ABN AMRO WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2015
RAONIC SURVIVES; POSPISIL SETS POSSIBLE MURRAY CLASH IN ROTTERDAM
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
by ATP Staff
|
10.02.2015
No. 2 seed Milos Raonic made a dramatic tournament debut on Tuesday in Rotterdam, scoring a 6-7(5), 6-1, 7-5 win over 88th-ranked qualifier Andrey Kuznetsov at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.
"It’s about fighting through," Raonic said after his three-set victory. "I kept my attitude together, which allowed me to get my game and find answers towards the end, and that’s why I was able to win."
The nearly two-hour match featured 19 aces from the World No. 6 as he fought to claim his first win since making a run to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open. With four of his six titles coming on indoor hard courts, Raonic knows he's seen as a threat.
"I think there is a big target on my back," the Canadian said. "I’m the No. 6 player in the world right now, and I feel like I can do much better. Every round is an opportunity for someone to pick up a positive win."
Italy's Simone Bolelli awaits Raonic next.
"He’s played great over the past 12 months," he said of his next opponent. "I played him in Rome, and that was a very difficult match. I’m going to expect much of the same here."
No. 8 seed Gilles Simon also booked a spot in the second round, rebounding from an upset loss at the hands of Jerzy Janowicz last week in Montpellier.
The Frenchman overcame World No. 46 Joao Sousa 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes, avenging a loss to the Portugal native at last year's Miami Open. Simon will next face compatriot Jeremy Chardy, who advanced to the second round after Julien Benneteau retired at 3-all due to a lower body injury.
World No. 59 Vasek Pospisil earned a potential second-round clash with top seed Andy Murray after dismissing Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2. In his debut at this ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard-court tournament, Pospisil converted three of his four break points to win his first meeting with Kohlschreiber in just 61 minutes. Murray opens his campaign against Nicolas Mahut on Wednesday.
Watch Pospisil's Insider Takeover
Later, No. 3 seed and defending champion Tomas Berdych advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 win over lucky loser Tobias Kamke.
Later, No. 3 seed and defending champion Tomas Berdych advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 win over lucky loser Tobias Kamke.
"It was most definitely not the perfect first round," said Berdych. "Actually, I think it’s better--if you start almost perfect, then you don’t have space to improve. Definitely after today there are many things to improve."
Sergiy Stakhovsky will face Dominic Thiem in the second round after beatingMarcel Granollers 6-2, 7-6(7) in 84 minutes.
Lucky Losers Reach Semi-Finals
Lucky Losers Jamie Murray and John Peers defeated Roberto Bautista Agutand Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-4 in their opening match before receiving a walkover into the semi-finals. The British/Aussie pair’s quarter-final opponents, top seeds Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, withdrew due to Benneteau’s lower back injury.
No. 3 seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau saved all three break points faced to defeat Robert Lindstedt and Marcin Matkowski 6-2, 7-5 in 68 minutes. They next face Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Nenad Zimonjic in the quarter-finals.
Also advancing to the quarter-finals were No. 4 seeds Rohan Bopanna andDaniel Nestor, who defeated Raven Klaasen and Leander Paes 6-2, 6-3, and wild cards Andre Begemann and Robin Haase, who advanced with a 7-6(8), 6-4 win over Lukas Rosol and Dominic Thiem.
Lucky Losers Jamie Murray and John Peers defeated Roberto Bautista Agutand Joao Sousa 6-3, 6-4 in their opening match before receiving a walkover into the semi-finals. The British/Aussie pair’s quarter-final opponents, top seeds Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, withdrew due to Benneteau’s lower back injury.
No. 3 seeds Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau saved all three break points faced to defeat Robert Lindstedt and Marcin Matkowski 6-2, 7-5 in 68 minutes. They next face Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Nenad Zimonjic in the quarter-finals.
Also advancing to the quarter-finals were No. 4 seeds Rohan Bopanna andDaniel Nestor, who defeated Raven Klaasen and Leander Paes 6-2, 6-3, and wild cards Andre Begemann and Robin Haase, who advanced with a 7-6(8), 6-4 win over Lukas Rosol and Dominic Thiem.
No comments:
Post a Comment