Blake beats gutsy Santoro in five sets

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New York, Aug 31: Sixth-seeded American James Blake outlasted cramping 34-year-old Fabrice Santoro of France in a tension-filled five-setter to advance to the third round of the US Open.

Blake, who had been 0-9 in five-set matches including three defeats in the US Open, ripped a backhand, crosscourt winner to claim the three-hour, 25-minute match 6-4 3-6 6-2 4-6 6-4 yesterday.

Santoro twice needed to have his legs massaged during changeovers and received a medical timeout during the sixth game of the final set for further treatment but gamely battled on.

Clutching his left thigh and back of his leg, Santoro went toe-to-toe with Blake to keep the final set on serve. The Frenchman held three breakpoints in the ninth game before Blake finally held for 5-4.

Santoro won the first two points in the 10th game but lost the next four, watching Blake's backhand winner whiz by to end the match.

Both players received ovations from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd as they embraced at the net after their marathon match.

''He said, 'It's amazing what I'm doing at my age,''' recounted Santoro. ''I said, 'Thank you, my son.''' ''Even if I lost, I had a great evening and a lot of fun on the court.'' 'Big Monkey' Blake played an all-or-nothing style against the defensive Santoro, who used spin, lobs and drop shots to stay alive in points and keep the American off balance.

The sixth seed hit 83 winners to 39 for Santoro, and made 71 unforced errors against 21 for his opponent.

''He gets to everything,'' Blake said in a courtside interview. ''I don't think I want to see him across the net from me any time soon.'' Among Blake's list of five-set losses was a titanic struggle against fellow American Andre Agassi in the 2005 U.S.

Open quarter-finals, falling 8-6 in a final tiebreaker after he had won the first two sets.

''There used to be a big monkey right there,'' Blake said, pointing to his back. ''But now it's gone.'' Santoro said he was aware Blake had a poor record in five-setters.

''But he never played a five-set match against a 34-year-old guy,'' the Frenchman said with a grin.

Blake, who won last week's hardcourt run-up event in New Haven, next meets Austrian Stefan Koubek, a straight sets winner over France's Michael Llodra.

Reuters>