Clement stages incredible comeback to beat Grosjean

By Nirmal Shekar

MELBOURNE, JAN. 26. Fighter bombers flew low over the Yarra river, cutting through the thick cloud cover, producing a shrill supersonic roar and drawing people out from homes and on to the streets.

There were parades all over the colourfully bedecked city centre and a huge new arch - to commemorate 100 years of the Federation, a century of freedom from British rule - opened today was the focal point of all celebrations in this city.

Several leading sports superstars, including Cathy Freeman, the aboriginal woman who lit the Sydney Olympic cauldron and won the 400m gold as well as the man called Thorpedo, the swimming sensation Ian Thorpe, were among those who were honoured on this special day.

Ah, Australia Day, which incidentally, falls on the same day as India's Republic Day...and a whole nation was singing paeans to its heroes, living and dead, men and women, young and old.

What an irony, then, that in the celebrated cathedral of Australian tennis at Melbourne Park the only Australians on centre stage were two pairs of former stars fighting it out in the legends doubles final, long before a majority of the ticket holders to the Rod Laver Arena had made their way into the stadium today! And, what an irony, too, that the day's main act featured a pair of unassuming little men, friends and doubles partners, trying to renew what has for so long been a rather tenuous French connection at the Australian Open.

It is not a full-scale French revolution yet - not even after Arnaud Clement saw the noose tightening around his neck, simply shrugged in typical Gallic fashion and wriggled free with tremendous courage for a 5-7, 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-2 semifinal victory over Sebastien Grosjean - and it is unlikely to gain that status even on Sunday after the men's singles final if Andre Agassi has anything to do with it, but it has certainly been a marvellous French revelation here this fortnight.

At the very beginning, as we discussed the prospects of the leading male stars in the year's first Grand Slam event, the names of Grosjean and Clement would hardly have figured in any analysis vis a vis the business end of the tournament.

Yet, here we are today, celebrating this tournament's first French finalist since the `Bounding Basque' Jean Borotra won the title 73 years ago, beating R.O.Cummings in a five set final, winning the fourth 18-16 in an era when tiebreaker was not part of sporting lexicon.

But, for the moment, forget their nationality and turn your attention to a remarkable part of this believe-it-or-not French tale. For, these two men, who grew up within 100km of each other in Provence, and have known each other from their pre-teen years, actually practised together yesterday for today's contest.

Surely, the great Aussies - men such as Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewell and Fred Stolle - would have been pleased to know this. These giants of another era used to sit down for breakfast together on days they played each other, and once the match was over, would adjourn to a pub for a few beers together.

But, in this dollar-driven era of tennis, when friendships are very rare at the top of the sport, it is indeed a privilege to watch men such as Grosjean and Clement, especially when they stage a show as memorable as the one they did today.

It's a pity that the Rod Laver arena was not quite as packed as it was on Thursday night for the Agassi-Rafter match. For, the ones that were fortunate to be here today would have not only witnessed a five-set marathon but also, more importantly, realised that success on a big stage in sport was less about raw talent and more about character.

For, just consider this: After winning a close first set on a break in the 11th game, Grosjean was on song, winning seven games in a row and then leading 5-3 in the third set. It looked a matter of time then. And it was indeed a matter of time, only it took about two hours longer! Serving to stay in the match in the ninth game of the third set, Clement staved off a matchpoint with a forehand winner and then the incredible happened.

Serving for the match, Grosjean tightened up and managed to get only one first serve in. Still he set up matchpoint No.2 with a forehand winner only to be denied by Clement at the net. And, from that point began the long slide to a seemingly inevitable defeat.

Stripped bare and shown up for what he was in his first ever Grand Slam semifinal, the charming Grosjean, much the better shotmaker, much the more powerful server, succumbed to a man who simply refused to accept defeat.

After winning the third set tiebreak, Clement broke Grosjean's serve in the 11th game of the fourth set and served out the set to knot up the match.

In the fifth, Clement opened up a 5-1 lead with a double break and then served out the match in the eighth game on his fifth matchpoint after four hours and eight minutes on the court.

Grosjean, who couldn't put a foot wrong for the best part of three sets, had 78 unforced errors in the match. And over 75 per cent of them came after 5-3 in the third set.

Yet, it would be unfair to Clement, who will play Agassi in the final on Sunday, to look at this match as a gift from his good friend. Yes, Grosjean simply couldn't come to terms with the fact that he was a point away from being in a Grand Slam final. But, for his part, teetering on the very edge, Clement simply refused to go down and took advantage of Grosjean's nerves to turn the match around.

Williams sisters triumph

Earlier in the day, the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, compensated a bit for the disappointment they experienced in singles as they beat Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu 6-2, 4- 6, 6-4 in the women's doubles final.

Playing the event on a wild card offered by the organisers, the Williams sisters started very well but saw Davenport and Morariu fight back to take the second set and then open up a 3-1 lead in the decider. But, when the wake up call did come, the Wimbledon and Olympic champions were awesome as they powered their way to victory in an hour and 46 minutes.

``We love to play with each other,'' said Venus. And little sister nodded. ``We always get along. We never fight. That is a good thing,'' said Serena.

The results: (prefix denotes seedings):

Men: Semifinal: 15-Arnaud Clement bt 16- Sebastien Grosjean 5-7, 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-2.

Women: doubles: final: Venus Williams and Serena Williams bt 7- Lindsay Davenport and Corina Morariu 6- 2, 4-6, 6-4.

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