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Monaco Mark Philippoussis advances at Monte Carlo; Kafelnikov ousted
Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 08:51 PM
MONTE CARLO, Monaco (AP) -- World No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov crashed out of the Monte Carlo Open on Wednesday, losing 6-1, 6-2 in just 38 minutes to Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia. The 20-year-old Croat, ranked 198th in the world, won the first set in an incredible 13 minutes. He had beaten Andrei Medvedev of Ukraine in the first round. For Kafelnikov, the Australian Open champion, it was another ruined chance at gaining the No. 1 ranking. But he wasn't shocked. "The result doesn't surprise me at all," Kafelnikov said. "Every year I go through this on clay. I have to live with it." "It was no match at all today," the Russian said. "He didn't do anything spectacular. All he had to do was hit the ball over the net and I missed, that was it." In other play, No. 5 seed Mark Philippoussis advanced to the third round, eliminating Paraguayan Ramon Delgado in a close, rain-interrupted match 7-6 (7-4), 6-4. Between the intermittent showers, Gustavo Kuerten, Hicham Arazi and Jiri Novak were among other winners. Kafelnikov's defeat was the biggest upset of the tournament so far. "He played badly, but I did everything to make him play badly," Ljubicic said. "He couldn't find a way out of it." Ljubicic attributed his win to the rigorous practice he has had at the Monte Carlo Country Club. "I went through qualifying and have practiced at this club for two years, so I feel at home here," he said. Ljubicic was born and raised in Bosnia, but moved to Croatia in 1992. Delgado, who caused a sensation at Roland Garros last year by beating Pete Sampras in straight sets, clawed his way to a 5-4 first-set lead. But on his own service, the Paraguayan couldn't capitalize on two set points. Philippoussis clinched the first-set tiebreaker with a brilliant forehand service return. "He let me off the hook and maybe lost a bit of concentration," said the 22-year-old Australian.
In other matches, the Czech Republic's Novak outplayed Britain's Greg Rusedski, the No. 8 seed here, 6-2, 6-2. Rusedski blamed his defeat on a lack of practice and proficiency on clay. "I have about as much chance of winning Roland Garros as of seeing a UFO land today," he said, describing playing on clay as "purgatory." "I really don't enjoy it. Anyone who bets on me to win Roland Garros should be shot," he joked. Kuerten, the No. 13 seed, had a struggle against the Czech Republic's Bohdan Ulihrach before winning 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4. The 1997 Roland Garros champion from Brazil slipped down nine places to No. 23 in year-end rankings in 1998, but says he is finding his best form again this year. "I am getting into my rhythm and if I keep playing like this I think I can beat anyone here," he said. "Maybe I put too much pressure on myself after winning Roland Garros. I am more relaxed now." Arazi was another winner, beating Mariano Puerta of Argentina 6-1, 6-4. The 25-year-old Moroccan, who has reached the quarterfinals of the French Open for the last two years, will play Marcelo Rios in the third round. Arazi beat the Chilean star at Roland Garros in 1997. Earlier, the ATP named Sampras as its 1998 player of the year. Sampras has now won the award for a record six consecutive years, and is tied with Bjorn Borg for the most awards overall. Borg also won the title six times. "I look at it as an ultimate achievement," Sampras said. "This is a record that I feel will never probably be broken." Sampras, who was Wimbledon champion and lifted three other titles in 1998, had to sit out this week's $2.2 million event because of a back injury.
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