2005 News

RICK LEACH/TRAVIS PARROTT AWARDED WALKOVER VICTORY AS MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS PULLS OUT WITH BACK INJURY

March 20, 2005

Karol Beck showed up at the Pro Tennis World Open final ready to play – and the backboard-consistency of Davide Sanguinetti eventually fell apart as Beck took the singles title in a clean 6-2 6-2 victory. After the match, 42-ranked Beck said he started the match feeling a little tired from playing two semi-final matches on Saturday – but dug deep to bring out some of his best shots, including a barrage of brutal backhand winners. With a string of tough matches behind him, Beck said he now feels ready to tackle the Nasdaq-100 Open with fresh confidence. Beck felt his toughest match of the week was his first-round encounter with Robby Ginepri, which he won 6-4 1-6 6-1. He also eliminated Jan-Michael Gambill and Igor Andreev before his final win over Sanguinetti.

Read more: RED HOT KAROL BECK BLAZES THROUGH PRO TENNIS WORLD OPEN FINAL

The 2005 Pro Tennis World Open heads for a dramatic finish Sunday, with Davide Sanguinetti vs. Karol Beck in the singles final, scheduled for 1:00 pm on Center Court at Sunrise Tennis Club.

No. 3 seed Karol Beck, a hard-courter from Slovakia with a booming backhand and currently ranked 42 in the world, faces 33-year old Italian Davide Sanguinetti, after dismissing Tomas Zib 6-3 6-2 in the semis on Saturday.

Read more: PHILIPPOUSSIS/GAMBILL INTO THE DOUBLES FINAL; VETERAN SANGUINETTI WILL FACE KAROL BECK IN SINGLES

March 19, 2005

In an impressive display of stamina and consistency, tour veteran Davide Sanguinetti knocked off no. one seed Dominik Hrbaty 3-6 7-5 6-4 on Friday at the Pro Tennis World Open. The fiesty Italian retired to the locker room and returned four hours later with plenty of gas left to take out no. 7 Alberto Martin in straight sets, 6-2 6-2. Sanguinetti faces the high-finesse game of Christophe Rochus in the semi final Saturday afternoon (approximately 1:00 pm). Several players had to play two matches on Friday, because of rain delays Wednesday and Thursday.

Read more: SANGUINETTI TAKES OUT TWO SEEDS IN ONE DAY TO REACH PTWO SEMI FINAL; ROCHUS DEFEATS PHILIPPOUSSIS

NO. 1 SEED HRBATY SAILS THROUGH TO SECOND

March 18, 2005

Sometimes a SCUD missile hits its target – and sometimes it craters – but on Friday, Mark “The Scud” Philippoussis exploded onto the courts at the Pro Tennis World Open, taking out Jeff Morrison (USA) in Round One, 6-3 7-6(7) – serving up nine bomber aces along the way.

No. 1 seed Dominik Hrbaty is also through, breezing past the Netherland’s Peter Wessels 6-2, 6-3; but No. 2 seed Luis Horna, playing only his second match since the Australian Open, was beaten by Tomas Zib 6-3, 6-2. No. 5 seed Igor Andreev needed three sets to fight off American qualifier Alex Bogomolov Jr. 6-3, 7-6(5) 6-4; and No. 7 Alberto Martin just beat the rain with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Bohdan Ulihrach.

Read more: PHILIPPOUSSIS STREAKS BACK TO WIN FIRST ROUND MATCH