Zagreb Tennis Update – (02/01/12)

Written by: Staff on 1st February 2012

Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open Tennis tournament 2012

Zagreb Tennis Update - (02/01/12)

Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarter final match of the Qatar ExxonMobil ATP Open tennis tournament at Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha, Qatar, 05 January 2012. Nadal won 6-4 and 6-4. EPA/STRINGER |

Singles – First Round: (2) A Bogomolov Jr. def. D Marcan (WC) 6-3 6-1

This isn’t enough to matter to Alex Bogomolov Jr.; he needs at least a semifinal to improve his point total. If he can hold seed and make the final, he is likely to hit the Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: (3) M Youzhny def. S Stakhovsky 6-4 7-6(7-4)

This surface is probably just about the best for Sergiy Stakhovsky to face Mikhail Youzhny, so this is a nice win for Youzhny. He needs a final to budge his points, though.

Singles – First Round: (6) M Baghdatis def. L Rosol 4-6 6-3 6-3

Marcos Baghdatis needs a semifinal to earn any points, a final to make the Top Forty. It’s going to be a tough slog at this rate….

Singles – First Round: (8) I Karlovic def. B Kavcic 7-6(7-2) 6-3

Everything Ivo Karlovic does here counts, so he has a genuine shot at the Top Forty. This won’t be even close to enough to get him there, to be sure.

Singles – First Round: M Berrer def. M Chiudinelli (Q) 7-6(7-3) 6-1

Michael Berrer is down to #105, and that’s with last year’s finalist points still on. This was obviously a win he needed a lot….

Singles – First Round: L Kubot def. M Viola (Q) 6-1 6-2

These days, it seems as if Lukasz Kubot can do well in singles, or well in doubles, but not both. He lost his doubles opener, but he has an outside shot at the Top Fifty in singles this week.

Singles – First Round: J Melzer (Q) def. P Petzschner 6-1 6-3

Jurgen Melzer is sinking fast, but he still knows how to handle his doubles partner. He hasn’t earned any points yet, but if he can hold the seeding to which his actual ranking would entitle him, he could return to the Top Forty this week.

Doubles – First Round: (2) Erlich/A Ram def. Mertinak/Seppi 6-3 6-4

Doubles – First Round: Becker/Waske def. (3) Cerretani/Norman 7-6(7-2) 6-4

Another small step in Benjamin Becker’s comeback, even if it doesn’t help his singles ranking.

Doubles – First Round: Dodig/Pavic (WC) def. A Beck/Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-2