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Journalism of Courage
Paris, June 7: Franco Squillari moved a step closer to becoming only the second Argentine men’s singles champion at the French Open when he handed a quarter-final clay court lesson to Albert Costa of Spain on Wednesday.
“It’s a unique moment for me,” he said. “I can’t believe the match I played – the tennis was of a very high level. I managed to give him the run around a bit. He had years of experience here and is a very good player and it was a struggle. I was a bit tired at the end – but it’s a great day for me.”
Squillari, 23, did not make it past the second round in the first nine Grand Slams of his career before turning his record around this year.
The left-hander, one of 12 Argentines who started out in the men’s draw, reached the third round at the Australian Open in January before exceeding all expectations on the slow red clay here. He now hopes to emulate his boyhood idol Guillermo Vilas, who lifted the trophy here in 1977.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kuerten outlasted 1996 champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov in five gruelling sets. Kuerten’s 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-4 6-2 win in exactly three hours over the fourth-seed was almost a mirror image of the 1997 quarter-final when Kuerten also came from two sets to one down to beat the Russian.
In the women’s top seed and World No 1 Martina Hingis cruised past unseeded American Chanda Rubin 6-1 6-3 in double-quick time. She will meet sixth seed Mary Pierce of France who upset third seed Monica Seles of the United States 4-6 6-3 6-4.
Kuerten had looked as though he was heading for defeat in the fourth set when, two sets to one down, he was broken to trail the Russian 4-2.
But the rangy right-hander punched back, breaking Kafelnikov twice to clinch it 6-4.
Three early breaks in the deciding set saw Kuerten lead 3-2 and he held a vital service game to stretch 4-2 in front.
Some inch-perfect groundstrokes from Kuerten and jangling nerves on the Russian’s part allowed the Brazilian to break again for 5-2 and he made no mistake serving out, clinching victory when Kafelnikov floated a backhand wide.
“It was much the same as 1997,” he said. “It was a tough match. He was playing very deep and I was not on top form so I am so glad to have won.
“The French crowd always support me very well and I am happy to be back here.”
