Berdych Karlovic and Haas Advance to Second Round at US Open

Written by: Global Chick on 30th August 2011

Berdych Karlovic and Haas Advance to Second Round at US Open

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic serves to Romain Jouan of France during their first round match on the first day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 29 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic had a comfortable win over French qualifier Romain Jouan 6-2 7-6 (4) 6-1.

The number nine seed was made to work hard to win the second set in a tiebreak but managed to win the other sets in one hour combined. Berdych fired seven aces past Jouan today and he hit 34 winners.

Berdych, who hasn’t been past the fourth round at the US Open is hoping this year will be the one. The former Wimbledon finalist has reached the fourth round here at Flushing Meadows three times in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Next up for Berdych is Italian Fabio Fognini, who took out Argentinian Horacio Zeballos 5-7 6-4 7-6 (5) 6-4.

Croatian Ivo Karlovic also won in straight sets today over former world number five Fernando Gonzales of Chile 6-4 6-4 7-6 (3). The big Croat served 23 aces past Gonzalez today. The Chilean has been sidelined by injuries for most part of 2011. He is currently ranked No. 296 on the singles ranking.

Karlovic is one of the most awkward players to play on the tour due to his big serve. The 208 centimetres tall Croat has not had a good lead up to the US Open with his best result being a third round loss in Montreal. Karlovic will clash with Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet had an easy win over Sergiy Stakhovsky of the Ukraine 6-4 6-4 6-0.

33-year-old German Tommy Haas won his first round today against French qualifier Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy in four sets 6-3 6-4 6-7 (5) 6-1. Haas has also been hampered by injuries in the last year. The former world number two has only won three matches since Roland Garros this season.

Tommy Haas will face the winner of No. 15 seed Viktor Troicki and Alejandro Falla of Colombia in the second round.