Gaudio Saves 3 M.P. to Reach Semifinals
Gaudio next plays Federer. By Bill Scott
Charging Chilean Fernando Gonzalez let three match points go as seventh seed Gaston Gaudio turned the tables Friday in their Gold group clash to reach a semifinal against Roger Federer at the Tennis Masters Cup 2005.
Argentine Gaudio, one of four from his nation who began the week at the Qi Zhong tennis center, earned a battling fight back victory 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 over his hard-hitting fellow South American.
He will Saturday face a huge test against Federer, champion at the last two editions of the year-end event when it was played in Houston and undefeated in four years of group play.
Gaudio finishes second in Gold behind Russian Tennis Masters Cup debutant Nikolay Davydenko.
Gaudio's victory in two hours, nine minutes, was his fourth without defeat against Gonzalez. The Chilean had been called in from holiday as an injury substitute at the year-ender for a second time after Shanghai 2002.
Gonzalez looked like setting up an easy straight-sets win after claiming a brief opening set in 24 minutes on the back of 13 winners and three breaks of the pony-tailed Argentine.
But the Chilean's big game took a confidence hit in the tenth game of the second set, with Gonzalez blowing his trio of match-winning chances against the Gaudio serve.
The Argentine stayed alive to fight on, breaking for 6-5 in the ensuing game and claiming the set a game later on a Gonzalez double fault.
The Chilean went down a break in the final set, but got it back, with a fist-pump celebrating a cross-court winner for 4-all.
But the gritty Gaudio refused to bend, profiting for a 6-5 break as a nervous Gonzalez crushed a fifth double fault of a frustrating evening.
Gaudio wrapped up the drama on the first of two match point when Gonzalez fired a wild return wide for his 40th unforced error.
The winner, 2004 Roland Garros champion, joined countryman Argentine David Nalbandian in the semifinals.
On Thursday Nalbandian became the first Argentine for 23 years to reach the semifinals of a year-end championship, and only the second in history after Guillermo Vilas.
Gaudio ended his victory with 26 winners and 27 unforced errors, overcoming 13 aces from the erratic Gonzalez.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Gaudio: (on the comeback): "I was thinking the same that everybody here: that I was done (smiling). I don't know how I came back, but finally I did it. Then I was like 43 with serve, on serve, and he broke me back. There was a lot of situations, so emotional. It was fun for the crowd. Not fun for me, but... Anyway, I'm so happy about it (smiling)."
(On playing Federer): "Well, first I would love to enjoy this situation, being in the semifinal in a great event like this, you know, in a Masters Cup. Playing against him is always so difficult and tough. Even worse playing on this surface. So tomorrow's going to be pretty difficult for me. But you never know. You know, every match that you play, and every time that I get into a court, I would love to win. I think that I have a few chances. You never know what can happen. So tomorrow, it's going to be one of those days."
(On playing on this surface): "Well, I was playing better at the end of the year in Bercy, that I reached the quarterfinals and I was a little bit more confident than the last year. When I arrived there in the Masters, I was a little bit, you know I wasn't playing my best tennis on that surface. And here I play against Puerta and Gonzalez. It's not the same as playing against Federer, Moya and Hewitt."
Gonzalez: "I mean, I was dominating during the first two sets. I was serving really good. I was feeling the ball unbelievable, and I was hitting every shot how I want. But I think the biggest error wasn't the - it wasn't an error, because I played a bad game when I served for the match. I only put one first serve in, and then I lost that game. I mean, that was very important for me. And in the following game, I mean, I had three match points. But you never know when the other guy is serving. I mean, it's a little bit of bad luck and a little bit that I didn't play good in that game."
(On being satisfied with his results): "Yeah, with the tournament I am really satisfied. But I'm not really satisfied about today and about the flight back. It's too far away (smiling)."
Exclusive Audio | Press Transcripts
Thursday: Federer Again Needs 3 Sets to Win
Wednesday: Davydenko Remains Perfect in Shanghai
Tuesday: Federer Pushed to Limit by Ljubicic
Monday: Davydenko Defeats Injured Agassi
Sunday: Federer Wins Masters Cup Opener
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