RICKY DIMON COVERS ROTTERDAM WITH GREAT CHAMPION & TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK WHERE TOMAS BERDYCH OPENS WITH A WIN & ANDY MURRAY BEGINS CAMPAIGN ON WEDNESDAY

Written by: Staff on 10th February 2015

RICKY DIMON COVERS ROTTERDAM WITH GREAT CHAMPION & TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK WHERE TOMAS BERDYCH OPENS WITH A WIN & ANDY MURRAY BEGINS CAMPAIGN ON WEDNESDAY

epa04593014 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during play against Andy Murray of Britain in their semi-final match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 29 January 2015. The Australian Open tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the year, runs until 01 February 2015. EPA/Filip Singer |

Tomas Berdych struggled to close out his first-round match at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, but he managed to get the job done against Tobias Kamke. Berdych, who led 6-1, 5-1, twice failed to serve out the proceedings before finally sealing the deal on his third time of asking for a 6-1, 7-5 victory.

“It was most definitely not the perfect first round,” said Berdych. “Actually, I think [this way is] better; if you start almost perfect, then you don’t have space to improve. Definitely after today there are many things to improve.”

“Tonight in action: our reigning champion @tomasberdych. Tickets still available! #abnamrowtt #tennis #atp #ahoy” – Photo by @abnamrowtt

If nothing else, the good news for the Czech is that he is already through to round two. That’s what No. 1 seed Andy Murray will be looking to do on Wednesday.

Murray will be back in action for the first time since finishing runner-up at the Australian Open when he takes the court in Rotterdam against Nicolas Mahut. Melbourne is the fourth-ranked Scot’s only tournament of the season so far and it included wins over Berdych, Grigor Dimitrov, and Nick Kyrgios in addition to a four-set final loss at the hands of Novak Djokovic.

“After a few days off it’s back down to business. #herewego #Rotterdam” – Photo by @andymurray

Mahut is 1-3 lifetime against Murray, with the Frenchman’s lone victory coming on the grass courts of Queen’s Club in 2012–when he pulled off a 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(1) upset. All three of Murray’s wins have come in straight sets, including most recently at the 2013 Queen’s Club event.

Like Berdych, Gael Monfils has already booked his spot in the last 16. The unseeded Frenchman trounced compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday, needing a mere one hour and seven minutes to advance.

Next up for Monfils on Wednesday is Roberto Bautista Agut. They have faced each other just once, with Monfils dominating 6-4, 6-1 at last summer’s Cincinnati Masters.

“What an entertainer it is! @iamgaelmonfils secures a spot in round 2 and we see him back! #abnamrowtt #tennis #atp #gaelmonfils #ahoy” – Photo by @abnamrowtt

Similar to his opponent, Bautista Agut is in mediocre form early in 2015. The seventh-seeded Spaniard has won only two matches since opening his year with a semifinal showing in Chennai. One of those came on Monday, when he took care of German wild card Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-1. Monfils is not playing quite as well as he was last summer so this should be more competitive, but Bautista Agut is once again at a surface disadvantage.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Abn Amro World Tennis Tournament, Andy Murray, Gael Monfils, Richard Krajicek, Ricky Dimon, Rotterdam, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych

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10sBalls_com says:

February 10, 2015 at 9:38 pm

-@Dimonator COVERS #ROTTERDAM WITH GREAT CHAMPION & TOURNEY DIRECTOR @RichardKrajicek WHERE @tomasberdych OPENS WI… http://t.co/vwL6keF5W4