St Petersburg Open is under the way – Berrer comes out victorious

Written by: Global Chick on 26th October 2011

St Petersburg Open is under the way - Berrer comes out victorious

Michael Berrer of Germany returns the ball to Nikolay Davydenko of Russia during their quarter final match at the Tennis Kremlin Cup tournament in Moscow, Russia, 21 October 2011. Davydenko won 6-3 and 6-2. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY |

Defending Champion Mikhail Kukushkin was defeated in the first round of St Petersburg Open on Tuesday by Michael Berrer of Germany 6-1 4-6 6-4. Berrer faces the winner of Janko Tipsarevic and Olivier Rochus of Belgium in the second round.

The number eight seed Dmitry Tursunov won against fellow Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets 7-5 6-3. The popular blogger is the owner of one title already this year in s-Hertogenbosch. The World No. 39’s next opponent is Italian Potito Starace.

Marin Cilic has set up a second round clash with Indian Somdev Devvarman. Cilic overcame qualifier Sergei Bubka in just under two hours 6-4 7-6 (1). Devvarman had a comfortable win over Slovak Karol Beck 6-2 6-3. The Indian is ranked World No. 84 this week. His best results came in 2009 when he was the finalist in Chennai and this year in Johannesburg when he lost to Kevin Anderson in the final of the Johannesburg Open.

In the top half of the draw Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic downed wildcard Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-3 6-4. Rosol is one of the very few players on the ATP World Tour that plays double handed on both sides. The Word No. 78 will now meet with Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, who had a surprise win over top seed Gilles Simon yesterday.

The number seven seed Alex Bogomolov Jr. won easily over two times semi-finalist Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-3 6-1 in just over one hour.

Defending doubles Champions Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace kicked off their St Petersburg campaign with a opening round win over Andreas Seppi and Igor Zelenay in straight sets.

The number three seeds British duo Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins also had a straight set first round win over Alex Bogomolov Jr. and Lukas Dlouhy.

Other doubles results:

M Mertinak (SVK) / M Youzhny (RUS) d [4] J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) 67(5) 63 10-4

M Granollers (ESP) / P Riba (ESP) d J Knowle (AUT) / D Norman (BEL) 63 63

SCHEDULE – WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER, 2011

CENTRE COURT start 1:00 pm

I Andreev (RUS) vs [6] M Granollers (ESP)

[WC] M Elgin (RUS) / A Kudryavtsev (RUS) vs M Cilic (CRO) / L Zovko (CRO)

O Rochus (BEL) vs [2] J Tipsarevic (SRB)

Not Before 7:00 PM

J Benneteau (FRA) vs [5] M Youzhny (RUS)

A Mannarino (FRA) vs L Rosol (CZE)