The Hindu : Stepanek ousts Schuettler

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Stepanek ousts Schuettler

HALLE (Germany) JUNE 12. A partisan home crowd didn't help Rainer Schuettler on Wednesday as the Australian Open finalist was beaten 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6 at the Gerry Weber Open by Czech player Radek Stepanek.

The German didn't come close to breaking Stepanek's serve during the match at the key grass court warm-up for Wimbledon, although he was wildly cheered by 6,000 spectators.

``My best stroke is my service return, but today it wasn't my best stroke,'' said Schuettler, the world No. 8. ``You can't win without a return.''

Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, still fighting health problems, also reached the quarterfinals of the $800,000 event on Wednesday with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Jonas Bjorkman. The No. 3 seed, Czech Jiri Novak, also rolled past Austrian Stefan Koubek, 6-4, 6-3.

Youzhny broke Bjorkman's serve at 5-5 in the second set to take control of the match as he warms up for Wimbledon, where he reached the fourth round the past two years.

``I hope this year I get a better result. Now I play good, I like my game,'' said Youzhny, who has a persistent wrist trouble.

Germany's Nicolas Kiefe, the losing finalist last year, also advanced with a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

The results: Second round: Mikhail Youzhny bt Jonas Bjorkman 6-4, 7-5; Nicolas Kiefer bt Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 3-6, 7-5; Radek Stepanek bt Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3; Jiri Novak bt Stefan Koubek, Austria, 6-4, 6-3.

First round: Fabrice Santoro bt Brian Vahaly 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. — AP

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