Spain in Box Seat to Make Final
6/01/2010
By Chris Pike
THE Spanish team of Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Tommy Robredo is in the box seat to make the Hyundai Hopman Cup Final from Group A, but they still have some work to do against Australia on Thursday.
Spain has now beaten both the United States and Romania 3-0 in their opening two rubbers of Hyundai Hopman Cup XXII, with Tuesday night’s result coming after Martinez Sanchez beat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 and then Robredo was leading Victor Hanescu 6-3 before the Romanian retired through an adductor injury.
That put Spain in a commanding position having only dropped one set over the first two Ties, but they do still need to win one of the rubbers against Australia’s Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt to guarantee a Final spot, but even with a 0-3 loss all three matches would have to be demolition jobs for them not to make it.
Martinez Sanchez wasn’t feeling her best on her first few days in Perth, but has still won her two singles matches against Melanie Oudin and Cirstea.
The world No. 26 is happy with how she’s playing and is now hoping to continue that form to firstly make Spain’s fifth Hopman Cup Final, and then win the nation’s third title.
“At least I won my two first matches of the year and these matches give you confidence. The goal of my game is to play different – sometimes lines, sometimes come to the net, and sometimes play in the back of the court to change the game,” Martinez Sanchez said.
“We are on the way. I would like to have that ball of course. It is the first time that I played with Tommy in doubles but we are both good in doubles so we can play good.”
Even though Hanescu was somewhat hampered in his match with Robredo on Tuesday night, the Spaniard was happy with how he was playing and will now keep working hard as he works his way to top shape and form.
“It’s very sad that we had to finish the match like this because what we really want is to play as much as possible. Today I think I was playing great and it’s a real shame that I couldn’t keep playing. I was feeling great, I was serving good and at the beginning of the match I was playing long and great with my forehand and also defending well with the backhand,” Robredo said.
“I’m happy about the way I was playing. Victor had his problem and we are not sure if he is going to be able to play the mixed or not. If not I promise that if you want to keep seeing tennis I’m going to go and practice some more. So sometimes it’s nice to see the players practicing as well.”
Even though Robredo and Hewitt have both been on the ATP Tour since 1998, their Session 9 clash will just be the third meeting of their careers. Robredo got the better of Hewitt on clay at the French Open in 2003 in a marathon five-setter 4-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.
Hewitt won their only other meeting in 2004 in Cincinnati in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Robredo is looking forward to battling him again.
“I am looking forward to play every match. Playing Hewitt I think is a great opponent. He’s a very strong player, he returns everything and is serving great,” he said.
“He’s so aggressive, he always wants to win so we both will love to win for sure. I am going to try my best, I think it’s a great match for the beginning of the year and I’m looking forward to that.”
Martinez Sanchez is ranked No. 6 in doubles and Robredo 20, so they are accomplished in that form of the game, and Robredo was pleased with their effort on Sunday to beat the USA and then down a makeshift team of Cirstea and Pat Cash on Tuesday night.
“It gives me a lot of confidence also because I see her volley and making the most difficult shot and playing it very easy and winning it. Sometimes when the ball bounces first and then she touches it and it’s the most difficult shot in tennis,” he said.
“She’s always putting inside and winning. I think that she’s playing great – she’s serving very well, she’s playing very smart and it’s great to have her as a partner. She’s winning the matches and then I’m playing a lot more easy and I know I have a great partner for mixed. I think we have a very good mix.”
This is Robredo’s fourth visit to Perth and that has included winning in 2002 with Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and making the Final in 2007 with Anabel Medina Garrigues. He can’t speak more fondly of what he thinks of the tournament.
“It’s great. We always forget when we leave to say that we really thank the people of the organisation because they are doing a great job always. Everything we ask for – they can arrange it for us. We feel like we are at home and it’s not easy for us to feel at home but they do a great job,” he said.
“Also I’m a player that likes to work very hard on the pre-season so always when I start a year I want to start very hard. I look forward to all of my time here and keep winning and winning because it’s great to win this type of tournament with a diamond ball, it’s great.”
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