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(E) Talaja in finals at Japan Open
By Nenad N. Bach | Published  10/8/2002 | Sports | Unrated
(E) Talaja in finals at Japan Open

Four unseeded players in finals at Japan Open

 

TOKYO (Ticker) - American Jill Craybas and Denmark's Kenneth Carlsen took care of the last remaining seeds Saturday in the semifinals of the Japan Open.

Craybas, in the semifinals for the first time in her career, recorded a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over second-seeded Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand. She will try to become the 12th woman to win her first career title in 2002 when she faces Croatian Silvija Talaja on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Craybas lost in the second round of this hardcourt event last year to Tanasugarn.

Carlsen, seeking his first title since Hong Kong in 1998, won his first career meeting with eighth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-5).

"I thought it was a tight match, just a couple of points here and there which decided the first and second sets," Carlsen said. "Luckily it was me. He was trying to get the initiative, trying to play faster than I. I was trying to keep the ball in play as much as possible and to serve well."

The 29-year-old Carlsen is in a final for the first time since 1999 at Newport. He had reached the semifinals only once this year, losing to Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov at Halle in June. Carlsen had shoulder surgery twice in 2000 and was just 9-7 last year.

"They did the surgery in February 2000 and it didn't work out," Carlsen said. "I went half a year and it didn't get better, so I did a second surgery. The first one was in Denmark and the second was in New York. The second worked out better, but it took a long time to get better. They said it would take 6-8 months, and I got back after 9 1/2 months."

Srichaphan ousted Australian Lleyton Hewitt, the world's top-ranked player and reigning Wimbledon Champion, in the semifinals. He was trying to reach a final for the fourth time this year.

"We were both playing well, and we were both trying to play the final," Srichaphan said. "I missed a lot of shots because I was going close to the lines, he's a quick player from the back so I had to hit close to the line. I tried to finish the points off too early so I was kind of rushing myself, that's why I missed the shot. I tried my best. I was the last Asian in the draw, the crowd was behind me and I could feel it. I wanted to show them good tennis."

Talaja needed just 65 minutes to beat American Sarah Taylor, 6-3, 6-4. The 24-year-old defeated local favorite and top seed Ai Sugiyama, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, in the quarterfinals. She is looking for her third career title and first since 2000 at Gold Coast.

Swedish qualifier Magnus Norman will seek his 13th career title when he faces Carlsen on Sunday. Norman, in the semifinals for the first time in 2002, got past American Vincent Spadea, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

The 26-year-old led the ATP Tour with 10 titles during the 1999-2000 seasons. He reached two finals last year, but his season ended in August when he underwent hip surgery.

"I spent three months on crutches, and it was tough, and I was very disappointed," Norman said. "After 1 1/2 months I was supposed to throw the crutches away, but I still couldn't walk. That was a very tough moment for me, but I always believed in myself. I'm very stubborn and I wanted to really come back."

The men's champion gets $111,600 and the women's winner receives $27,000.

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