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DELTA TOUR OF CHAMPIONS Dec. 08, 2001
Korda Makes McEnroe Pay <br />The Honda Challenge in London's Royal Albert Hall is down to the last four.
<br />Petr Korda only decided to play on the Delta Tour of Champions after John McEnroe talked him into it, and the Czech repaid the American by beating him at the Honda Challenge in London.
Playing effortlessly from the baseline, Korda overpowered McEnroe 6-4, 7-6(5) to set up a semifinal showdown with Pat Cash. McEnroe, who had already won his first two round-robin matches, also advances and will meet Guy Forget in the last four on Saturday.
Despite the loss it was an impressive performance from McEnroe. He gave away ten years to his younger opponent and promised to turn the tables if they meet again in Sunday's final.
"Korda is going to be stiff tomorrow and then if he reaches the final he will be even stiffer," said McEnroe. "That's when I am going to jump on him."
To get that far, McEnroe will have to take care of Forget while Korda needs to defeat Cash, but at this point, the Czech is just happy to be here.
"I went to Naples to watch John play earlier this year and he was trying to persuade me to play on the tour," said Korda. "He even tried to do the scissor kick (Korda's trademark victory celebration) but he almost pulled a muscle."
"I play tennis from my heart and with a little bit of luck this tour can really pick up because people love to see these players. If I can be a little piece of that puzzle then I am happy."
Korda will wait to see how he feels after the Honda Challenge before committing himself to further events, but as he showed against McEnroe en route to a 100 per cent round robin record, he still has the tools.
Forget completed a perfect round robin record with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mikael Pernfors, while Jeremy Bates beat Henri Leconte 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.
<br />Friday's Results
Pat Cash d. Boris Becker w/o<br />Petr Korda d. John McEnroe 6-4, 7-6(5)<br />Guy Forget d. Mikael Pernfors 6-3, 6-2<br />Jeremy Bates d. Henri Leconte 4-6, 6-3, 10-4*
* On a Champions Tie-Break
Current Standings
ACCORD GROUP<br />Forget 3 - 0<br />Cash 2 - 1<br />Becker 1 - 2<br />Pernfors 0 - 3
CIVIC GROUP<br />Korda 3 - 0<br />McEnroe 2 - 1<br />Bates 1 - 2<br />Leconte 0 - 3
Saturday's Schedule
Starting at 1PM<br />McEnroe v Forget
At 7.30PM<br />Cash v Korda
Korda Makes McEnroe Pay <br />The Honda Challenge in London's Royal Albert Hall is down to the last four.
<br />Petr Korda only decided to play on the Delta Tour of Champions after John McEnroe talked him into it, and the Czech repaid the American by beating him at the Honda Challenge in London.
Playing effortlessly from the baseline, Korda overpowered McEnroe 6-4, 7-6(5) to set up a semifinal showdown with Pat Cash. McEnroe, who had already won his first two round-robin matches, also advances and will meet Guy Forget in the last four on Saturday.
Despite the loss it was an impressive performance from McEnroe. He gave away ten years to his younger opponent and promised to turn the tables if they meet again in Sunday's final.
"Korda is going to be stiff tomorrow and then if he reaches the final he will be even stiffer," said McEnroe. "That's when I am going to jump on him."
To get that far, McEnroe will have to take care of Forget while Korda needs to defeat Cash, but at this point, the Czech is just happy to be here.
"I went to Naples to watch John play earlier this year and he was trying to persuade me to play on the tour," said Korda. "He even tried to do the scissor kick (Korda's trademark victory celebration) but he almost pulled a muscle."
"I play tennis from my heart and with a little bit of luck this tour can really pick up because people love to see these players. If I can be a little piece of that puzzle then I am happy."
Korda will wait to see how he feels after the Honda Challenge before committing himself to further events, but as he showed against McEnroe en route to a 100 per cent round robin record, he still has the tools.
Forget completed a perfect round robin record with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Mikael Pernfors, while Jeremy Bates beat Henri Leconte 4-6, 6-3, 10-4.
<br />Friday's Results
Pat Cash d. Boris Becker w/o<br />Petr Korda d. John McEnroe 6-4, 7-6(5)<br />Guy Forget d. Mikael Pernfors 6-3, 6-2<br />Jeremy Bates d. Henri Leconte 4-6, 6-3, 10-4*
* On a Champions Tie-Break
Current Standings
ACCORD GROUP<br />Forget 3 - 0<br />Cash 2 - 1<br />Becker 1 - 2<br />Pernfors 0 - 3
CIVIC GROUP<br />Korda 3 - 0<br />McEnroe 2 - 1<br />Bates 1 - 2<br />Leconte 0 - 3
Saturday's Schedule
Starting at 1PM<br />McEnroe v Forget
At 7.30PM<br />Cash v Korda
