Tennis: Rosset shines through Hamburg rain
Switzerland's Marc Rosset has continued his good start to the German Open in Hamburg, beating Zimbabwe's Byron Black in straight sets. The win comes just 24 hours after Rosset defeated the tournament's sixth seed, Nicolas Lapentti.
Despite interruptions caused by the weather, Rosset kept a steady head to see off Black (6-3, 6-2). The official match statistics showed the Genevan comfortably ahead on most of the crucial points.
Rosset took full advantage of his giant frame to serve seven aces to the relatively small Zimbabwean, who failed to muster a single ace in reply. Switzerland’s top male player was also well ahead on break points, winning six of the 14 chances presented. Black broke Rosset’s service on just two occasions.
But perhaps the most impressive fact is that Rosset’s win came just one day after that important victory over Lapentti.
The Swiss player’s hopes of progressing this week have been further enhanced by the defeat of a number of seeded players. On Wednesday the former world number one, Pete Sampras, and the rising Spanish star, Juan Carlos Ferrero, joined those making an early exit from the three million dollar event. Yevgeny Kafelnkiov, Patrick Rafter, Dominik Hrbaty and Tommy Haas were all knocked out in the first round.
Rosset will now have to see off another seeded player if he’s to make it into the quarter-finals. His next opponent is the 12th seeded Russian, Marat Safin, who beat Spain’s Felix Mantilla in straight sets (6-3, 6-0) in a rain-delayed evening match.
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