Mac at ATP Basel

No. 4 seed David Nalbandian came one step closer to another meeting with his buddy, Masters Cup promoter Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, Saturday at the ATP stop in Basel defeating No. 7 seed Nicolas "The Golden Child" Massu 6-3, 6-4 to gain the final.

It is the third consecutive Basel final for the Argentine, who won in 2002, and last year could not contest the final after suffering a wrist injury.

"I played here three times and I've reached the final three times," said the generic-quote-machine Nalbandian. "Tomorrow I will try and play my best."

Nalbandian is currently fighting for one of the three remaining Masters Cup spots in the eight man field. At last year's Masters Cup in Houston, Nalbandian screamed at Mattress Mac during his match when the promoter openly cheered his American opponent, and said the Texas millionaire had "a lack of respect toward the players."

In the Basel final the Argentine will face unseeded Jiri Novak, who blew past unseeded Austrian Stefan "Tony" Koubek 6-4, 6-0.

Nalbandian and Novak have never before faced each other.

"He is a very tough player, he plays well indoors," Nalbandian said, breaking down the upcoming match in breadth and depth. "It's going to be a very tough match, best of five sets, so anything can happen."

The doubles final will be Arnold/Hood (d. (1) Knowles/Nestor in the semifinals) against (2) Bryan/Bryan (d. Ancic/Ljubicic in three).

Agassi Edges Haas in Two Breakers to Reach ATP Stockholm Final

Andre Agassi has failed to take home the Stockholm hardware in three previous appearances, but that could change Sunday when the top-seeded American contests the final against unseeded Swede Thomas "Tommy the J." Johansson.

On Saturday the former No. 1-ranked American, who is battling for one of the last remaining spots at the year-ending Masters Cup, edged No. 4 seed Tommy Haas 7-6(5), 7-6(4) on the indoor hardcourt.

"I'm never comfortable (against Haas)," Agassi said. "He has a good game. If I play him I go out there with a lot of respect. He has a big serve and a great backhand."

Johansson, the former Australian Open winner not to be confused with countryman Joachim "Pim-Pim" Johansson, gained the final by rolling over wildcard countryman Michael Ryderstedt 6-3, 6-2.

Agassi has beaten Tommy the J. in all six of their previous encounters, with half going three sets, most recently this year at the Masters Series-Cincinnati.

No Safin, But Alt-Russian Youzhny in ATP St. Petersburg Final

Although top-seeded Russian Marat Safin couldn't deliver, the hometown fans at the ATP stop in St. Petersburg got a homie in the final Saturday when No. 4 seed Mikhail Youzhny came back from a set down to defeat Brit "Grinning" Greg Rusedski 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

"Today it was a difficult match because Greg played well especially in the first set," Youzhny said. "He is maybe a little bit tired because it is his second tournament here in Russia (after the Moscow final two weeks ago). I could see the difference between the way he served in the first and in the last set. In the third, his second serves weren't as dangerous anymore and I had more chances to break him."

In the final the Russian will face unseeded Slovak Karol Beck, who outlasted No. 7 seed Michael Llodra 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, and is appearing in his first ATP final.

"I knew it was going to be a tough match, I played against (Llodra) before," Beck said. "Michael served really well. His left-handed serve is really difficult to return...I was able to put more pressure on him in the third set, pushing him to the error."

Youzhny has beaten Beck in both their previous meetings, both in 2003.

The doubles final will be Hrbaty/Levinsky vs. Frenchmen (2)Clement/Llodra.

Mauresmo Gunning for No. 1 Again at ATP Linz

Top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo, who briefly rose to No. 1 following the US Open and says she is playing Linz this week in a late-year effort to regain the top spot, barely edged upset-minded Serb Jelena Jankovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Saturday to advance to the final.

"I had so many occasions in the first set and really felt I would be able to control it," Mauresmo said.

In the final Mauresmo will square off against Russian No. 9 seed Elena "Lena" Bovina, who edged countrywoman and No. 5 seed Nadia Petrova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3).

Mauresmo is currently ranked No. 2 on the WTA Rankings behind No. 1 Lindsay Davenport, who is not playing this week.

Mauresmo has won both her meetings with Bovina, both in three sets.

The doubles final will be (1) Husarova/Likhovtseva vs. Dechy/Schnyder.

Molik, Safina Give Look at Future in WTA Luxembourg Final

No. 2 seed Alicia Molik takes her eight-match winning streak into the WTA Luxembourg final Sunday, where she will face unseeded Russian Dinara "Little Sis" Safina.

Molik easily dealt with No. 3 seed Silvia Farina Elia 6-2, 6-2 in her Saturday semifinal, while Safina, the younger sister of tempestuous ATP player Marat Safin, beat fellow un-seed Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Molik won her lone meeting with Safina in three sets at Wimbledon in 2003.

The doubles final will be (4) Craybas/Weingartner vs. (1) Ruano Pascual/Suarez.

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