The Hindu : Maiden ATP final for Ginepri and Melzer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 14, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Maiden ATP final for Ginepri and Melzer

NEWPORT July 13. Robby Ginepri and Jurgen Melzer won semifinal matches on Saturday at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships to advance to an ATP final for the first time in their careers.

Ginepri, a semifinalist at Newport last year and the No. 4 seed, beat Gregory Carraz 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), while eighth-seeded Melzer defeated Bob Bryan 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5).

Ginepri, who lost to eventual champion Taylor Dent in last year's semifinals, overcame five break points in the 10th game to even the second set 5-all. In the tie-breaker, he pulled ahead 6-5 when Carraz flubbed a service return. Ginepri then won the set with a backhand passing shot.

"I've been waiting for this day for a while," Ginepri said. "You work so hard throughout the tournament. Just one more match to go."

After winning the first set in just 19 minutes, Melzer had his serve broken in the ninth game of the second set. In that tiebreaker, he used an overhead, backhand smash to go up 6-5. Bryan botched a backhander on a service return, giving Melzer the match.

"I think I should stay here in Newport," said Melzer, a runner-up in doubles at the 2002 Hall of Fame tournament. "Obviously, I like it."

"It's frustrating that I lost so close," said Bryan, a doubles champion the past two years at Newport with his brother, Mike.

The pair had to withdraw before this tournament due to Mike Bryan's rib injury sustained at Wimbledon.

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