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Agassi, Capriati in Action at U.S. Open
2003-08-28
NEW YORK - A second-round match featuring No. 2 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium against Croatia's Silvija Talaja highlights the day session of the U.S. Open on Thursday.Later Thursday, No. 6 Jennifer Capriati will face Slovakia's Martina Sucha and top seed Andre Agassi will meet Andreas Vinciguerra of Sweden. In Wednesday's action, Lindsay Davenport shook off a troublesome left foot to reach the third round of the Open in just under two hours, dropping only seven games along the way. Davenport didn't dazzle by any means in her 6-2, 6-4 second-round victory against Maria Elena Camerin on Wednesday. It didn't matter. What was most important to the 1998 Open champion was that she didn't focus more attention on her foot than the woman on the other side of the net. ``I didn't feel it at all today,'' a cheerful Davenport said. ``I think, hopefully, as more days go by, if it doesn't flare up, I'll be more and more confident pushing off it and not really worrying about it.'' World No. 1 Kim Clijsters joins the third-seeded Davenport in the third round of the season's final Slam, after overpowering Laura Granville 6-1, 6-1. The top-seeded Clijsters, who took over the No. 1 ranking from Serena Williams this month, is aiming for her first Grand Slam title. ``If it's in their head they're playing the No. 1, maybe that's a little bit intimidating,'' Clijsters said. ``On the other hand, that could even be also more motivating as well. I think it depends on the character of your opponent.'' U.S. Davis Cup player James Blake pulled off an upset against 27th-seeded Mariano Zabaleta 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2. Blake hit a 105 mph second-serve ace on his fourth match point, then called for a ball from the ballboy and hit it into the stands. Reigning Wimbledon champion Roger Federer won his first-round match against Argentine Jose Acasuso after Acasuso called two injury timeouts and eventually retired two games into the fourth set with a groin problem. The score was 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 2-0. Acasuso took an injury timeout earlier in the match to receive drops in his right eye. During the second delay, between the third and fourth sets, Acasuso lay with his stomach to the hard court as a trainer massaged his back and legs. Instead of sitting down, Federer juggled the ball with his feet and hit a few serves. ``You're always scared because it was not very hot today,'' Federer said. ``There was always a breeze, at least for us players. I didn't want to risk any injury. I started serving a few and moving around. I played some soccer as well.'' The man Federer beat in the Wimbledon final, No. 20-seeded Mark Philippoussis, won his first-round match Wednesday, as did 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian, No. 7 Carlos Moya, and No. 10 Jiri Novak. Philippoussis, also a finalist at the 1998 Open, pounded 20 aces to beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 7-6 (4), 6-4. Women's winners included No. 5 Amelie Mauresmo, No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova, French Open semifinalist Nadia Petrova, No. 14 Amanda Coetzer, and No. 13 Vera Zvonareva, who eliminated U.S. teenager Ashley Harkleroad 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 thanks in part to a 37-16 edge in winners. In the second set, Harkleroad screamed at the chair umpire after what she thought was a series of missed calls. ``You can never be my chair umpire again! That's horrible!'' Harkleroad yelled. She later said she could have handled the situation with more maturity. Davenport has been battling a nerve problem in her left foot and will undergo surgery after the Open. She received a cortisone shot Saturday night after retiring in the final of the Pilot Pen against Jennifer Capriati. Then, she canceled her practice session Sunday at the National Tennis Center, raising questions as to whether she, too, would withdraw. After winning her first-round match in 46 minutes Monday, Davenport was able to practice Tuesday. She's the only past women's winner in a field that is without injured sisters Venus and Serena Williams, who split the past four Open championships. Davenport won despite hitting only 46 percent of her first serves and making more unforced errors than winners, 23-22. Since winning the 2000 Australian Open - she also won Wimbledon in 1999 - Davenport hasn't added another major title, but she has fared well, making two finals and three semifinals at Slams. Davenport's frustrations this year had her considering retirement. Now, she's having fun again. ``I've had such a great time playing this summer on the hard courts and playing in the states,'' she said. AP
Qualifying underway for US Open (2006-08-22)Top seed Murray wins twice to reach ATP semi-final (2006-07-14)Agassi, Capriati in Action at U.S. Open (2003-08-28)Serena Williams Plays Today at U.S. Open (2002-08-28)Agassi wanting heat and wind; Kandarr's lucky run (2000-01-22)
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