Rosset restores Swiss pride

Rosset celebrates after winning the match Keystone

Veteran Swiss tennis star Marc Rosset has turned back the clock to defeat Romanian fourth seed Andrei Pavel in the second round of the Gstaad Swiss Open.

The only homegrown player left in the tournament, Rosset put in a commanding performance to dispose of his opponent in straight sets 7-5, 7-6.

Not known for showing much emotion off court, the former Olympic champion was delighted with his victory. “Today I cannot lie, I’m very happy,” he told swissinfo.

Strongly backed a crowd that had endured a succession of Swiss defeats during the tournament’s early rounds, the 31-year-old from Geneva put in a performance reminiscent of his days as a top ten player.

Rosset’s heavy groundstrokes and powerful serve had Pavel, the world number 19, on the back foot right from the start.

“I was quite lucky to start well today and win a couple of easy games on my serve,” he said. “It helped me to get into the match and release the pressure.”

Rosset faces Gaudio

Rosset, who defeated his doubles partner George Bastl in his opening match, now faces Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio in the quarter-finals.

Gaudio, who is the tournament’s number seven seed, is the only seeded player left in the top half of the draw. But he represents a tough challenge for Rosset, having beaten the Swiss player in straight sets last year in Gstaad.

“He is a better player than me and he has won two tournaments on clay already this year,” said Rosset. “But I have nothing to lose.”

Corretja also through

Rosset will be joined in the quarter-finals by two-time champion Alex Corretja of Spain, who made quick work of the 1997 title holder, Felix Mantilla, with a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Corretja is seeking to become the first player since Sergi Bruguera to win three titles in Gstaad, after winning in 1998 and 2000.

His opponent will be Spanish compatriot David Sanchez, who booked his place in the last eight by defeating the 2001 Gstaad finalist, Juan Carlos Ferrero, in three sets, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

swissinfo