Brazilian passes Muster

PARIS, May 30: Fifth-seed Thomas Muster, the 1995 champion and one of the most feared players in the world on a clay-court, was sent packin...

PARIS, May 30: Fifth-seed Thomas Muster, the 1995 champion and one of the most feared players in the world on a clay-court, was sent packing from the French Open here today by 20-year-old Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten.

The South American, who scored a thrilling 6-7 3/7, 6-1, 6-3, 3-6 6-4 win after trailing 0-3 in the fifth set, now plays Andrei Medvedev of the Ukraine.

Medvedev earlier beat Nicolas Escude of France 7-6 7/2, 6-4, 6-3.

Kuerten had beaten Muster once before 8212; in doubles8230; and in controversial circumstances.

He was partnering Jaime Oncins in the notorious Davis Cup clash against Austria in an explosive 1996 world group clash which ended with Muster, who was alongside Udo Plamberger, storming off court after receiving death threats and being spat on by the crowd. Muster8217;s protest led to Austria being disqualified.

There were no threats or incidents in today8217;s match, played on a sweltering number-one showcourt where fierce sunshine sent temperatures soaring and left both players close to exhaustion after their three-hour marathon.

Both players gave everything they had, and after finally surrendering the 29-year-old Muster didn8217;t hide his disappointment.

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8220;I should have won that fifth set but I didn8217;t take my chances,8221; said Muster.

Muster who has won 44 tournaments 8212; 40 of them on clay 8212; admitted that he had had a poor season by his own high standards with only five wins in his last six tournaments.

Elsewhere qualifier Filip Dewulf of Belgium came through a tremendous battle against Spain8217;s Albert Portas on a packed outside court which had the spectators roaring throughout.

The 25-year-old Dewulf scored a 6-3, 7-6 7/5, 4-6, 6-7 6/8 8-6 and now plays either Spain8217;s eighth seed Alex Corretja or French wildcard entry Thierry Champion.

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In the women8217;s singles, defending champion Steffi Graf and the player she prefers to avoid, Amanda Coetzer, moved one step closer to a possible quarter-final showdown.

Coetzer produced an impressive 6-4, 6-2 win over Meike Babel of Germany while Graf settled down after a tough first set to beat Spain8217;s 18-year-old Magui Serna 7-6 7/4, 6-1.

The second-seeded Graf now plays either 13th seed Irina Spirlea of Romania or another Spaniard Virginia Ruano-Pascual, while Coetzer faces seventh-seed Conchita Martinez who beat France8217;s Caroline Dhenin 6-2, 6-1.

If both Graf and Coetzer win, they will play each other for a fourth time this season 8212; Coetzer having beaten the former world number-one in Australia and Berlin while Graf snatched a narrow victory over the South African at Strasbourg last week.

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In other women8217;s matches Karina Habsudova of Slovakia became the second seed to go out when she went down to Ruxandra Dragomir of Romania 6-3 6-2.Dragomir now faces one of the title favourites 8212; fourth-seed Jan Novotna.RESULTS

Prefix number denotes seeding

MEN8217;S third round: 15-Marc Rosset Switzerland beat Lionel Roux France 6-3 5-7 6-2 6-3; Gustavo Kuerten Brazil beat 5-Thomas Muster Austria 6-7 3-7 6-1 6-3 3-6 6-4; Andrei Medvedev Ukraine beat Nicolas Escude France 7-6 7-2 6-4 6-3

WOMEN8217;S third round: 11-Amanda Coetzer South Africa beat Meike Babel Germany 6-4 6-2; Ruxandra Dragomir Romania beat 15-Karina Habsudova Slovakia 6-3 6-2.Paes-Bhupathi advance

The Indian duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi entered the second round of the doubles in the French Open tennis defeating Dave Randall and Jack Waite of the United States 6-2, 6-2 at the Roland Garros yesterday.

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The duo, who are ranked 16 on the ATP list, face Sander Groen and Jan Siemerink of the Netherlands in the second round.