 Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 29 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 28 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 28 Jan 2004 |  Photographer: Paul Zimmer
Date: 27 Jan 2004 | | |
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| 30 Jan 2004 - Melbourne Park, Australia - Eleanor Preston | |
| French pair power through to semis |
Josselyn Ouanna and Gael Monfils gave the semi-final line-up of the boys’ Australian Open a distinctly French feel after both notched up straight sets wins in the quarters.
Ouanna beat the USA’s Brendan Evans 6-3, 7-5 and now takes on Serbia & Montenegro’s Novak Djokovic for a place in the final. Monfils continued his sparkling run of form with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over American Scoville Jenkins and must now raise his game again in preparation for a tough semi-final against India’s Karan Rastogi.
In the girls’ competition, Jarmila Gajdosova (SVK) and Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) look set for a fascinating last four clash after both came through difficult quarters. Gajdosova beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber 7-6, 6-3 and Vaidisova, seeded three, overcame a horrible start to beat Ana Ivanovic (SCG) 1-6, 6-1, 6-3.
“I kept fighting and when you do that it makes you realise you can always fight and win even when you are not playing well,” said Vaidisova. “Hopefully I can finish my match against Gajdosova more quickly but it will be tough because she has a lot more experience than me.”
In the other semi-final Shahar Peer of Israel plays Timea Bacsinskzky after Peer beat Canada’s Stepanie Dubois 6-4, 6-0 and Bacsinskzky (SUI) came through 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 against Russia’s Alla Kudryavtseva.
“I cannot say how it will go because you never know – this is a Grand Slam semi-final – but I’m going to give my best,” said Peer. “I feel very calm and relaxed right now and I want to stay that way in the match.”
Ouanna had to save eight match points in yesterday’s win over Sun Yong Kim but had a far easier time of it against Evans. “Today was a bit better because I think I got some confidence from saving those match points,” he said. “I played Djokovic on clay before and he won but I think I have got better since then and my game is more suited to rebound ace.”
Djokovic, who beat Russian-born German top seed Mischa Zverev 6-1, 6-4 will be a tough proposition though. He spent December training in Frankfurt with Rainer Schuettler and Lars Burgsmuller and put his hot streak of form down the rigorous training regime he underwent there.
“I have seen what professional tennis is and how they prepare and it showed me that though I am talented I need to work harder,” he said. “I know that’s why I am playing well now and why I feeling so fit physically even though I am playing singles and doubles here. I am very confident and I think I have a good chance in the semi-finals.”
Monfils admitted to being nervous during his win over Jenkins and said his main aim against Rastogi was to stay relaxed. “I got a little bit nervous because I was playing a quarter-final and that’s when I lost here last year, but I told myself I have won a lot of matches lately and this was only a tennis match. I beat Rastogi last week and that gives me a good feeling about playing him.”
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