Philippoussis Reaches Last Eight in Paris

By Winsor Dobbin

PARIS (Reuters) - Big-serving Australian Mark
Philippoussis booked his place in the quarter-finals of the
$2.95 million Paris Masters on Thursday with a 6-4 6-2
victory over Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Philippoussis, the 13th seed, served 12 aces as he cruised
to a third round victory that shattered Kafelnikov's hopes
of ending the year as the world's top-ranked player.

The Russian needed to win this Masters Series event, Stockholm next week
and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon to end the year in top
spot.

The Sydney Olympic Games (news - web sites) gold medallist had won four
of his six previous meetings with Philippoussis, but had no answer to the
weight and consistent depth of his opponent's shots.

Philippoussis broke for 3-2 in the first set, before serving out, and broke
again in the first and third games of the second set on his way to a convincing
victory.

``I played my game -- and moved a lot better today,'' Philippoussis said. ``I
feel very satisfied.''

The Russian had won 18 of his previous 21 matches, including his Sydney
Olympic triumph and a fourth straight Kremlin Cup title, but he slumped after
dropping the opening set.

Philippoussis, 23 and seeking his ninth career title,
served at up to 209kph. He reached the quarters here
for the third straight year and will now play German
qualifier David Prinosil.

Czech-born Prinosil saved two match points in the
second set before going on to beat American Michael
Chang 4-6 7-6 6-4 in a two hour 38 minute battle to
reach the last eight.

It was Prinosil's first win in six meetings with former French Open champion
Chang and assured him of equaling his career-best performance in a Tennis
Masters Series event.

``Obviously Prinosil is playing very well to have beaten Michael,''
Philippoussis said.

Former French Open champion Kafelnikov, a finalist in this event in 1996,
still has not won a Masters Series tournament in his career.

Top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil plays 15th-seeded Australian Pat Rafter
in his third round match later on Thursday, hoping to reverse a straight sets
loss to Rafter in Lyon last week.

Marat Safin of Russia, the new leader of the ATP Champions Race and the
second seed here, is scheduled to face 16th-seeded Frenchman Sebastien
Grosjean in his third round match.

Philippoussis beats Kafelnikov, reaches last eight in Paris

Australia's Mark Philippoussis used his big serve to defeat Yevgeny Kafelnikov in Paris. AP

PARIS (Reuters) -- Big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis booked his place in the quarterfinals of the $2.95 million Paris Masters on Thursday with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Philippoussis, the 13th seed, served 12 aces as he cruised to a third round victory that shattered Kafelnikov's hopes of ending the year as the world's top-ranked player.

The Russian needed to win this Masters Series event, Stockholm next week and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon to end the year in top spot.

The Sydney Olympic Games gold medalist had won four of his six previous meetings with Philippoussis, but had no answer to the weight and consistent depth of his opponent's shots.

Philippoussis broke for 3-2 in the first set, before serving out, and broke again in the first and third games of the second set on his way to a convincing victory.

"I played my game -- and moved a lot better today," Philippoussis said. "I feel very satisfied."

The Russian had won 18 of his previous 21 matches, including his Sydney Olympic triumph and a fourth straight Kremlin Cup title, but he slumped after dropping the opening set.

Philippoussis, 23 and seeking his ninth career title, served at up to 209 kph (129.9 mph). He reached the quarters here for the third straight year and will now play German qualifier David Prinosil.

Czech-born Prinosil saved two match points in the second set before going on to beat American Michael Chang 4-6 7-6 6-4 in a two hour 38 minute battle to reach the last eight.

It was Prinosil's first win in six meetings with former French Open champion Chang and assured him of equaling his career-best performance in a Tennis Masters Series event.

"Obviously Prinosil is playing very well to have beaten Michael," Philippoussis said.

Former French Open champion Kafelnikov, a finalist in this event in 1996, still has not won a Masters Series tournament in his career.

Top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil plays 15th-seeded Australian Pat Rafter in his third round match later on Thursday, hoping to reverse a straight set loss to Rafter in Lyon last week.

Marat Safin of Russia, the new leader of the ATP Champions Race and the second seed here, is scheduled to face 16th-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in his third round match.

'Dissident' thrashes Kafelnikov


From our wire services
17nov00

PARIS: Mark Philippoussis thrashed Yevgeny Kafelknikov 6-4 6-2 here overnight to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters Series.

After sparring with his victim early on the Scud, branded "the dissident" in the French media for snubbing the Australian Davis Cup team which he helped to glory 11 months ago in Nice, ran away with the match in 1hr 11min. He now faces German qualifier David Prinosil.

Spanish eighth seed Alex Corretja took the final berth, meanwhile, for the end of season Masters Cup in Lisbon with a 6-3 6-4 victory in 1hr 17min over Stuttgart champion Wayne Ferreira of South Africa.

Philippoussis, having set out his stall by declaring he will not answer his nation's call against Spain next month even if Lleyton Hewitt is still laid low with a virus, let off a little steam as he set about former world No.1 Kafelnikov with venom, crucially breaking in the ninth game of the opening set.

Philippoussis scored a pair of breaks as he romped through the second to close his series with the Russian to 3-4.

Kafelnikov didn't help his cause by spurning all five break points he garnered across the encounter and as the match ebbed away he already looked to be saving himself for the Masters Cup later this month in Lisbon.

Earlier, Prinosil slammed down 14 aces as he ended a five-match career losing streak against 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, saving two match points along the way in a 2hrs 38mins marathon which he finally took 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.

