THURSDAY, 12.30PM:
FOUR South Africans — Wayne Ferriera, Joanette Kruger, Grant Stafford and Amanda Coetzer — advanced to the third round of the US Open in New York on Wednesday.
Ferriera, who is ranked 55, outclassed 26th-rated Alberto Berasategui of Spain 6-7 2-6 6-3 6-1 6-3. “I’m grateful to win. Five sets make you realize how much you have to fight,” said an enthusiastic Ferreira. He will now meet Tim Henman, who eliminated fifth seeded Thomas Muster.
Stafford, ranked 70, beat Emilio Alvarez of Spain 6-4 6-2 6-2. He will now play against seventh seed Spaniard Sergi Bruguera who edged Australian qualifier Michael Tebbutt 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2. Stafford is very confident he will cause an upset by beating Breguera. If I can get through there, I think I could be on my way to a good US Open,” he said. “But he’s a tough customer. It’s going to be a tough match.”
Coetzer beat France’s Alexia Dechaume-Balleret 6-1 6-1, and will face Italy’s Flora Perfetti in the third round. “Everything is just coming together. My serve has come a long way. My ground strokes are feeling good,” she said. “My confidence is growing a lot. I just feel I’m a more complete player now than I was before.”
Kruger beat Henerieta Nagoya of Japan 6-4 7-6 to book a place in the third round. She will now play against Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn.