Veterans thriving in Nottingham, including Paes–who plays with 100th partner
Players with plenty of experience are teaching their younger adversaries a thing or two about grass-court tennis this week at the AEGON Open.
Among them is Marcos Baghdatis, 30, who trounced 18-year-old Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 during third-round action on Thursday. Baghdatis, who has always been dangerous on the green stuff, won 93 percent of his first-serve points and did not get broken a single time.
Joining the Cypriot in the Nottingham quarterfinals is Leonardo Mayer, who edged 21-year-old Jiri Vesely 7-6(2), 7-6(5). The 28-year-old Argentine blasted 12 aces, exactly twice as many as his opponent.
Established grass-court threats Sam Querrey and Yen-Hsun Lu are also through to the last eight. Querrey, the 2010 Queen’s Club champion, prevailed in a pair of tiebreakers just like Mayer. The American squandered all seven of his break-point opportunities against Pablo Cuevas, but it hardly mattered because he positively dominated with his own serve. Querrey struck 15 aces and did not face a break point as he got the job done 7-6(7), 7-6(3). Lu, who once upset Andy Roddick at Wimbledon, disposed of two-time defending champion Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-2.
Gilles Simon, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Denis Istomin, and Simone Bolelli round out the quarterfinal lineup.
In doubles, meanwhile, 42-year-old Leander Paes played with his 100th partner on Thursday. The Indian legend teamed up with Marcel Granollers to survive a thrilling first-round encounter 3-6, 6-2, 11-9 at the expense of Treat Huey and Scott Lipsky.
Paes is the sixth active player to reach the 100-partner milestone, joining Frank Moser (144), Andre Sa (119), Oliver Marach (109), Carlos Berlocq (104), and James Cerretani (104).
“It’s nice to play with one of the best doubles players in the world and in history,” Granollers assured.
Briefs
* Baghdatis blasts past Zverev, can reach top 50 by reaching final.
* Zverev likely to go into Wimbledon at No. 72, loses top 70 chance.
* Bolelli continues Nottingham run, needs one more win for top 50.
* Mayer edges Vesely, needs one more win to replace Gasquet in top 20.
* Istomin takes out Stakhovsky to earn top 90 spot, will be top 80 with final.
* Dolgopolov downs Thiem, needs one more victory for top 70.
* Lopez loses to Lu, who will surge into top 60 with semifinal.
* Querrey quiets Cuevas, will break into top 40 with semifinal and top 30 with title.
* Simon silences Sousa, can reach No. 11 in world with title.
Topics: Aegon Open, Atp World Tour, Leander Paes, Marcel Granollers, Ricky Dimon, Sports, tennis doubles
INDIA’S TENNIS STAR @Leander PAES WINS WITH HIS 100TH PARTNER! BY RICKY DIMON- http://t.co/rHeGhITm0O @Dimonator #tennis #AegonOpen
RT @TennisNewsOne: INDIA’S TENNIS STAR LEANDER PAES WINS WITH HIS 100TH PARTNER! BY RICKY DIMON http://t.co/ZeSvvyk9pD #tennis