China Open 2010: Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko to play on Wednesday
A total of four second round clashes are scheduled on Wednesday at the China Open Men’s Competition in Beijing with last year’s winner Novak Djokovic and world number four Nikolay Davydenko from Russia leading the way.
French player Gilles Simon will take on German qualifier Michael Berrer in the first match at the Lotus Court. The 25-year-old Gilles stands at a 16-12 match record for 2010 and he is coming off his seventh career ATP World Tour crown at the Open de Moselle
in Metz last month. The overall record of the Frenchman sits at 7-2 in ATP World Tour finals. Gilles played his first round of the Beijing event on Monday where he easily got the better of Sam Querrey of America in three sets. The final match score was 6-3,
3-6, 6-2.
The 30-year-old Berrer on the other hand qualified into the main draw of the event with a couple of victories over the weekend. He won his first round match after beating Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in three sets on Monday. The number three German is
playing in Beijing for the second occasion in his career. He made his debut appearance 4 years ago where he was defeated in the second round at the hands of Hyung Taik Lee. Michael enjoys a career record of 2-12 versus the top ten players and recorded his
first victory over the world number six Nikolay Davydenko, who withdrew as a result of a wrist injury in the second round in Dubai back in 2008 before falling to Marcos.
Second up is the world number two Novak Djokovic who will meet Mardy Fish from America. The 23-year-old Djokovic has reached the quarters or better on eleven occasions in fourteen championships this season. This is his first competition since advancing into
the final of the United States Open last month. The Serbian enjoys a match record of 46-13 in 2010. After making his way into the title battle in New York, Djokovic also assisted his side to a Davis Cup semi-final win against Czech Republic by triumphing in
a four setter clash over Tomas Berdych. His only crown this season came in Dubai back in March where he ousted Youzhny in three sets.
The 28-year-old Fish on the other hand comes in with a personal best match record of 40-14 in 2010. He stands at 2-2 in ATP World Tour finals this season, capturing back-to-back crowns in Newport and Atlanta. At the U.S Open, Mardy made his way into the
fourth round where he was dismissed by Djokovic. The American has a 5-3 record against the top ten players on the tour this year. He has improved his rankings from 108 in March to number 19 in 2010.
Next up on the Lotus Court will be another American ace John Isner who will play Philipp Kohlschreiber for the very first occasion in his career. The 26-year-old Isner enjoys a match record of 32-19 for this season. He won the Auckland tournament this year
after defeating Clement whereas he reached the final rounds in Belgrade, Atlanta and Memphis. The American is currently ranked number 22 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals. Philipp on the other hand, reached the semi-final round of Auckland
and Metz and the quarters in San Jose, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, Munich, Halle as well as ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada this season. Kohlschreiber is currently ranked number 32 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals.
In the last singles match of the day, Davydenko will try to record his 400th career victory and his first one over last season’s finalist Marin Cilic from Croatia. Marin holds a 3-0 lifetime record versus the Russian and two of his victories have
come at the China Open in straight sets back in 2007 and 2009.
Tags: