The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : The love that Kabchi hates

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

Sport

Sport - Tennis

The love that Kabchi hates

NEW YORK, AUG. 31. For Maria Vento-Kabchi, the first match of the U.S. Open did not begin in very promising fashion.

Facing former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, Vento-Kabchi lost 0-6 in the first set. It called for a change of tactics on the run by the Venezuelan.

"Of course, it is disappointing to lose at love," she said. "She was playing very well. Maybe I was rushing a little, trying to win points. I was not hitting the points cleanly. I wasn't moving her. I told myself to keep fighting and stay positive. My first strategy was not working. I decided to forget the first set."

That was a good idea. She won the next two sets and the match 0-6, 6-2, 6-3.

"Staying in is sometimes difficult," Vento-Kabchi said. "You can lose your confidence and you can lose very easily. I always knew I could do it even though I lost the first set. She played well the whole three sets."

Martinez had a simple explanation.

"She started to play better and I started to make more unforced errors. The second set, the first three or four games she started to play more aggressive. I thought I didn't last mentally."

That will do it everytime.

Double trouble

It's not the heat, it's the humidity.

On a difficult day at the U.S. Open, third-seeded Carlos Moya and U.S. wild-card Brian Baker felt both those elements in their first-round encounter.

Baker won the first set in a tie-breaker before Moya recovered for a 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over the 19-year-old American.

After the second set, Baker was treated for cramps in his right arm, and the pain later spread to his legs.

"I've cramped before, but never this early or in this situation. I felt fine, and then it was just `Bam!''' said Baker, who was playing just his 11th career tour-level match. "It was pretty humid out there, but nothing unusual. The only thing I can think of is that it was nervous cramps."

Moya was a semifinalist at the U.S. Open in 1998, the same year he won the French Open.

"It was very hot and humid," Moya said. "I felt weak when we finished the first set. My legs were slow. It's really tough, playing in these conditions."

That said, Moya came back for the victory.

"I tried not to get too frustrated," he said. "If I start playing better and better, I have a chance to win the match. I try to be patient. It's the best of five sets."

Moya needed just four.

Controlled aggression

No. 17 seed Alicia Molik, bronze medallist at the Athens Olympics and a 6-0, 6-2 winner over Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France in the first round at the Open, has changed her game in the last year.

"I think the difference is I know exactly when to use my aggression now," said the Australian. "I know the exact time to turn it up. I know exactly what I need to do on the court. I think a couple of years ago, that was a bit of a grey area. I felt like I had so many options.

"Now, my style of play, my game, Alicia Molik the tennis player, is very black and white. I don't see too many grey areas. That allows me to go on the court and be clear about what I need to do. It's simple for me now. I have a very clear understanding of how I play my best tennis." — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport