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Road victory Philippoussis beats Frenchman Escude in Paris
Posted: Monday November 01, 1999 07:26 PM
PARIS (AP) -- Mark Philippoussis warmed up for the Davis Cup final by defeating Frenchman Nicolas Escude 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) Monday on the opening day of the $2.55 million Paris Open. Philippoussis is expected to lead the Australian team as it takes on France for the prestigious international tennis trophy next month. The Australian fired 17 aces as he bombarded Escude. "A victory against a French player gives me confidence," Philippoussis said. "It is a good experience because it feels like the Davis Cup already." Philippoussis faces another big server, eighth-seeded Richard Krajicek, in one of the top second-round matches. In another match Monday, Spain's Francisco Clavet beat Czech Jiri Novak 6-4, 6-1 to set up a second-round clash with Pete Sampras. Sampras, who got a bye into the second round, is making his comeback at the Paris event after a two-month absence because of injury. Fabrice Santoro was another first-day winner, outclassing Germany's Rainer Schuttler 6-2, 6-3 to improve his chances of staying on France's Davis Cup team. Santoro faces No. 11 seed Nicolas Lapentti in round two. Andre Agassi knows his second-round opponent will be Younes El Aynaoui after the big Moroccan downed American Vincent Spadea 6-2, 6-4. Russian teenager Marat Safin beat Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-3, to set up a second-round match against another South American, fifth-seeded Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil. American Michael Chang earned a hard-fought 6-7 (7-9), 7-5, 6-4 victory over Thomas Johansson of Sweden. Chang faces Marcelo Rios in the second round. v Jim Courier was another American winner. The former world No. 1 beat 20-year-old Frenchman Arnaud Di Pasquale 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (8-6) to set up a second-round contest against No. 14 Carlos Moya.
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