Mikhail Youzhny
By Florian Heer
(April 30, 2014) MUNICH – There were four second round matches in action on Wednesday in Munich with third-seed Mikhail Youzhny leading the way. The Russian, who has returned to the BMW Open by FWU AG for the eleventh time opened his campaign against Martin Klizan with the Slovakian leading head to head record 1-0 before the match. Klizan, who was making his debut in Munich, battled his way through the qualifying and reached the second round gaining a straight set victory over Dudi Sela yesterday. In their only previous meeting in Moscow two years ago, the Slovakian won in three sets. Back then, Klizan took the match by winning a tie-break in the final set. The outcome as well as the ending would be the same. The 24-year-old qualifier advanced into the quarterfinal winning 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 in two hours and 49 minutes.
“Last time we met it was one of the longest matches in history. We played three hours and 49 minutes, now we played just one hour less. It was an extreme fight today but I’m still fit,” Klizan was understandably happy afterwards. “The last time I faced Denis Istomin, I was only able to win two games. He was much better than me. This time, however, we will meet on clay here, the surface on which I think I’ll be better. It is going to be a tough match,” the world number 111 looked ahead to his next opponent.
In the opening match on Centre Court, Denis Istomin met Marinko Matosevic for the third time. Uzbekistan’s top player posted his first ever victory in Munich on Tuesday defeating two-time champion Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round by saving eleven of the fourteen break points he had to face. Today’s match would be a close affair with Istomin winning 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and eleven minutes.
This match was followed by Sergiy Stakhovsky facing Jan-Lennard Struff for the second time on the ATP World Tour. Both players met in Bastad last year with the better ending for the German winning in straight sets. Struff was able to repeat this victory in Munich through clean shots and a solid baseline game. The 24-year-old qualifier needed only 72 minutes to defeat the Ukrainian 6-3, 6-3 reaching his second career quarterfinal.
“I think I made a strong start into today’s match gaining an early 3-0 lead. In the second set I felt that he (Stakhovsky) found his way into the match. He started to play better and my service games became closer than in the beginning. So it was important that I could get another break,“ Struff said afterwards. “In the end I felt a bit tired, although it was only in two sets. I think it’s good for me that I will not have to play singles tomorrow,” the German qualifier added.
In the final match of the day Ricardas Berankis took on Jürgen Melzer. The Lithuanian was granted a lucky loser spot in the main draw after Gael Monfils withdrew due to an ankle injury. The Austrian advanced to the second round through a straight set victory over junior world No. 1 Alexander Zverev yesterday. At quarter past eight, the match was suspended at 2-2 in the final set due to darkness.
Earlier the day, the tournament’s top-seed, Fabio Fognini, talked to the media. The Italian has won two out of his three career titles on German soil. “For sure Germany is a special place for me. I will always remember winning my first title in Stuttgart last year and even take a second one in the following week in Hamburg,” Fognini said. “Nonetheless, firstly I have to play my opening match here in Munich. Another possible title can be focused on Sunday. I have to be careful tomorrow because my opponent is a bit crazy but he plays really good tennis, so it is going to be really difficult. He is a tall guy, serving really big and mixing it up with serve and volley. I hope that a lot of people will come out tomorrow, watch the match and have fun,” the top-seed said about his first opponent at the BMW Open Dustin Brown. “I have already practiced a few days here in Munich. I really feel better. Maybe I need a bit more time to recover really well but tomorrow is the time to go on court and I’ll try to do my best and I hope to survive tomorrow,” Fognini added about his physical condition after he had to retire in his last match in Barcelona last week.
Florian Heer travels the tennis tour with a focus on ATP Challenger events and the ITF Future Circuit! Follow his twitter account @Florian _Heer.
RESULTS – WEDNESDAY, 30 APRIL 2014
Singles – Second Round
[Q] M Klizan (SVK) d [3] M Youzhny (RUS) 67(5) 62 76(2)
[Q] J Struff (GER) d S Stakhovsky (UKR) 63 63
D Istomin (UZB) d M Matosevic (AUS) 67(6) 63 75
Doubles – Quarter-finals
[PR] C Fleming (GBR) / R Hutchins (GBR) d [2] J Cabal (COL) / R Farah (COL) 61 64
Doubles – First Round
[3] J Murray (GBR) / J Peers (AUS) d [WC] A Satschko (GER) / J Struff (GER) 64 63
L Hewitt (AUS) / M Matosevic (AUS) d [4] T Bednarek (POL) / M Draganja (CRO) 64 75
R Junaid (AUS) / J Nieminen (FIN) d [WC] M Bachinger (GER) / K Krawietz (GER) 62 64
SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, 1 MAY 2014
CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
[7] A Seppi (ITA) vs [Q] A Ramos (ESP)
[LL] R Berankis (LTU) vs J Melzer (AUT) 76(5) 36 22
Not Before 12:55 pm
A Falla (COL) vs [2] T Haas (GER)
[1] F Fognini (ITA) vs [WC] D Brown (GER)
F Delbonis (ARG) vs [Q] T Bellucci (BRA)
SZ start 12:00 noon
[1] E Butorac (USA) / R Klaasen (RSA) vs R Junaid (AUS) / J Nieminen (FIN)
[3] J Murray (GBR) / J Peers (AUS) vs L Dlouhy (CZE) / M Pavic (CRO)
TBA – D Brown (GER) / J Knowle (AUT) vs L Hewitt (AUS) / M Matosevic (AUS)