Tennis: German Kiefer eases into last eight in LA

Los Angeles, July 19: Germany's Nicolas Kiefer, inching his way back into form after a long injury layoff, crushed Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-3 6-2 in the second round of the Los Angeles Classic.

The 30-year-old, a wildcard entry for this week's ATP event, broke his opponent three times before sealing victory in a little under an hour and a quarter yesterday.

Back in action last month after being sidelined for a year following two surgeries on his left wrist, the German kept Kunitsyn under continual pressure with deep, probing groundstrokes.

''I was hitting the ball much better today but I need to keep on going,'' Kiefer, a finalist here in 2004, told reporters. ''I am still far away. I need to work on everything.

''After all, I didn't play for almost a year. This is why I came so early to the States. I am here till the end of the US Open and I want to use this time for some good practice and try to play as many good matches as I can.

''My record shows that I have played well here and all I can do is go out and fight for each ball and try to find my rhythm,'' added the German, whose world ranking has plummeted from a career-high fourth to 409th.

''I have had two good matches here but it's not only about winning. Sometimes you end up winning after not feeling so comfortable, you just have to find a solution.'' Kiefer, who hurt his wrist at last year's French Open, won the opening set after breaking Kunitsyn in the eighth game and powered through the second after further breaks of serve in the first and fifth games.

OVERALL CONTROL

Although the Russian saved two match points, one on his own serve and the other after one of the best rallies of the match, Kiefer retained overall control in searing heat at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

After surprisingly trailing 0-30 on his own serve in the eighth game of the final set, the German unleashed a series of big first serves to claw his way back and clinch the win.

Kiefer, playing in his first hardcourt tournament in 16 months, set up an all-German quarter-final clash with compatriot Michael Berrer.

Berrer, who broke into the world's top 100 just before Wimbledon last month after reaching his first ATP quarter-final at 's-Hertogenbosch, beat Brazilian Ricardo Mello 6-3 7-5 in an earlier match.

Seventh-seeded Korean Lee Hyung-taik also reached the last eight after his South African opponent Wesley Moodie retired with a back injury when trailing 6-2 3-0.

Former world number one Marat Safin was scheduled to play Swiss George Bastl in the the day's last match on the stadium court.

Third-seeded Safin, who sacked his long-time coach Alexander Volkov last week after a run of poor results, is without an ATP victory since clinching his second grand slam title at the 2005 Australian Open.

Reuters

>