Massu overcome heat, advance into semifinals - 網球 Tennis

Massu, Verdasco overcome heat, advance into semifinals
July 29, 2005
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports


KITZBUEHEL, Austria -- Defending champion Nicolas Massu and Fernando
Verdasco overcame stifling heat to reach the semifinals of the Generali
Open on Friday.

On Austria's hottest day of the year with court temperatures reaching
122 degrees, seventh-seeded Massu beat Nicolas Lapentti 6-4, 6-7 (0-7),
6-2.

"This was one of the toughest matches I have ever played," Massu said. "
I am glad I am through."

The Chilean started slowly, losing his opening serve after two double
faults and two unforced errors. He then broke Lapentti twice to lead 5-2
in the first set.

The 2001 Generali Open champion, Lapentti saved three set points and
pulled to 4-5 before losing.

In the second set, Massu lost his serve with three unforced errors to trail
5-6. Although Lapentti couldn't serve out the set, he won 7-0 in the
tiebreaker.

Both players requested massages at the start of the final set.

"Everything hurt, my legs, my arms, my back," Massu said.

He then broke Lapentti three times and converted his eighth match point.

Unseeded Verdasco of Spain beat Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-3 to reach the
semifinal for the second straight year.

In another quarterfinal match, third-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina
beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. In the final set, Gaudio got the break
on consecutive winners in the ninth game.

He will face the winner of the later match between Feliciano Lopez and
Mariano Zabaleta.

AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service

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