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5/2/08 11:05 PM | Jonathan Morgan
It wasn't pretty, but Fernando Gonzalez was able to notch his 5th straight win over Safin and reach the Munich semifinals.
Both players prefer a faster court, but can certainly play on the dirt. Safin with his walloping grounstrokes and big serve and Gonzalez's combination of all-out aggresion combined with the touch of his slice backhand.
Neither player was in the best of form, and most points ended in errors. Not errors due to a long rally which ended in a player missing a winner, but errors 5-6 shots into the rally, where one of them lost his patience and decided to smack a hard groundie.
Ironically, it was not the big Gonzalez forehand than caused the Russian trouble, but the slice backhand of his that drove Safin mad. Safin at his size has never really been able to deal with a fine slice backhand very well at all. Just ask Santoro. He gets frustrated, he puts up a weak reply begging to be nailed for a winner, or he simply hits an error going for too much.
Gonzalez was able to keep his composure deep in the second set when Marat seemed to want nothing more than to leave at 5-5. He gave the break and Gonzalez easily held for a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
He will play the tournament's surprise, Younes El Aynaoui.
Good win for Gonzalez as his results this year have been disappointing sans Vina del Mar.
Safin still not able to handle a slice shot.
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Did you know that... Thomas Johansson did not have to face any of the top-10 players when he won the Australian Open in 2002.
Avalaine, Dec 4, 2008 4:32 AM
ravikiran, Dec 4, 2008 3:49 AM
kaitepai, Dec 3, 2008 10:59 PM
kaitepai, Dec 3, 2008 10:02 PM
janhavi, Dec 3, 2008 2:51 PM
Avalaine, Dec 3, 2008 10:15 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:23 PM
Casper, Dec 2, 2008 8:02 PM
Marat Safin
Fernando Gonzalez
BMW Open
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