Electronic Telegraph: Click here for UK news

Search
The Indian Express

The Financial Express

Latest News

Screen

Express Computer
Feedback
Travel

Matrimonials

Careers

Lifestyle

Astrology

E-Cards

Columnists

Graffiti

Crossword

Letters

Environment

Jewellery
Info-tech

Power

Advertisers Forum

Business Forum

In association with Amazon.com

Books Music

Enter keywords


INDIAN EXPRESS FRONT PAGE

Politics

Business

Expressions

General

World

Sports

Leisure

States

 

Thursday, February 4, 1999

An escape to victory

 
I am looking forward to the India-Pakistan clash. Well, I'm talking about my quarterfinal match against Pakistan's Aseim Qureshi tomorrow. Sure, I was lucky to get through against Swede Patrick Fredriksson in three sets in the pre-quarter finals.

But I think, `Hesh' (Bhupathi) had a comfortable match when compared to his first round match. He played a solid game and was able to wrap it up against Aussie Peter Tramacchi in straight sets. `Hesh' played a great match. He pocketed the match in the first set tie-breaker when he went up 5-1.The difference for him today was the serve. Tramacchi was playing a little too much to Hesh's backhand and failed to exploit much of Hesh's weakness.As for me, Swede Patrick Fredriksson let me off the hook. I was down a set and a break in the second set. Things turned around for me when I started playing to his forehand. Earlier, I was keeping the returns to his backhand. Fortunately for me, his forehand cracked.

Not only that. During the first two sets I kept coming in andhe passed me repeatedly. His returns were just unbelievable. As I said yesterday, he came out with guns blazing. He hitting returns with a lot of power which put me in all sorts of trouble. For a set and a half he had answers to whatever I threw at him. In the first set tie-breaker, I was up 4-1 and again 5-3 but served a double fault.

After I got the break back in the sixth game of the second, I knew I had him. He gave me a second chance and I accepted it.

In the third set, I decided to stay back and I began to hit the returns much slower and did not give him any pace on his returns. It was not to his liking. That upset his rhythm and I came in more after approaches to his backhand. I could have won 6-0 and gave away three match points and took it on the fourth.

Physically, I'm feeling a bit sore. So is my heel. In fact, it has been a long day for me what with spending close to three hours on court.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.


Top


Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd.

DRDO Recruitment

Astrosurf
 

Click here for a printer-friendly page Printer-friendly page

Send gifts throughout India



EXPRESSindia.com
News   Business    Sports   Entertainment
The Indian Express | The Financial Express | Latest News | Screen | Express Computers
Travel | MatrimonialsCareersLifestyle | Astrology
E-Cards | Graffiti | Environment | Jewellery | Info-tech | Power