ATP MEN’S TENNIS FROM THE MIAMI OPEN AS DONALD YOUNG BEATS DREDDY DUSTIN BROWN & TOMMY HAAS SELFIES WITH AN IGUANA

Written by: Staff on 22nd March 2017

ATP MEN'S TENNIS FROM THE MIAMI OPEN AS DONALD YOUNG BEATS DREDDY DUSTIN BROWN & TOMMY HAAS SELFIES WITH AN IGUANA |

Special selfie @miamiopen, thanks for coming out to watch some Tennis – Photo by @tommyhaasofficial via Instagram.

Young, Haas, Fognini, Paire advance with first round wins on day two in Miami

Hello from MIAMI. What a day.

After the men’s draw saw qualifying action wrap up yesterday, the bottom half of the draw began their Miami campaigns as first round action got underway here at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on Key Biscayne.

First on Grandstand was a potentially explosive matchup between two mercurial talents, big-hitting Slovakian Martin Klizan and crafty Frenchman Benoit Paire. The first set certainly did not disappoint, as each player broke once despite some frustration, leading to an opening set tiebreak. In the breaker, it was Paire who was able to return better, taking the first set 7-6.

In the second it was a slightly easier affair for Paire as the Frenchman’s slightly questionable medical timeout led to some frustration and loss of focus from Klizan, as the Frenchman took advantage taking an early break. Paire rode that advantage through the remainder of the set, holding on despite some wobbles serving it out to take the up and down affair 7-6, 6-3, booking a place in the second round here in Miami.

On Stadium it was another popcorn match as more talent was on display with volatile Italian Fabio Fognini going up against American Ryan Harrison. In the first set, it was some impressive play early on from Fognini that earned him a double break lead, only for Harrison to snatch one of the breaks back. The Americans comeback was short-lived though, as Fognini held firm to take the opening set 6-4.

In the second, it was Harrison grabbing the early break to go up 3-0 before the Italian upped his level to break back and level the set. Fognini kept up his solid level, taking another break later on in the set to win it 7-5 and take the match 6-4, 7-5.

Over on Court 1 there was another exciting matchup between talented left-hander Donald Young from Atlanta and crafty German Dustin Brown. The first set was a straightforward affair for Young as the American rode an early break to take the set 6-3. In the second, it was a dominant display of serving from Brown, as the German didn’t face a single break point throughout the set, and two breaks of serve helped Brown race through the second 6-1.

Donald Young of the US in action against Dustin Brown of Germany during a first round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 22 March 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

Dustin Brown of Germany in action against Donald Young of the US during a first round match at the Miami Open tennis tournament on Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida, USA, 22 March 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

In the third it was a reversal of fortunes, as Young found more success on his serve, saving a breakpoint before taking two of his own later on to break Brown twice. Young showed impressive mental strength throughout, taking the match 6-3 1-6, 6-2 to reach the second round here at Crandon Park and book a matchup with French 11th seed Lucas Pouille.

Later on Court 1 coming off a successful job as tournament director at last week’s BNP Paribas Open was German Tommy Haas facing the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely. The first set was a hard fought affair as neither player gave an inch on their serves, resulting in a tiebreak. In the breaker, it was 38-year-old Haas who served better on the key points, battling to take the first set 7-6.

In the second set it was a much different story as Vesely’s level increased, resulting in an improved return game from the Czech, breaking multiple times to level the match at a set all, taking the second 6-3.