Corretja levelled his career series against Ferreira at three matches apiece to set up a quarter-final meeting against either second seed and ATP Champions Race leader Marat Safin of Russia or Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean.

SCUD SHOOTS DOWN KAFELNIKOV IN PARIS
Australian 13th seed Mark Philippoussis showed no mercy to fourth seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov at the Bercy stadium as he blasted the Russian Olympic champion off court to reach the quarter-finals of the Paris Masters Series.

After sparring with his victim for more than half a set Philippoussis, branded "the dissident" in the French media for snubbing the Australian Davis Cup team which he helped to glory 11 months ago in Nice, ran away with the match to win 6-4 6-2 in 1hr 11min.

He now faces German qualifier David Prinosil.

Having set out his stall by declaring he will not answer his nation's call against Spain next month even if Lleyton Hewitt is still laid low with a virus, 24-year-old "Scud" let off a little steam as he set about former world number one Kafelnikov with venom, crucially breaking in the ninth game of the opening set.

In the second Kafelnikov, whose own serve largely deserted him, lost heart as Philippoussis won the opening three games of the set with a pair of breaks.

The Russian, who had won four out of six previous career meetings with his opponent, did eke out a pair of break points at 1-4 down but Philippoussis reined him in and moved out to 5-1. In all, Kafelnikov, who lost the ace count 10-12, spurned all five break points across the encounter.

Kafelnikov won at Saint Petersburg last weekend and in September ended Philippoussis' Olympic hopes in Sydney.

But as the match ebbed away here he already looked to be saving himself for the Masters Cup later this month in Lisbon.

Earlier, Prinosil slammed down 14 aces as he snapped a five-match career losing streak against 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang.

The battling Chang squandered two match points in the second set as Prinosil edged him 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in a marathon lasting 2hr 38min.

Chang, three times a semi-finalist here - including 12 months ago - took the first set after managing an early break but the match turned as he lost out in the second set tiebreak.

In later matches top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil was facing Aussie 15th seed Pat Rafter in an eagerly-anticipated rematch of their Lyon quarter-final which Rafter won a week ago.

Spanish eighth seed Alex Corretja was hoping to ensure a place in Lisbon by beating South African tenth seed and Stuttgart champion Wayne Ferreira of South Africa in a match which followed that between Philippoussis and Kafelnikov.

Second seed and ATP Champions Race leader Marat Safin of Russia had an evening match to come against Sebastien Grosjean of France. - AFP

Philippoussis reaches last eight in Paris
Nov. 16, 2000
Reuters




PARIS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis booked his place in the quarter-finals of the $2.95 million Paris Masters on Thursday with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Philippoussis, the 13th seed, served 12 aces as he cruised to a third round victory that shattered Kafelnikov's hopes of ending the year as the world's top-ranked player.

The Russian needed to win this Masters Series event, Stockholm next week and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon to end the year in top spot.

The Sydney Olympic Games gold medallist had won four of his six previous meetings with Philippoussis, but had no answer to the weight and consistent depth of his opponent's shots.

Philippoussis broke for 3-2 in the first set, before serving out, and broke again in the first and third games of the second set on his way to a convincing victory.

"I played my game -- and moved a lot better today," Philippoussis said. "I feel very satisfied."

The Russian had won 18 of his previous 21 matches, including his Sydney Olympic triumph and a fourth straight Kremlin Cup title, but he slumped after dropping the opening set.

Philippoussis, 23 and seeking his ninth career title, served at up to 209kph. He reached the quarters here for the third straight year and will now play German qualifier David Prinosil.

Czech-born Prinosil saved two match points in the second set before going on to beat American Michael Chang 4-6 7-6 6-4 in a two hour 38 minute battle to reach the last eight.

It was Prinosil's first win in six meetings with former French Open champion Chang and assured him of equalling his career-best performance in a Tennis Masters Series event.

"Obviously Prinosil is playing very well to have beaten Michael," Philippoussis said.

Former French Open champion Kafelnikov, a finalist in this event in 1996, still has not won a Masters Series tournament in his career.

Top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil plays 15th-seeded Australian Pat Rafter in his third round match later on Thursday, hoping to reverse a straight sets loss to Rafter in Lyon last week.

Marat Safin of Russia, the new leader of the ATP Champions Race and the second seed here, is scheduled to face 16th-seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean in his third round match.

- - -

Philippoussis upsets Kafelnikov in Paris Masters

Nov. 16, 2000
AP




PARIS (AP) Hard-hitting Australian Mark Philippoussis upset fourth-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov on Thursday, securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the $2.95 million Paris Masters tournament.

Philippoussis, seeded 13th, beat the Olympic gold medalist 6-4, 6-2.

Kafelnikov, ranked fifth in the world, hit too many shots out or into the net. Philippoussis had 12 aces and broke Kafelnikov's serve twice in the second set. Philippoussis won the match's final two points with precision shots straight down the line.

Philippoussis faces qualifier David Prinosil in the quarterfinals, after the German defeated Michael Chang 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-4, in a 2-hour, 38-minute match.

Chang, who had beaten Prinosil in all five of their previous meetings, started strong Thursday, but appeared to lose focus, yielding his service at set point in the tiebreaker with a double fault.

With his father watching from the stands, Chang, whose only Grand Slam title came in this city, lost the final set with heavy-handed baseline lobs.