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| 06 Jun 2003 | |
| Groenefeld steams into last four at Roland Garros |
By Eleanor Preston at Roland Garros
Germany’s Anna-Lena Groenefeld scored an emphatic victory to earn herself a place in the last four of the French Open girls’ competition. Groenefeld left just three games slip by in her 6-2, 6-1 demolition of Katerina Bohmova. Groenefeld now faces Madalina Gojnea after the Romanian beat Katerina Bondarenko 6-2, 7-6(2).
“I played very well today and I have had a lot of confidence all week, and I think I have a chance against everyone in the draw.” said Groenefeld. “I don’t have any pressure on me because I am only thinking about my game, not about anything else. I will focus on what I have to do and then we will see.”
Holland’s Michaela Krajicek will take on top seed Vera Douchevina in the other girls’ semi-final. Douchevina had to battle hard to beat Israel’s Shahar Peer but eventually triumphed 7-6(10), 6-2. Krajicek survived a second set slump to defeat Delia Sescioreanu 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
In the boys’ competition Brian Baker (USA) got the better of top seed Marcos Baghdatis, beating the Cypriot 6-4, 7-5 to set up a semifinal against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA). Tsonga defeated Spain’s Daniel Gimeno Traver 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-5.
“Winning a quarterfinal at a Grand Slam is big against anyone but beating Marcos is huge,” said a delighted Baker afterwards. The American has now won his last two matches against Baghdatis, including their semi-final at the Orange Bowl last December; where Baker went on to win the title. “He killed me the first time we played but beating him twice in a row gives me a lot of confidence because he’s a great player.”
Spain’s Nicolas Almagro takes on Swiss sensation Stanislas Wawrinka in the other boys’ semi. Wawrinka eased past Israel’s Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-4, while Almagro, seeded second, came through two tough sets to knock out French favourite Mathieu Montcourt 7-5, 7-5.
“It was very difficult to play in front of a lot of people, especially against Montcourt because he is French but I did enjoy it,” said Almagro, who says he feels he is getting better with every match. “My first goal was to play better than I did the other day and the second goal was to win the match. Now I want to be in the final.”
Almagro says he in inspired by the success his countrymen Albert Coast and Juan Carlos Ferrero (both of whom are through to the semi-finals of the men’s competition) are enjoying at the tournament. “The Spanish players always play good in Roland Garros,” said Almagro. “I don’t know why but we always have one or two players in the semi-finals of professional and juniors. Ferrero is a friend of mine and he gives me lots of advice about how hard I have to work. I hope he and I are both in our finals at the same time, on the same day. It would be like a double.”
Photos by Susan Mullane
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