Ferrero, Nalbandian Make Early Exits at US Open

Tennis-X.com
Sept 4 2004

Four seeds were bounced from the men’s draw at the US Open Friday,
including last year’s runner-up.

Headed home is 2003 runner-up and No. 7 seed Juan Carlos Ferrero,
whose dismal year continued with a five-set injury-riddled loss to
Austrian Stefan “The Poor Man’s Tommy Muster” Koubek.

“This year is going to finish soon, you know,” said Ferrero, who will
drop out of the Top 10 to No. 15 or 16. “I want to forget this year.”

Also ejected were last year’s semifinalist (8) David Nalbandian (l.
to Youzhny in five), (12) Sebastien “The Skateboard Kid” Grosjean
(l. to Haas in four), and (23) Vince “Vincenzo” Spadea (l. to Jurgen
“Tuna” Melzer in five).

Nalbandian had to be consoled after his five-set loss to Youzhny after
a disagreement between the players over the courtesy of holding up
new balls that resulted in Nalbandian repeatedly smashing his racquet
on court, then a few more in the hallway inside the stadium.

Seeded winners on the day were (2) Andy Roddick (d. Rafael “The
Prodigy” Nadal in three), (4) Lleyton Hewitt (d. Arazi), (18) Tommy
“The R.” Robredo (d. Clement in four),(28) Joachim “The Jackhammer”
Johansson (d. Gambill), (29) Guillermo Canas (d. Volandri), and (30)
Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez (d. Kohlschreiber in five, almost blowing a
2-0 set lead).

“He’s got a crafty kind of game,” Hewitt said of Arazi. “With
the left-handed serve, it’s always going to be a little bit more
difficult.”

Winners in all-unseeded match-ups were Olympic Federer-killer Tomas
Berdych (d. Ketola), Brazil’s Richardo Mello “Yellow” (d. D.Sanchez),
Russian Nikolay Davydenko (d. Soderling in four), Slovak Karol Beck
(d. Pless), Alexander Peya (d. Enqvist in four), and Frenchman Michael
Llodra (d. Seppi in four).

On court Saturday at the US Open for the men are (1) Federer vs. (31)
Fabrice “The Magician” Santoro, (6) Agassi vs. (25) Novak, (3)
Moya vs. Olivier “The Roach” Rochus, (5) Henman vs. Tabara, (19)
Nicolas Kiefer vs. Thomas “Tommy the J.” Johansson, Sargis “Sarge”
Sargsian vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu, (16) Andrei Pavel vs. H.-T. Lee,
and (15) Paradorn “The Thai Fighter” Srichaphan vs. (22) Dominik
“The Dominator” Hrbaty.

Clarin, Argentina
4 sept 2004

Tenis: La Quinta Jornada De Flushing Meadows Arrojo Un Saldo Equilibrado Para Los Argentinos

Cañas aportó la sonrisa y Nalbandian, la bronca

El triunfo de Cañas fue ante Volandri en sets corridos. Ahora jugará
con Roddick. Nalbandian dejó pasar sus chances ante el ruso Youzhny.

Guillermo Kellmer. NUEVA YORK ENVIADO ESPECIAL
[email protected]

Mientras Guillermo Cañas, en silencio, sumó la sonrisa con su
victoria por 6-4, 7-5 y 6-1 frente al italiano Filippo Volandri que
le permitió llegar a la tercera ronda, David Nalbandian fue la
contracara y cayó en cinco sets ante el ruso Mikhail Youzhny.

Con este panorama, Cañas es el único argentino que pasó a la tercera
ronda en el cuadro masculino. Allí tendrá una durísima exigencia, ya
que deberá enfrentar a Andy Roddick. El estadounidense, segundo
preclasificado, venció al español Rafael Nadal por un cómodo 6-0, 6-3
y 6-4.

“El gran favorito es Roddick. Pero para mí lo importante es que rompí
la barrera de la segunda ronda”, señaló Willy anoche.

Cuando Nalbandian llegó a Nueva York empujado por sus ganas de jugar,
sabía íntimamente que físicamente daba ventajas. Pero la bronca del
final, con su raqueta yendo al piso una y otra vez, dejó en claro que
ayer, en la derrota ante el ruso Mikhail Youzhny en el Abierto de
Estados Unidos, su cuerpo poco tuvo que ver. Se le escapó por poco y
más que el físico le jugó en contra la cabeza. Jugó contra el rival y
contra el árbitro español Javier Moreno que, es cierto, tuvo algunos
fallos polémicos. Al cordobés su bronca contra el umpire terminó por
desconcentrarlo en momentos clave. Y permitió, más de una vez, que
Youzhny regresara al juego.

