posted on Jun, 4 2004 @ 11:47 AM
Unseeded Gaston Gaudio shocked David Nalbandian in straight sets to reach the French Open final on Friday. Gaudio won the all-Argentine battle 6-3 7-6
(7/5) 6-0 to reach the first Grand Sam final of his career.
Nalbandian had begun as the favourite to reach the final against a player who had never been to this stage of a Grand Slam before butIit was a
disappointing display from Nalbandian, the 2002 Wimbledon finalist. Nalbandian was playing in his third Grand Slam semi-final, but he was outfought by
the unseeded Gaudio. After clinching a tight first set, the match turned decisively in Gaudio's favour when Nalbandian blew a 5-1 lead and two set
points in the second. Gaudio took it on a tiebreak before Nalbandian fell apart in the third set.
Gaudio is the first Argentine to reach the men's final at Roland Garros since Guillermo Vilas in 1982. However, he could face another compatriot in
Sunday's final, with third seed Guillermo Coria facing Britain's Tim Henman in the other semi-final.
Nalbandian said he had been hampered by a stomach injury, which particularly affected his serve.