This year's Tennis Master's Series ? Canada tournament has seen a series of strange results: sub-par performances by the big names and overachieving by journeyman pros. Perhaps fittingly, all four of today's quarterfinal matches ended in upsets. The unexpected semi final-matchups will be as follows: Levy-Novak, and Ferriera-Safin. Three of the four are unseeded, and one is a qualifier. Eliminated today were the marquee players: Sampras, Kafelnikov and Rafter all came up short. A tournament director's
nightmare! Here is how the craziness transpired.
Marat Safin (8) def. Pete Sampras (2), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8)
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Sampras leads 1-0
The second serve bug bit Pete Sampras again, in an enthralling evening duel in front of a howling centre court crowd, In a scene eerily reminiscent of Sampras's loss to Mark Philippoussis at the French Open, the match was settled by a long, decisive tie-break. Just as in Paris, Sampras double-faulted on match point to lose a heartbreaker. The beneficiary was the prodigiously-talented Russian 20-year-old Marat Safin, who showed off his new-found composure, as well as his powerful serves, returns and grou
ndstrokes, to earn a passage to the semifinals where he will be the highest-ranking survivor in the final four.
The first two sets were each decided by one break of serve, the first going the way of the young Russian, the second going to the American star.
First set: The players set the tone early on with their cannon serves. Serves above the 205 km/h mark were not uncommon. Safin made inroads on Sampras's serve at 2-2, returning strong drives at Sampras's feet and working the score to 30-40. Safin had four break points in this game. Pete saved the first three on a serve/overhead, and ace and a service winner, but sent a routine forehand beyond the baseline on the fourth. Safin had the all-important break. Marat looked a touch jittery serving f
or the set, pushing an inside-out forehand out of play to go down 0-30. The Russian fought back to 30-30 on the strength of big serves, then Sampras mis-hit backhands on the next two points to waste his chance to stay in the set. Safin leads 6-4.
Second set: High drama at 3-3, Sampras serving! A double fault and a sluggishly-missed half-volley put the American in a 0-30 hole. A wiseacre in the crowd yells, "Are you tired, Pete?" Sampras is not amused. The largely pro-Sampras crowd murmurs disapprovingly, then erupts in rhythmic applause in an attempt to rally their man. Sampras now produces a decisive ace, followed by a spectacular backhand volley winner at full stretch, then at 30-30 rips another winning volley. The game concludes in
Pete's favour with a Safin forehand error, and the crowd erupts. We wondered if Pete was aroused by the uncharitable fan's comment, and indeed he was. "I was like, 'I'll throw you the racquet and you can play for me'," said Sampras of the cat-calling fan. "It got me fired up."
Sampras stayed fired up, breaking Safin in the next game with more inspired play. At 15-30 Sampras breaks up a backhand rally by sending a wicked slicing backhand down the line, bouncing away from the sprinting Safin and forcing a desperation forehand error from the Russian. On break point Sampras chips and charges on his second serve return, and Safin nets his backhand passing attempt: Sampras now has a 5-3 lead! He confidently consolidates the break to level the match at one set apiece.
Third set: Neither player has too much trouble holding serve until Safin's serve at 2-2: Sampras wins two volleying points, covering the net exquisitely, it's 0-30. But Safin kept his head, serving his way out of the jam and nailing a crucial cross-court backhand pass (followed by a fist pump) at 30-30. He holds with a forehand winner, the danger is averted.
The two warriors then hold easily until Sampras serves to stay in the match at 5-6. 15-15: a Sampras stab volley pops up and just over the baseline. 15-30: Safin connects with a forehand pass. 15-40, match point Safin: Pete again at the net, Safin just misses a makeable backhand pass. "It was a normal passing shot I should have made, there were too many things in my head to make it." 30-40, match point: Sampras service winner. Pete has saved two match points to go to deuce, but after more great points
and three deuces Safin hits a winning first serve forehand return smack on the line and has match point number three. Safin's shot goes off the top of the net, but Sampras runs it down, and flicks a delicate cross-court backhand that Safin sprints to, reaches, but can't lift over the net. Finally after five aces Pete wins the game on a leaping overhead. 6-6, and deciding tie-break to come. Fantastic stuff!
