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Unseeded Dutchman reaches French final
Paris, June 06: Roland Garros newcomer Martin Verkerk became an improbable French Open finalist today.
Paris, June 06: Roland Garros newcomer Martin Verkerk became an improbable French Open finalist today.
The balding 6-foot-3 Dutchman advanced by beating Guillermo Coria, who narrowly avoided being defaulted after one set and still lost, 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 7-6 (7/0).
The unseeded Verkerk had never won a grand slam match entering the tournament, and he's the first man to reach the final in his French Open debut since Mikael Pernfors in 1986.
"This is a dream," Verkerk said. "This is actually a little bit of a joke."
His semifinal victory nearly came to an abrupt conclusion. Trying to intercept Verkerk's final shot in the opening set, Coria heaved his racket at the ball - and inadvertently in the direction of a ball girl 20 feet away. He avoided being defaulted only because she said she was unhurt.
"I threw the racket to touch the ball," Coria said. "It was not at all my intention to do any harm with the racket when I threw it."
Verkerk's astonishing run at Paris has improved his career record to 28-28. He's ranked 46th, thanks to a rise so meteoric that next week he'll keep a long-standing commitment to play in a Dutch club tournament.
With a serve reminiscent of compatriot Richard Krajicek, Verkerk will be a formidable foe Sunday for the other finalist - defending champion Albert Costa or 2002 runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero. They were to play in the late semifinal.
Verkerk smacked nine aces in the first set against Coria, and successive big serves helped him win the final two points of the tiebreaker.
Bureau Report
The unseeded Verkerk had never won a grand slam match entering the tournament, and he's the first man to reach the final in his French Open debut since Mikael Pernfors in 1986.
"This is a dream," Verkerk said. "This is actually a little bit of a joke."
His semifinal victory nearly came to an abrupt conclusion. Trying to intercept Verkerk's final shot in the opening set, Coria heaved his racket at the ball - and inadvertently in the direction of a ball girl 20 feet away. He avoided being defaulted only because she said she was unhurt.
"I threw the racket to touch the ball," Coria said. "It was not at all my intention to do any harm with the racket when I threw it."
Verkerk's astonishing run at Paris has improved his career record to 28-28. He's ranked 46th, thanks to a rise so meteoric that next week he'll keep a long-standing commitment to play in a Dutch club tournament.
With a serve reminiscent of compatriot Richard Krajicek, Verkerk will be a formidable foe Sunday for the other finalist - defending champion Albert Costa or 2002 runner-up Juan Carlos Ferrero. They were to play in the late semifinal.
Verkerk smacked nine aces in the first set against Coria, and successive big serves helped him win the final two points of the tiebreaker.
Bureau Report