Tennis: Time for faceless toilers to stand tall

Olivier Rochus plays on centre court today. Picture / Richard Robinson

As a youngster growing up in Namur, Belgium, Olivier Rochus' big ambition was "to be tall".

The 1.65m Rochus gets the opportunity to be tall in tennis terms today when he plays the 1.76m top-seeded Argentine, Guillermo Coria, for a semifinal spot at the Heineken Open.

Rochus, world No 71 and with a solitary ATP singles title from Palermo five years ago to his name, epitomises the battlers who plugged away this week on the outside courts while the fancy dans take up residence on centre court.

His 6-2, 6-3 win over Italian qualifier Federico Luzzi took place on the same territory where he removed eighth-seeded Peruvian Luis Horna on Monday, out back at the ASB Tennis Centre.

That changes today.

"Finally," Rochus quipped.

So, too, for sixth-seeded Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela, who has done his business on the margins this week, and breezed past Brazilian Ricardo Mello 6-2, 6-1 yesterday.

Rochus, who turns 24 next week, isn't about to be intimidated at his second meeting with world No 7 Coria.

He's in good touch, after reaching the semifinals of the Australian hardcourt tournament in Adelaide, beating world No 20 German Nicolas Kiefer in the process, and winning his second doubles title with compatriot Xavier Malisse.

For another thing, he won his only previous meeting with Coria, albeit on Wimbledon's grass in three sets in 2003.

Clay and hardcourt maestro Coria probably thinks grass is for cows, not having got past the second round at Wimbledon in three attempts.

Still, a win's a win and as Rochus explained with impeccable logic "he's not No 7 in the world for nothing".

"I think I'm playing really good tennis and Adelaide gave me a lot of confidence," he said.

Rochus worked hard in the off-season, did plenty of cycling and weights and the benefits are showing.

Chela will hit centre court today against Italian Potito Starace.

The interesting aspect about world No 26 Chela's progress is, with the carnage among the higher ranked players, he could make Saturday's final.

And if that happens you could call it a mini-triumph for the faceless toilers on the outside courts.