Blake takes out second seed Del Potro in Stockholm

Written by: Global Chick on 20th October 2011

Blake takes out second seed Del Potro in Stockholm

James Blake of the US hits a return to David Ferrer of Spain during their second round match on the fifth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 02 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Popular American James Blake moved into the third round at the If Stockholm Open on Wednesday after defeating the number two seed Juan Martin Del Potro 6-4 6-4.

James Blake a former world number four is still looking to improve his ranking. The World No. 69 has suffered some serious injuries over the last couple of years. Last year was the first time Blake finished outside Top 100.

Yesterday’s win over Del Potro is Blake’s first victory over a top player this year. Blake will face the winner of Croatia’s Ivan Dodig and Argentinian David Nalbandian.

Canadian wunderkind Milos Raonic won his second round comfortably over Philipp Petzschner 6-3 6-3. The big serving Raonic served seven aces against the German. The match was over in one hour and 10 mintues. Raonic meets the winner of the number four seed Juan Ignacio Chela and Grigor Dimitrov.

Kevin Anderson is also through to the quarterfinals of the If Stockholm Open. The tall South African defeated former world number two and Stockholm Open wildcard Tommy Haas. The 25-year-old won his first ATP Tour title in Johannesburg earlier in the year and Anderson is now enjoying a career best ranking. His quarterfinals opponent will be the winner of top seed Gael Monfils and young upcoming Aussie Bernard Tomic.

Tomic played his first round on Wednesday and beat Estonian qualifier Jurgen Zopp in three sets 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-0.

Three first round doubles matches were played yesterday. The number two seeds Eric Butorac and Jean Julien Rojer advanced into the second round downing Spanish team Marc Lopez and Tommy Robredo in straight sets.

Juan Ignacio Chela and Andre Sa stopped Scandinavian hometown favourites Johan Brunstrom of Sweden and Jarkko Nieminen of Finland from progressing. The South American combination won 10-8 in the third set match tiebreak.

Alexander Waske and Michael Kohlmann won 4-6 6-2 10-3 over wildcard team Martin Emmrich and Andreas Siljestrom. The German duo will now face the top seeded Indo/Pak Express in the second round.

SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER, 2011

CENTRE COURT start 12:00 pm

[4] J Chela (ARG) vs G Dimitrov (BUL)

J Nieminen (FIN) vs [3] S Wawrinka (SUI)

J Erlich (ISR) / A Ram (ISR) vs M Baghdatis (CYP) / J Del Potro (ARG)

Not Before 6:30 PM

[1] G Monfils (FRA) vs [WC] B Tomic (AUS)

Not Before 8:15 PM

[7] I Dodig (CRO) vs D Nalbandian (ARG)

COURT 1 start 12:00 pm

X Malisse (BEL) / F Moser (GER) vs [2] E Butorac (USA) / J Rojer (AHO)

[1] R Bopanna (IND) / A Qureshi (PAK) vs M Kohlmann (GER) / A Waske (GER)