The thrilling third set tie-break unfolded in the following manner:
- 0-0, MS serving: service winner down the middle
- 0-1, PS: MS nets a second serve backhand return
- 1-1, PS: PS comes in behind his second serve; his backhand volley lands out, long and wide, MS has the mini-break
- 2-1, MS: MS come in behind a forehand approach, defensive PS lob, MS wobbly overhead hits the let cord and lands in! The crowd oohs and ahhs
- 3-1, MS: MS service winner to forehand
- 1-4, PS: second serve ace
- 2-4, PS: 208 km/h ace
- 4-3, MS: PS chips and charges behind a second serve return, hits a fabulously angled drop volley winner, PS is back on serve and the crowd goes wacko
- 4-4, MS: MS converts easy backhand volley
- 4-5, PS: PS service winner at the body, MS's self-defense return almost fluked its way on the line!
- 5-5, PS: MS sends a second serve return into the net
- 5-6, MS, match point Sampras: MS service winner to forehand
- 6-6, MS: MS inside out forehand blast lands just out
- 7-6, PS, match point Sampras on his serve this time: second serve into the net, double fault, crowd groans!
- 7-7, PS: PS comes in behind a second serve, anticipates a long-line backhand and nails the volley
- 7-8, MS, match point Sampras: second serve, PS chips and charges behind the return, MS coolly nails a backhand passing shot
- 8-8, MS: service winner
- 8-9, PS, match point Safin: first serve is out, too long. So is the second serve! Game set and match, Safin! The crowd is stunned, then applauds the two players for a tremendous match.
So the highlights: Sampras's double-fault on a match point in his favour at 7-6; Safin's crucial passing shot on match point down at 7-8, and of course the Sampras double fault that ended it.
After the match, an obviously dejected Sampras rushed to the media tent to get the press conference over with. Looking down occasionally at a sore right hand, which he said was "pretty chewed up," Pete honestly analyzed his risky second serve and the double fault problems that have cost him at least three defeats this year (to Enqvist at Indian Wells, to Philippoussis at the French Open, and now to Safin in Toronto). "Yeah, I go for it. You know, I'm confident I can serve the guys off the court with my
second serve more than my first. I go for it and I paid the price many times at Wimbledon in the first set tiebreaker [in the final against Rafter]. And you know, you go for it and you get to feel the nerves a little bit at big points and it happens. I look at my second serve as one of the best in the game. I try to use it, but when I go for it eventually it's going to bite you, and it bit me today."
Pete's doublefaultitis should take nothing away from the magnificently composed and proficient opposition provided by Safin today. The Russian has made great strides with his maturity this year, and the emotive youngster who has jokingly said his only superstition is "breaking my racquets" was surprisingly the man who best kept his composure. When a reporter asked him about the exciting tie-break, Marat quipped, "Maybe for you, but for me I lost about 10 years of my life. But I had enough head and enou
gh balls to beat him. I know I break a lot of racquets. When he had match point at 7-6, I was thinking about how I would break the racquet, and suddenly he double faults!"
Safin is here with new coach and former tour standout Alexander Volkov, after ex-coach Andrei Chesnokov decided his family commitments made it impossible to be a full-time coach. Marat joked about Volkov's contribution to the win over Sampras: "Volkov told me, 'I beat him twice, so why can't you beat him?" But the relationship with Volkov is temporary. "He also has business in Russia, where he is a tournament director. Tony Pickard [who worked with Safin at Wimbledon] can't travel. Now I'm free," jok
ed the witty Russian, "nobody loves me." Safin will try to resolve his coaching situation at the end of the year.
Marat also has to resolve a Wayne Ferreira situation in tomorrow's semifinal. After today's wacky results, the Russian is now the favourite to win. But he holds the talented Ferreira in considerable esteem. "He was top ten, and he made some big wins this week. He makes a big game from the baseline, big returns. I beat him once a long time ago, but tomorrow it will be different. He beat Kafelnikov and Krajicek, so he is obviously in good conditions. But if I play right I think I can beat him."
Wayne Ferreira def. Yevgeny Kafelnikov (5), 6-3, 7-6 (7-1)
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Tied 3-3
Ferreira becomes the third unseeded semifinalist with a very impressive win over Kafelnikov, last year's runner-up in Canada.