Fue 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-5, 2-6 y 6-4 para el ruso tras cuatro horas de
juego. Y nada hacía presagiar en el inicio del partido un duelo tan
largo y cambiante. Porque si bien Nalbandian arrancó 3-0 abajo tras
el quiebre de saque que el ruso consiguió en el game inicial, el
cordobés pareció entrar en calor recién entonces. Jugando con mucha
profundidad, agresivo por momentos y concentrado, levantó la
desventaja y tomó el control del set. El ruso mantuvo la paridad con
la efectividad de su saque y una notable de devolución del servicio
que más de una vez dejó parado a Nalbandian. Mano a mano llegaron al
tie break y allí se impuso el argentino. Si cuando llegó a Nueva York
le faltaba ritmo, de a poco pareció ir recuperándolo.

Sin embargo no le funcionaba su saque. El bajo porcentaje de su
primer servicio le permitía al ruso entrar en juego y seguir ganando
puntos con el revés paralelo que hizo daño toda la noche. Y llegar
tan parejo a la definición del segundo set terminó por jugarle en
contra. Porque el árbitro se equivocó cuando el perdedor sacó 4-4 y
permitió el quiebre. Y después dio bueno un saque de Youzhny que se
había ido apenas afuera. Fue set para el ruso y Nalbandian se la
agarró con el umpire. Lo mandó al oculista y a dirigir en interclubes
y le tiró con munición gruesa.

Estaba en otro partido cuando arrancó el tercer set. Ya jugaba contra
Moreno, que tras la advertencia ésta vez le descontó el punto.
Nalbandian hacía fuerza por volver moviendo al rival, que a esa
altura ya había pedido médico y le molestaba mucho pegar corriendo.
Pero Nalbandian no era el del primer set. El quiebre definitivo del
partido se dio con Nalbandian sacando 5-4. Tuvo un set point, lo
desperdició y luego perdió su servicio en el 11° game. Fue set para
Youzhny y la historia pareció sentenciada.

Pero faltaba mucho por jugar. El ruso le permitió otra vez volver y
Nalbandian se llevó el cuarto parcial con claridad.

Youzhny sólo estaba tomando aire y Nalbandian pareció confiado.
Llegaron a una definición pareja. Ya a esa altura la gente gritaba
por el ruso y tapaba a los muchísimos argentinos que había convocado
Nalbandian. La garra habitual del cordobés era toda de Youzhny, que
se jugaba la vida en cada pelota y ya le entraban todas. Otra vez
Nalbandian perdió su saque en el noveno game. Y los dos match points
que levantó en el décimo fueron sólo una brisa de ilusión.

El año pasado llegó a las semifinales y ésta vez quedó muy lejos en
un partido que lo pudo ganar, pero que no supo manejar. Algo que
justamente un Nalbandian en forma sabe hacer muy bien. Habrá que
seguir esperándolo.

ENERGY SYSTEM TENDS TO DEVELOP

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
4 Sept 04

The executive director of “Artsakhenergo” CJSC Slava Gabrielian
informed that during the past seven months (from January 1 to August
1) more energy was used then in the same period last year. Thus, the
use of electric energy in 2004 totals 96 million 500 thousand kWh
instead the 92 million 100 thousand in the same period of the past
year. By the way in 2003 the use of energy totaled 155.5 million
kWh. At the same time high rates were reported in the sphere of
realizing electric energy. In the mentioned period of the current
year 70.8 million kWh energy was realized against the 61.5 million
in 2003. All in all, the amount of the electric energy realized
in 2003 totaled 106.1 kWh. According to S. Gabrielian, due to the
measures taken by the personnel of the energy system energy loss was
reduced by 5.2 per cent. Thus, by August 1, 2004 the loss of energy
totaled 8.7 per cent against 13.9 per cent in the same period of the
previous year. According to the executive director, “Artsakhenergo”
has debts from previous years. The consumers in their turn also owe
to the company. According to the executive director, the means from
sales are first of all used for the obligations of the company to the
state budget and development of the system, including maintenance of
the substations. By the way, as S. Gabrielian mentioned, this year
the salaries of the staff were raised by about 22 per cent.

