The Hindu : Sport : Andreev's awesome forehand

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Wednesday, Jun 06, 2007
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Andreev's awesome forehand

Friendship will be set aside as Moya prepares to face Nadal

PACKING A PUNCH: Igor Andreev has used his powerful forehand to deadly effect to subdue his opponents on his way to the quarterfinals. — Photo: AFP

PARIS: It's big, bouncy and causing all sorts of havoc at the French Open.

Igor Andreev's forehand has been the big Russian's main weapon in his drive into the quarterfinals, where he is the lowest ranked player to make the last eight since 1999.

It was again in evidence on Monday when he pounded hapless Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis into submission in four sets.

Last year's beaten finalist at the Australian Open was run ragged by the sheer power and accuracy of the Andreev forehand and afterwards he paid tribute.

"I have a feeling it's even more powerful than that of (Rafael) Nadal," he said referring to the defending champion, whose lefty forehand is generally rated the best in the world on clay.

Returning to action

The Valencia-based Andreev returned to action late last year and has been clawing his way back up the ATP ladder after a lengthy spell on the sidelines because a serious knee injury had required major reconstructive surgery.

Andreev on Wednesday goes up against the sixth seed Novak Djokovic and once again it will be the sledgehammer forehand that he will look to make the difference.

"The forehand is my best shot — no doubt," he said. "It means a lot to me."

"And especially it works much better on clay courts where the ball bounces higher so it creates problems for the other guys.

"So it's my best weapon and I am trying to use it 100 per cent."

Carlos Moya will forget his friendship with Rafael Nadal when they play in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.

"I will pull out all the stops in order to win," Moya said on Monday. "On the court, you don't have any friends. Rafa will be a rival. When you are on court, you want to win the match, whatever the manner."

Nadal has won 85 of his last 86 matches on clay, including the last two French Open titles.

The 21-year-old Spaniard is seeded second, while the 30-year-old Moya is seeded 23rd.

"I would say that there will be less difference than the ranking indicates," said Moya, the French Open winner in 1998 and runner-up in 1999. "It won't be a foregone conclusion. I will enjoy playing against him on centre court."

Before and after the match, the two Spaniards will relax in the usual way — on the computer.

Nadal, Moya, David Ferrer and David Nalbandian regularly go head-to-head with soccer matches on their PlayStations.

"You get so nervous, like it was a tennis match," Moya said. "But it's good to have some fun. There's a lot of pressure here, and it's a way not to think about tennis. I think it's good for our mind to relax a bit."

Blame it on age

Age is creeping up on Jonas Bjorkman.

The 35-year-old Swede has played in Grand Slams since 1993, and at the French Open since 1994.

After a match, when Bjorkman wakes up the next day, he struggles with his aching legs.

"(It's) tough, sometimes, to put the socks on," Bjorkman said on Monday after losing to Carlos Moya.

Had he beaten Moya, Bjorkman would have been the third man aged over 35 to make the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

"When you're 25, you probably could play every day, four hours a day or six hours a day," said Bjorkman. "At 35, you've got to be smarter and try to save energy."

Bjorkman remembers the first time he played Moya — 11 years ago in France at an indoor tournament in Marseille. He also remembers the result.

"I think it was his first indoor event," Bjorkman said. "And I lost."

Bjorkman's departure has left Moya, who is seeded 23rd, with his own claim to fame at this year's tournament. "Now I'm the oldest guy," said Moya, who is 30.

Big brother

Having Novak Djokovic as your big brother isn't always easy.

Djokovic says his success puts pressure on younger brothers Marco and Djordje.

"I think they have more pressure than when I was their age," the 20-year-old Djokovic said on Monday.

Marco, who is 15, and 11-year-old Djordje are both budding tennis players.

Just as their older brother did, both left their homeland in Serbia and joined the Niki Pilic Academy in Munich, Germany.

Despite leaving Serbia, the spotlight hasn't gone away.

"It's on them now, the big pressure," Djokovic said.

"Everybody goes to see them, how they play. It's a lot of pressure, you know, `Djokovic's brother, let's see how he plays."'

Djokovic, who reached the French Open quarterfinals for the second consecutive year, wants to help them more. But it's not easy.

"I am on the tour, really travelling, 11 out of 12 months a year," Djokovic said. "So I don't see them very often."

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