TNT Sports
Verkerk makes history
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Published 06/06/2003 at 12:39 GMT+1
Martin Verkerk became the third Dutchman in tennis history to reach a grand slam final and the first to reach the final at Roland Garros after a stunning three set victory, 7-6 6-4 7-6, over Argentina's Guillermo Coria on Friday. An incredible display of
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"I still don't know what to say, it's dream to be a finalist, it's every kids dream it's unbelievable", Verkerk said after the match.
Without a single grand slam victory coming into Roland Garros, unseeded Verkerk's showing here has been little short of miraculous.
Not since Richard Krajicek won Wimbledon in 1996 had a Dutch player reached the final of a grand slam. The only other was Tom Okker who was runner-up at the U.S. Open in 1968.
"Coria was better in the first set than me, I had trouble with my serve but in the second one I served better and took a lot of risks to make it" he added . "I wasn't so cool, I was really nervous and my whole life past in front of me, I have no words for this" he concluded.
Verkerk finished off Coria in two hours 40 minutes but the match could have been over after just a set when the Argentine narrowly avoided disqualification at the end of the first set.
The seventh seed had just lost the opening set tiebreak when he slung his racket in disgust to the back of the court. It flew several metres at head height and grazed a ballgirl, named by organisers only as Perinne.
Coria, who could have been disqualified over the incident, recognised the enormity of the situation and immediately threw his hands in the air and looked to French chair umpire Cedric Mourier as the French crowd jeered and whistled.
The player took off his shirt and handed it to the 16-year-old before holding his hands together at chest height, touching his heart and asking if she was okay.
He escaped disqualification but was given a warning.
While the furore was going on, Verkerk sat quietly at courtside, remaining focused on the task ahead. But it was all downhil for Coria from that moment on as he lost his concentration.
In the second set a diminished Coria made critical unforced errors allowing Verkerk to break as early as the fourth game. The Argentine fought back and levelled the score to 3-3.
Verkerk continued his charge with blistering serves and volley points to earn another break and wrap up the set after a horrible wild return by Coria.
In the third set Coria raised his level of game to break Verkerk in the fifth game. But his joy lasted only a few seconds as the Dutchman, who was clearly in a hurry to get to the final, broke right back to level the score to 3-3.
Coria was hot on Verkerk's heels and managed to stay in the set sending it into a crucial tie breaker. Coria completely lost his nerve and Verkerk took off smashing winners -- and a 19th ace -- to win it 7-0 before falling to the ground in joy.
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