Fernando Verdasco Reaches 3rd Round and More…

Written by: Staff on 24th April 2012

BNP Paribas 2011 Masters Tennis Tournament

Fernando Verdasco Reaches 3rd Round and More...

Fernando Verdasco of Spain returns the ball to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their first round match at the BNP Paribas 2011 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 08 November 2011. EPA/HORACIO VILLALOBOS |

Original Story: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/04/17/Barcelona-Tuesday-Murray-Verdasco-In-Action.aspx

Ninth seed Fernando Verdasco, who beat Robin Soderling for the 2010 Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell title, experienced few problems in beating Belgian Steve Darcis 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday for a place in the third round.

Verdasco, one of two champions in the main draw along with six-time titlist Rafael Nadal, notched his 12th match win in Barcelona in 73 minutes. The World No. 20 dropped 12 points on his serve against Dodig, who saved six of 10 break points.

In first-round action, Portugal’s Frederico Gil knocked out local resident and 12th seed Marcel Granollers 6-2, 6-2 in 73 minutes. Granollers is now 2-7 lifetime at the ATP World Tour 500 clay-court tournament. South African Kevin Anderson, the No. 13 seed, saved all six break points he faced to beat Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, 6-2, 6-3 in 73 minutes.

Australian No. 15 seed Bernard Tomic, the youngest player in the Top 50 of the South African Airways ATP Rankings, won 73 per cent of his service points to overcome Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6-3, 6-4 in 68 minutes.

“I think I played well on my service games,” 19-year-old Tomic told ATPWorldTour.com. “I am starting to move better on the clay and it is the best I’ve played so far. Hopefully in the next round [against Albert Montanes], I’ll be ready to run and be physical with him. I think I’ll need to play a little more aggressively and be patient at times.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Bernard Tomic, Dodig, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, Fernando Verdasco, Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, Marcel Granollers, men tennis news, noticias del tenis español, Portugal's Frederico Gil, Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling, South African Kevin Anderson, Sports, Steve Darcis