Match report

Konstantinos Economidis © Tennistalk.com
Australian Open
1st round
1/15/08 1 2 3 Tot
gr  Konstantinos Economidis 4 6 2 1 0
cl  Fernando Gonzalez 6 7 7 6 3
Fernando Gonzalez © Tennistalk.com

  • Police used pepper spray on fans

    1/15/08 11:46 PM | Jonathan Morgan
    A great atmosphere in this match as last year's finalist Gonzalez played a very entertaining match with the Greek Qualifier, Economidis. But the police thought it was too much and sprayed pepper spray in the stands.

    As we all learned back in 2006, the Greeks in Australia can be very vocal about their tennis players, as they all supported Baghdatis all the way to the final. This match, however was just as good. It was sort of a football match type atmosphere as the Greek and Chilean fans each cheered on their respective man throughout the match.

    Unfortunately, things came to a head as the police came in and overreacted to the crowd “rowdiness” by spraying pepper spray in the stands at some of the Greek and Chilean spectators. It wasn't TOO serious, but it was enough to get some people angry and have some eye pain as the spray carried in the air and hit more people that intended. Some people were taken to the hospital, but luckily no one was injured any worse than that.

    As for the match itself, it was a very entertaining affair, as both Economidis and Gonzalez played great aggressive attacking tennis the whole time. Gonzalez in the 2 nd set tiebreak came up with some magnificent shots to pull it out, and cruised in the 3rd, as the Greek seemed to lose some hope. Fernando Gonzalez won by6-4, 7-6, 6-1 and it was a very well played match from both sides.

  • Thumbs up

    Great atmosphere for the fans and a well played match

  • Thumbs down

    Overreaction from security about vocal fanbases

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gr  Konstantinos Economidis cl  Fernando Gonzalez
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