|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Norman upset Belgian qualifier shocks world No. 2
Posted: Wednesday June 28, 2000 02:49 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Swedish number three seed Magnus Norman was sent tumbling out of Wimbledon on Wednesday 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 by Belgian qualifier Olivier Rochus. It was the biggest shock so far of Wimbledon 2000 as the 19-year-old is ranked only 179 and had never played in a Grand Slam tournament before. Norman, number two in the ATP Champions Race, was astounded by the determination of Rochus who refused to be cowed by the Swede, a finalist in the Paris Open and semifinalist in the Australian Open. In the penultimate game of the 194-minute marathon Norman was foot-faulted and in despair he invited a ball girl to play the rally for him. The match was a baseline battle with Rochus proving the steadier and more accurate, and Norman being constantly foot-faulted and falling heavily twice. Norman's shock departure against a total unknown leaves the top half of the draw wide open for Pete Sampras to progress to the final in his search for a seventh title in eight years. Of the seven other seeds in Sampras's half, six have now been knocked out leaving only ninth seed Thomas Enqvist between the American and the final. Rochus, who had to beat his compatriot Reginald Willems to qualify for Wimbledon, refused to be overawed in the first set. He outgunned the Swede, breaking him in the fifth game and having three break points for a 5-2 lead. Norman clawed his way back but Rochus would not be denied, deservedly landing the set with an ace. Normal service was resumed for Norman in the second set when the Swede, who has played more singles matches than any other player on the circuit this year, re-established his dominance. He broke in both the fourth and final games of the set. But the Belgian bounced back. He broke Norman in the first game of the third set and held on in a string of marathon rallies to take a 2-1 advantage. In the fourth set, Norman got the crucial first break in the eighth game to go 5-3 up. Rochus broke back, prompting an uncharacteristic burst of emotion from the Swede who tossed his racquet down in disgust. But Norman took the tie-break 7-5. The last set was a slaughter. Rochus, pumped up by the crowd chanting "Come On Ollie," raced into a 5-0 lead before Norman could hold his serve. Norman saved two match points but Rochus, showing no sign of nerves, was quick to polish him off.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
