Sports Discussion

[peki]

Men:

Marat Safin $peace
Nadal!

Woman:

Sharapova !grin!
juStine :T:@

[iceman1]

Hewitt wins battle for old time's sake over Ferrero

Mon 06 Aug, 11:51 PM

MONTREAL (AFP) - Lleyton Hewitt faced off against a fellow former warrior whose career has also suffered a slide, emerging with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 victory Monday over Juan Carlos Ferrero at the ATP Montreal Masters.

Each of them held the number one ranking briefly, re-living the peak period of their reign earlier this century in the first-round match.

Australia's Hewitt, ranked 21st, was playing on North American hardcourts for on the first time since March. He said that times have changed from his prime of 2001-2002 when he lifted US Open and Wimbledon trophies.

"A lot more players getting better," said Hewitt. "We probably took it to another level, then Roger (Federer) has taken it to another level again.

"A lot of things have changed."

Hewitt, 26, said that his run of injuries in past season has contributed to his slide while 17th-ranked Spaniard Ferrero has also had his worries.

"He had the chickenpox and had a few bad injuries which were tough to come back from," Hewitt said. "He can match it with the best players."

Even the optimistic Aussie admits that Federer and number two Rafael Nadal stand a huge step ahead of the chasing pack.

"They're not going to get any worse. Guys are going to have to step up to the plate, play a lot better week in and week out.

"Those guys are so good because they bring their 'A' game every week. Very rarely do they have a bad match."

The Australian won a title in Las Vegas on hardcourt then lost in Indian Wells before going home injured for two months.

Hewitt is making a comeback without the presence of new coach Tony Roche, who is at home in Sydney awaiting the birth of a grandchild. He now leads Ferrero 6-3 in their career series.

Tenth seed Tomas Berdych took the week's first upset loss, and

then admitted that the match-fixing drama surrounding Nikolay Davydenko

was worse than any doping controversy.

The Czech, on court for the first time in five months, was beaten by Dutch qualifier Robin Haase 6-4, 7-5.

Davydenko, fifth in the world, was cited for a suspicious mid-match injury withdrawal last week in Poland.

The ATP has launched an investigation after online betting on the second-round contest was halted due to a flood of seven million dollars to eventual winner Martin Vassallo-Arguello of Argentine.

Davydenko quit in the third set with a foot injury. Online agency Betfair refused to pay out on the match, citing money flowing at ten times the normal amount.

Berdych was among ATP players who listened at a Miami players meeting last spring as reformed former Mafia boss Michael Franzese explained the diabolical consequences of match-fixing.

"I think this is much worse...than the doping," said Berdych.

"Imagine if you have a situation that they come to you and they give you the offer with money and tell you: 'If you lose this match, you gonna get whatever.'

"You say, Okay, right, this is a bad tournament. It happens once, and they're gonna come again another tournament and you're going to say, 'No, I don't want to do it, I'm going to play.'

"Then the problem starts."

Berdych had problems of a different kind as he took to the hardcourts for the first time since March.

The inspired Hasse, aged 20 and ranked 103, fired 11 aces and broke twice on the way to the upset in just over 90 minutes.

"I knew what to expect (after losing to Berdych in Davis Cup)," said Haase, who called the victory the best of his career to date.

"I was ready for it, I played a good match. I did the good things.

"To beat a player with the name "Berdych" is unbelievable. I think it's my best win, for sure.

"I knew last week in Washington I could have won against (Marat) Safin, too. I had chances, I knew I can bring up my level."

Other winners included Spain's David Ferrer, Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka and former top-10 player David Nalbandian.

[newtrex]

Although I support ManU... they have not made a good start to the season... 2 draws ...

[newtrex]

Mine are

1. Roger Federer
2. Andy Roddick
3. Pete Sampras
4. Fernando González
5. Justin Henin

[newtrex]

I dont like AMERICAN FOOTBALL and BASEBALL.... both bad...

[newtrex]

My fav sports

1. F1 (Only if Alonso stays away from any ferrari contract)
2. Cricket
3. Tennis (Roger Rocks)
4. Soccer (ManU)
5. NBA (Go Lakers)

[newtrex]

Sometimes I watch WWE....

[McLaren-F1]

i support Chelsea and Arsenal but i think Chelsea will be champion! Go Blues..

[maltafan]

I think Man Utd will win it, eventhough they started on the wrong foot with 2 draws and Rooney's injury.

Probably Tevez will be used before planned

[musashi_sw]

after the 3 first games i think chelsea will won again, or maybe liv'pool

[iceman1]

Arsenal will win nothing again this season. Definitely not the Champions' League or the Premiership anyway
they could pop up and win the Carling Cup

[maltafan]

what a bad start for manchester United. Draw in the first 2 matches, and losing the 3rd one, the derby against Manc City.

[tvianna]

Formula 1
Football
Volleyball
Judo
Swimming
I like most of sports, I'm a sports addict. !grin!

[tvianna]

Pele was the best, definetely. But there are others much better than Zico and Socrates here in Brasil, like Didi, Gerson and Garrinhcha, who won the 1962 World Cup by his own. He is the only one compared to Pele here in Brasil. :T:@

[Dark_Fisico]

I don't support any teams in the Premiership but I'll choose the blues !grin!... Chealsea are about the only team I give a damn about ...