Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes, Michael Llodra/Nenad Zimonjic through to the quarter-finals of Sony Ericsson Open
Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes defeat Mark Lopez/David Marrero
World number 2, Indian pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes ousted Mark Lopez and David Marrero of Spain in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4 in the second round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Tuesday.
In the first set, none of the two pairs succeeded in breaking other’s serve, taking the set to a tie-break. The Indian pair hit an overhead winner to clinch the mini-break in the tie-break, winning it 7-5.
Bhupathi and Paes fired in 4 aces and 68 per cent of the first serves in the opening set. They saved all the 3 break points they faced in the set. While, Lopez and Marrero saved 5 out of 5 break points in the first set.
The Indians needed a single break of serve in the second set to win it 6-4. Bhupathi and Paes delivered 68 per cent of the first serves in the second set, winning 84 per cent of the points on them. On the other hand, Lopez and
Marrero hit 63 per cent of the first serves and converted 68 per cent of them into points. Bhupathi and Paes converted 1 of the 5 break points they received in the second set. The match lasted for 1 hour and 38 minutes.
The Indian duo will play Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic in the quarter-finals.
Michael Llodra/Nenad Zimonjic beat Xavier Malisse/Jamie Murray
French/Serbian pair of Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic battled past Belgian/British pair of Xavier Malisse and Jamie Murray in three sets 6-7(4), 6-3, 10-5 to qualify for the quarterfinals. It took the French/Serbian pair 1 hour
and 26 minutes to undo their opponents in a tough contest.
Both pairs held their serve in the first twelve games of the opening set, forcing a tie-break. Malisse and Murray dominated the tie-break, claiming 2 mini-breaks to win it 7-5.
The Belgian/British pair hit a couple of aces and a single double fault in the first set. They kept their first serve percentage at 56 per cent and won a whopping 95 per cent of the points on the first serve.
Llodra and Zimonjic broke their opponents twice in the second set to win it 6-3. The French/Serbian pair fired in 59 per cent of the first serves, winning 85 per cent of the points on them.
The world number 8 pair carried its winning momentum and outclassed its opponents in the match tie-break, winning it 10-5. Llodra and Zimonjic delivered 2 aces and extraordinarily 100 per cent of the first serves in the match tie-break.
The French/Serbian pair is slated to meet Bhupathi and Paes in the next match.
Tags: