Two-time winner Carlos Moya breaks no sweat in a second round win over Kevin Kim.
CHENNAI: Some of the seeds have resolve, they begin to take root after the quicksand of the first few matches of the year has been negotiated.
Carlos Moya is one of them. The man who has been in three finals and won two titles at the Chennai Open is not just a hot crowd favourite but like last year appears to be getting his tennis all the more heated up with each match.
On Wednesday he registered a textbook 6-4 6-3 against American Kevin Kim to book his quarters berth. In another match Ivo Karlovic of Croatia downed Kristian Pless of Denmark 7-67-6.
Moya had struggled through four three-setters to make the final in the 2006 edition. This time around he is having it much easier.
With the ouster of David Nalbandian, which in itself has already got tongues wagging about how he may have tanked, the lower half of the draw has really opened up.
The 30-year-old Spaniard suffered his worst year-end ranking (43) since 1995 at the end of last year and appears eager to start this one on the right note, much to the delight of the spectators.
Third seed Xavier Malisse of Belgium, on his first visit to Chennai, carried on from his straight sets win from the first round for another easy 6-3 6-2 triumph over Stefano Galvani of France to assert that he too was no seed looking to be blown off easy.
All these matches are but right now just tame appetisers. What Chennai awaits to see is one of its own pitted against one of the best in the world. Top seed Rafael Nadal will face Karan Rastogi in the showcase match on Thursday and while the two did play a bit of mock cricket in a promotional gimmick on centre court on Wednesday, there will be no fun and games on the morrow.
As of now Karan is in a period of technical transition wherein he is figuring out taking the ball early as compared to the delayed approach of the past. It is a change for the future but right now the hip and trunk rotation — that adds all the oomph to the open stance forehand — is just not in sync.
Nadal on the other hand is bludgeoning the ball like an ox. While Karan may not do too well, at least he will hit out sans any pressure and at such times he can be a delight to behold.
The much needed exposure is essential for the 20-year-old on the brink of making it to the big league.
All he needs is a bit of sponsor help to allow him to train with the best to realise his potential. A solid show against Nadal will go a long way to facilitate just that.
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