2011 Aircel Chennai Open: Wednesday Singles Review
Four professionals moved into the quarterfinals as play wrapped up at the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open on Wednesday. An ATP 250 event, the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open is one of the season openers and is currently being held at the SDAT Tennis Stadium in Chennai, India.
With first round clashes being wrapped up on Tuesday, Wednesday saw four second round matches with the four winners securing four of eight berths in the quarterfinal round.
Kicking off play for the day was German Bjorn Phau as he played fourth seed Richard Gasquet. The latter had moved into the second round after defeating qualifier Edouard Roger-Vasselin by 6-1, 6-3. Meanwhile, unseeded Phau awarded Simone Bolelli a twin set score defeat of 6-2, 6-2 in their opening clash on Monday.
Playing Gasquet in the second round, Phau met with an expected setback suffering a breadstick loss in the first set. However, Phau bounced back in the second set to lock the fourth seed in a head-to-head battle taking the set into a tiebreaker. Phau eventually clinched a 7-5 victory to go one set each in the match. Coming into the decider, the two players were tied at the same score taking the set into the second tiebreaker. Determined for a win, Phau rushed into the lead and eventually won 7-4.
Meeting Phau in the quarterfinals will be seventh seed Xavier Malisse from Belgium. Having met and defeated Marsel Ilhan from Turkey in their opening clash, Malisse had setup a second round clash with Stephane Robert. In a match that lasted almost an hour, Malisse served three aces, committed only one double fault and lost nine points on service to enjoy a straight set victory of 6-2, 6-2.
Joining the ranks of Malisse and Phau in the quarterfinals was world number 115 Blaz Kavcic as he met and defeated Robert Kendrick. Kavcic defeated fifth seed Jeremy Chardy in their opening clash, doing away with the Frenchman in straight sets. Kavcic continued his sailing at the event as he enjoyed another straight sets victory. In a match that lasted 56 points, Kavcic secured a 6-2, 6-2 victory losing only ten points on service.
Kavcic’s smooth sailing in the event might be hindered as he meets top seed Tomas Berdych for the quarterfinal match. Berdych qualified for the quarterfinal after defeating Croat Ivan Dogig. Earlier, Berdych had defeated Frederico Gil in a coupled bagel-breadstick victory. Berdych extended his no set loss at the event after defeating Dogig in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-4.
After winning the match, Berdych said, "The score may look like as if the match was easy, but I can tell you no match is ever easy. One has to play well to make it look easy. It is more important that I give my best each time I go on court and take every chance that comes my way. I have had a good start in the tournament, but I am not looking at the semi-final or final yet. My next match is what counts."
The remaining four quarterfinalists will be decided on Thursday.
Tags: