MELBOURNE - Fabrice Santoro sacrificed the fourth set to conserve energy before going on to beat eighth seed Gaston Gaudio 6-3 6-2 5-7 1-6 6-4 in scorching heat at the Australian Open tennis tournament on Friday, the Frenchman said.
Unseeded Santoro reached the fourth round of a grand slam for
the first time in five years but only after surviving a draining match during which temperatures topped 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
The 33-year-old raced to an unexpected two-set lead over the 2004 French Open champion but soon needed treatment for thigh cramps as the match dragged on.
When Gaudio fought back despite also appearing to wilt in the heat, grabbing a decisive break on a Santoro double fault to take the third set, the Frenchman said he decided to use the fourth set to recover and conserve energy for the decider.
"After the third set I was very tired. If I play the fourth set 100 per cent and I lose it, the match is over, I can't play the fifth," Santoro said.
He said he used the fourth set to get his breath back and spend as much time in the shadows at the back of the court as possible and to cover himself in ice packs during changeovers.
"I didn't run in the fourth. Even if it was hot, by playing a fifth set... I think it was the best decision for me to win the match," said Santoro, whose two-day, six-hour 33-minute match against compatriot Arnaud Clement at the 2004 French Open remains the longest in tennis.
Both players used ice packs during the final two sets on Friday, with Santoro covering his head, neck and shoulders to combat temperatures he said were as high as 43degC on court.
"It was very, very tough to play good tennis," he said.
"Today it was way too hot to play."
The tournament operates an extreme heat rule which allows for the start of new matches to be suspended on outside and roofs over the two main courts closed once temperatures reach 35degC.
However matches already underway must be completed.
Gaudio had looked uncomfortable and sluggish early and was on the brink of a straight-sets defeat before the heat started to take its toll.
But the Argentine, who has never made it past the third round in Melbourne, fought back in the third set and then raced through the fourth with two more service breaks before a rested Santoro fought back again.
Santoro claimed the match when the exhausted Gaudio lamely netted a backhand on the final point.
Santoro, who is in the fourth round of a grand slam for only the fourth time since he turned professional in 1989, will play 11th seed David Ferrer of Spain who had a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Heineken Open finalist Mario Ancic.
- REUTERS
MELBOURNE - Fabrice Santoro sacrificed the fourth set to conserve energy before going on to beat eighth seed Gaston Gaudio 6-3 6-2 5-7 1-6 6-4 in scorching heat at the Australian Open tennis tournament on Friday, the Frenchman said.
Unseeded Santoro reached the fourth round of a grand slam for
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