Russia's Igor Andreev plays at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow Olympic Stadium October 11, 2007.
Photo: Alexey Kudenko
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Russians Crashed Each Other Out of Kremlin Cup
The yesterday’s concern of Russia’s tennis players at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow Olympic Stadium was to crash their compatriots out of the tournament. 2005 winner Igor Andreev beat Marat Safin, while Safin’s sister, Dinara Safina defeated 2006 title holder Anna Chakvetadze.
Although the yesterday’s standoff between Andreev and Safin was viewed as the key event of the day, its outcome was clear from the very beginning. Igor Andreev doesn’t materially outclass Marat, who has been always the favorite of the crowd, but his form is better today and he took every chance he had to advance (6-4 6-4) to the next round.
”I hadn’t played for a month before the Kremlin Cup and it wasn’t easy on the court after such long break,” Safin said. “As to Igor, he had nothing special to lose. For him, to outplay me is as it had been once for me with Kafelnikov.” According to Safin, if Andreev goes on like this, he can defeat even Nikolay Davydenko, who crashed Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti yesterday.
Speaking about the plans, Safin said he had four tournaments more for this season and he would simply play them out. “I don’t count on victories. Of course, I want to play for the team in the Davis Cup final vs. the Americans. Even if out of the team, I will go to the United States all the same.”
Second seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia was crashed out of the tournament by Germany’s Michael Berrer.
In the women’s section, defending champ Anna Chakvetadze yielded to Dinara Safina, who will play another Russian, Vera Zvonareva, in the next effort. U.S. Serena Williams advanced to the quarterfinals after beating Ukraine’s qualifier Tatiana Perebiynis.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 12, 2007
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