LAURA GRIGORIAN.
04-09-2004

NKR GOVERNMENT MEETING

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
4 Sept 04

IN 2005 THE VOLUME OF CAPITAL BUILDING MAY INCREASE BY 1.5 BILLION
DRAMS. At the August 31 meeting of the NKR government referring to
the state budget 2005 prime minister Anoushavan Danielian mentioned
that the government is able and intends increasing financial means
for capital building by 1.5 billion drams. The state budget of 2004
provided 3 billion for capital building. The prime minister asked the
heads of the corresponding agencies, regional administrations and the
mayor of Stepanakert to present soon the projecting and calculation
documents. THE PENSIONS OF ARMY SEVICEMEN RETREATED BEFORE 1999
TO BE RAISED. According to the government decision, the pensions
of the army servicemen retreated before 1999 will increase by an
average of 3 thousand drams. According to the minister of social
security L. Ghulian, as different from the army servicemen during
the calculation of pensions of 220 servicemen of the police, national
security and the Department of Emergencies money compensation was not
included. Now this will also be included in the pension. IN KARABAKH
VITICULTURE IS MORE PROFITABLE THAN PRODUCTION OF GRAIN. Grain harvest
has almost finished in the republic. Of 54 thousand hectares of arable
land about 76 thousand tons of grain was harvested, which is less by 10
thousand tons against the previous year although this year additional
14 thousand arable land was used. In 2003 the crop yield per hectare
totaled 2.5 tons whereas this year 1.42 tons. Summing up the results
of the harvest, the prime minister emphasized that production of grain
cannot be profitable in a country where only 5 per cent of farming
land is irrigated, and it too much depends on nature. He mentioned
that the yield was affected not only by weather conditions but also
untimely implemented agricultural works. This mainly refers to the
region of Kashatagh where average productivity is several times lower
than last year. The prime minister asked the minister of agriculture to
work out and present a plan of agricultural works. In this reference
it was mentioned that winter tillage has already begun. According to
Anoushavan Danielian, in 2005 the government intends increasing the
amounts of loaning in the branches of viticulture and cattle-farming,
enlarge leasing programs in these branches of agriculture. The prime
minister also emphasized that in parallel the government will implement
the program of irrigation. A. Danielian informed that three large
programs are ready which are the construction of water reservoirs on
the river Ishkhanaget and in the region of Askeran with the capacity
of respectively 9 and 13 million cubic meter (the costs will total
4.5 and 8 billion drams), as well as the reconstruction of the water
supply system in Mataghis (4 billion drams). MAINTENANCE OF ROADS ALSO
REQUIRES MEANS. There is a considerable number of regional and village
roads repaired in the framework of this or that program. Many of the
roads practically are not maintained after the repairs. According
to prime minister Anoushavan Danielian, it is a shame when the
benefactor on whose means the road was repaired witnesses its terrible
condition. During the meeting the prime minister asked the heads of
regional administrations and the Ministry of Development of Industrial
Infrastructures and Building to constitute a commission for control of
the state of roads and present monthly accounts. The prime minister
mentioned that in 2005 the government will increase the expenses on
road maintenance by 50-60 million drams.

NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.
04-09-2004

ACTIVITY ON CONSUMER MARKET

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
4 Sept 04

A more or less informed person is aware that retail good circulation
(which represents a part of the consumer market) is the value of
commodities sold to the population for currency for personal or
household use. The rate of the retail circulation is formed from
the circulation of goods in shops, kiosks and stands, restaurants
and markets of goods and food, as well as other similar places of
trade. The consumer market involves also the services offered to the
population the totality of which reflects the volume of consumption
of various services by the population and is statistically measured
according to financial means paid for these services. We would not
be mistaken to say that the activity on the consumer market reflects
certain rise in the paying capacity of the population. The NKR National
Statistics Service informed that in the first semester of the current
year consumer market in the republic totaled 13282.3 million drams
growing by 12.3 per cent in comparable prices against the same period
in 2003. In the mentioned period the total volume of retail circulation
(including public food places) in factual prices totaled 11236 million
drams which has grown by 9.5 per cent against the first semester of
2003. Good circulation per capita totaled 76890.9 drams increasing
by 22 per cent against the same period of 2003. In the mentioned
period, according to the accounts of organizations working in the
spheres of industry and service, and the additional account of the
tax exempt sector, the volume of services offered to the population
totaled 2046.2 million drams, which increased against the same rate
of the months January-June of the previous year by 28.4 per cent. The
share of the state sector in the total volume of services provided to
the population is 865.6 million drams and grew by 2.2 per cent. In
the private sector this rate is 1180.6 million drams and grew by 57
per cent. In the total volume of services the share of housing and
communal services totals 32.4 per cent. Then follow communications
29.5 per cent and transport 19.4 per cent.

