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Kuerten's confident Fifth seed feels good about chances in Paris
Posted: Monday May 29, 2000 10:17 AM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Gustavo Kuerten dismissed his first opponent in the French Open with a swagger on Monday, saying his status as favorite was a source of inspiration rather than being a burden. The Brazilian, unseeded champion in 1997, brushed aside Swede Andreas Vinciguerra 6-0, 6-0, 6-3 in little more than an hour in their first round match. "It's better for me [as favorite]. The other guy probably felt the pressure. I'm used to playing as a favorite here since I won the tournament," the fifth seed said. "I can take advantage. I got into a rhythm quickly like I have done in my last tournaments. He got a bit frustrated and couldn't find the shots [to reply]," said the Brazilian, who won at Hamburg nine days ago after also reaching the Italian Open final. "Once I'd got a lead I relaxed and I could try shots. I was solid all the time and exerted a lot of pressure," said Kuerten, who has seven singles titles including two this year. He said he is conscious of a constant improvement in his game and that this is entirely down to improved focus and mental strength. "I don't think I've changed the way I play. I have the same shots, the same technique as always, but I have more mental and physical strength and I know how to play better," the 23-year-old from Florianopolis said. "I've come here in good shape like other years but this year I haven't played as many tournaments," he said, suggesting he was fresher. "I feel very good and ready to play the whole tournament." Kuerten, who reached the second round here in 1998 and the quarterfinals last year, said a vital factor was to be focussed on all his matches. "It's important to know how to show yourself in matches that are not so significant," he said after an easy romp against a talented up-and-coming teenager who was expected to give the Brazilian more trouble. The 40th-ranked Vinciguerra, in the first meeting between the two, did not get on the scoreboard until the 16th game when he won service for the first time. The Swede also managed one break of service -- to Kuerten's eight -- and saved the Brazilian's first match point with an ace in the penultimate game before Kuerten served to love for the match. Kuerten said he did not mind who he played in the second round between two clay court specialists, Moroccan Karim Alami and Argentine qualifier Marcelo Charpentier. "They're very similar, they both have the same style," he said.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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