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Querrey Answers Emotion

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Times Staff Writer

Through designer sunglasses and under gaudy sun caps, a Los Angeles crowd watched the Countrywide Classic, fervently rooting for an American resurgence on the ATP Tour.

When Maryland’s Paul Goldstein upset second-seeded Lleyton Hewitt, the crowd at the Los Angeles Tennis Center stood in appreciation for five minutes. When Thousand Oaks phenom Sam Querrey took the Grandstand court at UCLA, a fan section dubbed Sam’s Club grunted and cheered, turning a drab Tuesday into a Friday night football game.

When Floridian Mardy Fish pushed Russia’s Marat Safin in the second set, the crowd encouraged him through every long, draining point.

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In the end, accompanied by the urgings from the crowd, two Americans -- including the most promising one -- advanced to the second round with significant victories.

Goldstein, a 29-year-old with a quick first step, defeated Hewitt, 6-4, 6-4.

Querrey, the 18-year-old with a 135-mph serve, defeated Vincent Spadea, 7-5, 6-4. Earlier in the day, Safin beat Fish, 6-4, 7-5.

A day after Andre Agassi extended his farewell tour, and Andy Roddick picked up a mentor in Jimmy Connors, it was Querrey, labeled by many as the next homegrown star, and Goldstein, upsetting the 13th-ranked Australian, who illuminated the future of American tennis.

“This is just a real thrill,” Goldstein said. “I’ve been on the tour for nine years and this is as good a win as I’ve ever had.

“After four years at Stanford as the enemy, I didn’t know what kind of support I’d get.”

Turns out, it was phenomenal.

The same was true for Querrey. He had a 500-person cheering section, including about 30 of his closest high school friends, who painted their chests to spell out “Sam’s Club” in the green of Thousand Oaks High.

“It was exciting,” Querrey said of the raucous support. “Tennis should be like that more often.”

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Goldstein, meanwhile, broke Hewitt’s opening serve to win the favor of a crowd looking for an upset. And he didn’t disappoint them.

Even after he won the first eight points of the match against Querrey, Spadea, he of the jeweled red trucker hat and baggy white shorts, seemed rattled by the crowd. Once, after losing a point, Spadea took a swing at a decorative plant.

Querrey contributed to Spadea’s sour mood, hitting serves and volleys past his opponent in the second set, registering eight aces in the match.

“Once I had my first forehand winner,” Querrey said, “things started rolling.”

Much of that was because of his fan support. Before the match, he warned his friends of tennis etiquette and reminded them to be courteous of Spadea. After the win, his cheering section implored Querrey to take a bow. He smiled, embarrassed, then threw a shy wave in their direction.

He was cheered off the court mostly by friends but also by fans who want to see improved American tennis, and so desperately seem to hope that it’s Querrey who leads the trend. “I’m getting that vibe from everyone,” Querrey said.

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