AA.
04-09-2004

Putin Tells the Russians: ‘We Shall Be Stronger’
By THE NEW YORK TIMES

New York Times, NY
Sept 4 2004

OSCOW, Sept. 4 – Following is a transcript of President Vladimir V.
Putin’s televised remarks at the Kremlin on Saturday night, as
translated by The New York Times:

It is a difficult and bitter task for me to speak. A horrible
tragedy happened in our land. During these last few days, each one
of us suffered immensely, having all that happened in the Russian
city of Beslan run through our hearts. We were confronted not just
by murderers, but those who used their weapons against defenseless
children.

In the first place, I am addressing today those who lost the dearest
in their life, their children, their kin, their closest. I want you
to remember all those who died at the hands of terrorists in the last
few days.

There have been many tragic pages and difficult trials in the
history of Russia. Today we are living in conditions formed after
the disintegration of a huge, great country, the country which
unfortunately turned out to be nonviable in the conditions of rapidly
changing world.

Today, however, despite all difficulties, we managed to preserve the
nucleus of that giant, the Soviet Union. We called the new country
the Russian Federation.

We all expected changes, changes for the better, but found ourselves
absolutely unprepared for much that changed in our lives. The question
is why. We live in conditions of a transitional economy and a political
system that do not correspond to the development of society. We live
in conditions of aggravated internal conflicts and ethnic conflicts
that before were harshly suppressed by the governing ideology.

We stopped paying due attention to issues of defense and security. We
allowed corruption to affect the judiciary and law enforcement
systems. In addition to that, our country, which once had one of the
mightiest systems of protecting its borders, suddenly found itself
unprotected either from West or East.

It would take many years and billions of rubles to create new, modern
and truly protected borders. But even so, we could have been more
effective if we had acted in timely and professional fashion. We have
to admit that we failed to recognize the complexity and danger of the
processes going on in our own country and the world as a whole. At any
rate, we failed to react to them adequately. We demonstrated weakness,
and the weak are beaten.

Some want to tear off a big chunk of our country. Others help them
to do it. They help because they think that Russia, as one of the
greatest nuclear powers of the world, is still a threat, and this
threat has to be eliminated. And terrorism is only an instrument to
achieve these goals.

As I have said on many occasions, we have faced crises, rebellions
and terrorist acts many times. But what has happened now –
the unprecedented crime committed by terrorists, inhuman in its
cruelty – is not a challenge to the president, the Parliament or the
government. This is a challenge to all of Russia, to all our people.
This is an attack against all of us.

Terrorists think that they are stronger, that they will be able to
intimidate us, to paralyze our will, to erode our society. It seems
that we have a choice: to resist or to cave in and agree with their
claims; to give up and allow them to destroy and to take Russia apart,
in hope that eventually they would leave us alone.

As president, as the head of the Russian state, as a man who gave
an oath to protect the country and its integrity, as a citizen
of Russia, I am convinced that in fact we do not have any choice,
because as soon as we allow ourselves to be blackmailed and to panic,
we shall immerse millions of people in a series of bloody conflicts,
similar to Karabakh, Trans-Dnestria and other well known tragedies.

We cannot but see the evident: we are dealing not with separate acts of
intimidation, not with individual forays of terrorists. We are dealing
with the direct intervention of international terror against Russia,
with total and full-scale war, which again and again is taking away
the lives of our compatriots.

All the world’s experience shows that such wars do not end quickly.
In these conditions, we simply cannot, we should not, live as
carelessly as before.

We must create a more effective security system, and demand from our
law enforcement agencies actions adequate in level and scale to the
new threats.

But what is more important is a mobilization of the nation before the
general threat. Events in other countries prove that terrorists meet
the most effective rebuff where they confront not only the power of
the state but also an organized and united civil society.

Dear fellow citizens, those who sent terrorists to commit this horrible
crime had the goal of setting our peoples against one another, to
intimidate citizens of Russia, to unleash a bloody feud in the North
Caucasus. In this connection, I would like to say the following:

First, in the near future, a complex of measures aimed at strengthening
the unity of our country will be prepared.

