ACOG - News - IBM

(31 July 1996; Day 12)

SANCHEZ VICARIO Triumphs to Go for Tennis Singles Gold

For all the drama that Jana NOVOTNA and Aranxta SANCHEZ VICARIO's quarterfinal matches provided, their singles semifinal contest was fairly anticlimactic.

On Wednesday, third-seeded SANCHEZ VICARIO defeated No. 6 NOVOTNA, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to advance to Saturday's Olympic tennis final. Unlike the dramatic three-set quarterfinal battles that got both players to the semifinals, Wednesday's match went much as expected SANCHEZ VICARIO, formerly No. 1 in the world, emerging victorious over her sixth-ranked sometimes-doubles partner.

"It took all of us some time to get in the match," NOVOTNA said of both players' sluggish first-set performance. "And for me, the match really started in the second set. The first set wasn't really good tennis, but the most important thing is to be able to get out of it, and I did."

But NOVOTNA did not get out of the first set easily. While both players struggled to hold serve, SANCHEZ VICARIO delivered the first permanent blow at 4-all, breaking NOVOTNA to 5-4 before serving out the first set.

"At the beginning, we both saw what kind of tactics we were going to play," SANCHEZ VICARIO said. "I think I played better than her to win the first set, and then she started coming back with very good shots down the line. I had all the passing shots on my racket and I missed a couple, so I lost the second set. And in the third set, things were very close, and could go either way."

The key point for the Czechoslovakian did come in the opening game of the third set, as she tried to carry the momentum of a 6-1 second set victory into the match's home stretch. But after three break point opportunities, NOVOTNA began to tire, allowing SANCHEZ VICARIO to hold her serve for the first time since one-all in the second.

"The first game of the third set was really crucial," NOVOTNA reflected. "I was up 40-15 on her serve and had a couple of break points. If I had won that game, I would be on a roll. At that stage she was making many mistakes, and felt I had finally started to play the way I did against (top-ranked) Monica (SELES)," whom she defeated on Monday.

With the momentum on her side, SANCHEZ VICARIO began to roll, and quickly had the match sewn up, 6-3 in the third. In the end, it was NOVOTNA who statistically had the advantage with 33 winners to SANCHEZ VICARIO's 19, but with 52 unforced errors, she could only convert five of the 14 break point opportunities those winners brought her.

"I think even when I was down," SANCHEZ VICARIO said. "I showed I was mentally ready to come back and make good shots when I needed to. At the end of the match, I did go for more shots, and that was what allowed me to win."

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


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Olympic Factoid
The Mother Nature was kind to Olympic athletes and spectators. The average high temperature during the Games was 89 degrees with an average low of 72 degrees. Highest temperature registered (20 July) - 99 degrees. Lowest high temperature registered is 79 degrees (28 July).