Schaller moves into quarterfinals
Schaller moves into quarterfinals
JAKARTA (JP): Second seed Gilbert Schaller of Austria survived a second-set thriller on his way to a 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 win over Hungarian Sondar Noszaly for a quarterfinal berth of the US$328,000 Indosiar Men's Open tennis championships yesterday.
Playing on the center court at the Senayan tennis complex, world number 20 Schaller went a set down and let Noszaly hold two match points in the second set, but managed to keep his cool to turn the tables on him.
A heavy rain broke the power play for an hour, which Schaller later said was to give him "time to contemplate how to win the match."
A few people who watched the rain-interrupted match threw their weight behind the Hungarian underdog, who served for the match at 6-5 in the second set.
Leading 40-15, Noszaly spoiled everything with a double fault and a shaky forehand return which hit the net. Schaller maintained his momentum, waiting for the temperamental Noszaly to make mistakes before the match went into the tiebreak.
A demoralized Noszaly could not match Schaller stroke for stroke in the tiebreak, leaving the Austrian with a commanding 6- 0 lead. The Hungarian blasted an ace then, but Schaller replied with an equal serve to force a stretched set.
Needless to say, the deciding set belonged to Schaller who steered the play from his baseline.
Schaller admitted in the press conference after the match that the rain had saved him. The organizers decided to close the retractable roof at the 3,000-seated tennis stadium after the rain stopped.
"I felt better when the roof was closed because I could control my ball better," said Schaller, who dislikes the rebound ace surface of the Senayan tennis court.
"Noszaly played very well. It's very hard to control his serve," he said.
A disappointed Noszaly said afterward: "When we started, I played very well. I almost won but I couldn't use the chances I had."
Hard-fought
Schaller will now meet Michael Joyce of the United States, who won his second round match earlier yesterday after Oleg Ogorodov of Uzbekistan retired while trailing 1-4 in the second set a set down.
Fifth seed Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands also made it into the last eight after a hard-fought battle. Twenty-year-old Schalken was forced to drop a set in his 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 win over Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.
The muscle-flexing continued as Swedish Mikael Tillstorm rallied to a come-from-behind 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) win over Mauricio Hadad of Colombia.
Tillstrom, who ousted third seed Javier Sanchez in the first round on Monday, will play Schalken in tomorrow's quarterfinals.
Defending champion Paul Haarhuis of the Netherlands will be seeking his quarterfinal place when he plays Briton Chris Wilkinson at the center court of the tennis complex.
Another Dutchman, Jacco Eltingh will meet Spaniard Emilio Sanchez while Russian Andrei Chesnokov will meet Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui. (05)