Moya and Paradorn Fall at Thai Open
By Barry Wood
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Third seed Carlos Moya (news) was beaten by Finn Jarkko Nieminen and local favorite Paradorn Srichaphan lost to sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Friday.
Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was stretched to a third set tiebreak before advancing but eighth seeded American Taylor Dent had it easy after Frenchman Nicolas Thomann retired with a foot injury after dropping the first set 6-3.
Moya was beaten 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a two hour 12 minute battle that remained in the balance until the final ball, and fellow Spaniard Ferrero's two hour four minute struggle could also have swung either way until he overcame Gregory Carraz of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
Fourth seeded Paradorn had to fight back tears after falling to the firepower of Ljubicic, whose 22 aces played a large part in his 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory.
[...]
Ferrero began well and broke twice to lead 5-2, but then failed to serve out the set at the first opportunity. In the second set paid the price for failing to convert a break point for 1-0 and another for 2-1, and was broken in the fourth game.
In the deciding set, Carraz broke and held serve to lead 5-3 but, having dropped just three points in his four service games of the set, he failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the face of some blistering returns from Ferrero.
"I was getting a little worried," said Ferrero. "It was a very difficult match because he was playing 100 percent all the time and I didn't have any time to be relaxed in the match. At 5-4 (in the third) I felt maybe he was a little bit nervous and I was able to get the break."
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Updates for Davis cup 2004
Isnt it weird that we havent even sure about the 2003 final and everything but the draw for davis cup 2004 has came out? =P
Draw Announced for Davis Cup 2004
The draw for the 2004 Davis Cup was announced in London today(25/09/2003).
The United States, which avoided relegation by defeating the Slovak Republic in Bratislava last weekend, will host Austria in the first round and could meet Australia in a blockbuster second-round match. The Australians play Sweden in the first round.
Modern-day Davis Cup powerhouse Spain travels to the Czech Republic in the first round. France will host Croatia.
-->taken from official atp site.
By Barry Wood
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Third seed Carlos Moya (news) was beaten by Finn Jarkko Nieminen and local favorite Paradorn Srichaphan lost to sixth seed Ivan Ljubicic in the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Friday.
Top seed Juan Carlos Ferrero was stretched to a third set tiebreak before advancing but eighth seeded American Taylor Dent had it easy after Frenchman Nicolas Thomann retired with a foot injury after dropping the first set 6-3.
Moya was beaten 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a two hour 12 minute battle that remained in the balance until the final ball, and fellow Spaniard Ferrero's two hour four minute struggle could also have swung either way until he overcame Gregory Carraz of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6.
Fourth seeded Paradorn had to fight back tears after falling to the firepower of Ljubicic, whose 22 aces played a large part in his 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 victory.
[...]
Ferrero began well and broke twice to lead 5-2, but then failed to serve out the set at the first opportunity. In the second set paid the price for failing to convert a break point for 1-0 and another for 2-1, and was broken in the fourth game.
In the deciding set, Carraz broke and held serve to lead 5-3 but, having dropped just three points in his four service games of the set, he failed to serve out the match at 5-4 in the face of some blistering returns from Ferrero.
"I was getting a little worried," said Ferrero. "It was a very difficult match because he was playing 100 percent all the time and I didn't have any time to be relaxed in the match. At 5-4 (in the third) I felt maybe he was a little bit nervous and I was able to get the break."
---------------------------------------------------------
Updates for Davis cup 2004
Isnt it weird that we havent even sure about the 2003 final and everything but the draw for davis cup 2004 has came out? =P
Draw Announced for Davis Cup 2004
The draw for the 2004 Davis Cup was announced in London today(25/09/2003).
The United States, which avoided relegation by defeating the Slovak Republic in Bratislava last weekend, will host Austria in the first round and could meet Australia in a blockbuster second-round match. The Australians play Sweden in the first round.
Modern-day Davis Cup powerhouse Spain travels to the Czech Republic in the first round. France will host Croatia.
-->taken from official atp site.
