The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : The power of being an underdog

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 18, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Tennis

The power of being an underdog

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY: A nothing-to-lose approach has earned Thailand's Danai Udomchoke a place in the third round of the Australian Open. — PHOTO: AP

MELBOURNE : A nothing-to-lose approach helped Thailand's Danai Udomchoke upset former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round at the Australian Open.

``Before I came here my expectations were just to win the first round,'' said Udomchoke, who is making just his fifth Grand Slam appearance since turning professional in 1997.

Udomchoke beat the Spanish former World No. 3 with a 79 percent strike rate when rushing the net and despite 11 double faults.

``I played with no pressure because I was the underdog. I went on the court with (the attitude) `just play your game, take the shot,''' he said. ``If I lose, it doesn't matter.''

The win helps bring Udomchoke out from under the shadow of countryman Paradorn Srichaphan, Asia's first player to achieve a top 10 ranking who announced this week he would take a break from tennis to allow a wrist injury to heal.

Missing Jimmy

Andy Roddick speaks to Jimmy Connors every day, but is missing the feisty energy his new coach gives off in person.

Connors, who joined the 2003 U.S. Open champion Roddick's team last year, stayed home from Melbourne after his mother and coach throughout his stellar career, Gloria, died on January 8.

``It's just a lot more consistent when he's at a tournament,'' Roddick said of Connors' absence. ``There's a third dimension to his energy.

``It's the same with anything. If you're with your buddies, you're hanging out, it's probably a lot better in person than it is on the phone.''

Roddick showed some Connors-like combative characteristics by arguing several times with the referee in his five-set opening-round match earlier this week, and says the retired champion has been encouraging him to get an attitude.

``I've never really been quiet,'' Roddick said.

``At the same time, he said, if you need to use something and you feel like you can sway the emotions to your advantage, then by all means do it. You got to do what you can to win a tennis match.''

No coaching please

Grand Slam officials appear to be clamping down on coaching during matches, with five of 16 fines levied so far at the Australian Open involving infractions for assistance for players from off the court.

Coaching also incurred the biggest fines — two women and three men each hit $2,000.

Marat Safin was among the 16 fined, but it had nothing to do with coaching. Not surprisingly, the often volatile Russian was fined $500 for racket abuse — and not for the first time in his career.

Safin banged his racket around a few times during his first-round, five-set win over Benjamin Becker of Germany. — AP

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

Sport