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Rolling toward a repeat Kafelnikov charges past Koubek into round of 16
Posted: Saturday January 22, 2000 09:46 AM
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- Defending champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov, turned up the heat on a miserable wet day at the Australian Open on Saturday to crush Austria's Stefan Koubek 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. The Russian second seed produced a clinical display, reminiscent of the form which last year carried him to his second Grand Slam singles title, to win in 82 minutes. Kafelnikov reveled in the indoor conditions after the center court's retractable roof was closed because of rain, raising the temperature with his flashy, all-court game. "I was quite relieved when the weather turned out to be bad because I knew they were going to close the roof," Kafelnikov said. "My chances would be a lot higher indoors. I served well and Stefan didn't have any chances." Kafelnikov, 25, is hoping to become the eighth man in the Open era -- and 13th overall -- to win back-to-back Australian titles. The last was American Jim Courier in 1992-93. Kafelnikov is in the easier half of the draw, away from tournament heavyweights Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Mark Philippoussis. He was always in control against Koubek, a 23-year-old whose best results have been on clay and who is playing in only his fifth Grand Slam tournament.
Kafelnikov then rolled on to a comfortable win, sealing the victory with a service winner. Koubek hit 14 aces to Kafelnikov's four, but could not gain a foothold on the Russian's serve. He never once got to break point and hit 30 unforced errors as he tried to find a way through. Kafelnikov's hunger for success remains despite adding the Australian Open to his 1996 French Open title. "If I thought I wouldn't be able to win tournaments I would quit the game," said Kafelnikov, known as the iron-man of the tour for the high number of matches he plays. "I said to myself just dedicate yourself for the next three or four years, take the maximum out of your potential and then quit and enjoy life."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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