22 October 2010
Sampras defeats Forget 7-6(9), 6-3 to lead Chengdu round robin group
Rusedski serves Enqvist with second loss on ATP Champions Tour
"Pistol Pete" brought his ammunition on Day Two of the Chengdu Open, defeating Frenchman Guy Forget 7-6(9), 6-3, and treating fans to the close contest they craved. Punctuating points with winners, the players served their way into a tiebreaker, in which they traded six aces and five service winners. Sampras chipped a short backhand return at 10-9, luring Forget up to net before unhooking a sharply-angled backhand passing shot to capture the first set. Sampras' game really started clicking in the second set as he carved volleys and cranked ground strokes into both the corners.
"I thought we both played pretty well," Sampras said after the match. "Guy has always given me problems. He's beaten me a number of times; the lefty serve is very tough to play, especially a little bit at altitude, the ball kicks up very high to my backhand. And Guy, you can tell he's been playing, he looks very fit. The first set could have gone either way. I had some chances, I had some break points there --- didn't convert --- and then, when you get into a tiebreaker anything can happen. He played a great game to break me back in the second set. It was good tennis. I was happy with the way I played, but to play Guy is very tough. Never really felt comfortable out there."
Sampras may not have felt comfortable, but his game looked great. The shot-making from both sides left the fans wanting for instant replay.
On the final day of round robin play, Sampras will face young-gun Paradorn Srichaphan (THA), who picked up his first win in Chengdu by defeating Pat Cash (AUS) 6-4, 5-7, 10-5 (Champions Tiebreak). Srichaphan crushed key forehands winners at pivotal moments. When Cash, who remains winless, was asked to evaluate his prospects to advance past the round robin stage of play, he said, "I don't like my chances. I think he's got a better chance," gesturing to Srichaphan. "I think I'll have to improve a little bit to get through. I played pretty well in the second setcso I'm getting better. I'll be really good by Monday afternoon," he quipped.
"The tournament finishes on Sunday," Srichaphan reminded him.
On Saturday, however, Cash must face Forget, whose fitness at 42 has been noticed by all.
"I think it's because he's playing with his Davis Cup team," Sampras commented, referring to the French team Forget captains that will play in the Davis Cup finals in December. "You hit with them a little bit?" he asked Forget.
"Yes, doubles is still all right," he said, referring to his ability to keep up with his young squad.
Sampras sits atop the Group A leaderboard with two wins. Forget and Srichaphan are tied for second, with one win and one loss each, leaving Cash as the potential odd-man out with two losses.
Headlining Group B, Brit Greg Rusedski defeated ATP Champions Tour No. 1 Thomas Enqvist 7-6(3), 3-6, 10-7 (Champions Tiebreak), serving the Swede his second loss since debuting on tour in 2009. Despite being a last-minute replacement for the injured Michael Stich, Rusedski looked sharp. He credited playing an event in Holland a few weeks back with Enqvist and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, among others. He was training with the junior players in Britain at the national tennis center when he got the call asking him to join the Chengdu Open. "And here I am," he said. "It's nice when you can play well out there." Rusedski mixed up his game well, winning points off aces, service winners, and the occasional one-two punch of the serve out wide, groundstroke into the open court.
Both players elevated their play in the third-set Champions Tiebreaker, sneakers squeaking like a basketball team playing on hardwood as they proved they still had speed.
"He did a lot of things well," Enqvist said after the match. "Obviously he always served well and built his game around that, but he also moves well still, and in the end he came up with great passing shots. In the end he was the better player."
"Wish I had that backhand passing shot when I was on Tour," Rusedski was quick to add.
Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS) was not sated by his 6-3, 6-4 victory over Australia's Pat Rafter, who like his compatriot Cash remains winless in Chengdu. "I've been playing on the Champions Tour for the last two years and I haven't won a tournament yet," said Kafelnikov, "So the goal is to win at least one before I don't get invited [to play] again."
Staying low and hitting through his strokes, Kafelnikov played with more precision than the day prior. A classic baseliner, he enjoyed matching up against Rafter's serve and volley play.
Tied with Enqvist for second place in Group B, Kafelnikov will face Group B leader Rusedski on Day Three. After two days of play, Rusedski has yet to lose a match in Chengdu. Enqvist will square off against Rafter, who sits at the bottom of the Group B leaderboard.
The final day of round robin play in Chengdu will sift the wheat from the champion chaff, determining who fans will see contest the finals and the playoff for third-place on Sunday, October 24. With fans' hopes already set on seeing their favorites in the finals, the stakes are high for the third day of play at the 2010 Chengdu Open.