2010 Swiss Indoors Basel; David Nalbandian and Novak Djokovic storm into the quarters
The four time runner up and former winner David Nalbandian of Argentine thrashed out his sixth seed foe, Marin Cilic in three sets to confirm his spot in the final eight at the 2010 Swiss Indoors Basel Men’s singles competition.
The score line was 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
It was Nalbandian’s third victory over Marin, who has now dropped down to a win loss mark of 39-21 on the year. The Argentinean who is currently ranked number 29 in the South African Airways ATP list won the title here back in
2004 after knocking down Gonzalez and also finished as runner up back in 2003, 04 as well as 08. The right hander owns a 24-5 mark at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor competition.
As a result of this victory, David will next take on the fourth seed Andy Roddick from the United States of America in the final eight battle. Andy, who holds down the number eight spot in the ATP list, blasted a total of ten aces
and capitalised on three of eight break point opportunities to cruise past Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in two sets.The final score line was 6-3, 6-4.
The American, who had been sidelined for a couple of weeks due to his injury reflected, "I played well. I would like to have not got broken in the second set, however through my first two matches the level has been real good for
me and that is a relief coming off an injury, kind of not been practicing a lot at home only because I was hurt. It is a nice surprise. It is nice to be in good form."
David and Andy have met each other on five occasions however not since the 2006 year-end tournaments in Shanghai. David has triumphed in their previous two clashes in straight sets.
Meanwhile, the Serbian tennis sensation, Novak Djokovic did well to make his way into the quarter final round on Thursday with a two setter victory over Jarkko Nieminen of Finland. The final match score was 6-4, 7-6(6).
World number three Novak battled off four break points on serve before converting on his first chance to take the first set in forty eight minutes on Thursday. The Serbian maintained his form in the second set and as a result clinched
a win in the end.
Djokovic, who is seeded number two to win the title in Basel captured the crown here back in 2009 after getting the better of three time Basel winner Roger Federer in the final.
Jarkko, on the other hand, had been in impressive form since the year’s final Grand Slam, the United States Open in New York. Former world number 13 made his way into the quarter final or better in five straight championships coming
into the week, highlighted by a finalist run at the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
"I was aware of his qualities. Before we got to the court I knew that we were going to have long rallies, I was going to work for my points, and that’s what happened. But when I needed to I served well, and it was a little bit
lucky in the second set to finish with the win,” added Djokovic after his victory on Thursday.
Elsewhere, Radek Stepanek, a wild card entrant of Czech Republic posted his 16th victory in 30 tour level clashes in 2010 after hammering down Santiago Giraldo of Colombia in three sets on Thursday. The final match score was 3-6,
6-2, 6-0. The professional tennis player from the Czech Republic closed out the battle in one hour and forty two minutes.
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