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Kuerten finally challenged

Moroccan Alami puts up a fight, but can't dethrone champ

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Gustavo Kuerten uses a backhand to return to Karim Alami. AP

PARIS (Reuters) -- Top seed and French Open favorite Gustavo Kuerten came through a tough match against Moroccan Karim Alami to reach the last 16 with a nervy 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5), 6-2 victory.

The defending champion took the first set comfortably enough but then found himself struggling as Alami leveled the match in the second set tiebreak and then broke the Brazilian for a 5-4 lead in the third.

Kuerten pulled himself together to break back and force another tiebreak, which he won 7-5 as a tiring Alami mis-hit a simple return on set point.

The Brazilian made an early break in the fourth set and although he never looked entirely comfortable against Alami's booming groundstrokes, he broke again for 5-2.

Kuerten duly served out for the match and a fourth-round clash with American qualifier Michael Russell.

 

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