บทความ Paradorn at US Open (สุดยอด)

    With the Crowd Behind Him, Srichaphan Doesn't Disappoint
    by Joe Checkler
    Saturday, August 30, 2003


    After almost every point, the red-clad "Sricha-fans" clapped their red thundersticks and yelled out for their Thai hero. And No. 11 seed Paradorn Srichaphan didn't disappoint them, disposing of lucky loser Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the fourth round of the 2003 US Open Saturday.

    Playing for a sun-soaked but enthusiastic Saturday morning Grandstand crowd, Srichaphan calmly spanked winners all over the court, though he sometimes opted to lull his Spanish opponent with countless backspin backhands until an unforced error occurred. By the end of the match, Verdasco had committed 36 unforced errors while Srichaphan had only 20.

    Coming off a tournament win in Long Island last week, Srichaphan never lost his serve and broke Verdasco's four times, once each in the first two sets and twice in the third - in the first and last games of the set. He played such a clean match that those breaks were more than enough. Verdasco could only manage one break point opportunity, which came as he trailed 3-2 in the second, but Srichaphan saved it to force deuce. From there, Verdasco never threatened to gain control.

    An innate ability to know when to be on the defensive or offensive kept the 24-year-old Srichaphan from struggling, and gave his vocal cheering section a dream day.

    The last remaining lefty in the men's draw, Verdasco constantly uttered Spanish words of encouragement and insult to himself, once shrugging his shoulders as if to ask, "What do I have to do to win a point off this guy?"

    But he never found the answer, because Srichapan never let up. He can't let up in the next round either, as he faces No. 6 seed and 2001 US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt.

     
     

    จากคุณ : No need - [ 31 ส.ค. 46 15:46:30 ]