The Hindu : Sport / Tennis : Tursunov ends Guccione’s giant-killing run

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 13, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Tursunov ends Guccione’s giant-killing run

No break points in the match

SYDNEY: Russian Davis Cup player Dmitry Tursunov ended the giant-killing run of Australian Chris Guccione to win the Sydney International on Saturday.

Tursunov, 25, won a tense final at Sydney’s Olympic Tennis Centre 7-6, 7-6 to capture his fourth ATP title and deny the two-metre tall Guccione his maiden victory.

Ranked 125 in the world, Guccione needed a wildcard to get into the tournament but produced the best form of his life, accounting for Lleyton Hewitt, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek to reach the final.

Relying heavily on his booming serve, the 22-year-old Australian comfortably held all his service games, sending down 15 aces in the match, in the last warm-up tournament before next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.

But Tursunov, who played in the Russian Davis Cup team that made last season’s final, was just as effective on his serve. There were no break points in the match but it was the Russian who held his nerve better in the tie-breaks.

Kohlschreiber wins

At Wellington, seventh-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany upset former World No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6, 7-5 to claim the Auckland Open title on Saturday.

Kohlschreiber blasted seven aces but undid his good work with seven double faults, including two in the final game of the match, before winning his second ATP Tour title.

Roddick triumphs

At Melbourne, Andy Roddick sealed his Australian Open preparation with a third straight Kooyong Classic title on Saturday, defeating Marcos Baghdatis in the final 7-5, 6-3.

Roddick, ranked sixth in the world, fired ten aces and nailed the win over the Cypriot with an untouchable serve after 76 minutes.

The American added the former Australian Open finalist to his list of Kooyong victims which include Tommy Haas in 2006 and Roger Federer in 2007. The hat-trick equalled the three in succession won by fellow American Michael Chang from 1995-1997.

“Winning here means I’m well prepared for the Aussie Open,” said Roddick, who faces a qualifier in the Grand Slam first round. “Winning shows you what you’ve accomplished and that you’re ready to go.”

The results (finals):

At Sydney: Sydney International: Dmitry Tursunov bt Chris Guccione 7-6(3), 7-6(4).

At Wellington: Heineken Open: Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6(4), 7-5.

At Melbourne: Kooyong Classic: Andy Roddick bt Marcos Baghdatis 7-5, 6-3. Third place: Marat Safin bt Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 6-3.

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

Sport