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Fresh and fit Ferrero reaches quarterfinals of German Open
Updated: Thursday May 17, 2001 8:36 PM
HAMBURG, Germany (AP) -- Seventh-seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia needed five match points to defeat his surprisingly tough countryman Andrew Ilie on Thursday and secure his place in the quarterfinals of the Tennis Masters Series. In other play, eighth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain also advanced, defeating Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti for a 14th consecutive victory. Hewitt, looking for his seventh career title, served twice for the set before finally overcoming Ilie 6-2, 7-6 (2). Fresh off his maiden Masters title in Rome last week, Ferrero showed no signs of fatigue, handily downing Lapentti 6-4, 6-3. Hewitt, who crashed out in the opening round of his only other ATP clay court tournament this season in Rome, got off to a strong start but began to labor as Ilie found his rhythm in the second. Up 5-2, Hewitt allowed his fellow Australian back in the game and force the tiebreak, the flashy Ilie pumping his fists and indulging in other theatrics as he nailed a succession of winning shots. "I didn't play too many bad points, but he came up with some great shots on match points," Hewitt said. "Normally you expect a shot but he came up with something totally unexpected. "He's a showman. He went on a roll for 10 or 15 minutes. I just had to stay patient out there and sort of weather the storm and I knew I'd get up again." Ferrero is looking for his third straight title after triumphing in Rome and Barcelona. He is also seeking to become the first player in almost 30 years to win the back-to-back clay court Masters events in Rome and Hamburg. The last player to achieve that was fellow Spaniard Manuel Orantes in 1972. Ferrero was worried earlier in the week he would be unable to maintain his pace with nonstop matches. On Sunday, Ferrero overcame world No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten at the final in Rome in a grueling five-set marathon. Two days later, the Spaniard overcame a sluggish start to defeat compatriot and two-time French Open champion Sergi Bruguera. But on Thursday, the 21-year-old appeared fresh and fit once more. "It's 14 matches but I'm not tired anymore," said Ferrero. "My hardest match was in the opening round because it was against Bruguera and he's tough and it was right after my final in Rome. "But yesterday I was OK and today I feel good." Ferrero has won four titles this season, three on clay, and with a shining 18-1 record on clay, he will be considered one of the main contenders at the upcoming French Open. Ferrero was just one of four seeded players left in the tournament. In other action, France's Fabrice Santoro, who eliminated Andre Agassi the evening before, charged past Germany's Nicolas Kiefer 6-3, 6-3 to reach the round of eight. Albert Portas of Spain ousted 12th-seeded Sebastien Grosjean of France and Swede Thomas Johansson eliminated 14th-seeded Jan-Michael Gambill of the United States 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
That leaves Ferrero and Hewitt as the only remaining seeded
players.
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