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Local hero Gustavo Kuerten celebrated his 27 th birthday today, Wednesday, by beating Magnus Norman of Sweden 6/3, 6/2 in the first round of the Brazil Open 2003. After the match, the Center Court audience watched on as Guga was presented with a birthday cake from the event organizers. Kuerten will now face Austrian Werner Eschauer, who beat up and coming Brazilian Júlio Silva earlier today.
The Match
Guga played a very tight match against the Swedish ex-number one, with plenty of cross court play that forced Norman around the court more than he would have liked. But the Brazilian¿s serve was what really showed who was boss: 11 aces and one double fault vs. Norman¿s five aces and five double faults.
The match seemed set to be pretty even until the fourth game when Kuerten broke serve. Just 33 minutes later, Norman was one set down, looking at an unfavorable 6/3 scorecard.
The second set was even easier for the Brazilian. With an early break in the first game, then again in the seventh, Guga left himself to just serve the eighth to close out the match at 6/2. Plenty of time left for birthday cake.
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