MATCH REPORT Ferrero Slowed, Barely Zaps Past Zib
by Ranon Masliyah
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
The match was played in Louis Armstrong Stadium, but there was nothing Louis Armstrong about it -- that is, until the fourth set. Unforced errors, disputed calls and a match that lasted almost five hours nearly overshadowed what could have been the biggest upset through two days of the US Open, as No. 7 Juan Carlos Ferrero, a 2003 Open finalist, needed five dramatic sets to outlast qualifier Tomas Zib, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, in first round play Tuesday.
It was just Zib's second overall appearance at Flushing Meadows, and his first since losing in the first round in 1999.
Ferrero was playing in his sixth straight Open, though it didn't appear to be the case, as he hit a number of easy shots into the net throughout much of the match. Zib was not without his err, though, as he questioned the umpire about a call by placing a ball on the baseline in a quasi-lighthearted attempt at humor, much to the delight of the crowd.
The Spaniard was pushing to speedily zip past Zib, but the 28-year-old would not exit easily, as became apparent in the fourth set. Leading by a 2-1 match score and 4-1 in the fourth set, Zib capitalized on Ferrero's inability to extinguish his unforced errors, losing four of the next five games, much to the surprise of not only himself, but the cheery Armstrong crowd. Using a deft net game, Zib never hesitated to show off his dazzling array of volleys, eventually tying the set at 6-6. When Zib smashed an overhead winner on the 11th point of the tiebreak game to force a decisive fifth set, Zib seemed to be the only person in the stadium not shocked at this improbable performance.
In fact, Zib won 70% (31 of 44) of his net approaches, while Ferrero could only convert on 58% (19 of 33). Ferrero also committed 67 unforced errors.
It was Ferrero's strength in the fifth set that proved superior though. Leading 4-3 after Zib held serve in the seventh game, Ferrero, 24, rallied from love-30 to win the next game with a 110-plus mph serve that blazed past the now-increasingly realistic Zib. Down 5-3 and on serve, Zib looked like he might have one final crescendo creation, taking the game to deuce after opening at love-30. At match point, however, Ferrero zapped Zib for good, nailing a pretty backhand passing shot as he approached the net, winning the final set 6-3.
Ferrero will now face Stefan Koubek of Austria who beat American Alex Bogomolov, Jr. in first-round action Tuesday.
by Ranon Masliyah
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
The match was played in Louis Armstrong Stadium, but there was nothing Louis Armstrong about it -- that is, until the fourth set. Unforced errors, disputed calls and a match that lasted almost five hours nearly overshadowed what could have been the biggest upset through two days of the US Open, as No. 7 Juan Carlos Ferrero, a 2003 Open finalist, needed five dramatic sets to outlast qualifier Tomas Zib, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-4), 6-3, in first round play Tuesday.
It was just Zib's second overall appearance at Flushing Meadows, and his first since losing in the first round in 1999.
Ferrero was playing in his sixth straight Open, though it didn't appear to be the case, as he hit a number of easy shots into the net throughout much of the match. Zib was not without his err, though, as he questioned the umpire about a call by placing a ball on the baseline in a quasi-lighthearted attempt at humor, much to the delight of the crowd.
The Spaniard was pushing to speedily zip past Zib, but the 28-year-old would not exit easily, as became apparent in the fourth set. Leading by a 2-1 match score and 4-1 in the fourth set, Zib capitalized on Ferrero's inability to extinguish his unforced errors, losing four of the next five games, much to the surprise of not only himself, but the cheery Armstrong crowd. Using a deft net game, Zib never hesitated to show off his dazzling array of volleys, eventually tying the set at 6-6. When Zib smashed an overhead winner on the 11th point of the tiebreak game to force a decisive fifth set, Zib seemed to be the only person in the stadium not shocked at this improbable performance.
In fact, Zib won 70% (31 of 44) of his net approaches, while Ferrero could only convert on 58% (19 of 33). Ferrero also committed 67 unforced errors.
It was Ferrero's strength in the fifth set that proved superior though. Leading 4-3 after Zib held serve in the seventh game, Ferrero, 24, rallied from love-30 to win the next game with a 110-plus mph serve that blazed past the now-increasingly realistic Zib. Down 5-3 and on serve, Zib looked like he might have one final crescendo creation, taking the game to deuce after opening at love-30. At match point, however, Ferrero zapped Zib for good, nailing a pretty backhand passing shot as he approached the net, winning the final set 6-3.
Ferrero will now face Stefan Koubek of Austria who beat American Alex Bogomolov, Jr. in first-round action Tuesday.
