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Olympic Tennis Recaps: 30 July (Day 11)

Men's Singles/Quarterfinals

No. 4 Washington Falls; Top-seeded Agassi Escapes Upset

The U.S. hopes for an all-American men's final came crashing down on Center Court Tuesday, as fourth-seeded Malvai WASHINGTON (USA) -- the only seeded player remaining in the bottom half of the singles draw -- fell 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 to two-time French Open champion Sergi BRUGUERA (ESP) in Olympic tennis quarterfinals. Top-seeded Andre AGASSI kept the U.S. medal hopes alive however, reaching the semifinals with a similar 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 win over fifth-seeded Wayne FERREIRA (RSA). Both WASHINGTON and FERREIRA served for their respective matches at 5-4 in the third set, but neither player was able to close out their match.

Also advancing was the surprising Leander PAES of India, a 6-1, 7-5 winner over 14th seed Renzo FURLAN (ITA). FURLAN was the third seed to fall to PAES, the world's No. 127-ranked singles player, who also defeated No. 11-seed Richey RENEBERG (USA) and No. 3-seed Thomas ENQVIST (SWE) in earlier rounds. Brazilian Fernando MELIGENI also reached the semifinals Tuesday with a 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3 win over Russia's Andrei OLHOVSKIY.

Comebacks Dominate Men's Quarterfinals: See story


Women's Doubles/Quarterfinals

Top Four Seeds Reach Women's Doubles Semis

The top four women's doubles seeds all advanced to Wednesday's Olympic tennis semifinals with straight set victories in Tuesday's quarterfinal round at Stone Mountain Park. Defending gold medalists Mary Joe and Gigi FERNANDEZ (USA), the No. 1 seeds, took more than an hour to defeat Great Britain's Valda LAKE and Clare WOOD, 6-2, 6-1. The U.S. team will face third-seeded Manon BOLLEGRAF and Brenda SCHULTZ-MCCARTHY (NED) in semis. SCHULTZ-MCCARTHY and BOLLEGRAF the Swiss team of Martina HINGIS and Patty SCHNYDER, 6-4, 6-3.

Also advancing was the No. 2-seeded Czechoslovakian pair of Olympic singles semifinalist Jana NOVOTNA and Helena SUKOVA. The Czech team defeated Canadians Jill HETHERINGTON and Patricia HY-BOULAIS, 6-2, 6-4. Rounding out the semifinal lineup are fourth-seeded Conchita MARTINEZ (ESP) and NOVOTNA's singles semifinal opponent, Arantxa SANCHEZ VICARIO (ESP). The Spanish pair defeated Benjamas SANGARAM and Tamarina TANATSUGARN of Thailand, 6-2, 6-1.

"We still have a couple of tough matches ahead of us," Mary Joe FERNANDEZ said of the U.S. team's chances for a second doubles gold medal. "In doubles anything can happen and there are a few really good teams left."


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


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Closing Ceremony of the 1996 Games involved a crew of 2,100 who worked with more than 3,500 performers as well as thousands of athletes who celebrated on the field of Olympic Stadium.