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Entry system ranking: 143 (282 points (-1)) Champions Race: 126 (7 points)(-3) Current tournament: Place: Monte Carlo, Monaco Next tournament:
Place: Munich, Germany
Date: April 29 - May 5, 2002 Draw Size: 32 Surface: Clay Prize Money: US $381,000 Stadium Court Seating: 3,800 Tournament Director: Rudi Berger Website: www.iphitos.de
Thanks Ivanna for the photo! (Norman in Bueno Aires)
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Norman conquest continuesTwelfth seed Magnus Norman stormed into the semifinals of the Australian Open Wednesday night when he accounted for fourth seed Nicolas Kiefer in a battle-wearying 3-6 6-3 6-1 7-6(4) quarterfinal. Kiefer started strongly, courtesy of some big serves and telling groundstrokes, but suddenly fell apart in the second and third sets as Norman found his rhythm from the back of the court and began dictating points. Norman continued his excellent form that had seen him dispose of Australia's last hope, Lleyton Hewitt, in the previous round. "Being in the semifinals of a Grand Slam is something I never would have imagined when I started playing tennis, so it will take a few hours for me to believe it," said a jubilant Norman post-match. Norman said the slow start was as a result of the indoor conditions, on account of the roof being closed on a rainy Wednesday night. "I hadn't played indoors so far in this tournament and it was a little quicker than I expected, but as the match went on I got better and better." Like Hewitt, Kiefer double-faulted at a crucial time in a tiebreak against Norman, serving his seventh on match point down in the fourth set. Kiefer was hurt by his inability to break the Swede's serve after the first set, despite having five break point opportunities in the second. Norman now plays second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who had earlier beaten Morroco's Younes El Aynaoui in straight sets. Source: Australian Open |
