BY BY:DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
MASON -- Playing for the first time in three months without doubles partner Jacco Eltingh proved to be a frustrating experience for Paul Haarhuis on Thursday at the Great American Insurance ATP Championship.
The No. 1 ranked doubles team in the world, Eltingh and Haarhuis have compiled a sizzling 32-2 record this season while winning seven tournaments, including Wimbledon and the French Open.
Eltingh also captured the Australian Open, teaming with Jonas Bjorkman while Haarhuis was home with his wife, Anja, who delivered the couples first child, Daan, six months ago.
"Jacco was scheduled to play here and Indianapolis but decided to go home (to the Netherlands) to be with his wife (Hellas), who is pregnant," Haarhuis said. "We'll be back together in Boston, one week before the U.S. Open."
Paired with Mahesh Bhupathi for the first time and seeded No. 2, this duo appeared confused and disoriented in a 7-5, 7-6 loss to Pablo Albano and Nicolas Lapentti in a round of 16 match.
"We didn't play badly or great," Haarhuis said. "No matter who I play with, I want to win. We had our chances, but we didn't get any breaks."
The 32-year-old Haarhuis plans to play at least one more year, while Eltingh will call it quits after the duo goes after the ATP Tour World Doubles Championship in November (indoors on the carpet) in Hartford, Conn.
Only the top eight ranked teams in the world are invited to the ATP Tour World Championship. Haarhuis and Eltingh have amassed 3,376 points, 611 more than the team of Tood Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, and are guaranteed a spot.
Eltingh was planning to skip the U.S. Open, but his wife -- who's due Sept. 13, two days after the U.S. Open -- encouraged him to compete because of the possiblility of winning the Grand Slam.
No player in the history of doubles competition has won the four major tournaments in the same year.
Doubles update
Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde got through a tough match late Thursday night, defeating Sandon Stolle and Cyril Suk 7-6 (5), 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals.
The top seeds and defending ATP champions look to be in good shape. The only other seeded team left in the field is No. 5 Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Daniel Vacek. They advanced Thursday night on a walkover when Marcelo Rios and Korda pulled out because Rios had tendinitis in his left middle finger.
Vacek and Kafelnikov face each other today in singles.
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