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)