Tennis: Kratochvil puts up brave fight
Berne's Michel Kratochvil has been beaten in three sets by US Open winner Marat Safin during the second round of the ATP tennis tournament in Tashkent.
Despite being 149th in the world rankings, Kratochvil looked more than the equal of his famous Russian opponent as the game got underway. But after taking the first set 6-4, Kratochvil found himself facing a fierce fight back.
A determined Safin won the next two sets 6-1, 6-3 to end Kratochvil’s chances of a rare quarter-finals appearance. The Bernese player has not managed to win two matches in a row since being knocked out of the French Open by Basel’s Roger Federer.
Another Swiss player could now have a chance to take on Safin. George Bastl is due to meet the Russian in the semi-finals, if he can first beat Safin’s compatriot Andrei Stoliarov in the quarter-finals.
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