U.S. Open notebook: Kafelnikov finally able to get the best of Kuerten

Victoria Sun

Friday, Sept. 7, 2001 | 11:46 a.m.

NEW YORK -- The wild Brazilian fans cheering top-seeded Gustavo Kuerten weren't enough to distract Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov from earning a place in U.S. Open history.

Even the erratic Kafelnikov stepped out of his own way in a methodical 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 quarterfinal demolition of Kuerten, the reigning French Open champion, Thursday.

On the red clay of Roland Garros, Kuerten has beaten Kafelnikov in the quarterfinals of the French Open three times en route to three titles.

On the hard court of Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA's National Tennis Center, it was Kafelnikov who was in total control.

"I could not even realize that I was going to be here again in the semifinal before the tournament," Kafelnikov said. "You know, here I am again with the opportunity.

"It's still a long way to win the title. But you know, to get through the five steps and to have two steps left to winning another major, I think is great."

For the first time ever, there will be two Russians playing in the semifinals of the U.S. Open -- Kafelnikov and defending champion Marat Safin.

Should Kafelnikov beat Lleyton Hewitt and Safin get past American Pete Sampras, it would set up the first U.S. Open final between two Russians.

"I think that would be great," Kafelnikov said. "You know, if it happens like that for both of us, you know, I cannot even describe what we're going to feel when we step out on the court Sunday playing basically for one of the most prestigious trophies in men's professional tennis.

"I mean, I don't even want to even look that far ahead at the moment. I'm just happy to be a part of Super Saturday, that's all."

More history will be made on Saturday when the women's final will be aired live on television at 5 p.m. on CBS following both men's semifinals. It will be the first time a Grand Slam final is shown live in prime time -- on the East Coast.

This afternoon, top-ranked Martina Hingis was to play Serena Williams for a berth in the finals and Americans Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati squared off in the other semifinal.

Thus far Capriati has won the Australian and French Open while Venus is the Wimbledon champion. Williams has won all three of their previous meetings.

"She's a very strong player," Williams said. "She does everything well. "In my opinion, you just have to come out there and play good tennis, be ready to compete on that day."

Kafelnikov, the 1999 Australian Open champion and 1996 French Open champion, was ready for Kuerten, a clay court specialist, from the start.

He held his serve throughout the entire match and won 11 consecutive games until he had a 3-0 lead in the third set.

"I showed him from the first point on that I wasn't going to, you know, give up the match like easily, like perhaps he would have thought," Kafelnikov said. "From the first point on, he start smoking backhand, forehand like he always does. But to my credit, I was able to keep up with him on the baseline. Once I did that, you know, I started to believe in myself a lot more."

Based on his past results against Kuerten, particularly at the French Open, believing he could do it was usually the problem.

In losses to Kuerten at the 1997 and 2000 French Opens, Kafelnikov had a two sets to one advantage. Last year, Kafelnikov evened up the match one set all before losing 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Just three weeks ago in Cincinnati at a U.S. Open tune-up event, Kafelnikov lost a three-setter to Kuerten.

Under a hot sun in Arthur Ashe Stadium, he was determined not to do it again.

"Even though the score was 6-4, 6-3, 6-0, you know I was a little nervous inside," Kafelnikov admitted. "I knew how important the match is for me."

Kafelnikov hopes a fairy tale ending will be written on Sunday.