===============
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
(Melbourne, Australia; outdoor hard (Rebound Ace); Grand Slam)
=============== http://www.australianopen.com/
Men's Singles: Quarter-final
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- Fabrice Santoro lt. DAVID NALBANDIAN [4], 7-5 6-0 6-0

Fabrice was tired while Nalbandian came up with "a volley of searing
winners".

SANTORO _* * *@__*__ 5
NALBAND * * *__@* *@ 7

SANTORO ______ 0
NALBAND *@*@*@ 6

SANTORO ______ 0
NALBAND *@*@*@ 6

Fabrice was broken in a tight second game of the second set, and it
all went pear-shaped from there.

Fabrice had a W:UE ratio of 18:15, but Nalbandian was much more
aggressive and successful with 47:17.

Fabrice highlights: "In the eighth game Santoro won one point from
the net after twice lobbing Nalbandian with clever volleys, while in
the following game he produced a remarkable two-handed backhand
volley which only just dropped over the net before spinning back
over to Santoro's side of the net making it impossible for
Nalbandian to reach." [www.AustralianOpen.com]


Fabrice: "I think, you know, two days ago I mean I was already
pretty tired physically. And against Ferrer, I had a tough period
after an hour and 15 minutes of game. Today I had the same problem
after an hour, at the same point.

"But Nalbandian is a great player, he makes me move a lot. He played
better and better, relaxed, because he won the first set. That first
set makes a big difference. After that first set, I mean, he just
gave me a lesson. I have nothing to do. He saw that I was tired, he
play one on the right, one on the left. Every time I came to the
net, he pass me. Serve and volley, I can't do it because he return
so well. That's what I can do."


Nalbandian: "It's very difficult to play against him because he
doesn't have a normal style. In the beginning was tough. Was windy
as well, so was difficult to get in the game. But when I break back
in the first, and then I save the 15/40 in the 4-4, everything
change. I mean, I start playing better, more confidence, hitting
better shots. Yeah, in that moment the match change."


Fabrice Santoro's AO profile (interview, match-reports, photos):
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/players/atps424.html

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/selesians.html