Ferreira knows his double's partner's game well, and drew many errors from Kafel's forehand in the first set. Kafelnikov turned more aggressive in the second set, charging the net more frequently, and actually had three set points on the South African's serve late in the set. However, Wayne served his way out of trouble on both occasions. In the concluding tie-break Ferreira was brilliantly assertive: he took a 2-0 lead when Kafel netted a backhand, and stretched it to 4-1 with a scorching backhand pas
s up the line. He finished it at 6-1 with his 11th ace.
Ferreira won this tournament in 1996 and feels he can do it again. "I don't see why I can't win. I mean, I'm playing well enough." Trust me, he is!
Harel Levy (Q) def. Jérôme Golmard, 6-4, 6-4
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: First meeting
Surprising Israeli qualifier Harel Levy continued on his rampage today by taking out the upset king of the tournament, Frenchman Jérôme Golmard. Golmard had accounted for top-seeded Andre Agassi in the first round and Marcelo Rios in a lengthy three-setter yesterday, but was running on empty today, sinking himself with 22 unforced errors, mostly on the backhand. Levy, despite also playing two tough three-set matches this week plus two qualifying matches on the weekend (one of which also went three sets,
against James Sekulov on Sunday), was vigorous and precise, making only 10 errors and staying astonishingly composed all the way.
Levy was on target right from start, nailing a winner on the first point of the match with his impressive one-handed backhand, a big weapon for him all day. Golmard, who took a controversial bathroom break in the third set of yesterday's win over Rios, went to the loo early today, after just four games! The French lefty explained that he was feeling awful, extenuated after the grueling Rios match yesterday. "When the match started I was feeling a little sick and was having trouble with my vision. It was
like a veil was over my eyes," explained a weary Golmard in French after the match. "That's why I went to the bathroom, I was feeling bad. Sometimes I felt like vomiting. But I needed more time than that to recover from something like this."
Levy kept his focus despite the bathroom break and his opponent's obvious discomfort. "When he took the break I was suspicious that he wasn't feeling well. But I tried not to concentrate on what's happening to him, just on myself and my serve." His serve was a great plus today ? not overwhelmingly potent but accurate and varied. Golmard was never able to reach a break point situation in the entire match, as Levy finished with a 65 percent first serve percentage and backed it up with an intelligent and
varied game. Golmard was certainly impressed with his opponent's game: "He played well. When he needed a point he came up with a big shot or a good serve, and varied his game well."
Levy broke Golmard's serve once in each set, and with his own strong service games that was all he needed. At 4-4 in the first set, Golmard serving, and on the game's third deuce, Golmard appeared to have a chance to put away an overhead, but let the ball bounce and eventually lost the point on an errant backhand. Golmard was asked about his decision not to play an overhead: "It's not a very good shot for me, the smash. I don't have so much concentration on this shot and I miss it a lot of times. Espe
cially when you're tired."
This key point set up a break chance for the Israeli, who stepped in closer to the baseline than usual and tipped a winning backhand return up the line! Serving for the set Levy made no mistake, holding at love. Golmard was looking weaker and weaker, at one time bending forward for several seconds. The first set belonged to the Israeli underdog, 6-4.
Levy did not let down in the second set. The slim and athletic right-hander continued his controlled and error-free baseline game, mixing in finesse shots like lobs and drop shots as well. Quite a varied and impressive shotmaking display! He had now won the support of most of the crowd, notably several fans shouting cheers in Hebrew. Levy enjoyed the support: "I know there is a big Jewish community here. So probably a lot of Jewish or even Israeli people came out today and the support was great. The
y really helped me."
Levy set up his key break at 2-2, 15-30 in the second set. Golmard sent a forehand wide, then crouched and stared downward with dejection. At 15-40 a high backhand pass sailed past the weary and immobile Golmard's head, and Levy took the lead to stay. There were no signs of nerves as Harel served out the match at love, finishing with his seventh ace. Raising his fists and smiling broadly, the impressive 21-year-old qualifier savoured his biggest career win, 6-4, 6-4. Like everyone else, Levy is surpri
sed he's had such success this week. "I just came from playing Davis Cup in Bulgaria on clay, and didn't play well in the qualies, but I made it through. But I started playing well and have been playing better in each match."
