DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS FEB. 27, 2003
http://www.atptennis.com/en/newsandscores/news/news/dubai4.asp

Federer's Winning Ways Continue; Mirnyi's Win Streak Ends
Roger Federer, the top seed, defeated Maximillan Abel.
Top seed Roger Federer cruised through his match against German
qualifier Maximillan Abel, while Australian Open finalist and No. 5
seed Rainer Schuettler defeated Rotterdam winner Max Mirnyi in a long
three set match at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Hicham Arazi, who has seen his ranking plummet in the past year after
taking time off to regain motivation, has made the most of his Wild
Card in Dubai, reaching his first Dubai QF by taking out No.8 seed
Yevgeny Kafelnikov. Ivan Ljubicic made his way into his second
straight Dubai QF after defeating Hungarian Attila Savolt.

PLAYER QUOTES

SCHUETTLER: He's (Mirnyi) in good shape right now. He won a
tournament last week and it's always tough to play against him. I
don't get any rhythm. He's serving so good and he tries to finish the
point so quickly. A tough fight - all three sets. Right now I am very
confident and I enjoy being on the court. So then it's pretty easy,
if you enjoy being out there, to focus.

(After Australian Open)
When I came back (to Germany), there were so many people who wanted
to talk to me. My expectations are higher, I want to do better and
get better results to go up in the rankings. So the pressure is
coming from my side.

ARAZI: I played good on important points. I didn't have too much
confidence. It's been a long time since I played on centre court,
like here in Dubai. I'm happy not about the quality of the match I
played but because I stayed there and didn't get upset. When I don't
feel comfortable on the court, I get stressed and upset but it's
getting better with age I think.

Kafelnikov didn't play his best tennis today and I didn't play that
great either. But I'll try to play much better in the next match.
Last year I didn't want to travel too much. I was not too motivated,
I just wanted to stay home.

I'm hungry. I've won just one tournament in my seven years. I want to
win more titles like Younes (El Aynoui) did last year. I was really
close to stopping (retiring) last year but Younes supported me a lot,
and with his results.

FEDERER: I'm much fitter (than last year), also when I come home to
Switzerland and work hard. I feel much better mentally as well, like
I've grown up.

(on playing Arazi)
It was the first time I played him<(at Roland Garros 2002) and he
really surprised me how good he was on the counter attack and his
serve. Tomorrow is going to be much harder work than today.

LJUBICIC: (On serving 18 aces)
That's the way I serve. Growing up with Goran Ivanisevic, you cannot
serve slow. (On playing Schuettler) I have a terrible record against
him. But they are always tight matches.

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1st Agassi, A. 235

2nd Schuettler, R. 163

3rd Roddick, A. 128

4th Ferreira, W. 107

5th Federer, R. 100

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