ATP Insider
Giving you an inside look into the ATP this week
...
TOURNAMENT TALES
->> - IN KITZBuHEL…Over 20 radio stations spoke live one-on-one with Argentina's new hero GUILLERMO CORIA. The Tennis Masters Hamburg champion who added his second title of the year in Stuttgart last week, acknowledged the importance of the media and the situation in Argentina. "I know it can be tough but I have to do it and I like doing it," said Coria. "It is for my country and the support they give me."…Top seed JUAN CARLOS FERRERO held a pre-tournament press conference on Monday for various members of the Austrian media. It was his first press conference as a Grand Slam winner here in Austria. "I love Kitzbühel and it is an event that I will always try to come to," said the Roland Garros champion…Spanish stars FELICIANO LOPEZ and ALBERT COSTA held interviews from Kitzbühel with Spanish fashion magazines Elle and Cosmopolitan as part of the promotion of the upcoming Tennis Masters Madrid…FRANTISEK CERMAK fought off competition from JUAN CARLOS FERRERO, GUILLERMO CORIA and GASTON GAUDIO among others in a special competition arranged by the tournament's main sponsor Generali. The players, including ALBERT COSTA, NICOLAS LAPENTTI, MARIANO ZABALETA, MARKUS HIPFL, NICOLAS MASSU, ALBERT PORTAS, WERNER ESCHAUER, FELICIANO LOPEZ, JUAN IGNACIO CHELA, DAVID SANCHEZ, MARTIN RODRIGUEZ and ANDREAS VINCIGUERRA took part in various athletic activities and volleys in the competition. All the players received watches from Generali for their efforts…Tyrol, the region where Kitzbühel is located and sponsor of the event, hosted some autograph sessions with NICOLAS MASSU and local favorite WERNER ESCHAUER, while MARIANO ZABALETA spent time signing autographs at the Mercedes-Benz booth in the commercial area…Kids' day in Kitzbühel is always a popular occasion, and this year was no exception. On Tuesday, kids came from all around Austria and the north of Italy for the chance to hit some balls with their heroes GUILLERMO CORIA, DEVON BOWEN and LUIS ADRIAN MOREJON…One of the most popular activities in Kitzbühel is the organization of the "Fan Clubs" for the top 14 seeds and two Austrian players. The Fan Clubs, containing supporters from all over region, then got to spend time with their heroes, who signed autographs and posed for photographs in the meeting area…As part of the traditional Player's Party in Kitzbühel, British girl-band Atomic Kitten made a special appearance, performing various songs in the VIP area as part of the activities.
...
SAY WHAT?
"It's important. This gives me a lot of motivation to play and win this week."
- Juan Carlos Ferrero on the possibility of regaining his ATP Champions Race 2003 lead and overtaking Andre Agassi's No. 1 ATP Entry Ranking if he wins the title in Kitzbühel.
--> taken from ATP official site.
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Ferrero on Course to Reach the Top
By Julia Ferguson
KITZBUEHEL, Austria (Reuters) - Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero remained on track to become world number one next week with a 7-6, 6-3, defeat of Flavio Saretta in the third round of the Generali Open Friday.
The French Open champion will seize the world number one spot from Andre Agassi if he wins the claycourt tournament, the sport's governing body the ATP said.
"It was very important for me to win this match," the 23-year-old Spaniard said after his victory at the 925,000 euro ($1.06 million) clay event.
Unseeded Chilean Nicolas Massu became the first to reach the semi-finals after wearing down 2001 Kitzbuehel champion Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 7-5, 6-4.
But seventh seed Gaston Gaudio, who has notched up the most wins on clay this year, bowed out 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, to 13th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the day's second quarter-final.
The 23-year-old Massu, who has now won nine matches in a row including the final of the Dutch Open last week, said he was relieved to edge past Lapentti since he was beginning to feel the effects of his recent success.
"I'm very happy I could win... I was feeling a little bit tired because I've played nine matches in 10 days," Massu said.
"But when you're riding on a wave of success it gives you a lot of confidence," the in-form Chilean added.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Ferrero's victory allowed him to recapture the lead in the ATP Champions Race -- rankings based only on results in 2003 -- replacing Wimbledon champion Roger Federer at the top.
"This is the second time this year I'm number one (in the Champions Race) so it means I'm playing very well in all the tournaments," added the Spaniard, who is playing in his first event since Roland Garros.
Ferrero, who has already won three titles this year and 10 overall, will contest his quarter-final later in the day against Argentine ninth seed Mariano Zabaleta.
Second seed Guillermo Coria barely broke sweat to beat France's Olivier Mutis 6-1, 6-0, in another third-round match left over from Thursday's wash-out.
"It was a fast match which is good for me since I will play two matches today," the 21-year-old said.
"I felt more solid than in my first match. I'm getting more accustomed to the altitude," the claycourt specialist added, referring to the high altitude of the Tyrolean ski resort.
Argentine Coria, on track for his third title of the year after capturing the Hamburg Masters in May and Stuttgart last week, now has to battle past compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela to reach the semi-finals.
The eighth seed survived a tough 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, tussle against 10th seed Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
--> news from reuters
Giving you an inside look into the ATP this week
...
