Client News
Rain delay means double duty for top seeds
Beijing, 15 September 2005 - China Open officials were hoping for clearer weather on Friday after a day of rain washed out four second-round matches at the Beijing Tennis Centre.
Top seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal and second seed Guillermo Coria received word from ATP supervisor Ed Hardisty in the late afternoon that they will likely face double-duty on court on Friday, when clearing is forecast.
Scheduling calls for Argentina’s Coria to play Japan’s Toshihide Matsui in an 11:00am (Beijing time) contest, followed by Nadal, who opened Wednesday with a victory in his first career contest in China, playing American Justin Gimelstob.
Winners from second round matches will then face quarter final tests later.
Thursday’s weather started poorly and worsened as mid-morning drizzle turned into a steady rain, with no sign of let-up.
Officials made the call in the early evening to allow players to return to their hotel to rest for an early start on court.
“Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather, but we expect it to clear up quickly so we can get on with more spectacular tennis,” said tournament director Ekkehard Rathgeber, who is also Chief Operating Officer of TOM Group Limited, an associate of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.
“We have been lucky so far to see tremendous battles unfold at the Beijing Tennis Centre, with top seeds Nadal and Coria leading the way, and I’m confident there’s a lot more to come.”
Two other second-round matches also need to start. Mikhail Youzhny, the Russian seventh seed who lost in the 2004 final to Marat Safin, will take on Thailand’s Danai Udomchoke, while Dutchman Peter Wessels faces Wang Yu of China.
In Friday’s scheduled quarter finals, third seed David Nalbandian from Argentina plays sixth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, and fourth seeded Swede Thomas Johansson goes against Spain’s eighth seed Carlos Moya.
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Released on behalf of TOM Group and the China Open by Two Up Front - Asia’s sports PR specialists.