The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Schuettler and Waske in last four

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 07, 2006

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Sport - Tennis

Schuettler and Waske in last four

K. Keerthivasan

Bopanna-Prakash also make it to semifinals

CHENNAI: Rainer Schuettler led from the front, guiding his younger Davis Cup mate Alexander Waske, as the second-seeded German duo overcame the Czech pair of Lukas Dlouhy and Pavel Vizner 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the semifinals of the Chennai Open here on Friday.

The doubles champion along with Chinese Taipei's Yen-Hsun Le in 2005, Schuettler put his singles disappointment behind and displayed good form.

The Czech combine began well taking a 3-1 lead. However, it was Schuettler, who got the break back in the fifth game on Dlouhy's serve with a perfect forehand down-the-line return.

Dlouhy came up with winners from the backcourt and he kept attacking Waske, the weaker link. However, in the seventh game, Dlouhy and Vizner committed quite a few errors to face break point.

Seizing the initiative, Schuettler came up with a delightful lob that broke the back of the Czechs. Going up 4-3, the Germans coolly collected the first set.

Vizner, who coaches Dlouhy on the ATP Tour, was the culprit in the second set. His serve failed in the third game and a double fault cost them the game. It was just the opening the Germans needed to slam the door on the Czechs.

Lucky break for Indians

Schuettler and Waske will meet the Indian duo of Rohan Bopanna and Prakash Amritraj, who received a walkover in the quarterfinals when Paradorn Srichaphan, partnering Radek Stepanek, complained of an injury to his left thigh and withdrew.

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