sseemiller
03-01-2004, 05:16 PM
Here's Dubai. Lots of upsets, as I said. Especially, Schuettler, Henman and Flip. I'll post Scottsdale and Acapulco when I get them. They aren't out yet.
RESULTS - MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
Singles - First Round
(Q)P Kohlschreiber (GER) d (3)R Schuettler (GER) 36 64 64
O Rochus (BEL) d (5)M Philippoussis (AUS) 62 76(8)
(Q)T Zib (CZE) d (6)T Henman (GBR) 64 36 76(4)
A Pavel (ROM) d B Ulihrach (CZE) 61 26 75
G Carraz (FRA) d (WC)O Bahrouzyan (UAE) 60 60
I Ljubicic (CRO) d (Q)M Dell'acqua (ITA) 63 36 64
(Q)D Van Scheppingen (NED) d (WC)M Al-Ghareeb (KUW) 76(5) 36 76(6) Saved 1 M.P.
Doubles - First Round
(1)Bhupathi/Santoro d (WC)Al-Ghareeb/Heuberger 64 62
DRAWS
For the Dubai singles draw, go to: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2004/495/MDS.pdf
For the Dubai doubles draw, go to: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2004/495/MDD.pdf
ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2004
Centre Court start 2:00 PM
M Youzhny (RUS) vs (2)G Coria (ARG)
(4)D Nalbandian (ARG) vs J Nieminen (FIN)
Starting at 7:00 PM
(1)R Federer (SUI) vs (WC)M Safin (RUS)
F Santoro (FRA) vs A Martin (ESP)
Court 1 start 2:00 PM
T Robredo (ESP) vs J Bjorkman (SWE)
M Mirnyi (BLR) vs R Nadal (ESP)
(WC)Bahrouzyan/Nader vs Kohlmann/Schuettler
Court 2 start 2:00 PM
S Sargsian (ARM) vs (8)S Schalken (NED)
F Lopez (ESP) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
ATP MEDIA NOTES - MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
HENMAN, SCHUETTLER & PHILIPPOUSSIS TUMBLE ON DAY ONE
Sixth seed Tim Henman crashed out of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday when he lost a third-set tie-break to Czech qualifier Tomas Zib 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4). It was Henman's first first-round exit of the season. Henman, who slipped to 8-4 on the season, had defeated INDESIT ATP 2004 Race leader Roger Federer en route to the Rotterdam semifinals in his most recent outing.
Third seed Rainer Schuettler endured his fourth first-round defeat in five tournaments this season when he suffered a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber. Schuettler is a modest 2-5 on the season.
Fifth seed Mark Philippoussis suffered his fourth consecutive loss when beaten 6-2, 7-6(8) by Belgian Olivier Rochus, who at 5'5'' was conceding almost one foot in height to the 6'4'' Aussie. Philippoussis came into the tournament on a three-match losing streak, having lost both Davis Cup singles matches against Sweden and his fourth-round match with Hicham Arazi at the Australian Open.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Kohlschreiber: "It was tough for him (Rainer) because it was his first match but I've already played two matches. I tried to play with more spin and keep Rainer moving."
"In the beginning, I was nervous to play on the centre court against a top player and against Rainer, but I played a lot of good shots and thought if I could hold my serve long enough then I might get some chances on his serve, because he doesn't have the best serve in the world."
"I started with the (German) Federation five years ago and now I live in Munich because that's where I have the practice. At the moment, nobody believes it, but it's my girlfriend who helps me the most. Most of the tournaments I have my girlfirend, and I played good everytime she is in the stands. She helps me with my tennis; she talks to me before the match, she inspires me during the match with 'c'mon'; she's like a coach. She played about six years ago but then quit, her name is Lena Alberti. She's from Munich."
Schuettler: "I like to play in Dubai and Doha as the conditions are good, but today I simply played bad tennis. I had a lot of chances and I didn't take my chances or play good tennis. If I knew why I was playing so bad in matches then I would be a step forward from where I am. I am playing well in practice so if I keep practicing the way I am, I am sure I will be playing matches well again."
Zib: "I've played Tim twice last year, and I know his game very well. I lost those two times but it was close and I had chances, so I knew if I started well tonight I would get some chances."
