Quick Links
|
| Recent News...
|
|
 |
| See Also...
|
|
| |
|
|
| Rankings |
|
|
 |
|
|
Davydenko, Massu, Nieminen, Ferrero Gain Bastad Quarters
Posted on July 13, 2006
Top-seeded Nikolay Davydenko took one hour and 42 minutes to beat Russian compatriot Yuri Schukin 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 Wednesday for a quarterfinal berth at the Synsam Swedish Open.
Three hundred and 38 places separate Davydenko from Schukin in the INDESIT ATP Rankings, but that didn't stop the No. 343-ranked qualifier -- playing only his seventh ATP-level match -- from testing the top seed.
Both players had eight break point opportunities, but it was Davydenko who crucially won five as opposed to Schukin's one for victory in one hour and 44 minutes.
Poertschach winner and Estoril finalist Davydenko now holds a 37-18-match record this season.
The 25-year-old now meets Chilean Nicolas Massu, who gained revenge over Jose Acasuso for the Argentine's straight sets victory in the Vina del Mar final in February
Massu snapped a two-year losing streak stretching back to the 2004 US Open, beating his fellow South American 6-4, 6-2 in 87 minutes.
Currently ranked No. 37 in the INDESIT ATP Rankings from a career-high No. 9 (September 13, 2004), Massu has captured the Costa do Sauipe title (d. A. Martin) and also reached the Casablanca final (l. Bracciali).
Earlier in the day, fourth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen survived his second three-set match this week.
The Finn fought back against local hope Lukas Dlouhy for a 6-7(2), 6-0, 6-3 victory in one hour and 32 minutes that secures Nieminen a place in his eighth quarterfinal of the season.
Indeed the 24-year-old is a man on the move.
This time last year Nieminen was beginning his ascent up the INDESIT ATP Rankings from a 2005-low of No. 142 (March 7). Now the Finn is placed a career-high No. 13.
Nieminen made the perfect start to 2006 with his first ATP circuit title in Auckland (d. Ancic). Since then semifinals exits have come in Munich and Rotterdam, with quarterfinal displays in Adelaide, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, Barcelona and Wimbledon for a season record of 34-11.
He will now look to win his first match against eighth-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero, when the pair meet for the third time in their careers on Friday.
Former World former No. 1 Ferrero, who reached the Buenos Aires semifinals in February, knocked out Austrian Oliver Marach 6-2, 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes.
Alexander Waske managed to win the two games he needed over Wimbledon semifinalist Jonas Bjorkman to advance to the second round.
Waske led Bjorkman 4-2 in the third set before rain stopped play on Tuesday evening. Waske wrapped up the 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win for a meeting with second-seeded Tommy Robredo.
-- ATP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
