Martin Verkerk - What a hero! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ARRH · 06-06-2003, 07:36 AM

I can't believe it. He won from Coria! 7-6 6-4 7-6! What an amazing game!

The following is straight from the Roland Garros website (www.rolandgarros.com).

Flying Dutchman batters Coria
By Nyree Epplett
Friday, June 6, 2003

Before last week he'd never won a singles match at a Grand Slam tournament. Not one. He'd never even played in the main draw at Roland Garros. This Sunday, the 'Flying Dutchman' Martin Verkerk will aim to clinch the men's singles crown and become the first player to win on his debut since Mats Wilander in 1982.

On Philippe Chatrier Court Friday, and against all odds, the big-serving, 46-ranked player from Leiderdorp belted his way past No7 seed Guillermo Coria 7-6(4) 6-4 7-6(0) and into the final in under three hours.

Behind a thunderous first serve (average speed 198km/h), 19 aces and a devastating selection of pulverizing groundstrokes, Verkerk overcame the fastest player in men's tennis by doing what many believed he couldn't – keeping his head under pressure and staying with the Argentine from the baseline. He ripped 62 winners to Coria's 31 and won 25 of 40 points at the net.

"I'm really emotional about it," said Verkerk, who threw himself to the ground in ecstasy and broke down in tears at the end of the match. "To be in the final of Roland-Garros is a dream."

"He was much better in the first set. My serve kept me in the match."

With the first set progressing on serve, and the nimble Argentine starting to open up the court with his brilliant backhand down-the-line shot, things looked bleak for Verkerk. Coria dominated from the baseline, caressing his groundstrokes into the corners and making the Dutchman overplay his shots.

But Verkerk wound up his monstrous first serve when it counted, placing it wide to the Argentine's forehand to open up the court and close out the tiebreak.

An incensed Coria threw his racquet into the back of the court, hitting a ball boy on the full, an act which can be penalized by instant default. The Argentine immediately apologized to the ball boy and the umpire, removing his shirt and handing it to the ball boy as a keepsake. Intense discussions between the tournament referee, assistant referee, ball boy and Coria ensued in the break, before the match was allowed to resume.

Surprisingly, the No7 seed immediately rebounded to break the Dutchman's serve in the opening game of the second set, after stunning his opponent with two magnificent drop shots and watching a Verkerk forehand float over the baseline.

But Verkerk rallied to break back in the fourth game and again in the tenth, taking the set when Coria dumped a drop shot followed by a forehand into the net, and then sprayed another forehand wide.

Coria broke again early in the third set to lead 3-2 but the Dutchman snatched the break straight back with a screaming backhand crosscourt winner. Coria saved six break points on his serve in the eighth game to stand at 4-4 but his spirit had been broken and he slumped drastically in the tiebreak to hand the Dutchman his berth in the final.

Verkerk will play the winner of the match between defending champion Albert Costa and No3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. If Verkerk wins on Sunday he will become the first unseeded champion since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997.

gov135 · 06-06-2003, 08:34 AM

Good for him.

Anything can and anything does happen on the clay...

Nocturnal · 06-06-2003, 04:57 PM

He's Dutch? Isn't that veird?

ARRH · 06-06-2003, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nocturnal
He's Dutch? Isn't that veird?

haha

tiaght liake a tiager!

Cross-Over · 06-06-2003, 07:42 PM

He has played very well throughout. I haven't seen someone dominate a major with thier serve like him since Sampras did at last years U.S Open. Its going to be a tough final, he will once again be the underdog, but I seriously doubt he can pull it off this time.

Nocturnal · 06-11-2003, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ARRH
haha tiaght liake a tiager!

Probably got tiaght buns too.

06-06-2003, 07:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
ARRH Insane	Martin Verkerk - What a hero! I can't believe it. He won from Coria! 7-6 6-4 7-6! What an amazing game! The following is straight from the Roland Garros website (www.rolandgarros.com). Flying Dutchman batters Coria By Nyree Epplett Friday, June 6, 2003 Before last week he'd never won a singles match at a Grand Slam tournament. Not one. He'd never even played in the main draw at Roland Garros. This Sunday, the 'Flying Dutchman' Martin Verkerk will aim to clinch the men's singles crown and become the first player to win on his debut since Mats Wilander in 1982. On Philippe Chatrier Court Friday, and against all odds, the big-serving, 46-ranked player from Leiderdorp belted his way past No7 seed Guillermo Coria 7-6(4) 6-4 7-6(0) and into the final in under three hours. Behind a thunderous first serve (average speed 198km/h), 19 aces and a devastating selection of pulverizing groundstrokes, Verkerk overcame the fastest player in men's tennis by doing what many believed he couldn't – keeping his head under pressure and staying with the Argentine from the baseline. He ripped 62 winners to Coria's 31 and won 25 of 40 points at the net. "I'm really emotional about it," said Verkerk, who threw himself to the ground in ecstasy and broke down in tears at the end of the match. "To be in the final of Roland-Garros is a dream." "He was much better in the first set. My serve kept me in the match." With the first set progressing on serve, and the nimble Argentine starting to open up the court with his brilliant backhand down-the-line shot, things looked bleak for Verkerk. Coria dominated from the baseline, caressing his groundstrokes into the corners and making the Dutchman overplay his shots. But Verkerk wound up his monstrous first serve when it counted, placing it wide to the Argentine's forehand to open up the court and close out the tiebreak. An incensed Coria threw his racquet into the back of the court, hitting a ball boy on the full, an act which can be penalized by instant default. The Argentine immediately apologized to the ball boy and the umpire, removing his shirt and handing it to the ball boy as a keepsake. Intense discussions between the tournament referee, assistant referee, ball boy and Coria ensued in the break, before the match was allowed to resume. Surprisingly, the No7 seed immediately rebounded to break the Dutchman's serve in the opening game of the second set, after stunning his opponent with two magnificent drop shots and watching a Verkerk forehand float over the baseline. But Verkerk rallied to break back in the fourth game and again in the tenth, taking the set when Coria dumped a drop shot followed by a forehand into the net, and then sprayed another forehand wide. Coria broke again early in the third set to lead 3-2 but the Dutchman snatched the break straight back with a screaming backhand crosscourt winner. Coria saved six break points on his serve in the eighth game to stand at 4-4 but his spirit had been broken and he slumped drastically in the tiebreak to hand the Dutchman his berth in the final. Verkerk will play the winner of the match between defending champion Albert Costa and No3 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero. If Verkerk wins on Sunday he will become the first unseeded champion since Gustavo Kuerten in 1997.

06-06-2003, 08:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	Good for him. Anything can and anything does happen on the clay...

06-06-2003, 04:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nocturnal Tilted Location: Melbourne, Australia	He's Dutch? Isn't that veird?

06-06-2003, 07:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
Cross-Over Psycho	He has played very well throughout. I haven't seen someone dominate a major with thier serve like him since Sampras did at last years U.S Open. Its going to be a tough final, he will once again be the underdog, but I seriously doubt he can pull it off this time.