Ivan Dodig, Denis Istomin through to the second round at the Sony Ericsson Open
Ivan Dodig beats Andrey Golubev 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-0
World number 57 Ivan Dodig of Croatia upset world number 37 Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in three sets 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-0 in the opening round at the Sony Ericsson Open on Wednesday. It took the Croatian 2 hours and 14 minutes to
beat his opponent.
The first set saw both players breaking each other’s serve twice, taking the set to a tie-break. Golubev clinched the mini-break late in the tie-break to win it 9-7. The Kazakh was erratic with his serves as he hit 3 double faults
in the first set. He delivered 54 per cent of the first serves, winning 80 per cent of the points on them.
After losing a close opening set, Dodig came back in the match as he broke Golubev once in the second set, winning it 6-4. The Croatian fired in 2 aces and 63 per cent of the first serves in the second set. The 26-year-old converted
1 of the 2 break points he received in the second set. The right handed saved the only break point he faced in the set.
Dodig completely dominated the deciding set as he did not lose a single game in the set to win it 6-0. The Croatian hit winners from all around the court in the final set. He hit 74 per cent of the first serves in the third set,
winning 79 per cent of the points on them. Dodig converted all the 3 break points he received in the set. He did not face any break point in the deciding set.
The Croatian will meet world number 4 Robin Soderling of Sweden in the next round.
Denis Istomin defeats Donald Young 6-4, 6-3
World number 54 Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan prevailed over world number 128 Donald Young of USA in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to move to the second round.
Istomin needed a single break of serve in the first set, winning it 6-4. He delivered 68 per cent of the first serves and converted 68 per cent of them into points.
The Uzbek broke his opponent twice in the second set, winning it 6-3. The 24-year-old delivered 4 aces and 2 double faults in the second set. He hit 58 per cent of the first serves in the second set, winning a whopping 93 per cent
of the points on them. The Uzbek capitalized on 2 of the 3 break points he received in the second set.
Istomin is drawn to meet world number 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the second round. The Serbian is undefeated this season, winning all of his 18 matches this year.
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