Schaller moves into quarterfinals<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Second seed Gilbert Schaller of Austria survived
\na second-set thriller on his way to a 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 win
\nover Hungarian Sondar Noszaly for a quarterfinal berth of the
\nUS$328,000 Indosiar Men's Open tennis championships yesterday.<\/p>\n
Playing on the center court at the Senayan tennis complex,
\nworld number 20 Schaller went a set down and let Noszaly hold two
\nmatch points in the second set, but managed to keep his cool to
\nturn the tables on him.<\/p>\n
A heavy rain broke the power play for an hour, which Schaller
\nlater said was to give him "time to contemplate how to win the
\nmatch."<\/p>\n
A few people who watched the rain-interrupted match threw
\ntheir weight behind the Hungarian underdog, who served for the
\nmatch at 6-5 in the second set.<\/p>\n
Leading 40-15, Noszaly spoiled everything with a double fault
\nand a shaky forehand return which hit the net. Schaller
\nmaintained his momentum, waiting for the temperamental Noszaly to
\nmake mistakes before the match went into the tiebreak.<\/p>\n
A demoralized Noszaly could not match Schaller stroke for
\nstroke in the tiebreak, leaving the Austrian with a commanding 6-
\n0 lead. The Hungarian blasted an ace then, but Schaller replied
\nwith an equal serve to force a stretched set.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, the deciding set belonged to Schaller who
\nsteered the play from his baseline.<\/p>\n
Schaller admitted in the press conference after the match that
\nthe rain had saved him. The organizers decided to close the
\nretractable roof at the 3,000-seated tennis stadium after the
\nrain stopped.<\/p>\n
"I felt better when the roof was closed because I could
\ncontrol my ball better," said Schaller, who dislikes the rebound
\nace surface of the Senayan tennis court.<\/p>\n
"Noszaly played very well. It's very hard to control his
\nserve," he said.<\/p>\n
A disappointed Noszaly said afterward: "When we started, I
\nplayed very well. I almost won but I couldn't use the chances I
\nhad."<\/p>\n
Hard-fought<\/p>\n
Schaller will now meet Michael Joyce of the United States,
\nwho won his second round match earlier yesterday after Oleg
\nOgorodov of Uzbekistan retired while trailing 1-4 in the second
\nset a set down.<\/p>\n
Fifth seed Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands also made it into
\nthe last eight after a hard-fought battle. Twenty-year-old
\nSchalken was forced to drop a set in his 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win over
\nNicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.<\/p>\n
The muscle-flexing continued as Swedish Mikael Tillstorm
\nrallied to a come-from-behind 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) win over
\nMauricio Hadad of Colombia.<\/p>\n
Tillstrom, who ousted third seed Javier Sanchez in the first
\nround on Monday, will play Schalken in tomorrow's quarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands will be
\nseeking his quarterfinal place when he plays Briton Chris
\nWilkinson at the center court of the tennis complex.<\/p>\n
Another Dutchman, Jacco Eltingh will meet Spaniard Emilio
\nSanchez while Russian Andrei Chesnokov will meet Moroccan Younes
\nEl Aynaoui. (05)<\/p>",
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