MARTIN PARRY, Melbourne | Thursday 3.30pm.
THE African tennis express was derailed as three stars crashed out of the Australian Open, leaving veteran Wayne Ferreira the only one on track Thursday.
Leading the exodus was women’s eighth seed Amanda Coetzer who had no answer to lowly American wildcard Kristina Brandi.
The 28-year-old South African was completely outplayed, serving badly and failing to take chances.
”I started out a little bit shaky and she was playing real nice. It wasn’t a good day,” she said.
”That’s what’s most disappointing because I feel like my game is pretty good right now,” she said.
Countryman Grant Stafford went five sets with Austrian wildcard Stefan Koubek but couldn’t finish him off, losing 5-7, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, and missing a crack at No.2 seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the third round.
”It just wasn’t my day,” he said. ”I did all I could and need to go and lie down. I’m exhausted.”
Zimbabwean Kevin Ullyett was also tossed aside, being shown the door by qualifier Christophe Rochus of Belgium 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
But Ferreira, who always does well at Melbourne, kept the flag flying after toughing out a five-set thriller 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 4-6, 6-2 against Swede Thomas Johansson in three hours six minutes.
”I was solid in the first two sets but let him in in the third and he came back well,” said the South African Davis Cup star.
Playing in his 37th consecutive Grand Slam tournament, Ferreira said he is in good shape and confident of going further.
”I always put in my best effort, keep plodding along, and I’m very happy with the way it’s going,” he said.