Men Tennis News Update — Montpellier, Zagreb, Vina Del Mar

Written by: Resendiz on 6th February 2013

Montpellier

2010 winner Gael Monfils is slowly continuing his comeback after an injury-plagued season to forget, with the flamboyant Frenchman making his first-round mark with a defeat of Belgian Ruben Bemelmans 7-5, 6-4. The victory means more steady progress for the No. 108 Monfils, who once stood inside the ATP top 10.

Monfils is unseeded as he fights his way back onto the Tour. Holder and top seed Tomas Berdych leads the field, with the Czech remaining at his sixth position in the rankings after a full weekend of Davis Cup play in a win over Switzerland. Every day of rest is surely welcome after Berdych and Lukas Rosol played the longest match in Davis Cup history, more than seven hours.

French eighth seed Benoit Paire played his first match since an Australian Open first-round loss to Roger Federer, reaching the second round over Adrian Menendez-Maceiras of Spain 6-0, 6-2. ATP board member Sergei Stakhovsky showed that tennis politics have not dulled his competitive senses, defeating ninth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-4 and knocking him out of the top 50. Two more Frenchmen went down at the opening hurdle as flying Finn Jarkko Nieminen beat Florent Serra 6-3, 6-2 and Belgian Steve Darcis made the switch from Davis Cup and a losing cause against Serbia, beating Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 7-6 (7-0).

Other results: Victor Hanescu, Romania, def Guillermo Olaso, Spain 6-1, 7-6 (8-6); Jan Hajek, Czech Republic, def Dudi Sela, Israel 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Zagreb

The event quickly gained altitude with eight first-round singles matches, but with only two seeds making appearances. No. 5 Slovak Martin Klizan got the win over Matteo Viola of Italy 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1, but towering home threat Ivo Karlovic accounted for luckless seventh seed Grigot Dimitrov 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-3) with 18 aces. Ever since news of his reported romance with Maria Sharapova hit the headlines last month, the tennis of “Baby Federer” seem to have eroded. The loss likely means that Dimitrov will not rise above No. 40 but probably won’t fall much either. He has not won a match since losing to Andy Murray in the Brisbane final five weeks ago.

Slovenians put a local into the second round as Grega Zemlja beat Serb Ilija Bozoljac 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 and Blaz Kavcic defeated compatriot Aljaz Bedene in a competitive 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3. Other results: Igor Sijsling, Netherlands, def Nicola Mektic, Croatia, 6-4, 6-2; Somdev Devvarman, India, def

German Berrer 0-6, 7-6 (8-6), 4-1 (retired) with the Indian saving a match point. He also came from a set and a break down against the two-time finalist. Qualifier Philipp Petzschner defeated Croatian Mate Pavic 7-5, 6-2.

Vina Del Mar

Rafael Nadal began reconstructing his fearsome clay reputation as he and partner Juan “Pico” Monaco reached the doubles second round over Czechs Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Dlouhy 6-3 6-2. Nadal had been worried about his knees, which passed the decidedly easy opening test. Even Nadal admitted that: “Doubles are a bit less aggressive. the real test comes in singles. Anyway, I felt pretty good and have a goods sensation about the comeback.”

Nadal puts himself to the test after more than seven months out of the sport when he plays qualifier Federico Delbonis of Argentine, a winner over countryman Guido Pella 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-1), with the Spanish king of clay putting a record of 2227 wins and nine losses on clay singe 2005 on the l

Eighth seed Carlos Berlocq carried the flag for the hosts, with his win over Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia 6-2, 6-1 while Horacio Zeballos beat Diego Schwartzman in an all-Argentine battle 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. Other results: Albert Montanes, Spain, def Nicolas Massu, Chile, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-4; Christian Garin, Chile, def Dusan Lajovic, Serbia, 6-3, 6-4; Tommy Robredo, Spain, def Per Riba, Spain, 6-2, 6-2 and Guillaume Rufin, France, def Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, Spain, 6-3, 6-4.