Kuerten on comeback trail
Afp, Costa do Sauipe, Brazil
Former world number one Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil won his first match in 18 months by defeating Italy's Filippo Volandri 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Brazilian Open here on Tuesday.The three-times French Open winner was sidelined for most of last year as he attempted to recover from a hip operation he underwent in 2004. His last win was for Brazil in a Davis Cup tie against Uruguay in September 2005. His world ranking has slumped down to 1,076th and he needed a wild card to play in his home ATP tournament, a title he has won twice before in 2002 and 2004. But he needed just 46 minutes to see off Volandri on the Costa da Sauipe claycourts, serving 13 aces in the process, and he goes on to play against another Italian, Alessio Di Mauro, in the second round. "I knew it was just a matter of time," Kuerten said. "I'm improving physically and this win should give me confidence."
|
|
