Saturday, August 12, 2000
Henman may have energy edge on Kuerten
Kuerten played 3rd set Friday; Henman didn't
By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Tim Henman
AP photo)
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MASON — Tim Henman was watching the first match Friday, hoping it would last forever.
He knew that if he beat Fabrice Santoro later — and he did, 6-1, 6-4 — he would face the winner of Gustavo Kuerten-Todd Martin today in the semifinals of the Tennis Masters Series Cincinnati.
“I was not too disappointed when it went to a third set,” Henman said, smiling.
Today the 15th seed from England faces No.4 seed Kuerten, who needed 2 hours, 38 minutes to get past Martin 6-7 (0), 6-3, 7-6 (5).
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ABOUT THE PLAYERS
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Henman leads series 1-0
GUSTAVO KUERTEN
Personal: 23 years old; born in Florianopolis, Brazil
Rankings: No.1 in ATP Champions Race; No.5 in ATP Entry System
Highest singles ranking:
No.3 (November '99)
In Cincinnati: 9-2, third year
2000 highlights: Won — Tennis Masters Series Hamburg, Santiago, French Open; Finalist — Ericsson Open (Miami), Tennis Masters Series Rome
TIM HENMAN
Personal: 25 years old; born is Oxford, England
Rankings: No.17 in ATP Champions Race; No.13 in ATP Entry System
Highest singles ranking:
No.5 (July '99)
In Cincinnati: 7-4, fifth year
2000 highlights: Finalist — Rotterdam, Scottsdale.
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Henman and Kuerten have met only once before — in 1998 at Key Biscayne, Fla, where Henman won 6-2, 6-4.
“I played very well that day, and I don't think he played particularly well at all,” Henman said. “It's been clear for everyone to see how much he's improved. Hopefully he's a bit tired after his match.
“He's the leader in the (ATP Champions) Race right now. I've got nothing to lose, and again, a lot to gain.”
It took Henman only 1:19 to dispose of Santoro. Henman has not dropped a set since his first-round victory over Cecil Mamiit.
After upsetting defending champion Pete Sampras on Thursday night, Henman talked about how important it was for him not to have a letdown Friday.
Gustavo Kuerten
(Luis Sanchez photo)
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“I wasn't going to dwell on it,” he said of his first victory in seven tries over Sampras. “I wanted to push it out of my thoughts as quickly as possible ...”
Kuerten and Henman hit the ball hard and rely on their serves as big weapons. Kuerten has improved his return game.
Henman has not won a tournament in 2000. Kuerten has won three, including the French Open. Kuerten said he isn't too concerned about whom he is playing.
“Doesn't really matter for me,” he said. “From now on, it's just more mentally I will have to be prepared.”
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