Second, I consider it necessary to create a new system of forces and
means for exercising control over the situation in the North Caucasus.

Third, it is necessary to create an affective crisis management system,
including entirely new approaches to the work of law enforcement
agencies.

I would like to stress that all these measures will be implemented
in full accordance with the Constitution.

Dear friends: Together we live through very hard, mournful hours. I
would like to thank all those who demonstrated patience and civic
responsibility. We shall always be stronger than they, by our morale,
courage and our humane solidarity.

One could see it today and the night before. In Beslan, soaked
with pain and grief, people expressed even more care and support to
each other and were not afraid of jeopardizing their lives for the
sake of the lives and safety of others. Even in the most inhuman
conditions, they remained human. It is impossible to reconcile the
pain of the losses. The trial has brought us even closer together,
made us re-evaluate many things. Today, we have to be together. Only
thus we shall defeat the enemy.

U.S. OPEN NOTEBOOK
Highlight in quarters
BY ARTHUR STAPLE, STAFF WRITER; Jeff Williams

Newsday
September 5, 2004

Andre Agassi and Roger Federer both looked very strong in three-set
wins yesterday, inching closer to a quarterfinal that would be by
far the most anticipated men’s match of the tournament to date.

Agassi, the No. 6 seed, cruised past No. 25 Jiri Novak, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3,
to reach the final 16 for the 14th time in his 19 Open appearances. He
next faces marathon man Sargis Sargsian, and the 34-year-old Agassi
is smart enough not to look past anyone.

“I don’t really look ahead,” he said. “I know it’s a cliche. It’s a
great problem to worry about when it’s time to worry about it … I
felt like I turned a corner that I needed to turn going into the
second week.”

Federer dominated No. 31 Fabrice Santoro, 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), looking
more like the world’s No. 1 than in his previous two matches. He next
faces No. 16 Andrei Pavel. Unlike Agassi, Federer is already eyeing
the quarters, and for two good reasons. Federer has never been past
the fourth round in three previous Opens and Agassi waxed him in
three sets in the 2001 tournament. The two have split six meetings,
with Federer winning the last three.

“It seems with [Agassi] and [Lleyton] Hewitt, you always know that
you’re gonna be in a real big battle. It would be nice to play
[Agassi] here at the Open, get my revenge, because he got me badly
the one time.”

Sarge in charge

Sargis Sargsian is 31 and his biggest claim to fame in a lengthy
career is his frequent workouts with good friend Agassi. But the
Armenian reached the fourth round with a second consecutive incredible
performance last night.

Sargsian defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5),
a 4-hour, 41-minute match that followed his five-hour, nine-minute
match in his third- round win over Nicolas Massu. Sargsian saved two
match points last night to reach the fourth round for the first time.

Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hrbaty

Dominik Hrbaty has had a Jekyll and Hyde year. He won three of the
first five tournaments he played in, then went through six months of
mostly first- and second-round losses.

In early August, he scored his biggest match win of the year, a
first-round victory over Federer, ending the top-ranked player’s
23-match winning streak.

Now he’s made it to the fourth round for the second time in his
career here, beating popular Paradorn Srichaphan yesterday, 7-6
(10-8), 6-3, 6-3.

– Jeff Williams

Open-Marathon man Sargsian wins another thriller

Reuters
Sun 5 September, 2004 02:46

LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) – Sargis Sargsian starred in another
late-night drama at the U.S. Open on Saturday when he rallied from
two sets down to overcome Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu and move into
the fourth round.

The Florida-based Armenian ground out a 4-6 4-6 6-4 6-2 7-6 in four
hours 41 minutes on a jam-packed Grandstand Court.

On Thursday, the 31-year-old stunned Olympic gold medallist Nicolas
Massu in another five-setter that lasted five hours 9 minutes, the
second longest match in U.S. Open history.

Sargsian, who now plays close friend Andre Agassi, has been on court
more than 12 hours to reach the last 16.

“I don’t know how I did it, I just kept fighting at the end,” said
Sargsian, who saved two match points at 6-5 down in the fifth set
before winning the tiebreak 7-4.

“I felt a bit stiff before the start but I felt better than I did
against Massu.”

