Ivan Dodig beats Vincent Millot in the first round of Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell
World number 56 Ivan Dodig of Croatia cruised past world number 150, qualifier Vincent Millot of France in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in the opening round of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell at the Real Club de Tennis Barcelona on
Tuesday. It took the Croatian just one hour and 25 minutes to oust his opponent in a one sided contest.
Dodig took the lead from the start of the match as he broke Millot in the first and third game, racing to a 4-0 lead. The French reduced Dodig’s lead, breaking the Croatian in the sixth game to take the score to 4-2. However, Dodig
claimed his third break in the seventh game and held his serve in the next game, clinching the first set 6-2.
The Croatian converted three of the six break point opportunities he received in the first set. The 26-year-old succeeded in saving four of the five break points he faced in the opening set.
After losing the first set miserably, Millot broke Dodig in the opening game of the second set to go up 1-0. But, the Frenchman’s success was shot lived as Dodig broke back immediately to level the score at 1-1. Both players held
their serves in the next four games to take the score to 3-3. The Croatian broke again in the eighth game, winning the second set 6-3.
Dodig had a low first serve percentage in the second set as he delivered just 49 percent of the first serves, winning 65 percent of the points on them.
With this win, the Croatian improved his win/loss record to 12-7 this year. This is the first time that Dodig is appearing at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
The Croatian is drawn to face world number 5 Robin Soderling of Sweden in the second round. Third seeded Soderling received a bye in the first round.
This will be the second meeting between Dodig and Soderling. In their only previous meeting, the Swede defeated Dodig in three thrilling sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the round of 64 at the Sony Ericsson Open earlier this year.
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