TOURNAMENT TALES
->> - IN KITZBuHEL…Over 20 radio stations spoke live one-on-one with Argentina's new hero GUILLERMO CORIA. The Tennis Masters Hamburg champion who added his second title of the year in Stuttgart last week, acknowledged the importance of the media and the situation in Argentina. "I know it can be tough but I have to do it and I like doing it," said Coria. "It is for my country and the support they give me."…Top seed JUAN CARLOS FERRERO held a pre-tournament press conference on Monday for various members of the Austrian media. It was his first press conference as a Grand Slam winner here in Austria. "I love Kitzbühel and it is an event that I will always try to come to," said the Roland Garros champion…Spanish stars FELICIANO LOPEZ and ALBERT COSTA held interviews from Kitzbühel with Spanish fashion magazines Elle and Cosmopolitan as part of the promotion of the upcoming Tennis Masters Madrid…FRANTISEK CERMAK fought off competition from JUAN CARLOS FERRERO, GUILLERMO CORIA and GASTON GAUDIO among others in a special competition arranged by the tournament's main sponsor Generali. The players, including ALBERT COSTA, NICOLAS LAPENTTI, MARIANO ZABALETA, MARKUS HIPFL, NICOLAS MASSU, ALBERT PORTAS, WERNER ESCHAUER, FELICIANO LOPEZ, JUAN IGNACIO CHELA, DAVID SANCHEZ, MARTIN RODRIGUEZ and ANDREAS VINCIGUERRA took part in various athletic activities and volleys in the competition. All the players received watches from Generali for their efforts…Tyrol, the region where Kitzbühel is located and sponsor of the event, hosted some autograph sessions with NICOLAS MASSU and local favorite WERNER ESCHAUER, while MARIANO ZABALETA spent time signing autographs at the Mercedes-Benz booth in the commercial area…Kids' day in Kitzbühel is always a popular occasion, and this year was no exception. On Tuesday, kids came from all around Austria and the north of Italy for the chance to hit some balls with their heroes GUILLERMO CORIA, DEVON BOWEN and LUIS ADRIAN MOREJON…One of the most popular activities in Kitzbühel is the organization of the "Fan Clubs" for the top 14 seeds and two Austrian players. The Fan Clubs, containing supporters from all over region, then got to spend time with their heroes, who signed autographs and posed for photographs in the meeting area…As part of the traditional Player's Party in Kitzbühel, British girl-band Atomic Kitten made a special appearance, performing various songs in the VIP area as part of the activities.
...
SAY WHAT?
"It's important. This gives me a lot of motivation to play and win this week."
- Juan Carlos Ferrero on the possibility of regaining his ATP Champions Race 2003 lead and overtaking Andre Agassi's No. 1 ATP Entry Ranking if he wins the title in Kitzbühel.
--> taken from ATP official site.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ferrero on Course to Reach the Top
By Julia Ferguson
KITZBUEHEL, Austria (Reuters) - Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero remained on track to become world number one next week with a 7-6, 6-3, defeat of Flavio Saretta in the third round of the Generali Open Friday.
The French Open champion will seize the world number one spot from Andre Agassi if he wins the claycourt tournament, the sport's governing body the ATP said.
"It was very important for me to win this match," the 23-year-old Spaniard said after his victory at the 925,000 euro ($1.06 million) clay event.
Unseeded Chilean Nicolas Massu became the first to reach the semi-finals after wearing down 2001 Kitzbuehel champion Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 7-5, 6-4.
But seventh seed Gaston Gaudio, who has notched up the most wins on clay this year, bowed out 6-2, 6-7, 7-5, to 13th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain in the day's second quarter-final.
The 23-year-old Massu, who has now won nine matches in a row including the final of the Dutch Open last week, said he was relieved to edge past Lapentti since he was beginning to feel the effects of his recent success.
"I'm very happy I could win... I was feeling a little bit tired because I've played nine matches in 10 days," Massu said.
"But when you're riding on a wave of success it gives you a lot of confidence," the in-form Chilean added.
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Ferrero's victory allowed him to recapture the lead in the ATP Champions Race -- rankings based only on results in 2003 -- replacing Wimbledon champion Roger Federer at the top.
"This is the second time this year I'm number one (in the Champions Race) so it means I'm playing very well in all the tournaments," added the Spaniard, who is playing in his first event since Roland Garros.
Ferrero, who has already won three titles this year and 10 overall, will contest his quarter-final later in the day against Argentine ninth seed Mariano Zabaleta.
Second seed Guillermo Coria barely broke sweat to beat France's Olivier Mutis 6-1, 6-0, in another third-round match left over from Thursday's wash-out.
"It was a fast match which is good for me since I will play two matches today," the 21-year-old said.
"I felt more solid than in my first match. I'm getting more accustomed to the altitude," the claycourt specialist added, referring to the high altitude of the Tyrolean ski resort.
Argentine Coria, on track for his third title of the year after capturing the Hamburg Masters in May and Stuttgart last week, now has to battle past compatriot Juan Ignacio Chela to reach the semi-finals.
The eighth seed survived a tough 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, tussle against 10th seed Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
--> news from reuters