"The key for the match was me making great passing shots and he was struggling on his serve, so he was not going to play much serve and volley. Then I tried to keep him on the baseline and he is weaker on the baseline than at the net."
"I've beaten Safin, Ferrero and Schuettler, so I don't get nervous when I am scheduled to play against these guys. I am 28 and I feel really well; I don't feel much different to 24."
Henman: "All credit to Zib, he certainly won the match with some very fine passing shots. I have played a lot worse and won before and it's tough losing such a close match but you have to suck it up sometimes. I'm disappointed but you have to move on from it."
Rochus: "It's a very good victory to beat a Top 10 player, especially Mark Philippoussis on hard courts. The plan was to make him run, try to return his serve and to make him play a lot of balls."
On his next match: "This tournament is so tough but Max is playing so good. He beat Safin in Davis Cup and has reached semis and quarters in the last few weeks, so he's in good shape. Nadal is one of the best players. If I will play my best like today then anything can happen."
TUESDAY MATCHES
First-round matches don't come any tougher than the meeting between 2004 Australian Open finalists Roger Federer and Marat Safin. Top seed and INDESIT ATP 2004 Race leader Federer is playing his first event since Tim Henman ended his 16-match winning streak in the Rotterdam quarterfinals. Safin, who accepted a wild card into the tournament, is unseeded despite reaching the Melbourne final. The Russian has an INDESIT ATP Entry ranking of No. 30; Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who is No. 15, claimed the eighth and final seed. Safin has won just one of three matches since the Australian Open.
Second seed Guillermo Coria opens his Dubai campaign against tough Russian Mikhail Youzhny, whom he defeated in all three meetings in 2003. Two weeks ago Coria won his seventh career title in Buenos Aires before switching to the European indoor season, where he fell in the second round of Marseille to Swiss veteran Marc Rosset.
Fourth seed David Nalbandian plays his first tournament match since losing to Federer in four sets in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Nalbandian's only appearance since then has been a win over Hicham Arazi in Argentina's Davis Cup victory over Morocco early last month. On Tuesday Nalbandian meets talented Finn Jarkko Nieminen, against whom he holds a 3-1 career edge.
RESULTS - MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
Singles - First Round
(Q)P Kohlschreiber (GER) d (3)R Schuettler (GER) 36 64 64
O Rochus (BEL) d (5)M Philippoussis (AUS) 62 76(8)
(Q)T Zib (CZE) d (6)T Henman (GBR) 64 36 76(4)
A Pavel (ROM) d B Ulihrach (CZE) 61 26 75
G Carraz (FRA) d (WC)O Bahrouzyan (UAE) 60 60
I Ljubicic (CRO) d (Q)M Dell'acqua (ITA) 63 36 64
(Q)D Van Scheppingen (NED) d (WC)M Al-Ghareeb (KUW) 76(5) 36 76(6) Saved 1 M.P.
Doubles - First Round
(1)Bhupathi/Santoro d (WC)Al-Ghareeb/Heuberger 64 62
DRAWS
For the Dubai singles draw, go to: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2004/495/MDS.pdf
For the Dubai doubles draw, go to: http://www.atptennis.com/posting/2004/495/MDD.pdf
ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2004
Centre Court start 2:00 PM
M Youzhny (RUS) vs (2)G Coria (ARG)
(4)D Nalbandian (ARG) vs J Nieminen (FIN)
Starting at 7:00 PM
(1)R Federer (SUI) vs (WC)M Safin (RUS)
F Santoro (FRA) vs A Martin (ESP)
Court 1 start 2:00 PM
T Robredo (ESP) vs J Bjorkman (SWE)
M Mirnyi (BLR) vs R Nadal (ESP)
(WC)Bahrouzyan/Nader vs Kohlmann/Schuettler
Court 2 start 2:00 PM
S Sargsian (ARM) vs (8)S Schalken (NED)
F Lopez (ESP) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
ATP MEDIA NOTES - MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004
HENMAN, SCHUETTLER & PHILIPPOUSSIS TUMBLE ON DAY ONE
Sixth seed Tim Henman crashed out of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Monday when he lost a third-set tie-break to Czech qualifier Tomas Zib 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4). It was Henman's first first-round exit of the season. Henman, who slipped to 8-4 on the season, had defeated INDESIT ATP 2004 Race leader Roger Federer en route to the Rotterdam semifinals in his most recent outing.
