The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Gaudio escapes early exit

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 27, 2005

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Gaudio escapes early exit

OEIRAS (PORTUGAL): French Open champion Gaston Gaudio saved a match point to beat Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-0 in the first round of the Estoril Open on Monday.

Hernych had a match point serving at 5-4 in the second set, but second-seeded Gaudio fought back in the midst of winning 10 consecutive games to finish a remarkable turnaround. He won the last set in just 16 minutes.

``It was very complicated but I did it and I am very happy,'' said the Argentine.

Gaudio will next meet Michal Tabara, who overcame Czech countryman Tomas Berdych 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Malisse suspended

Belgium's Xavier Malisse has been suspended for four weeks for ``aggravated behaviour'' after being kicked out of the Nasdaq-100 tournament in March.

Malisse was stripped of his prize money from the event and also fined $6,000. He has accepted his punishment. The Belgian was leading 6-3, 5-5 when he was defaulted from his match against Spain's David Ferrer. The spokesman said Malisse had thrown a ball at the line judge, hitting her on the arm. He had also verbally abused an official, kicked over a chair and smashed his racket.

The four-week ban starts from April 25 and Malisse will be able to play in the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the season.

The results (first round):

At Oeiras, Portugal (Estoril Open): Men: Gaston Gaudio bt Jan Hernych 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-0; Michal Tabara bt Tomas Berdych 1-6, 6-4, 6-1; Santiago Ventura bt Gilles Muller 3-6, 6-1, 6-2; Guillermo Garcia-Lopez bt Ivo Karlovic 6-3, 6-3. Women: Alyona Bondarenko bt Jelena Dokic 6-2, 3-6, 6-2; Dally Randriantefy bt Neuza Silva 6-2, 6-2; Nicole Pratt bt Antonella Serra Zanetti 2-6, 6-1, 6-1.

At Munich (BMW Open): Paradorn Srichaphan bt Peter Wessels 6-3, 6-4; Wayne Arthurs bt Irakli Labadse 6-3, 6-3; Igor Andrejev bt Jiri Vanek 6-1, 6-2. — Agencies

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