Men Tennis Update – Dubai, Acapulco, Delray Beach

Written by: Staff on 26th February 2013

Men Tennis Update - Dubai, Acapulco, Delray Beach

epa03600617 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Tunisian Malek Jaziri during the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25 February 2013. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

Dubai

Holder Roger Federer overcame a rocky opening set before motoring to a win in his opening match, producing a turnaround 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Tunisian wild card Malek Jaziri. The Swiss second seed, playing for his sixth trophy at the Aviation club, was caught momentarily by the No. 128 who is just back after six months away with injury.

Federer settled into his game after dropping the opener to speed into the second round with ten aces and five breaks of serve from 11 chances. “The margins are small,” said Federer. “He played a great first set., I struggled with the wind; it was also a first round. I’m happy I made the turnaround, it’s a big relief for me, I’m glad to get another chance to move ahead.”

Two-time finalist Mikhail Youzhny made a great escape to start his 12th appearance at the event, staging a fighting comeback over Blaz Kavcic 1-6, 6-1, 6-3. The Russian got off slowly on a court he knows well. “It was a bad start for me, in the first half hour, first set, I played so many mistakes.” Eighth seed Youzhny, who lost title bids in 2007 and 2010 to Federer and Novak Djokovic respectively, was joined as a winner on opening day by seventh seed Andreas Seppi.

The Italian who had lost five times in the Dubai first round finally broke his duck at the expense of Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3, 7-5. The Frenchman is still looking for his first victory of 2013 after missing more than a year of play with a knee injury.

Czech Lukas Rosol, the man who crushed Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, started with a defeat of Italian Matteo Viola 6-3, 7-5. German qualifier Daniel Brands put out Frenchman Florent Serra 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 while Robert Bautista Agut beat Belgian David Goffin 6-2, 7-5.

Acapulco

While what could well be the world’s most dangerous event proceeds under airport-like security and a reported 4,000 security personnel involved, fans who got through the metal detectors were no doubt counting the hours until the appearance of Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard is seeded second behind compatriot David Ferrer at the Princess resort.

But big names were rested on opening day, with fifth seed Austrian Jurgen Melzer becoming the first to fall as he went down to Portugal’s Joao Sousa 6-4, 6-3. Spain’s Pablo Andujar beat qualifier Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Two Mexican wild card hopes were quickly eliminated with Argentine Leo Mayer defeating Miguel Reyes-Varela 6-0, 7-6(6) and Argentine Martin Alund stopped Daniel Garza 7-6(7), 7-5. Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo beat Spain’s Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Delray Beach

Third seed Sam Querrey began the final North American hardcourt tune-up prior to Indian Wells next week , reaching the second round when 34-year-old bulldog Mike Russell retired trailing 6-2, 2-2 with a leg injury, Querrey was the only home player on court, with Croatian fifth seed Ivan Dodig getting past Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-3.

Veteran Belgian Xavier Malisse, who has spent most of his career in Florida, got quickly accustomed to conditions as he reached the second round over Colombia’s Alejandro Falla 6-3, 6-3. But Russian Evgeny Donskoy beat Steven Darcis of Belgium 7-6(5), 6-3.

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Acapulco tennis news, Delray tennis news, Dubai tennis news, Mikhail Youzhny, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Sam Querrey, Xavier Malisse