Three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil rolled back the years in Paris on Monday when he advanced to the quarterfinals of the French Open with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.
The 28th-seeded Kuerten, who eliminated top seed and world number one Roger Federer in the last round, wrapped up the tie on his first match point after one hour and 53 minutes on court against his 22-year-old Spanish opponent.
And the 27-year-old Brazilian, who reigned supreme as ”King of Clay” for five years before undergoing hip surgery two years ago, put his revival down to the crowd on his beloved Philippe Chatrier centre court.
”I’m very emotional right now,” he said. ”I’ve become more and more connected with the people. I never expected this to happen.”
”I think it would be easier to win three, four or maybe five times but to get this connection with the public is not always easy,” added Kuerten, who next meets either Russian 20th seed Marat Safin or Argentine eighth seed David Nalbandian for a place in the semifinals.
Kuerten, winner in 1997, 2000 and 2001 is bidding to become the third man to win four titles in the 113-year history of the tournament after 1920’s Frenchman Henri Cochet and Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.
Borg went on to accumulate a record six French titles from 1974 to 1981.
Under overcast skies, Kuerten showed the form that crushed Federer into the dust.
He entered into the match by breaking his 23rd-seeded opponent in the fourth game of the first set for a 3-1 lead and wrapped up the set in 30 minutes.
The Brazilian struggled with his serve in the second set and allowed Lopez to break and level at 5-5. But he then immediately broke back and served to love for 7-5.
It was more of the same in the third with Kuerten breaking in the ninth game for 5-4, and with two aces served out for the match.
”He was returning incredible shots,” admitted Lopez. ”It’s very difficult when you know you’re playing well but your opponent is playing even better. You just feel like going home.”
Kuerten, who struggled through a tough five-setter against a Spanish youngster in the first round, admitted that he was far from the young man who won the title back in 1997, and is frequently troubled by his painful hip.
”When I’m out there and playing hard for one hour I start to get pain in my leg. But in a tournament like this the adrenalin is high and you’re motivated so [you] can support a lot more,” he explained.
But as to whether his hip will hold up through three more gruelling rounds remains to be seen.
”I still have a little bit of doubt, not knowing what will happen if I go to four or five sets. But I have the experience of my first match and this gave me extra confidence that I’m going to need from the next round.
”The guys know this and will try and make me run more and more. I know this and will try and go a bit over my limits.” — Sapa-AFP