ACOG - News - IBM

(25 July 1996; Day 06)

ENQVIST Advances To Third Round of Tennis After Rain Delay

After more than four hours, three sets and two rain delays, third-seeded Thomas ENQVIST (SWE) came back from match point down to defeat former NCAA singles champion Sargis SARGSIAN (ARM), 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the second round of men's Olympic tennis singles play at Stone Mountain Park. The match was ENQVIST's second three-set contest in as many days, and the Swede admitted he felt grateful to be through to the next round.

"It was a very close match," ENQVIST said afterward. "I tried to stick in there and do my best and I was lucky that I won."

The match was even until late in the first set, when SARGSIAN broke ENQVIST's serve to take the lead at 5-4. The Armenian capitalized on the Swede's unsteady forehand in the 10th game of the match, holding serve to take a one-set lead.

"I didn't hit the ball well," ENQVIST said of his first set play. "My forehand is normally my best shot, and today I didn't put it in, so I was feeling uncomfortable."

The weather certainly added to ENQVIST's frustrations, as rain suspended both the match and his momentum early in the second set, where he broke SARGSIAN to take a two-game lead. After a 45-minute delay, both men held serve to bring the score to 3-1, 15-all on ENQVIST's serve, until a second downpour forced the match off court until mid-afternoon.

"The (delay) affected both us," ENQVIST said. "You play a couple of games and then go out and lose your rhythm. But it is the same for both players."

The rain proved kinder to SARGSIAN, however, who broke ENQVIST's serve when play resumed at 15:00. The two would trade breaks until late in the second set, when SARGSIAN took a 5-4 advantage before stumbling on his only match point.

"I missed almost every first serve during that game," he said after nearly serving out the match at 40-30 in the second set. "On the last point, I just went for it, but I was a little tight. And he hit a great passing shot."

Despite his "discomfort," it was ENQVIST's forehand that saved match point and brought about a second set tiebreak. A double fault by SARGSIAN gave the Swede a quick three-point advantage in the breaker, which ENQVIST eventually won 7-2.

The final set looked much like the first, with both players trading breaks to remain on serve. But after drawing the match to an even four games all, SARGSIAN's service game gave way, allowing the Swede to serve out the match 6-4 in the third.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Melissa Horton.


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