Another Marathon, Another Victory
By CHRIS BROUSSARD

New York Times
Published: September 5, 2004

Sargis Sargsian covered his eyes and rolled flat onto his back. If he
had stayed in that position and taken a nap, no one at the National
Tennis Center would have blamed him.

A true ironman, Sargsian had just completed two of the longest
consecutive rounds of tennis played at the United States Open. Two
days after winning a second-round match that lasted 5 hours 9 minutes,
Sargsian, an Armenian, outlasted Paul-Henri Mathieu of France, 4-6,
4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (4), in a 4-hour-44-minute marathon last night.

“It’s like you’re in a different world when you win these matches,”
Sargsian said. “Like right now, I’m talking, I feel like it’s not
me talking. It’s just the words coming out of my mouth. It’s a weird
feeling.”

The victory moved Sargsian, 31, into the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam
event for only the second time. In eight trips to the United States
Open, this is the deepest he has advanced.

The unseeded Sargsian will meet a good buddy, sixth-seeded Andre
Agassi, in the next round. Sargsian and Agassi often train together
in Las Vegas, and Agassi helped Sargsian recover after his five-hour
match on Thursday.

“He’s like a big brother to me,” Sargsian said.

Agassi, a straight-sets winner over Jiri Novak, has beaten Sargsian
five times and will have many advantages in their face-off, the most
prominent one being rest. While Agassi has been on the court for 5
hours 6 minutes through the first three rounds, Sargsian has toiled
for 12 hours 5 minutes.

“It’s like a dream to play against such a legend on such a court
in such a big tournament,” Sargsian said of meeting Agassi for the
first time in a Grand Slam event. “Hopefully, I play good. Hopefully,
we have a good match. Hopefully, he doesn’t kill me.”

Sargsian’s second-round victory over 10th-seeded Nicolas Massu was
the second-longest match in United States Open history, falling 17
minutes shy of matching the record set when Stefan Edberg defeated
Michael Chang in the 1992 semifinals. After that one, Sargsian thought
things would get easier, or at least shorter.

“I didn’t think it would be a match like this,” he said. “It’s hard
to beat Massu’s match. We probably did today.”

Asked how he has managed to stay on his feet, Sargsian first credited
his serve, then realized there was no easy explanation.

“I’ve been serving good,” he said. “It prevents me from running side
to side a lot. I don’t know how I did it.”

Sargsian admitted to being sore and tight entering the match, and
he certainly looked it as Mathieu, 22, took the first two sets. But
finding a second wind somewhere, Sargsian rallied to win the next
two sets. Then things really got interesting.

Sargsian took command by breaking Mathieu’s serve to go ahead, 3-2,
but he was broken moments later. Both men visibly exhausted, they
played even through 10 games, tied at 5-5. The next game, with Mathieu
serving, seemingly went on forever, as the two played to eight deuces
before Mathieu eventually prevailed.

Sargsian, physically and mentally spent, thought he was finished.

“After losing that game, I wasn’t very confident, to be honest,”
he said. “But I told myself just to keep fighting.”

Fight he did, and after falling behind by 30-0, he managed to take
the set, then the tie breaker and the match.

Sargsian’s berth in the fourth round is even more surprising than his
career record suggests. Struggling for much of this season, he entered
the Open having won back-to-back matches only once this season. His
experiences on hardcourts had been awful, with first-round exits in
four of his last five events on the surface.

But Sargsian, who has advanced to the third round four times at the
United States Open, said he was always rejuvenated by this tournament.

“In this tournament, I always played unbelievable for some reason
– the last four, five years,” he said. “This year is a perfect
example. I’ve had a pretty horrendous year. I’ve really struggled. But
coming here, just the atmosphere in the city, which is my favorite
city in the world, and this tournament and my fans. I don’t know,
it just clicked. I just started playing good.”

And long.

SPORTSMEN AND COACHES UNHAPPY ABOUT SCANT FUNDING

A1 Plus | 17:00:50 | 02-09-2004 | Sports |

“If we want to win medals in Beijing, our sportsmen should be given
scholarship of at least 1,000 USD”, heavy athletics coach Vahan
Bichakhchyan said Thursday at a news conference. “What can I do with
my 50-dollar salary?”

Journalists asked what sum is needed to reach success in Olympic
Games. “The more we would have the better we could perform. Three
times more than we have now”, National Olympic Committee vice-president
Michael Ispiryan said and added that 350 million drams were targeted
last year for Olympic sportsmen.