The ever-alert ATP communications staff provided these morsels of information for those curious about the surprise semifinalist:
- Levy was born in Kibutz Nahshonin, now lives in Ramat-Hasharon
- Is technically in the Israeli Army performing compulsory military service, "but my commanders are really nice to me and I don't have to do too much."
- Learned the game on hard courts but considers himself an all-surface player
- Is the first Israeli Canadian Open semifinalist since Shlomo Glickstein (Montreal, 1981); the first Israeli Masters Series semifinalist since Amos Mansdorf (Paris Indoor, 1988); Mansdorf was also the last Israeli to have reached an ATP semifinal (Tel Aviv, 1994).
The young man is not afraid of a challenge, either. Asked if it was safe to assume he would rather play Jiri Novak (whom he beat in Indianapolis last year) than Patrick Rafter in the semifinals, Levy smiled and replied, "No, I think I would rather play Rafter. He's a bigger name. He's a great player and I would love to play him for the first time tomorrow."
Unfortunately for Harel, Rafter's many fans in Toronto and the tournament organizers praying that Rafter would survive until the weekend, Novak made sure Levy didn't get his wish.
Jiri Novak def. Patrick Rafter (14), 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2
Quarterfinal
Previous head-to-head: Rafter leads 2-1
The tall, skilled Czech baseliner Jiri Novak pulled off one of the tournament's biggest surprises by eliminating fan favourite Patrick Rafter to set up an all-outsider semifinal with Levy. Rafter got off to a strong start, but his shoulder let him down in the end, with a big assist from the excellence of Novak's returns and passing shots.
Rafter, who confessed that he had several hours of pre-match treatment and thought about not playing at all, has decided to rest his aching shoulder and will not play Cincinnati next week.
Despite the shoulder worries, the Australian got off to a forceful start, racing to a 3-0 lead and cruising to a 6-3 first set advantage. But already the knobby-kneed Novak was feeling fairly confident about his chances despite the slow start. "I played my first three matches on the outside courts, and it's always pretty difficult to come on centre court with the crowd of 10,000 people, and against a star like Rafter, you know. So I start a little bit nervous. But when I won my first service game for
the 3-1, you are in the match and then I just start to play very well."
This was two matches in one, depending on who was serving. If it was Rafter, the points were short and concluded with Rafter at the net. His volleying, solid at the start, deteriorated as the match went on. If Novak served, the rallies were long, sometimes reaching 15 strokes before one of the players took a chance on a winner. Novak's groundstrokes were intelligently cautious and very deep, designed to keep Pat pinned to the baseline.
Novak's confidence grew and he began ripping fine returns making Rafter hit increasingly tough low or stretch volleys. At 1-2 the first ominous signs for Rafter appeared, as he served two double faults when he had game points. Novak finally achieved the break when the Aussie netted a low forehand volley. But Novak let his guard down and promptly gave away the break in the next game, and the two stayed on serve, providing entertaining tennis until the tie-break
As Novak noted in his press conference, the second set tie-break was the "key to the match", and it was poorly-played by the Aussie.
- 0-0, JN serving: Unforced PR forehand error
- 0-1, PR: Good low JN backhand return, PR backhand volley is wide
- 0-2 PR: PR flubs a backhand volley
- 3-0 JN: JN concludes a long rally with an inside out forehand winner
- 4-0 JN: PR slice backhand floats long
- 0-5 PR: PR wins his first point, a service winner into the body
- 1-5 PR: another JN forehand winner
- 6-1 JN: PR backhand stretch volley into the bottom of the net!
If it sounds as though Rafter was in a serving and volleying slump, it was. With the Aussie playing poorly now, and with Novak on a great roll with his scathing returns, it was no contest in the third set. The fans were desperately urging their favourite Aussie to come back, but to no avail. Make the final: 3-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-2,
Novak, a top talent who many players on the tour think should be ranked higher than he is, is now in the most important of his career. In tomorrow's unexpected semifinal, Jiri will attempt to avenge a straight-set loss to Levy, suffered in Indianapolis last year.
As for Rafter, he will return to his home base in Bermuda next week and resume therapy on his shoulder, and hopes to be ready for the U.S. Open. But he sounds optimistic about what is starting to look like a career-worrying injury. "I think I can manage it."