Moselle Open – Dolgopolov and Ljubicic advance

Written by: Global Chick on 22nd September 2011

Moselle Open – Dolgopolov and Ljubicic advance

Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine serves to Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their fourth round match on the eighth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 05 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

Popular Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus played and lost his 200^th match on the ATP Tour in Moselle Open in Metz on Wednesday to the No. 3 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine. Dolgopolov had to fight hard in three sets to get through to the third round winning 6-7 (5) 7-5 6-3. The 29^th world ranked Ukrainian will face the winner of Igor Kunitsyn of Russia and Xavier Malisse of Belgium in the quarterfinals.

The No. 8 seed Frenchman Gilles Muller of Luxembourg is through to the quarterfinals after a win over French wildcard Benoit Paire 7-5 (5) 6-4. Muller said, “My opponent is a very talented player which is very difficult as you never know what sot he is going to come up with. I served really well today. I don’t think I had to save any break points on my serve I am very pleased with my game, it’s pretty solid and I feel good on the court.” Muller will face the winner of Oliver Rochus of Belgium and the No. 2 seed Richard Gasquet of France.

Croatian number four seed Ivan Ljubicic moved on to the quarterfinals in Metz defeating French qualifier Noclas Renavand 7-5 7-5. The former top ten player will encounter Philipp Kohlschriber of Germany or Dutch qualifier Igor Sijsling in the quarters.

Frenchman Arnaud Clement overcame friend and fellow countryman Michael Llodra 6-4 6-4 in 80 minutes. Clement won the tournament back in 2003. The former Champion is now up against another French player Nicolas Mahut in the second round. Clement said, “It’s probably the best match of the season for me. It’s never easy to play somebody you know by heart. I am totally aware that Micka arrived here tired and it could have been a totally different result if he was in full form.”

Top seeded team Christopher Kas of Germany and Alexander Peya of Austria won their opening round in two tiebreak sets over Diego Junqueira of Argentina and Stephane Rogert of France. The top seeds will now play Arnaud Clement and Kenny De Schepper of France in the second round. The French team sent British duo Jamie Delgado and Jonathan Marray home after winning in three sets.

Jamie Murray of Britian and Andre Sa of Brazil cruised into the second round winning 6-3 6-2 over Olivier Rochus and Mischa Zverev. Sa and Murray will play French wildcards Pierre-Hugues and Nicolas Renavand after they surprisingly defeated the No. 3 seeds Paul Hanley of Australia and Dick Norman of Belgium in the first round.

SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER, 2011

CENTRE COURT start 12:00 noon

I Kunitsyn (RUS) vs [6] X Malisse (BEL)

[7] P Kohlschreiber (GER) vs [Q] I Sijsling (NED)

Not Before 4:00 PM

N Mahut (FRA) vs [WC] A Clement (FRA)

Not Before 6:00 PM

[1] J Tsonga (FRA) vs [Q] M Rodrigues (FRA)

O Rochus (BEL) vs [2] R Gasquet (FRA)

[1] C Kas (GER) / A Peya (AUT) vs K de Schepper (FRA) / A Clement (FRA)

COURT 1 start 12:00 noon

M Kohlmann (GER) / A Waske (GER) vs [2] L Dlouhy (CZE) / M Melo (BRA)