John McEnroe plans to work on rediscovering his net game after a straight sets loss to Marcelo Rios in the quarterfinals of the BlackRock Masters.
Rios won the match 6-3, 6-2, but McEnroe twice broke the Rios serve and felt let down by the part of his game that helped make him a three-time Wimbledon champion in the 1980’s.
“I didn’t volley that well and that’s disappointing because I had some chances,” said McEnroe afterwards.
“I didn’t do enough with the ball. Part of that is because he moves so well. I was hitting the ball well, moving pretty well, and you would think after 30 years you would play big points better than I did.
“I didn’t feel bad, I just wasn’t making the shots. I felt like I could make them and I don’t know why I wasn’t doing so. That’s the disappointing thing.”
Despite the disappointment of losing, he assured reporters that he had no plans to retire.
“I think it’s worth putting some time in and working on how to get back to my bread-and-butter – moving forward and finishing the points at net,” he said.
Rios was delighted to reach the semifinals, and enjoyed the match.
"We played really long games and some good points,” he said.
Haarhuis will provide a stiff test.
It was the Dutchman that finally broke the Rios streak of six tournament victories and 25 consecutive match-wins.
Against Sergi Bruguera on Friday evening, Haarhuis was in irresistible form, winning 6-0, 6-4.
“I’m playing well but I need to be really sharp against Rios,” said Haarhuis.
“I beat him in Frankfurt a month ago and so he’s going to be extra sharp and determined to beat me on Saturday. I’m not the favourite, but I have a chance.”
In the other half of the draw, Goran Ivanisevic overcame Jeremy Bates 7-6, 6-3 and will now face Cedric Pioline of France. He beat his countryman Henri Leconte 6-4, 6-4.
“I’m feeling excited,” said Ivanisevic.
“It’s nice to be in the semi’s, nice to be here and it was fun tonight. Against Cedric it will be tough – you never know which Cedric will come out, but for sure it will be tough.”
There is a winner-take-all cheque of $100,000 on offer to the victor at the BlackRock Masters.
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