No. 1 Gustavo Kuerten Loses at Aussie Open

M E L B O U R N E, Australia, Jan. 18, 2001 -- Even though he's No. 1, GustavoKuerten can't get past the second round of the Australian Open.

Despite dominating the baseline rallies and hitting passingshots with spectacular accuracy — and despite holding one matchpoint — he lost to Greg Rusedski 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 today.

"I think it's my greatest victory by far," said Rusedski, whoprevailed with a big serve and all-out net-rushing tactics. "I'venever beaten a No. 1 player in the world on a stadium court at aGrand Slam."

But he has beaten Kuerten in four of their five meetings.

Rusedksi Survives Physical Match

Serving at 5-6 in the final set, Rusedski double-faulted twice,giving Kuerten a match point at 30-40. He saved it with a goodserve that Kuerten returned into the net, held for 6-all and brokethe Brazilian in the next game with net-charging tactics thatforced misses.

Kuerten said the match came down to that one match point.

"He is dangerous," said the two-time French Open champion, whorose to No. 1 late last year. "I didn't do the right thing thattime."

Still, serving for the match at 7-6, Rusedski briefly slippedfrom his first serve percentage of 70, giving Kuerten chances topound in more of his favorite passing shots.

Serving at 7-7, Kuerten moved to 40-0 but then double-faultedand missed the next four points, ending with a lob just long off adrop volley by Rusedski.

Leading 8-7, Rusedski made no mistake on his serve, holding atlove and advancing to the third round.

The crowd of 15,000 appeared largely on Rusedski's side after anace by Kuerten that Rusedski and many spectators thought was outwhen Kuerten held for 6-5 in the last set. The decision was roundlybooed.

Kafelnikov Calms Down, Wins on Aces

Last year, Rusedski was set back by injuries, didn't win a titlefor the first time since 1994, and ended the year at No. 64. He hadbeen as high as No. 4 in 1997.

"When was the last time you saw me scamper for five sets aroundthe court, being corner-drilled by the best groundstroke player inthe world?" Rusedski said. "Physically, it was fantastic."

Meanwhile, Yevgeny Kafelnikov was helped the most by a ball heslammed out of the court in disgust.

His frustration vented, the 1999 champion and 2000 runner-upsettled down, and advanced to the third round with a 6-2, 3-6, 3-6,6-3, 6-0 victory over Nicolas Kiefer. Kafelnikov, the Olympic gold medalist, finished his three-hour match with three aces.

Kiefer went downhill after what he thought was an ace to givehim 30-all in the fourth set's eighth game. The umpire overruledthe call, and Kiefer won only 10 points the rest of the match.

Hewitt, Norman Advance

Nothing helped Tommy Haas, who led in every set, blew a 5-0 leadin the first and missed two set points in the second before losingto No. 7 Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

In the tiebreaker, Haas, the Olympic silver medalist, missed aneasy volley and double faulted on the next point, falling behind5-3. Hewitt finished the three-hour match with a backhand lob.

"It's stupid to let situations like this slip away," Haassaid. "I had my chances to get further."

Hewitt, one of Australia's hopes for its first Australian Openchampion since 1976, had to rally to beat Jonas Bjorkman in thefirst round.

He next faces unseeded Carlos Moya, the 1997 runner-up and aformer No. 1. Moya beat Marc Rosset 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

Canada's Daniel Nestor, who has an Olympic gold medal indoubles, upset No. 11 Franco Squillari of Argentina 3-6, 6-2, 6-4,7-5.

No. 4 Magnus Norman, a semifinalist here and runner-up at theFrench Open last year, defeated France's Fabrice Santoro 7-6 (6),6-3, 6-0.

No. 10 Wayne Ferreira and two French players, No. 15 ArnaudClement and No. 16 Sebastien Grosjean, advanced.

Hingis and Williams Sisters Move On

In women's matches, No. 16 Amy Frazier lost 6-4, 6-1 to Italy'sRita Grande.

Top-seeded Martina Hingis, No. 3 Venus Williams and her sister,No. 6 Serena, moved ahead. Hingis needed only 40 minutes to beatBelgian Els Callens 6-1, 6-0 and has needed only 79 minutes to wintwo matches.

Serena Williams was on court just over an hour in beatingRussia's Nadejda Petrova 6-3, 6-2.

Venus Williams played 91 minutes to beat American compatriotMeghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 7-6 (3). She said she felt comfortablewith her game, hitting more winners, and with her new black andblue outfit, modified after her first match to nearly eliminate alow-cut gap in the two-piece top.

"I love the outfit," a beaming Williams said. "[I feel] veryrelaxed, very confident, comfortable — just beautiful."

Other women's seeds who advanced were No. 7 Mary Pierce, theFrench Open champion; No. 9 Elena Dementieva, the Olympic silvermedalist; No. 10 Amanda Coetzer; and No. 13 Amelie Mauresmo, the1999 Australian Open runner-up.