Three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten took another huge step closer to a fourth French Open title on Monday while Gaston Gaudio and David Nalbandian made sure of four Argentinians in the last eight at this year’s Roland Garros.
Kuerten, the champion in 1997, 2000 and 2001, enjoyed a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez and will now face eighth-seeded Nalbandian who put an end to Russian Marat Safin’s colourful and controversial Paris adventure with a 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win.
Unseeded Gaudio saw off Russia’s Igor Andreev, the conqueror of defending champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 to set up a quarterfinal clash against Australian 12th seed Lleyton Hewitt, who beat Belgium’s Xavier Malisse 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).
Argentina’s awesome foursome is completed by third seed Guillermo Coria, who will face Spain’s former champion Carlos Moya in the last eight, and Juan Ignacio Chela, the 22nd seed, who meets British ninth seed Tim Henman.
Before this year, the most Argentinians at a Grand Slam quarterfinal stage had been two when Jose Luis-Clerc and Guillermo Vilas reached the last eight in Paris in 1982.
That mark was equalled by Nalbandian and Coria at the US Open in 2003.
The 28th-seeded Kuerten, who eliminated top seed and world number one Roger Federer in the last round, wrapped up his tie on his first match point after one hour and 53 minutes on court against his 22-year-old Spanish opponent.
”I’m very emotional right now,” said 27-year-old Kuerten.
But he admitted that he is still concerned over his fitness after battling back from a hip operation two years ago and still needs regular attention from the trainer during matches.
”I’ve not been able to get going as before. On court it is still very painful and frustrating,” said the Brazilian.
”I want to expect more from myself and can’t. The toughest thing is to get the balance right. I know I have to take care of the hip. That comes first but in a tournament like this, the adrenalin is high.”
Kuerten is bidding to become only the third man to win four titles in the 113-year history of the French Open after Frenchman Henri Cochet and Swedish legend Bjorn Borg.
Borg went on to accumulate a record six French titles from 1974 to 1981.
Safin’s attempts to add the French Open title to his 2000 US Open victory were shattered by more problems with the hand blisters he picked up in his five-set, third round win against Potito Starace.
He had most of his fingers taped and required several visits from the trainer to keep him in the match but Nalbandian, showing a sure touch on all parts of the court, was simply too good for the ailing Russian.
”I tried to take care of the blisters, but by the end of the match I couldn’t hit forehands,” said the popular Russian, who counted 11 blisters on his hands by the end of the match.
”Sadly, there were just too many rivals today.”
Nalbandian, the 2002 Wimbledon runner-up, said he tried to shut out the delays caused by Safin’s problems.
”The interruptions were annoying but I just had to keep my focus. It wasn’t easy for him. I think he was also very tired so I tried to keep him moving around the court.”
Hewitt, a former US Open and Wimbledon winner, brushed past Malisse in two hours and 45 minutes to equal his best performance here while the 25-year-old Gaudio has now achieved his best Grand Slam performance to date.
The firebrand Australian said that weeks of playing on clay in Europe, prior to the second Grand Slam of the season, were beginning to pay off.
”I felt confident out there,” said Hewitt.
”I tried to hang in there more than anything and was happy to get out of that third set and get a straight sets win.” — Sapa-AFP