- News>
- Tennis
Moya sweeps aside Gambill in Hong Kong Open
Hong Kong, Sept 29: Spanish third seed Carlos Moya kicked off his bid for a fifth ATP title this year Thursday with a three-set victory over American Jan-Michael Gambill at the $400,000 Hong Kong Open.
Hong Kong, Sept 29: Spanish third seed Carlos Moya kicked off his bid for a fifth ATP title this year Thursday with a three-set victory over American Jan-Michael Gambill at the $400,000 Hong Kong Open.
In a matchup between the two big-serving baseliners, Moya avenged a straight sets mauling at the hands of Gambill during last month's US Open but not before being made to struggle for one hour and 55 minutes.
Moya evevtually finished off the match with a sweet forehand down the line for a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win. "I think I played a pretty good match... it was my first match for 3-4 weeks and last time he beat me pretty easily so it was very important for me to win this match," the former world number one said at a post-match press conference.
The match had been scheduled for Tuesday, but rain washed out play then and on Wednesday, making it likely players would have to play two matches on Friday in order to clear the backlog.
However, Moya said he was more worried by the fiercesome left-handed serve of his next opponent, Aussie Davis Cup star Wayne Arthurs, a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victor over Jan Vacek, than the prospect of playing twice in one day. "He (Arthurs) has a huge serve and that puts lots pressure on your serve because once you lose your serve in the set, you know that's it."
Moya thundered down five aces and a barrage of forehand winners to sweep the first set and looked to have taken firm control of the match when he broke Gambill in the first game of the second set.
But as the overcast sky gave way to dim sunlight, the American known as "Hollywood" for his good looks also began to shine, unleashing double-fisted winners from both sides to break Moya twice en route to sealing the second set Moya confessed he got complacent as the "match was going easy for me, but in the third set I was still there, still focussed and I kept fighting".
Gambill angrily flung his racket to the ground after a mis-hit backhand gave Moya a break for a decisive 2-0 lead in the final set. The win for Moya, currently tied for fifth in the Champions Race with compatriots Juan Carlos Ferrero and Albert Costa, was a step towards one of the eight coveted spots in November's season-ending 3.7 million dollar Masters Cup in Shanghai.
The Spaniard has already claimed titles in Acapulco, Bastad, Umag and a Master Series win in Cincinatti this year.
Meanwhile Ferrero wrapped up unfinished business in 10 minutes with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 win over against Stefan Koubek.
The second seeded Spaniard had begun the match on Tuesday before rain halted play with Ferrero leading 6-2, 2-2. The players completed one more game on Wednesday in the three minutes of play allowed in between persistent rain. Argentine fifth seed Juan Ignacio Chela also moved into the second round with a crushing 6-3, 6-4 win over former French Open finalist Magnus Norman.
Other first matches scheduled for Thursday include a clash between local favourite Michael Chang and Alex Corretja. Top seeded Russian Marat Safin and Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan are also in action.
Bureau Report
Moya evevtually finished off the match with a sweet forehand down the line for a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win. "I think I played a pretty good match... it was my first match for 3-4 weeks and last time he beat me pretty easily so it was very important for me to win this match," the former world number one said at a post-match press conference.
The match had been scheduled for Tuesday, but rain washed out play then and on Wednesday, making it likely players would have to play two matches on Friday in order to clear the backlog.
However, Moya said he was more worried by the fiercesome left-handed serve of his next opponent, Aussie Davis Cup star Wayne Arthurs, a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victor over Jan Vacek, than the prospect of playing twice in one day. "He (Arthurs) has a huge serve and that puts lots pressure on your serve because once you lose your serve in the set, you know that's it."
Moya thundered down five aces and a barrage of forehand winners to sweep the first set and looked to have taken firm control of the match when he broke Gambill in the first game of the second set.
But as the overcast sky gave way to dim sunlight, the American known as "Hollywood" for his good looks also began to shine, unleashing double-fisted winners from both sides to break Moya twice en route to sealing the second set Moya confessed he got complacent as the "match was going easy for me, but in the third set I was still there, still focussed and I kept fighting".
Gambill angrily flung his racket to the ground after a mis-hit backhand gave Moya a break for a decisive 2-0 lead in the final set. The win for Moya, currently tied for fifth in the Champions Race with compatriots Juan Carlos Ferrero and Albert Costa, was a step towards one of the eight coveted spots in November's season-ending 3.7 million dollar Masters Cup in Shanghai.
The Spaniard has already claimed titles in Acapulco, Bastad, Umag and a Master Series win in Cincinatti this year.
Meanwhile Ferrero wrapped up unfinished business in 10 minutes with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-4 win over against Stefan Koubek.
The second seeded Spaniard had begun the match on Tuesday before rain halted play with Ferrero leading 6-2, 2-2. The players completed one more game on Wednesday in the three minutes of play allowed in between persistent rain. Argentine fifth seed Juan Ignacio Chela also moved into the second round with a crushing 6-3, 6-4 win over former French Open finalist Magnus Norman.
Other first matches scheduled for Thursday include a clash between local favourite Michael Chang and Alex Corretja. Top seeded Russian Marat Safin and Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan are also in action.
Bureau Report