Rafter’s Loss Puts Kuerten on the Spot

Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil is the only player remaining at the French Open who can stop that impressive reign of Yevgeny Kafelnikov at No. 1.

Sarcasm aside, Kuerten is out there alone after his countryman Fernando Meligeni defeated third-seeded Patrick Rafter of Australia, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in a third-round match Saturday. Rafter needed to reach the quarterfinals if he had a shot at supplanting Kafelnikov.

Kuerten, the champion here two years ago, must win the title again and have a certain number of bonus points to ascend to the top spot. Rafter, for his part, was not downcast at the lost opportunity.

“Part of the game, mate,” he said. “It would have been lovely. But you know, it’s been a good, very good three weeks for me. I’m happy with the way I’ve played and regained the form.”

He is not dwelling on where and when he might reach No. 1.

“Not at all,” he said. “I don’t look at it like that at all. It may be a jinx, like a [Michael] Chang sort of thing. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in the next few weeks. If it doesn’t happen, then listen, it doesn’t happen.”

Rafter has made considerable progress on clay, picking his spots with his natural serve-and-volley game. He lost to Kuerten in the Italian Open final and found himself playing another formidable baseliner from Brazil, the 55th-ranked Meligeni.

The fiery Meligeni has had his best results on clay in 1999, reaching the quarterfinals in three events.

“I’m very emotional on the court, for sure,” he said. “To beat a guy like [Rafter], you have to give everything you can. I feel like I need emotion and show him, ‘I’m here to win the match.’ ”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

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