Top Swede Robin Soderling advanced to the second round at the Stockholm Open with a 7-5, 6-3victory over German Benjamin Becker on Wednesday.
The No. 4 seed broke his opponent once in each set to notch his10th match win in Stockholm (10-5 record).
Soderling, currently No. 35 in the ATP Rankings, will look to reach his seventh quarterfinal of the season when he faces Argentine lucky loser Juan Monaco, who defeated Jonas Bjorkman in the Swedish veteran's last singles match on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two-time champion and 2007 finalist Thomas Johansson of Sweden fell in his opening match to Spanish No. 7 seed Albert Montanes 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Johansson titled at this event in 2000 and2004 and was runner-up in 1998 and 2007.
The 27-year-old Montanes goes on to face Swiss George Bastl, a 7- 6(6), 3-6, 7-6(4) winner over fellow qualifier Frederik Nielsenof Denmark.
Third-seeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen survived a scare in the first round, rallying from a set down to defeat Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5. The 27-year-old, who fired 11 aces and broke serve four times in the 2 hours 20 minutes encounter, is making his ninth straight appearance in Stockholm and improved to a 12-8 event record.
Nieminen next will face Frenchman Arnaud Clement, who converted five break points as he ended Swedish qualifier Bjorn Rehnquist's bid with a 6-2, 6-1 victory.
German fifth seed Rainer Schuettler became the first player through to the quarterfinals after breaking serve four times to defeat Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti 7-6(6), 6-3 in the second round.
The 32-year-old was a quarterfinalist in Stockholm in 2000 and 2005.
In the other second round match, Spaniard Oscar Hernandez ousted No. 6 seed Jose Acasuso of Argentina 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 as he converted on three of his 15 break point opportunities.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article