July 23, 2024 (ATP)
1999 champion faces 17-year-old phenom in quarterfinals.
Magnus Norman has picked up where he left off in 1999 at the Croatian Open. The former World No. 2 and winner in Umag in four years ago, moved into the quarterfinals on Wednesday with a tough 7-6(, 7-6(3) victory against Croatian lucky loser Sasa Tuksar in 2 hours, 30 minutes. Norman has now won seven straight matches in Umag including a huge victory in the first round where the 27-year-old Swede shook off a 10-match losing streak with his win against Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. Norman hasn't played in Umag since winning the title in 1999 and was also a finalist in his first trip to the event in 1998. Norman also won back-to-back matches for the first time since Tennis Masters Monte Carlo.
Norman's semifinal quest could be difficult as he will face 17-year-old Rafael Nadal. Nadal continued his rise on the ATP circuit on Wednesday by reaching his second quarterfinal of the year by easily defeating Argentine Mariano Puerta, 6-2, 6-4. This is the second quarterfinal appearance in three weeks for the young Spaniard who reached the final eight in Bastad.
Nadal, who made his ATP debut at the age of 16 last year, was ranked No. 491 in the ATP Entry Rankings one year ago, but his consistent play has lifted the teenager to No. 58 in the world and is sure to the improve with his performance this week in Umag. In eight career ATP tournaments, Nadal has never lost in the first round.
Spain's Alberto Martin saved four match points to defeat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(2). Karlovic had his chances in the third set, while up 3-0 and had game points to go up 4-1. At 6-5, the 6 foot, 10 inch Croat had four match points on Martin's serve and at one point looked to have the match won before an overrule on his fourth match point. Karlovic became unraveled at that point and lost in the tiebreak.
UMAG CAREER WINS LEADERS
Player W L Titles
Moya, Carlos 24 5 '96, '01, '02
Muster, Thomas 15 0 '92, '93, '95
Mantilla, Felix 14 5 1997
Norman, Magnus 11 1 1999
Berasategui, Alberto 10 5 1994
Ljubicic, Ivan 10 7
Ulihrach, Bohdan 9 3 1998
Sanchez, Javier 9 5
Skoff, Horst 8 2
Arrese, Jordi 8 4
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Rafael Nadal: "I think I played a good match. I played a good match last time I played him when I lost at the Challenger in Aix, but I was just a bit unlucky - one game made the difference. It was the same today, when I was serving at 5-4 down 0-40. I really had to battle and fight to win that game."
Magnus Norman: "I wasn't playing my best tennis, but I was happy with how I competed out there and fought. I just think if I keep competing like that my game will come around soon. I'm happy where I am at the moment and I'm really glad to be back in a quarterfinal. The conditions were tough with the sun and the heat, but I think my experience made the difference."
About the 10-match losing streak: "There were times when it was frustrating and times when I definitely thought about if I should continue. It's tough to lose to players you should be winning against. But it was a combination of loving the game and wanting to prove that I can come back maybe to those who don't think I can. Obviously it's been tough. It's never easy to come back from an injury and players are so good that if you aren't 100% it's tough to win matches."
About expectations: "One thing I've learned through this is that you don't want to look too far ahead. You have to appreciate where you are at the moment and go from there. I'm really happy right now and satisfied with this week."
About Umag (he is on 7-match win streak here): "I like it here alot. You feel really relaxed during the day and then just play tennis in the late afternoon so it's a good tournament for me."
THURDAY MATCHES
Three-time champion and top seed Carlos Moya will be in second round action on Thursday at the Croatia Open in Umag when he faces Argentina's Federico Browne for the first time. Moya, the winner of the last two Umag titles, has a 40-13 record with two titles (Barcelona, Buenos Aires) so far in 2003. His 24-5 career mark in Umag is an all-time best at the event and his three titles ties fellow three-time winner Thomas Muster for most in tournament history. Browne has a 4-3 record in four ATP events this year, which includes a quarterfinal berth in Casablanca.
No. 2 seed Fernando Gonzalez takes his 20-7 mark on clay into his match with Belgium's Kristof Vliegen. Gonzalez reached the semifinals last week in Stuttgart before a stomach ailment forced the Chilean to retire in the second set against Tommy Robredo. Vliegen, a 21-year-old from Maaseik, Belgium, snapped a four-match losing streak by defeating qualifier Michal Mertinak in his first round match. Vliegen emerged onto the ATP circuit in January when he marched into the finals at Adelaide (l. to Davydenko) in his very first ATP event.
In other Umag action, No. 7 seed Filippo Volandri looks to secure his third straight quarterfinal appearance against Swiss wild card Stanislas Wawrinka, while Frenchman Jean-Rene Lisnard takes on Spain's David Ferrer.
Return to Rafaelnadal.com.
Return to Rafaelnadal.com Articles.
**Please do not copy or use on other sites without credit to the original source and Rafaelnadal.com**
