Message de rosminet posté le 2004-05-29 12:03:24 (S | E | F | I)
Article issu de la presse anglaise.
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Records tumble after ultimate Paris match
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By Greg Hobbs (Metro, Wednesday, May 26, 2004)
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Fabrice Santoro won the longest singles match in modern tennis history yesterday when he finally overcame fellow Frenchman Arnaud Clement in Paris.
In a match spread over two days, he eventually triumphed in six hours and 33 minutes, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 3-6,16-14.
The final set alone lasted two hours and 52 minutes and, at the end, Santoro sat in his chair and sobbed into his towel.
"It's an exceptional moment," said the 32nd seed after reaching the second round at Roland Garros.
"More than victory, the intensity of the match and the strong emotions out there are what you're looking for when you become a professional tennis player".
"We are both heroes for that match. When I arrived on court I only took two bottles of mineral water thinking I would only be on court for ten minutes."
His opponent, however, was rather less impressed at being part of such a historic match.
"What do I get ? A medal ? I'm not interested," said Clement, who failed to convert two match points.
"Anyway, it lasted over two days so it doesn't count. I don't have the impression you make history when you lose a game in six hours and 30 minutes."
"You make history when you win a Grand Slam or the Davis Cup."
Clement had fought back from two sets down against in a first-round match interrupted by fading light on Monday evening with the scores level at 5-5 in the final set.
But Santoro, who made only 40 unforced errors throughout the match, finally prevailed.
The match equalled the highest number of games played at the French Open since the introduction of tie-braks in 1973, with 71 games.