DJOKOVIC STEPS UP; MELZER OUSTS DOLGOPOLOV

Written by: Staff on 3rd October 2012

DJOKOVIC STEPS UP; MELZER OUSTS DOLGOPOLOV

epa00131712 Austria's Jergen Melzer returns a volley to United States' Andy Roddick during World Group First Round Davis Cup singles action at the Mohegan Sun Casino Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut on Sunday, 08 February 2004. Roddick defeated Melzer in straight sets 2-0 (6-4, 6-2). EPA/CJ GUNTHER |

Courtesy of ATP: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/10/40/Beijing-Wednesday-Melzer-Beats-Dolgopolov-Djokovic-In-Action.aspx

One day after being taken to three sets by Michael Berrer in his opener, top seed Novak Djokovic stepped up on Wednesday in his second-round China Open match to dismiss Carlos Berlocq for the loss of four games. The Serb squandered a 5-0 lead in the second set, but broke the No. 50-ranked Berlocq for the sixth time to clinch victory in 74 minutes.

“I won the match. So in my eyes, that’s good enough,” Djokovic said. “I have played a great match, much better than I have done in the first round. Yes, it was interesting couple of games in the end of the match where he came up with some good shots. We played some entertaining points. I should have done a better job in winning those games and winning this match before, but in the end I won in straight sets. That’s what matters the most.”

The 25-year-old Djokovic is playing his first tournament since finishing runner-up to Andy Murray in five sets in the US Open final. He is bidding to win the Beijing title for the third time after victories in 2009 (d. Cilic) and 2010 (d. Ferrer); he has an 11-0 event record.

Djokovic improved to a 62-11 match record on the season. He has reached three Grand Slam finals in 2012, winning the Australian Open (d. Nadal) before finishing runner-up at Roland Garros (l. to Nadal) and the US Open. He also won ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles at Sony Open Tennis in Miami (d. Murray) and the Rogers Cup in Toronto (d. Gasquet).

Next up Djokovic will face former World No. 8 Jurgen Melzer, who reached his third ATP World Tour quarter-final of the season as he upset sixth-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6(9), 2-6, 6-1. The Austrian withstood 13 aces from Dolgopolov and converted two of his 11 break points to claim the second-round win in one hour and 47 minutes.

The 31-year-old Melzer, who has slipped to No. 37 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, improved to a 17-20 mark on the season. He won his fourth ATP World Tour title at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis (d. Raonic) and was a quarter-finalist at the PBZ Zagreb Indoors (l. to Berrer).

Two days on from stunning fourth seed Marin Cilic, Romanian wild card Marius Copil saw his run in Beijing come to an end, falling to Germany’s Florian Mayer 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. World No. 29 Mayer broke serve four times from 10 opportunities and withstood 13 aces as he fought back to defeat the No. 221-ranked Copil in one hour and 43 minutes. The 28-year-old Mayer is through to the quarter-finals in Beijing for the first time in four visits.

Third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was given a walkover into the quarter-finals. Nikolay Davydenko withdrew from their second-round contest with a right toe injury.