Third seed Rainer Schuettler endured his fourth first-round defeat in five tournaments this season when he suffered a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber. Schuettler is a modest 2-5 on the season.
Fifth seed Mark Philippoussis suffered his fourth consecutive loss when beaten 6-2, 7-6(8) by Belgian Olivier Rochus, who at 5'5'' was conceding almost one foot in height to the 6'4'' Aussie. Philippoussis came into the tournament on a three-match losing streak, having lost both Davis Cup singles matches against Sweden and his fourth-round match with Hicham Arazi at the Australian Open.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Kohlschreiber: "It was tough for him (Rainer) because it was his first match but I've already played two matches. I tried to play with more spin and keep Rainer moving."
"In the beginning, I was nervous to play on the centre court against a top player and against Rainer, but I played a lot of good shots and thought if I could hold my serve long enough then I might get some chances on his serve, because he doesn't have the best serve in the world."
"I started with the (German) Federation five years ago and now I live in Munich because that's where I have the practice. At the moment, nobody believes it, but it's my girlfriend who helps me the most. Most of the tournaments I have my girlfirend, and I played good everytime she is in the stands. She helps me with my tennis; she talks to me before the match, she inspires me during the match with 'c'mon'; she's like a coach. She played about six years ago but then quit, her name is Lena Alberti. She's from Munich."
Schuettler: "I like to play in Dubai and Doha as the conditions are good, but today I simply played bad tennis. I had a lot of chances and I didn't take my chances or play good tennis. If I knew why I was playing so bad in matches then I would be a step forward from where I am. I am playing well in practice so if I keep practicing the way I am, I am sure I will be playing matches well again."
Zib: "I've played Tim twice last year, and I know his game very well. I lost those two times but it was close and I had chances, so I knew if I started well tonight I would get some chances."
"The key for the match was me making great passing shots and he was struggling on his serve, so he was not going to play much serve and volley. Then I tried to keep him on the baseline and he is weaker on the baseline than at the net."
"I've beaten Safin, Ferrero and Schuettler, so I don't get nervous when I am scheduled to play against these guys. I am 28 and I feel really well; I don't feel much different to 24."
Henman: "All credit to Zib, he certainly won the match with some very fine passing shots. I have played a lot worse and won before and it's tough losing such a close match but you have to suck it up sometimes. I'm disappointed but you have to move on from it."
Rochus: "It's a very good victory to beat a Top 10 player, especially Mark Philippoussis on hard courts. The plan was to make him run, try to return his serve and to make him play a lot of balls."
On his next match: "This tournament is so tough but Max is playing so good. He beat Safin in Davis Cup and has reached semis and quarters in the last few weeks, so he's in good shape. Nadal is one of the best players. If I will play my best like today then anything can happen."
TUESDAY MATCHES
First-round matches don't come any tougher than the meeting between 2004 Australian Open finalists Roger Federer and Marat Safin. Top seed and INDESIT ATP 2004 Race leader Federer is playing his first event since Tim Henman ended his 16-match winning streak in the Rotterdam quarterfinals. Safin, who accepted a wild card into the tournament, is unseeded despite reaching the Melbourne final. The Russian has an INDESIT ATP Entry ranking of No. 30; Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who is No. 15, claimed the eighth and final seed. Safin has won just one of three matches since the Australian Open.
Second seed Guillermo Coria opens his Dubai campaign against tough Russian Mikhail Youzhny, whom he defeated in all three meetings in 2003. Two weeks ago Coria won his seventh career title in Buenos Aires before switching to the European indoor season, where he fell in the second round of Marseille to Swiss veteran Marc Rosset.
Fourth seed David Nalbandian plays his first tournament match since losing to Federer in four sets in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Nalbandian's only appearance since then has been a win over Hicham Arazi in Argentina's Davis Cup victory over Morocco early last month. On Tuesday Nalbandian meets talented Finn Jarkko Nieminen, against whom he holds a 3-1 career edge.