The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Nadal eases past Monfils

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2005

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Sport - Tennis

Nadal eases past Monfils

MONACO, APRIL 12 . Rafael Nadal won the battle of the 18-year-olds, easing past French world junior champion Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2, while fourth-seeded Gaudio beat Christophe Rochus of Belgium 7-6(3), 6-2 to stay on course for a third clay court title of 2005.

Defending Monte Carlo Masters champion and 2004 French Open runner-up Guillermo Coria believes Roger Federer could endure another shattering Roland Garros heartbreaker this season.

The world No. 1 Swiss won three of the four Grand Slams last year but came up dreadfully short at Roland Garros when he was knocked out in the third round by triple champion Gustavo Kuerten.

Argentinian Coria, one of the tour's most accomplished clay court exponents, believes Spanish teenage sensation Rafael Nadal and reigning French Open champion Gaston Gaudio will sweep all before them at the top European clay tournaments this year.

``I believe Nadal and Gaudio are favourites to win all of the clay court tournaments,'' said Coria.

``They have the better game on clay. Federer can be dangerous on clay but he has to be more patient and if he plays either of them it will very difficult for him.''

To prove his point, Nadal won the battle of the 18-year-olds, easing past French world junior champion Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2, while fourth-seeded Gaudio beat Christophe Rochus of Belgium 7-6(3), 6-2 to stay on course for a third clay court title of 2005.

Coria, the sixth seed, saw off French wildcard Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 7-5 on a rain-hit opening day at the Monte Carlo Masters and he admitted that he is still feeling his way back after undergoing shoulder surgery last year.

Henin-Hardenne advances

Justine Henin-Hardenne put her health to the test on Monday and passed when she upset 10th-seeded Jelena Jankovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in the opening round of the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament.

The results:

Monte Carlo Masters (singles, first round): Florian Mayer bt Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-3, Olivier Rochus bt Ivan Ljubicic 6-2, 6-2, Alberto Martin bt Potito Starace 6-3, 7-5, Mario Ancic bt Gustavo Kuerten 7-5, 6-2; Tomas Berdych bt Luis Horna 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(1), Filippo Volandri bt Wayne Arthurs 7-5, 6-2, Marat Safin bt Lee Hyung-Taik 6-0, 7-5, Mariano Zabaleta bt Tim Henman 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Family Circle Cup (singles, first round): Shuai Peng bt Marissa Irvin 6-2, 6-4, Akiko Morigami bt Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 6-2, Alina Jidkova bt Dally Randriantefy 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, Denisa Chladkova bt Maria Elena Camerin 6-2, 3-6, 7-5, Klara Koukalova bt Elena Likhovtseva 6-3, 6-4, Nicole Vaidisova bt Shahar Peer 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-2, Fabiola Zuluaga bt Severine Beltrame 6-3, 6-4, Marie-Eve Pelletier bt Jill Craybas 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, Nuria Llagostera Vives bt Martina Sucha 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, Justine Henin-Hardenne bt Jelena Jankovic 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, Viktoriya Kutuzova bt Kristina Brandi 1-6, 6-0, 6-1, Ai Sugiyama bt Yuliana Fedak 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. — Agencies

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