Seeds Pavel, Soderling Squeak Through at ATP Milan
Posted on February 3, 2005Top-seeded Andrei Pavel (d. Carraz 7-6 in the third) and No. 5 Robin Soderling (d. Clement in three) struggled through to the second round Wednesday at the ATP stop in Milan, trying to take advantage of a field devoid of Top 10-ranked players.
Pavel survived 33 aces dropped by the Frenchman, who also kicked in 12 doubles faults.
Having an easier time were seeds (2) Ivan Ljubicic (d. Ivo "I Dated Hingis" Heuberger) and (8) Max "The Beast" Mirnyi (d. Italian local Aldi), joined by unseeded winners Tomas Behrend of Germany (d. Andreev in three), Dutch veteran Sjeng Schalken (d. Bjorkman), Luxembourg's Gilles Muller (d. Llodra), and Croatian "Dr." Ivo Karlovic (d. (LL) Mackin 7-6 in the third, saving a match point).
On tap for Thursday are (3) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. (Q) Stakhovsky, (WC) Gael "Force" Monfils vs. (5) Soderling, (6) Rainer "Shine" Schuettler vs. Schalken, (1) Pavel vs. Behrend, (7) Beck vs. (WC) Seppi, and Muller vs. (8) The Beast.
Pavel survived 33 aces dropped by the Frenchman, who also kicked in 12 doubles faults.
Having an easier time were seeds (2) Ivan Ljubicic (d. Ivo "I Dated Hingis" Heuberger) and (8) Max "The Beast" Mirnyi (d. Italian local Aldi), joined by unseeded winners Tomas Behrend of Germany (d. Andreev in three), Dutch veteran Sjeng Schalken (d. Bjorkman), Luxembourg's Gilles Muller (d. Llodra), and Croatian "Dr." Ivo Karlovic (d. (LL) Mackin 7-6 in the third, saving a match point).
On tap for Thursday are (3) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. (Q) Stakhovsky, (WC) Gael "Force" Monfils vs. (5) Soderling, (6) Rainer "Shine" Schuettler vs. Schalken, (1) Pavel vs. Behrend, (7) Beck vs. (WC) Seppi, and Muller vs. (8) The Beast.