Coria curses his luck
ByReuters
Published 12/05/2005 at 15:26 GMT
Guillermo Coria's luck is definitely out. Beaten in the last two Masters Series claycourt finals by Rafael Nadal, the Argentine might have hoped it would be third time lucky in Hamburg when the Spanish teenager pulled out of the event with a blistered hand.
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An unfortunate draw, however, means he must defeat world number one Roger Federer in the quarter-finals at the Rothenbaum on Friday if he is to end his losing streak.
Federer also beat Coria in the Hamburg Masters final last year - surprisingly their only previous meeting -- and the Argentine admitted: "It will be difficult. It's going to be similar to how it was against Nadal. I have to take one point at a time.
"They both play complete tennis and I am going to have to be at my very best to win."
The 23-year-old clay specialist, who will be a big threat at the French Open which starts on May 23, is in danger of being known as a perpetual runner-up.
He also lost in the final at Roland Garros last year and those two defeats by Nadal in Monte Carlo and Rome would have deflated lesser men.
Coria, though, said the defeat in Rome on Sunday, when he lost a five-set, five-and-a-quarter-hour marathon, had been a source of inspiration after a difficult 2004 in which he spent three months recovering from shoulder surgery.
"I'm very happy to have got back the confidence that I had lost," said the 10th seed after his 6-4 6-3 third round win over Croatian Mario Ancic on Thursday.
"The final in Rome has given me a lot of confidence. Even though I lost, I played some great tennis. It was a key match.
"I was out of the game for three months. I did a lot of physical work and in the long matches that really helps with your frame of mind.
"This tournament was very important for me to see how I was physically, and it's good to be playing all these matches."
Coria, who will be seeking his first grand slam title at Roland Garros, will be the first player to reach the final of all three Masters Series claycourt events in one season if he makes the Hamburg final.
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