Tennis: Moya leads Spanish charge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Carlos Moya and Felix Mantilla, of Spain, led a charge by clay- court specialists into the last eight at the Australian Open as the baseline brigade intensified their challenge, writes Derrick Whyte.
Their fourth-round victories in searing heat guaranteed Spain its best Grand Slam performance away from the slow red clay courts of Europe.
The unseeded Moya, who beat the defending champion Boris Becker in the first round, added the Swede Jonas Bjorkman to his list of victims, winning a marathon five-setter 6-3, 1-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. His victory set up a meeting with Mantilla, guaranteeing Spain at least one semi-finalist. Mantilla proved too strong for unseeded American MaliVai Washington, winning 7- 5, 6-2, 6-1.
Michael Chang, Tim Henman's conqueror, dropped his first set of the tournament before overpowering the unseeded Ukrainian Andrei Medvedev 4-6, 6-2, 6- 2, 6-1 and in the last men's match of the day, the Chilean ninth seed Marcelo Rios took his furthest step in a Grand Slam tournament by defeating seventh seeded Swede Thomas Enqvist 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-7, 6-3.
Great Britain's Neil Broad and his partner Piet Norval of South Africa, seeded 16, scored a shock victory over the second seeds, Byron Black of Zimbabwe and Canadian Grant Connell, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the fourth round of the men's doubles.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments